| The second annual Fordyce Forum for executive | | | | Bartos, CEO of Jonathan Scott International. Jon's |
| recruiters held recently, June 4-6th, at the Flamingo in | | | | outstanding presentation style and strong sense of |
| Las Vegas, NV was targeted at high performing | | | | humor kept the audience engaged for his 90 minutes |
| search pros, owners and managers wishing to | | | | on "How to Win in the Relationship Economy". Jon |
| optimize their skills, and really any recruiter wanting | | | | successfully broke down motivations, influencers, and |
| tips, techniques, and strategies on growing their | | | | relationship building techniques that are most |
| business. Well, in the opinion of this humble reporter | | | | effective with Baby Boomers, Gen X, and Gen Y. |
| they did not disappoint! The forum provided excellent | | | | Much of his presentation was the evolution of a |
| skills development and recruiter training. The | | | | recruiter from "tactical recruiter", where he theorizes |
| conference was well attended with nearly 300 | | | | 75% of the recruiting industry stagnates, to "trusted |
| attendees, speakers and exhibitors representing 31 | | | | business advisor" and ultimately "Power Broker" |
| states and 5 countries. People came from as far as | | | | where, sadly, only one to five percent of our |
| the UK, South Africa and Australia! | | | | industry gets to. |
| One of the Forum's strength was its outstanding | | | | Tips on Retention |
| networking events. A number of attendees discussed | | | | Jon was followed by Jeff Kaye, CEO of Kaye |
| how this event really solidified the conference as a | | | | Bassman, a $20mm %2B search firm based outside |
| great investment. Each night there was a two hour | | | | Dallas, TX. Probably one of the most dynamic |
| open bar that appeared to be attended by all the | | | | speakers and intellectuals in our industry Jeff |
| registrants -- this in spite of the hotel being located | | | | delivered the content of a one-day seminar in a one |
| at "ground zero" of the Las Vegas strip and all the | | | | hour presentation. Hands were cramped as Jeff |
| distractions it provides. | | | | delivered multiple ways and strategies to scale a |
| Great Tip on sending "Thank You" Cards | | | | search business to a multi-million dollar firm with |
| Jeff Skrentny's presentation was outstanding as his | | | | strong retention. One of his more poignant questions |
| 90 minute talk included numerous tactics and | | | | was how many owners were in the room, followed |
| strategies he used as a billing manager to increase his | | | | by "how many of you worked for someone else |
| billings by 50% in 2007 over 2006. My favorite | | | | first?" to which most of the hands stayed up. Jeff's |
| technique was using Thanksgiving as the holiday to | | | | key point was that unless you provided a career |
| send out "Thank you" cards and not the Christmas | | | | track, compensation, rewards and even equity |
| holiday season when everyone else sends them. I | | | | programs your risk of losing outstanding |
| could write the whole article on Jeff's presentation as | | | | entrepreneurial talent was substantial as witnessed by |
| it was loaded with good, tangible technique. | | | | the answer to his question. |
| The afternoon consisted of numerous break-out | | | | My only criticism of the Fordyce Forum is that the |
| sessions geared toward advanced recruiting | | | | last sessions were break-outs and there was no |
| strategies, legal strategies, and recruiting firm | | | | "final" session for those in attendance. We all drifted |
| business development strategies. One of the | | | | off after some hugs and hand shakes somewhat |
| break-out sessions was given by yours truly on the 6 | | | | aimlessly. They did such a great job creating an |
| Simple Steps to Growing your Business. The | | | | environment that made it easy for you to make new |
| presentation revolved around some of the most | | | | friends and relationships that there appeared to be |
| common mistakes recruiting firm owners make doing | | | | no closure at the end. I guess if that is my harshest |
| business plans. | | | | critique they did a lot right-- and they did! |
| Day two's keynote presentation was given by Jon | | | | |