MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference

MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference

November 14th - 15th

21c Museum Hotel Kansas City

NAVIGATING THE FUTURE: Integrating Technology Innovation with

Time-Tested Search and Staffing Practices

As our industry evolves, we are at a pivotal moment where the integration of modern technology with established practices will shape our path forward. The MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference goes beyond adapting to change; it’s about leading with purpose, setting new benchmarks, and ensuring technology enhances rather than replaces the personal touch at the heart of our work.

This year’s conference offers a practical approach to understanding how advanced solutions, including AI, can complement the principles that have always driven success in search and staffing. It’s an opportunity to learn how to leverage these tools to improve your skills, strengthen client and candidate relationships, and achieve impactful results in an evolving market.

Expect:

• High-Quality Sessions: Participate in top-tier keynotes, engaging workshops, and insightful panel discussions.
• Valuable Connections: Engage with dedicated peers and member companies committed to professional development and a shared industry vision, fostering a collaborative environment for growth.
• Industry Insights: Discover the latest tools and resources from industry partners designed to support and elevate your practice.

Join us to experience the unique value and impact of the MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference. The insights and connections you gain will guide you as we move forward together, providing the opportunity to not only adapt to the future but excel in it.

Registration Information: MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference  

Conference Venue: 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City 219 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105

Hotel: Plan your stay at the host venue. Booking link: MKSSA Room Reservation

* Secure your accommodation, we recommend booking as soon as possible.

MKSSA 2024 Conference Agenda

Thursday, November 14, 2024

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Registration Opens / Morning Networking 

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Opening Keynote: John Hall

• Topic: "Coaching Up! A Playbook for Success”

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Presentation Shad Tidler

• Topic: "LEVEL UP: "How to Consistently Grow Your Sales in Today’s Unknown Market - Part 1."

11:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Presentation: Thomas Kosnik Owners/Executives

• Topic: "Economic & Staffing Industry Update: Where to Find Opportunity in a Changing World."

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM: Presentation: Laura Fuller

• Topic: "Personal Reputation Matters: Building and Managing Your Online Image"

1:30 PM - 3:00 PM: Owners and Executives Roundtable with Thomas Kosnik

• Expertly facilitated Roundtable: An opportunity for staffing leaders to connect, problem-solve, and exchange strategic insights with industry peers. This session provides a collaborative platform uniquely designed to foster valuable connections and gain lasting support for your business journey.

2:15 PM - 3:00 PM: Breakout Roundtable Discussions

• Peer-led roundtable discussions: On Sales, Business Development, Recruiting, and Leadership to gain practical insights, build connections, and maximize your learning.

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Presentation: Shad Tidler

• Topic: "LEVEL UP: "How to Consistently Grow Your Sales in Today’s Unknown Market - Part 2."

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Happy Hour and Networking

Friday, November 15, 2024

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Registration Opens / Breakfast Networking

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Keynote Presentation: Matt Dichter

• Topic: "Leveraging AI & Automation in Sales & Business Development"

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Presentation: Larry Hernandez

• Topic: " AI in Recruiting: Transforming Talent Acquisition in the Modern Era"

11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Panel Discussion

• Focused on AI and technology in the staffing industry: This is a valuable opportunity to ask pressing questions and receive insights from industry leaders on effectively integrating innovation with traditional practices.

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Networking Lunch

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Closing Session: Larry Hernandez

• Topic: “Interactive workshop that provides hands-on experience with AI tools”

This hands-on experience explores practical applications of AI tools in this engaging workshop.

2:00 PM: Conference Closing

Session Descriptions

We are proud to introduce this year's exceptional speakers, who will share their unique perspectives and expertise on the critical intersection of technology and staffing practices at the MKSSA 2024 Annual Conference. Their insights will empower you to lead with purpose and leverage cutting-edge solutions to enhance both your skills and relationships in this evolving industry.

John Hall

Chief Sales Officer at Crux-Xcelerate

Coaching Up! A Playbook for Success

John Hall will be sharing Coaching Up! A Playbook for Success at the 2024 Annual Conference, “Navigating the Future.” Coaching Up! A Playbook for Success is an energetic storytelling journey that will have you shouting, “Heck Yeah.” Join us and experience why John is regarded as a compelling voice committed to helping set a game plan for everyone to be their best self.

Thomas Kosnik 

President and founder of Visus Group

Join this exclusive break-out session with Thomas Kosnik, a top industry voice, as he uncovers critical insights and strategies tailored for staffing business owners and executives navigating the complexities of today’s challenging market.

Economic & Staffing Industry Update: Where to Find Opportunity in a Changing World. 

