While we were at the National Convention in St. Petersburg at the end of last month, something funny happened: we moved!

For 25 years, we were located in a building in downtown Canton, near the center of the city.  We’re now in a new location, although we’re still in the city of Canton, Ohio.

All things considered, 25 years is a long time.  A move was inevitable, and the inevitable has arrived.

With the move in mind, I’d like to bring attention to the fact that we have a new physical address—one that will, of course, replace the one that many of you have been using for quite some time.

That new address is as follows:

Top Echelon Network
4883 Dressler Road, N.W., Ste. 203
Canton, OH 44718

At our previous location, we had both a physical address and a P.O. Box number.  Neither of those are valid any longer, and we have no plans to secure a new P.O. Box number.

Consequently, use the above address for any and all correspondence that you send to us.  If you have any specific questions, please give us a call at (330) 455-1433.

As always, thanks very much for your commitment as a Network recruiter and loyalty as a Top Echelon customer!

Here at Top Echelon, we’re excited about the Network’s 25th anniversary.  This is especially the case after the robust attendance that we enjoyed at the recent Fall Conference in Chicago.

I say “robust” because attendance at that event represented the most recruiters we’ve had at a National Convention or Fall Conference for a few years.  Six or seven years ago, it was normal for anywhere between 150 and 180 recruiters to attend one of our events.

With that in mind, it might not surprise you to know that our goal is to get that many Preferred Member recruiters to sign up for the 2013 National Convention.  The convention is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27, at the Trade Winds Resort Hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla.

As we’ve mentioned before, this our 25th anniversary convention, so we’re going to blow it up “Gangnam Style”!

Okay, that was a joke.  There’s no way we’re doing THAT.  However, now that I have your attention, I’d like to inform you that “Early Bird Registration” for the 2013 National Convention will be available on Wednesday, December 5.

That might seem like that’s way off . . . but it’s.  It’s only a month and a couple of days.  So if you plan to join us in Florida next April for the convention, be sure to register during the Early Bird period, because that’s when you can take advantage of the best price for the convention.

(And we haven’t raised the price for our National Convention in years.  In fact, we’ve dropped the price.  That’s how much we believe in the value that these events provide.)

If you haven’t already made plans to join us in Florida next April, you should seriously consider doing so.  It’s going to be one of our best events ever—and it will be even better if YOU are there to join in the fun and networking.

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330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
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As many of you are aware, we hold a training session every Friday for users of the Big Biller recruiting software.  This session is designed to cover the basics of Big Biller for anybody wanting to know more about how to use the software (and use it correctly, I might add).

I’m pleased to announce that starting next month, I will be conducting a weekly “Network Basic Training” session, modeled after our Friday Big Biller training.

Like the Big Biller training, this session will cover the basics of your Top Echelon Network Preferred Membership.  In other words, it will help you to get the most out of your Membership in the Network—what things you should be doing, when you be doing them, and how you should be doing them.

The Big Biller training on Friday starts at 1 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST).  My Network Basic Training session will take place immediately after that, at 2 p.m., EST.

The procedure for this training will be the same as that for the Big Biller training.  There will be a link in the news section of the Members’ Area containing a link for joining my session.  There’s no need to register; all you have to do is join the session right before it begins or while it’s in the progress.

The first Top Echelon Network Basic Training session is scheduled for 2 p.m., EST on Friday, November 2, and every Friday thereafter.  (However, there won’t be a session on Friday, November 23, since that’s the day after Thanksgiving and we won’t be in the office.)

If you have any questions about this upcoming training, please contact me by either phone or email.  In the meantime, I hope that you’ll join me on Friday for the first Top Echelon Network Basic Training session!

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330.455.1433, x156
drea@topechelon.com
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The Central Ohio Regional Core Group is meeting again!

Why are they meeting?  Because the members of the group find value in these meetings, including making split placements together . . . which is why YOU should consider joining a Regional Core Group, too.  (If you haven’t already, that is.  I’ll cut you some slack then.)

Below are the specifics for the next Central Ohio Regional Core Group meeting.

Date: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Location: Catering by Design

Address: 6465 Busch Blvd., Columbus, OH 43229

Phone number: (614) 436-1234

Speaker: TBD (an announcement will be made once a speaker is selected)

Cost: $18 per person, payable at the door

Make your checks payable to “Drea Codi—“ . . . no, scratch that.  Make your checks payable to “Top Echelon Network.”  Or, if you’d like, we can just add the total to your monthly Top Echelon invoice.  We’re flexible like that.

If you’d like to join this meeting, please RSVP to me by sending an email to drea@topechelon.com. I also encourage you to contact me if you’d like to join an existing Regional Core Group or start a new one.

I strongly encourage you . . .

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330.455.1433, x156
Drea@TopEchelon.com
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Next year, we’ll be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Top Echelon Network!  That includes celebrating at the 2013 National Convention.

As part of that celebration, we’re heading back to the Trade Winds Resort Hotel in St. Petersburg, Fla., site of the very first Top Echelon Network National Convention.

Also as part of that celebration, we’ve secured industry trainer Danny Cahill as the main speaker for the convention.  It’s been quite a while since Cahill has participated in a Top Echelon event, and we’re glad to have him back, especially for something as momentous as our 25th anniversary National Convention!

Cahill is, in short, a legend in the recruiting industry.  He started at Hobson Associates right out of college.  He became its Rookie of the Year, top producer, and general manager by the age of 26.  At 27, he bought the company and has since built it into one of the country’s largest search firms specializing in Software Sales, Bio Tech Sales, and Industrial Sales talent.

