Matthew Deutsch

We at Top Echelon are thrilled to share that TE Network will soon begin unveiling the members of its 2025 Hall of Fame class.

In other words, we’ll be celebrating the most outstanding recruiters who are or have been part of our Network!

This year’s announcements will lead up to the TE Connect Fall 2025 event, taking place October 21–22 in Columbus, Ohio.

The TE Hall of Fame recognizes recruiters who have achieved exceptional results, shown unwavering dedication, and made a lasting impact on both the recruiting profession and our Network community.

Last Year’s Hall of Fame Class

Below are the recruiters (and agencies) who were inducted into Top Echelon’s first-ever Hall of Fame class in 2024 (inactive members and/or retired recruiters are listed in italics):

• Steve Brody of Executive Resource Systems
• Michael Stuck of Gables Search Group
• Al Daum of Alan N. Daum & Associates
• Trey Cameron of The Cameron Craig Group
• Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.
• Gary Silver of The Shay Group
• Al Katz of First Search
• Bruce Ramstad of Bruce Ramstad
• Larry Ploscowe of EXEK Recruiters, Ltd.
• Terry Rhodes of NewCareers
• David M. Sgro, CPC of True North Consultants, Inc.
• Kristy Staggs of Byrnes & Rupkey, Inc.
• Veronica Snyder of Career Professionals, Inc.
• Jerry Walter of Walter & Associates, Inc.
• David Kersey of Kersey & Associates, Inc.
• Steve Kohn of Affinity Executive Search, Inc.
• Lou Michaels of Lou Michaels Associates, Inc.
• Donna Carroll, CPC of Systems Personnel
• Angela Marasco of A. Marasco Recruiting, LLC
• Nick Stoia, CPC of ASAP Search
• Gary Schultz of Work 22, Inc.
• Bob Millman of AutoPro Technical Recruiting
• Jim Strickland of BioSource Recruiters
• Larry Radzely of Adel-Lawrence Associates, Inc.
• Jim Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick & Associates
• David Wood, CPC of The David Wood Company
• Maria Hemminger of MJ Recruiters, LLC
• MJ Recruiters, LLC
• KB Search Team, LLC
• Pat McCombs, CPC of KB Search Team, LLC
• Brenda Wylie-Biggs, CPC of KB Search Team, LLC
• Corporate Resources, LLC
• Chris Ramsay, CPC of Corporate Resources, LLC
• Brad Dodge of iLocatum Recruiting
• Dan Simmons, CPC of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.
• Mark Udulutch of Markent Personnel
• Kerry Boehner of KOB Solutions
• John Peterson of Sun Recruiting, Inc.
• Larry Gallin of Gallin Associates
• Ron Sunshine of Ron Sunshine Associates, LLC

It was a sizeable class, to be sure, but that’s what happens when you wait 36 years to induct your first class of HOF members. Luckily, we only had to wait one year for the next class . . .

Why This Matters

The Hall of Fame is about more than numbers. It’s about leadership, collaboration, and the positive ripple effect our top recruiters create within the Network.

Their careers (both inside and outside of TE Network) stand as proof that excellence in recruiting comes from a mix of skill, perseverance, and community spirit.

Join Us for the Celebration

The TE Connect Fall 2025 event will be the perfect opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate these incredible professionals. In addition to powerful training sessions and networking opportunities, attendees will get to honor the newest members of the Hall of Fame in person.

Make sure you’re following us on social media and reading The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog so you don’t miss any of the announcements!

In the past, we’ve asked you to submit your craziest recruiting stories. In fact, we even had a contest one year.

Matthew Deutsch

Guess what? We’re doing it again! (Well, maybe not the contest part.)

You may have noticed that we recently made an announcement on social media about wanting crazy recruiting stories. However, we’re now making a specific request of Network recruiters regarding these stories.

The reason we’re doing this is because historically, TE Network recruiters have provided the best and craziest stories.

Now all recruiters have crazy stories, but Network members have come through with unique tales of woe time and time again. For example . . .

• The candidate taken hostage by Mexican drug cartel wannabes

• The candidate who brought a boa constrictor to their interview

• The candidate who got into a fistfight with the hiring manager during their interview (for a good reason)

These are just a few of the gems that TE Network recruiters have sent to us through the years. But we’re betting that you have more stories—many more stories, as a matter of fact. There is always something crazy happening in the recruiting profession.