The staffing industry is getting pounded. Every sector of it. The current economic data makes little to no sense. The GDP is doing well, the staffing industry is shrinking. The unemployment rate is relatively low, the staffing industry continues to shrink. What is a staffing business owner to do. In this session we are going to try to make sense of the economic data and what it is telling us. We are also going to show what is in store for the staffing industry. The best part of this session is showing what is currently working for staffing firms that are growing and have been growing in this very odd economic cycle. Tom Kosnik, Founding Partner of the Visus Group, meets with over 100 staffing firms across the country every four months in his company’s Presidents RoundTable. No other consultant in the staffing industry has an understanding from the ground level of where the opportunities lie in our industry. Join us for this very informative session that will be packed with ideas.

Matt Dichter

Vice President of Sales for Staffing Engine

In "Leveraging AI & Automation in Sales & Business Development," Matt Dichter will explore the latest stats and trends shaping the staffing industry, highlighting the growing role of AI and automation. Attendees will gain insights into the current roadblocks and challenges in sales and business development and discover how top vendors and innovative use cases are helping teams overcome these obstacles.

Matt will present live examples of how sales teams can leverage AI to differentiate themselves in the market and offer a forward-looking view on the future of AI and automation in staffing. This session provides practical takeaways for maximizing efficiency and staying competitive in a rapidly evolving industry.

Laura Fuller

Chief Game Changer, Head of Sales at Great Recruiters

Personal Reputation Matters: Building and Managing Your Online Image 

In today’ s digital age, reputation is everything. Whether you’ re an individual or a business, your online image can significantly impact your success, credibility, and relationships with others. During this talk, we will delve into the importance of reputation and provide practical strategies to establish and maintain a positive online presence.

Shad Tidler 

Sales and Leadership/Management Consulting and Coaching for Lushin

How to Consistently Grow Your Sales in Today’s Unknown Market - Part 1

In this interactive session, Shad will teach sales leaders, sales professionals, and recruiting teams how to develop a strategy and create a structure to ensure your business continues to grow in the direction you set for 2024 and beyond. Starting with what are the challenges we run into when creating the strategy and structure, why these challenges occur, and ending with actionable steps you can use to ensure that you put these pieces in place to grow your business, this talk will help you to define what is needed to create and develop these items for your business and how to put the pieces in place now and in the future.

During this session, attendees will learn:

What are the challenges we run into when creating and implementing a strong strategy and structure for growing our businesses and why these occur.

What are the necessary pieces to create a strong strategy and structure for growing our businesses.

What steps are needed to implement the strategy and structure to grow your business now and in the future.

How can your sales and recruiting teams work stronger together and go deeper in these areas to ensure sustained business growth.

How to Consistently Grow Your Sales in Today’s Unknown Market – Part 2

In this interactive session, Shad will help sales leaders, sales professionals, and recruiting teams with starting to put the items we learned in Part 1 into applicable practice. Starting with what are the challenges we run into when getting decisions from buyers or candidates, why these challenges occur, and ending with actionable steps you can use to ensure that you put the right pieces in place to overcome these challenges, this talk will help you to define what is needed to create and develop these items for your business and how to put the pieces in place now and in the future.

During this session, attendees will learn:

What are the challenges we run into when getting decisions.

Why do we run into these challenges when getting decisions.

What are the fixes to these challenges and how to begin implementing them.

Larry Hernandez 

Head of AI/ML/Data Science Recruitment Search at RecruiterDNA

In the session "AI in Recruiting: Transforming Talent Acquisition in the Modern Era," presented by Larry Hernandez of Recruiter DNA, attendees will explore how AI is reshaping talent acquisition, streamlining processes, and enhancing decision-making in recruitment. Larry will cover the latest trends and AI tools, their impact on different recruiting models, and the ethical challenges surrounding AI use.

In the second half, participants will engage in an interactive workshop that provides hands-on experience with AI tools, allowing them to apply these insights directly to their recruitment strategies and gain practical knowledge to implement within their organizations.

Steve Gipson 

Director of Sales and Operations at Recruiters Websites

Join us for an engaging panel discussion moderated by Steve Gipson of Recruiters Websites, featuring industry leaders Larry Hernandez and Matt Dichter. They will expand on their individual sessions, addressing how technology and AI are reshaping the staffing industry. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable insights, as Larry and Matt share practical advice on integrating innovative solutions with traditional staffing practices. Don’t miss this chance to learn from these experts and discover actionable strategies to enhance your recruitment and sales processes in today’s dynamic landscape!

Sponsorship Opportunities: Industry Partners, information on sponsorship opportunities is available in your inbox. If you have any questions or would like to discuss these opportunities further, please feel free to reach out to us by email.