Cahill was the Educational Chairperson of the Pinnacle Society, 75 of the highest achievers in the industry, and he personally mentors many members.  He also owns and runs AccordingToDanny.com, an online training and mentoring company dedicated to enhancing the skills and jumpstarting the spirits of recruiters worldwide.

Remember, the dates of the 2013 National Convention are Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27. The last weekend in April has traditionally been the “sweet spot” for the convention, especially in terms of attendance.

Speaking of which, we’re looking forward to a considerable amount of people attending the 2013 National Convention.  We had around 120 recruiters at the recent Fall Conference, and we believe that we can get at least that many recruiters to the Trade Winds (and maybe even 150).

So stay tuned for more information regarding our 25th anniversary and the 2013 National Convention, including registration dates, registration prices, and a preliminary agenda of activities.

We look forward to seeing YOU in St. Pete!

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330.455.1433, x125
mdeutsch@topechelon.com
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Every once in a while, I unfortunately have to write an article such as this one.  It pains me to do so, but it also reminds me of the brevity of life and how it should not be taken for granted.

It is with deep regret that I must inform the Top Echelon Network Preferred Membership of the passing of Network recruiter John Cokinos of J.D. Cotter Search, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio.

John started recruiting in 1976, so he was definitely a veteran of the recruiting industry.  (J.D. Cotter Search joined Top Echelon Network in 2001.)

We received news of John’s passing earlier this week.  He was a good man and friend to many, and he will be truly missed by those who knew him best.

Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends.  We will keep everybody involved in the situation in our thoughts and prayers.

During the second week of October, I’ll be in Chicago for the 2012 Top Echelon Network Fall Conference.  Because I haven’t yet figured out to how to be in two places at once, I won’t be in Canton on the second Thursday of the month.

That’s significant because Thursday is typically the day that I hold Virtual Core Group (VCG) teleconference calls for Preferred Member recruiters of Top Echelon Network.  As you might have already guessed, the Fall Conference is going to push back the upcoming VCG schedule.

The groups that normally have their calls on the second Thursday of the month (in this case, October 11) will now have them on the third Thursday of the month (October 18).  Those groups are Aerospace/DOD, Software Sales, and Information Technology.

Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.

During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing in the market, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.  These are the activities that lead most directly to making split placements.

Below is the Virtual Core Group teleconference call schedule for the month of October (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time).

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

And I sincerely hope that I’ll see you at the Fall Conference next month . . . if I don’t, you can expect to hear about it from me.  No kidding.

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330.455.1433, x156
drea@topechelon.com
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I’ve got the new Virtual Core Group schedule!

See how I’m trying to inject some excitement into Virtual Core Groups . . . that’s because there’s a lot to get excited about, people!

Virtual Core Groups help recruiters in Top Echelon Network make placements.  It’s happened in the past, and it’s most certainly going to happen again in the future.  I want YOU to participate in these groups, and I want YOU to make more splits.

Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.

During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.  These are the activities that lead most directly to making split placements.  (Did I mention that?)

Below is the Virtual Core Group teleconference call schedule for the month of September (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time).

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

My contact information is below. Yes, I’m talking to you.  Don’t make me turn this blog post around.

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330.455.1433, x156
drea@topechelon.com
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The “dog days of summer” are almost here.

While it might be argued that the “dog days” have been with us since the beginning of summer in the form of ridiculously high temperatures and corresponding drought, I’m talking specifically about the month of August.  (That’s the month traditionally associated with the “dog days of summer.)

And a new month brings with it a Virtual Core Group (VGC) schedule in Top Echelon Network.

As I’ve mentioned before (and will undoubtedly mention many times again), Virtual Core Group meetings are regularly scheduled conference calls for Preferred Member recruiters who work in the same industry or niche.

During these calls, recruiters share information about the activity they’re seeing, they share hot job orders and candidates, and they also bounce ideas off one another.  These are the activities that lead most directly to making split placements.

Below is the Virtual Core Group teleconference call schedule for the month of August (all times listed are Eastern Standard Time).

As you can see above, the first two Thursdays of the month and the second slot of the third Thursday are filled with conference calls.  That second slot is for the Energy/Oil & Gas group.  Please remember that the time for that call is from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. on August 16 and not noon to 1 p.m.  I’d hate for you to call the number at the wrong time.

If you think you’d like to start a new Virtual Core Group—or join an existing one—please contact me!

My contact information is below.  You have no excuse.

— — —

330.455.1433, x156
drea@topechelon.com
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I am writing this blog post to inform you that unfortunately, LinkedIn has officially pulled out of their deal for “LinkedIn Recruiter.”

As you know, we had struck a deal for “LinkedIn Recruiter” for Preferred Members of Top Echelon Network.

Under the terms of that deal, Preferred Members could purchase one year of “LinkedIn Recruiter” at a cost of just $2,500 (half the regular price of $5,000), as long as we were able to secure commitments from 50 recruiters.

However, after LinkedIn officials further discussed the deal with their sales staff, they came to the conclusion that it is not viable.  As a result, we will not be able to offer it to the Network Membership.

We attempted to strike a modified version of the original deal, but such efforts did not transpire.

Despite this disappointment, please be assured that we will continue striving to exceed your expectations in our attempts to add even more value to your Preferred Membership.

As always, thank you for your commitment as a Top Echelon Network recruiter.

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330.455.1433, Ext. 172
mdemaree@topechelon.com
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