So even though we’re not holding a contest this time, we’re still seeking the craziest stories you have. This invitation is open to all recruiters in TE Network, both agency owners and individual recruiters.

As we’ve mentioned before, these stories could be about clients. They could be about candidates. They could even be about another recruiter. They could be about all three. It doesn’t matter. They just have to be unusual in a way that stretches the boundaries of believe-ability.

Submit your ‘craziest recruiting story’!

Keep in mind that you can remain anonymous if you would like, and by submitting your story, you give us permission to include the story in a future blog or social media post.

Because we don’t just want to collect the crazy . . . we want to share it, as well!

We’re all drowning from information saturation, so I will keep this brief. I have a simple recipe for success in TE Network.

Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS

Once you have followed through with this, weeks or months down the road, you will see a difference in what you are doing in our recruiting network. This is a difference that can yield a stronger understanding of what is happening in your TE community, relationships that will prove to be fruitful, and success in your business.

Let’s face it: these are the reasons that you’re here.

How long does it take to build momentum in TE Network? It is up to YOU.

When you join the local gym, do you expect to look like Captain America after two weeks of working out and trying to stay on a healthy diet? It’s a process that requires diligence, yet the results are life-changing . . . TE Network is no different.

Here is your road map:

1. Update Your Recruiter Profile.
   • Add a photo.
   • Tag yourself with ALL relevant NAICS/Industry and SOC codes. In the description, spell out the details about you as a recruiter, such as the position titles and skill sets that define your recruiting firm.
   • Personal profile: who are you? Let other TE Network members know who you are as an Earth-dwelling human.
2. Share any active jobs you have to the Network.
   • The clients that are hiring right now need to see your capabilities. Be the recruiter who provides that client with the best talent in the most timely fashion by leveraging the power of TE Network.
3. Respond to any Network requests of your candidates.
4. Call at least three recruiters each week who work your niche, introduce yourself, initiate a new relationship, or rekindle an existing one.
   1. “How do I find who works what I do?”
      • Run a search in the Network Candidates sourcing tool for the types of candidates you regularly seek. When you see recurring names of TE Network members in the results, those are your trading partners whom you have not yet met. (Or you could look to the bottom left of the filters and see the top five recruiters who are holding the majority of the candidates in your search results.)
      • Create an Alert in Network Jobs that will show you which jobs are currently in TE Network and will ALERT you to the new ones daily.

Do you want to wait for the battle to learn to fight . . . or prepare NOW?

Top Echelon Training and Support Manager Todd Bossler recently conducted a special TE Recruit Training Tuesday webinar titled, “Texting Smarter: Best Practices in TE Recruit.”

Matthew Deutsch

You may have attended this free webinar on Tuesday, August 5. On the other hand, you may not have been in attendance.

Regardless, we have the recorded version of the webinar, which I am presenting to you now. (The recording is also located in the Top Echelon Help Center.)

If you are not a user of our recruiting software, TE Recruit, then check out the video, anyway, to see how the software could benefit your recruiting desk and agency.

We at Top Echelon are continually working to make the resources that we provide to our customers better, and this is yet more proof!

Below is the official description of this training video:

— — —

Todd Bossler

Texting is one of the most effective ways to reach candidates and clients. BUT with evolving compliance rules, it’s crucial to do it right.

In this Training Tuesday webinar video, join Top Echelon Training and Support Manager Todd Bossler as he walks through everything you need to know about using TE Recruit’s premium texting feature effectively and responsibly. From staying compliant with A2P (Application-to-Person) regulations to crafting high-impact messages, this video will help you maximize results while minimizing risk.

During this FREE training video, Todd covers:

• Best practices for texting candidates and clients
• Common pitfalls and what to avoid
• Tips for composing clear, compliant messages
• Recent updates designed to help you stay within A2P guidelines
• Use cases for texting as part of your recruiting workflow

Stay compliant, stay connected, and stay ahead by watching this video so you can start “Texting Smarter: Best Practices in TE Recruit”!

Watch this TE Recruit training video!

Remember to check The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog every week for more updates regarding Top Echelon software improvements and upgrades.

If you have any questions about how you can maximize your TE Network membership, please contact Director of Network Operations Drea Codispoti, CPC/CERS.

You can do so by calling 330.595.1742 or by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com.