When it comes to the 2016 Top Echelon National Convention, we’ve thrown a lot of things your way, including:

• A sneak-peek of the new version of Big Biller
• The wildly entertaining Elvis-podi
• Software training and recruiter networking opportunities

Believe it or not, the convention is next month. In fact, it’s a little more than just a month away: Tuesday, April 19, and Wednesday, April 20.

As of the writing of this blog post, there are over 100 Network recruiters who have already signed up for the convention. They’ve made the commitment, and they’re ready to invest time, energy, and effort into both their Network membership and the future of their business.

Regular Registration ends on March 25

However, time is running out to sign up before the end of Regular Registration for the convention. That’s because Regular Registration ends at close of business on Friday, March 25. (That’s close of business for us—Top Echelon—on the East Coast. Eastern Daylight Time, everybody.)

The cost of Regular Registration is $365 per person. Once the registration period ends, the cost will rise to $395 per person.

Keep in mind that these prices represent some of the lowest prices we’ve offered for a National Convention. For most events of this type, the cost continues to rise over the course of many years.

In the case of our conferences and conventions, not only has the registration cost NOT gone up, but it’s actually gone down. That’s because we have made a concerted effort to make attending these events as easy as possible.

When it comes to these events, our first priority is NOT to make money from the event itself. Our first priority is to get Network recruiters together so they can network, share hot job orders and candidates, and build relationships so they can go back to their offices and make placements together.

Our first priority with these events is the health and well-being of your recruiting firm. Without you, there is no Network. That’s why we absolutely want you to succeed.

If we could drop the price lower than we already have, we would do it. We very much want you to attend the National Convention, join us in Las Vegas, have a great time, and build your business.

So sign up now! We’ll see you there.

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To sign up for the convention with a credit card, login to the Members’ Area. Then locate the convention registration links on the left-hand side of the page. Click on the appropriate links and follow the instructions to submit the correct information.

If you have any questions about the National Convention, please contact Director of Network Operations Drea Codispodi, CPC/CERS at 330.455.1433, x156 or via email at drea@topechelon.com.

We have some fresh faces in our Network awards for the month of February! Specifically, we have fresh faces in terms of our award for the largest fee of the month.

While these are fresh faces, they’re also veteran recruiters and Network members who have enjoyed quite a bit of success during their time in Top Echelon.

Largest fee for two industry veterans

Debbie Harper, CPC/CERS of Harper Hewes Executive Search & Recruiting is celebrating her 22nd anniversary as a Network recruiter during the month of March! Since she joined Top Echelon in 1994, she has made a total of 62 Network placements.

Debbie has attended numerous Top Echelon Network conferences and conventions, she fully embraces the concept of recruiter networking and split placements, and she’s been a model of consistency and production during her time in TE.

Gene McQueen of the Cameron Craig Group has worked in the shadow of top producer Trey Cameron, but he has still enjoyed considerable success in the Network. Gene has made a total of 27 Network placements, some of them with large fees like the one below. He also puts a premium in networking, communication, and the sharing of resources to make split placements.

So while we recognize Debbie and Gene for making this one placements, we also recognize them for their continued contributions and high standard of performance as Top Echelon Network recruiters. Congratulations!

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Largest Split Fee of the Month:

Gene McQueen

Debbie Harper

Debbie Harper, CPC/CERS of Harper Hewes Executive Search & Recruiting and Gene McQueen of the Cameron Craig Group

The position for this split placement was a Risk Advisory Principal. Harper was the job order recruiter, and McQueen was the candidate recruiter.

The action that stimulated this split placement was listed as, “Regular communication with a Top Echelon Network member.”

The fee for this split placement was $50,000.

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Top Echelon determines the monthly and quarterly winners of its Network recruiting awards in four distinct categories, which are listed below:

1.) Recruiter of the Month
2.) Largest Split Fee of the Month
3.) Recruiter of the Quarter
4.) Largest Split Fee of the Quarter

The winners of these awards are only announced in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, usually (but not always) in the issue following the conclusion of each month and/or quarter.

How loyal are Top Echelon Network recruiters to their trading partners? They’re so loyal they’re willing to fight over those trading partners!

After all, when you find a good partner, one with whom you’ve made placements, you want to keep making placements with them. And when they start making placements with another recruiter . . .

Time to fight!

In all seriousness, we at Top Echelon want all Network recruiters to make splits with each other. However, when recruiters become protective of their trading partners (even in jest), that shows the value of Network membership.

In short, Network recruiters VALUE the trading partner relationships they build in Top Echelon.

That’s because the relationships that they have provide value for them, and they provide value in a number of ways, including:

• Split placements
• Business development
• Sharing of industry and niche-specific knowledge

If you’re looking to build and nurture trading partner relationships like the ones listed below, then I encourage you to contact Top Echelon Director of Network Operations Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS at 330.455.1433, x156 or via email at drea@topechelon.com.

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Deb North

“Bob Small is BACK! 2016 is going to be his year . . . with me, of course. Stay away, Dave Sgro. Thank you for being an awesome trading partner, Bob.”

Submitted by Deb North of Deb North Consulting, LLC regarding her Network split placement with Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc.

Position Title—SENIOR WEB APPLICATIONS DEVELOPER

Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: This is the fifth Network split placement that North and Small have made together in Top Echelon.)

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Steve Kohn

Dan Trudeau

“Steve is a great partner to work with, and I’m very happy we were able to get this together.”

Submitted by Dan Trudeau of The PRA Group, Inc. regarding his Network split placement with Steve Kohn of Affinity Executive Search

Position Title—HARDWARE VALIDATION ENGINEER

Fee Percentage—22.5%

(Editor’s note: This is the x Network split placement that Trudeau and Kohn have made together in Top Echelon.)

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Trey Cameron

Ed Keil, CPC

“Trey’s prolific sourcing generated another great candidate for a tough search in rural Texas. Thanks, Trey!”

Submitted by Ed Keil, CPC of Reliance Recruiting regarding his Network split placement with Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group

Position Title—SHIPPING SUPERVISOR

Fee Percentage—25%

(Editor’s note: This is the first Network split placement that Keil and Cameron have made together in Top Echelon.)