The Illinois Search and Staffing Association, the Michigan Association of Staffing Services, the Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services and the Ohio Staffing and Search Association invite you to join us for the 6th annual Midwest Staffing Owners and Executives gathering on September 24th, 2020 in Woodridge, IL. This is planned to be a full day in-person event. To give everyone the opportunity to attend, it will be live-streamed as well. Live attendance includes continental breakfast, lunch and networking reception. In-person attendance will be limited to 35, with socially distanced seating and packaged lunch.

Frank Bucaro, Keynote speaker and veteran management consultant will present: "Charting a New Path: Setting Your Moral Compass"

Beckie Hayes, EOS Implementer® and Speaker, will present: "Leading Through Change"

Katherine Judge, Economist, CIBC Capital Markets, will present: "Emerging From COVID-19: A Midwest Economic Outlook"

Mary Ann McLaughlin, Executive Coach, Butler Street, will present: "Virtual Leadership – Leading Through Uncertain Times"

Rudi Asseer, CEO at IMI, will present: "Supercharging Human Capital Using AI"

Agenda – “Charting A New Path” -- Thursday September 24, 2020

8:00-8:30AM        Continental Breakfast

8:30-8:45AM        Leadership Welcome

8:45-10:15AM      Keynote: Charting a New Path: Setting your Moral Compass – Frank Bucaro

10:15-10:30AM    Break – Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall

10:30-11:15AM    Emerging From COVID-19: A Midwest Economic Outlook -- Katherine Judge

11:15-12:15PM    Leading Through Change – Beckie Hayes

12:15-1:15PM      Lunch and Designated Networking Time

1:15-2:15PM        Supercharging Human Capital Using AI – Rudi Asseer

2:15-3:15PM        Virtual Leadership – Leading Through Uncertain Times – Mary Ann McLaughlin

3:15-3:30PM        Break – Visit Virtual Exhibit Hall

3:30-5:00PM        Recession War Room – How Industry Veterans are Weathering Today’s Economic Storm – Panel

5:00-7:00PM        Networking Reception - Beer, Wine and light appetizers

Frank C. Bucaro

Speaking, training and writing on the benefits of ethics and value-base leadership, Frank has wowed audiences from all over the U.S. and Canada with his straight-forward approach and words of inspiration. He knows there is tremendous pressure to succeed and deliver big results in today’s highly competitive environment. He also believes that ethics and values are key components for success in this endeavor.

Frank’s presentations are powerful, thought-provoking, surprisingly humorous and they also:

A member of the National Speakers Association, he has earned their designation of CSP which stands for Certified Speaking Professional. He was also presented with NSA’s prestigious CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame Award for excellence and professionalism, held by fewer than 220 people worldwide.

Beckie Hayes

Beckie Hayes is the founder of Merchab Consulting Group, Inc., and is passionate about helping privately held business owners get more of what they want from their businesses.  She uses a proven business management process called Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) to help them grow faster, become more profitable and eliminate frustrations.  Beckie finds fulfillment in helping companies articulate a crystal-clear vision to get everyone on the team rowing in the same direction.  She helps leadership teams cultivate focus, discipline, and accountability to effectively execute their vision, and helps build a foundation of trust to create an open, honest, functional, and cohesive team. Additionally, Beckie serves as a Chicago Director for the American Club Association, the Vice Chairman of the Board for Chamber630 and facilitates a Family Business Roundtable for Family Businesses in the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Katherine Judge

Katherine Judge joined CIBC as an Economist in 2018. She forecasts and provides insightful commentary of American economic data and is responsible for the regional outlook for Midwest, in addition to contributing to research on a wide range of topics that impact financial markets.

Prior to joining CIBC, Katherine worked in a similar role at TD Bank. Katherine holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Queen's University.

Mary Ann McLaughlin

Mary Ann McLaughlin serves as Managing Partner and co-founder of Butler Street, a management consulting, training and research firm comprised of knowledge-sharing, experienced C-Level executives who help companies achieve lasting results in the two most challenging areas they face: Client Development and Talent Development. Mary Ann serves as the Foundation Chair on the board of St. Joseph’s Presence Hospital in Chicago. Additionally, Mary Ann is an active member and mentor within the Professional Women’s Club of Chicago, an organization that serves to enrich and inspire women to advance professionally and personally. At Butler Street, in addition to providing consulting and training on strategy, sales transformation and talent development, Mary Ann is a sought-after executive coach, with an emphasis on helping female leaders and leaders who are new to the C-Suite. Her experience as a sales professional, sales manager, operations leader and C-suite executive across companies ranging from highly acquisitive Private Equity backed organizations to publicly-held, multi-billion dollar international corporations has given her the experience and insight to excel at consulting, coaching and training to help companies and their people grow.

