At the annual membership meeting held virtually last week during Staffing World^®, the ASA annual convention and expo, association members elected eight directors:
Threase Baker, TSC, CSP, Abbtech Professional Resources Inc.
Jeffrey S. Burnett, CSP, Labor Finders International Inc.
John A. Elwood, CSP, Elwood Staffing
James A. Essey, CSP, the TemPositions Group of Cos.
Chris Hartman, Allegis Group
Janette Marx, Airswift
Leo Sheridan, Advanced Group (immediate past chairman)
Ken Taunton, CSC, Royster Group

The board elected officers:
Joyce Russell, Adecco Group US Foundation, chairman
W. Benjamin “Ben” Elliott, Randstad, first vice chairman
Threase Baker, TSC, CSP, Abbtech Professional Resources Inc., second vice chairman
Joanie Bily Courtney, EmployBridge Holding Co., treasurer
Jeff Bowling, Curative, secretary

Other directors currently serving on the board are Susan Dietrich, TOPS Staffing LLC; Robert A. Funk, Express Employment Professionals; Tom Gimbel, LaSalle Network; Karenjo Goodwin, Exact Staff Inc.; Jeff Harris, Workforce Unlimited; Kristen Harris, CSP, Portfolio Creative; Kelly McCreight, CSP, Hamilton-Ryker; Ranjini Poddar, Artech LLC; Peter W. Quigley, Kelly; Dan Struve, CSP, Helpmates Staffing Services; Mark Toth, CSP, ManpowerGroup; and Steve Wehn, AMN Healthcare. For brief bios, visit americanstaffing.net.

Don’t miss tomorrow’s ASA webinar “Discovering and Overcoming Unconscious Bias,” 3–4 p.m. Eastern time. Learn how you can change your behaviors once you’ve recognized your unconscious bias to be more inclusive and create an environment where biases don’t hold people back.

All ASA webinars are free for ASA members, and most qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. To learn more and to register, visit americanstaffing.net.

The ASA board of directors and staff welcome the following new members, which joined during the week ending Oct. 18.

Colab Conexions
Providence, RI
Recruiting in Motion
Wilmington, DE
Redcon Solutions Group
Orlando, FL

ASA today announced that Scott Bicksler, lead safety manager with Aerotek in Rockford, IL, is the 2020 ASA Volunteer of the Year. Bicksler was honored during Staffing World, the association’s annual convention and expo (a virtual event in 2020).

The ASA Volunteer of the Year program, launched in 2016, recognizes an individual who is an outstanding contributor on an ASA committee, section council, state network, task force, or working group. The recipient is selected through nominations from volunteer peers.

Bicksler is currently co-chairman of the ASA employee safety committee, which he joined in 2013. He also is a volunteer with California Staffing Professionals, an ASA-affiliated chapter. In addition to giving back to ASA, Bicksler is a member of the services sector council of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Occupational Research Agenda, which helps stimulate innovative research and improved workplace practices.

“ASA commends Scott for his outstanding contributions to the association and the U.S. staffing and recruiting industry in the critical area of worker safety,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “During his eight years as a volunteer, Scott has shown us all his passion and commitment to workplace safety. His vast experience with the staffing industry and deep knowledge of best practices in safety and risk mitigation—as well as his industry advocacy with regulators at the state and federal levels—have won the respect of his colleagues and ASA staff who view him as an excellent leader of the employee safety committee.”

It is not enough to recognize and acknowledge unconscious bias—how can you change your behaviors to be more inclusive? Learn how to create an environment where biases don’t hold people back during the ASA webinar “Discovering and Overcoming Unconscious Bias,” presented by the ASA inclusion, diversity, and equity advocacy interest group. It takes place Tuesday, Oct. 27, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time.

All ASA webinars are free for ASA members, and most qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. To learn more and to register, visit americanstaffing.net.

ASA Central—the dynamic online community just for staffing professionals—is home to more than 20,000 staffing professional profiles and countless ongoing industry conversations.

This week, take a look at your colleagues’ discussions and some of the blogs they’ve posted on ASA Central:

• Allowing candidate walk-ins or face-to-face interviews
• Prospecting for new clients
• Sexual harassment training requirements

Get involved with the community—update your profile today so you can network with colleagues, join a section community, recommend and comment on your colleagues’ posts, and share your own blog or discussion post. Log in to ASA Central now.

Former ManpowerGroup executive Jeffrey Joerres is the newest inductee into the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame, which was created in 1985 to recognize outstanding contribution and dedicated service to ASA and the staffing and recruiting industry. Joerres was celebrated Oct. 19 at Staffing World, the association’s annual convention and expo (a virtual event in 2020).

Under Joerres’s leadership, ManpowerGroup experienced rapid growth, expanding the footprint of the organization to 3,100 offices across more than 75 countries with revenues in excess of $20 billion. He retired in December 2015 after serving as chairman and chief executive officer for 15 years. He joined the organization in 1993, and also held other key leadership roles in sales, marketing and operations.

“I am delighted to welcome Jeff Joerres as this year’s inductee to the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “Jeff is a visionary and inspiring thought leader who contributed to the advancement of ASA and the entire staffing industry. Over the years, he effectively led efforts to promote and advance industry interests in global staffing markets—large, small, and emerging. Jeff’s passionate commitment to equity, integrity, innovation, and professionalism have benefited the entire staffing industry, the clients it serves, and the millions of people it places and employs every day.”

The association’s quarterly Staffing Employment and Sales Survey for the third quarter of 2020 is now open. Staffing companies that complete the brief survey by Nov. 13 receive an exclusive report on the results, which includes sales and gross margin projections.

Register to take the survey, or view the questionnaire, at americanstaffing.net/quarterly-survey. If you have questions or did not receive a survey link, email research@americanstaffing.net. There are no fees to participate.

Are you looking for opportunities to contribute your skills and insights in the staffing industry, and serve as an industry leader? ASA is looking for dedicated members like you to serve on volunteer committees and groups for 2021.

Apply for a volunteer opportunity to work directly with other members, learn about workforce trends and best practices, and build on your experience to become a thought leader with the association. Applications are due Oct. 31.

Selling the staffing business that you have worked so hard to build can be a daunting experience. Hear a veteran of many staffing company acquisitions share tips about the sales process during the ASA webinar “Legal and Practical Considerations of Selling Your Staffing Business.” It takes place Thursday, Oct. 29, 3–4 p.m. Eastern time.

All ASA webinars are free for ASA members, and most qualify for continuing education hours toward ASA certification renewal. To learn more and to register, visit americanstaffing.net.