Rudi Asseer

Rudi is the CEO of North America’s largest provider of installation resources called IMI.  Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, the organization deploys mechanical and electrical installers and turnkey solutions for supply chain industry icons such as Amazon and Walmart. However, what could easily be a commodity-based “staffing agency” has been transformed by Rudi and team with the development and application of Rhonda.ai, the company’s groundbreaking AI software platform designed to radically improve workforce culture, engagement and thus, performance.

From a young age, Rudi was a man in motion. Competing around the world with the Canadian National Cycling Team instilled a spirit of intensity and drive that would propel him into his professional career. A graduate of Harvard University, Rudi continued to blaze a path of greatness becoming the youngest CEO at Farallon and ultimately a recipient of the “Forty Under 40” award honoring the most diverse and successful young businesspeople from Canada’s capital. This, in turn, would springboard Rudi into working with blue chip organizations such as Microsoft, Boston Consulting Group, Amazon and several marquis banks.

Rudi has channeled his competitive drive, business acumen and intense disdain for the status quo into the reinvention of IMI through technology and building a culture of greatness through teamwork. Ultimately, Rudi’s powerful drive and strong devotion to inclusivity has resulted in a diverse career with a plethora of experience across multiple realms. One thing is constant however, Rudi is always on the move. So don’t blink.

Recession War Room Panelists

Tom Erb, Panel Moderator

President, Tallann Resources

President of Tallann Resources possessing a staffing and recruiting career spanning over 25 years, Tom Erb has established himself as one of the industry’s top subject matter experts. He is one of the most highly sought-after national speakers in the staffing industry, presenting to a variety of industry organizations including the American Staffing Association, National Association of Personnel Services, TechServe Alliance, and dozens of state and regional staffing and recruiting conferences.   As a consultant, trainer, and speaker, Tom has helped hundreds of firms create and execute sales and recruiting strategies to grow their business.

Tom is the author of Winning the Staffing Sales Game, and writes the monthly column Recruiting Today for ASA’s Staffing Success magazine. He is a former president of the Ohio Staffing and Search Association and the Human Resources Association of Central Ohio, is chair for the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS), and former chair and current member of ASA’s Professional-Managerial Section Council.

Susan Dietrich, Principal, TOPS Staffing LLC

Susan Dietrich is a principal owner of TOPS Staffing LLC, AllTek Staffing and Resource Group Inc., e-Staff Consulting Group, AccountStaff Inc., Sterling Office Professionals, and TVS Inc. She began the western chapter of the Pennsylvania Staffing Association, an ASA-affiliated chapter, and served as its president for three years. Dietrich also has served on the ASA chapter leadership council and the chapter past presidents committee.

John Elwood, Owner, Elwood Staffing Services

Elwood Staffing, a leading provider of talent-based solutions and actionable workforce intelligence, is the 18th largest U.S. staffing company and the 10th largest U.S. industrial staffing company. Operating more than 275 service locations in 33 states, the company employs more than 100,000 temporary associates each year.

John joined Elwood Staffing in 1996 and served in several roles, including outside sales consultant, branch manager, and executive vice president, before taking on the position of company president in 2000. As president, John oversees the executive management members of Elwood’s Legal, Risk Management, Human Resources, and Field Operations Departments. One of John’s priorities lies in continuing to find ways to match jobs to people and people to jobs. He believes in the power of the staffing industry and works daily to make a positive impact in the lives of others through Elwood Staffing. Today, John commits his efforts to furthering the interests of the staffing industry through his active involvement with the American Staffing Association (ASA). John has been a member of ASA’s board of directors since 2008. He served as chairman of the board for the 2015 term.

Brian MacDonald, VP of Operations, Priority Staffing

Brian MacDonald is the Vice President of Operations of Priority Staffing Ltd., a privately held 100% Women-owned temporary placement service based in Joliet, IL.  The company supports the Oil & Gas and light manufacturing sectors by offering flexible staffing options, which can be important in this new staffing environment.  MacDonald has over 25 years of executive experience in the hospitality and temporary staffing industries.  He is currently the Legislative Chair and past officer of the Illinois Search and Staffing Association.

Thank you to our event sponsors!