Everybody likes to be recognized for their accomplishments and achievements—and Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters are no different.  This is why we like to recognize them, in as many ways as we can.  One way is here in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.  How do we recognize them?  For both monthly and quarterly performance in two categories—Recruiter of the Month and Highest Split Placement Fee of the Month.

Below are the winners of these awards for March of 2011, as well as the first quarter of the year.  We’d like to congratulate those recruiters who earned them and thank them for their efforts.  For more information about the placements and cash-in totals associated with these awards, please login to the Members’ Area and view the profiles and placement details of the recruiters involved.

Recruiter of the Month
Carol Brinkman of Corporate Resources, LLC

Carol was one of four recruiters who made two Network placements during the month of March.  However, she edged out the other three based upon her cash-in total for those placements.  The other three recruiters were Bob Ferris of Ferris & Associates, LLC; Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.; and Maria Hemminger of MJ Recruiters, LLC.

Recruiter of the Quarter
Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc.

Sean made a total of four placements during the first quarter of 2011, and that total was one more than any other recruiter in the Network. David Wick of Career Center of Cincinnati, Inc.; Steve Brody of Executive Resource Systems; and Jim Strickland of BioSource International made three placements apiece.

Highest Split Placement Fee of the Month
Marla C. Ray of Scientific Resources, Inc. and Lisa Greer-Boland of Stewart Cooper & Coon

This placement was for a Director of Pre-Clinical Lab Operations.  Marla was the job order recruiter, and Lisa was the candidate recruiter.  The action causing this placement was listed as “Regular phone communication with a TE Network Member in my specialty area.”

Highest Split Placement Fee of the Quarter
Denise Milano Sprung of Joseph Associates, Inc. and Jan Clements of Med Exec International

This placement was for a Director of Clinical Pharmacology.  Denise was the job order recruiter, and Jan was the candidate recruiter.  The action causing this placement was listed as “Regular phone communication with a TE Network Member in my specialty area.”

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Top Echelon Network is a split placement network.  As such, we place an emphasis on split placements, and that emphasis constitutes our criteria for these awards.  We determine the monthly and quarterly award winners based upon two things: 1.) The number of split placements made, and 2.) The amount of cash-in dollars earned.

The best way to find out how to enjoy success in Top Echelon Network . . . is to ask the Top Producers how they’ve enjoyed success.  Makes sense, right?  Well, that’s exactly what we did, and now we’re going to present their answers in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

This week, we’re highlighting Rebecca Kohn of Affinity Executive Search.  Rebecca is currently ranked 20th overall in the Network in terms of production.  She’s made a total of 13 split placements in Top Echelon Network during the past three years.  Her specialty is Agriculture, Animal Science, and Food Processing.

We asked Rebecca some questions to find out exactly what she’s doing right in the Network and how she’s making split placements.  Our questions—and her answers—are listed below.  Thanks, Rebecca . . . and congratulations!

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1. What factors have led to your success as a Preferred Member?

“Help from God and Trading Partners who are very patient and trustworthy and are willing to go the extra mile to make sure that we are successful.”

2. How have The Four Pillars of the Network (Quality, Communication, Trust, and Active Participation) played a role in your success?

“My Trading Partners are completely trustworthy people who tell me what they’re looking for and communicate what is actually going on with the company, so that I know how to prioritize my time.  They are also really good recruiters!”

3. Have Regional Core Groups, Virtual Core Groups, or attending Top Echelon conferences and conventions played a role in your success?  If so, how?

“I haven’t attended [a convention] yet, but I’m looking forward to attending the upcoming one in Fort Lauderdale.”

4. How have the split placements you’ve made in the Network enhanced the overall production of your recruiting desk?

“Dramatically. Almost every split placement I’ve made has been through Top Echelon.”

5. What is your philosophy regarding split placements (i.e., how they fit into your business model, how many you strive to make in a given year, etc.)

“I make many more placements, and therefore much more money, when I focus on split placements.  I try to make as many as possible.”

6. If a new Member asked your advice about how to find good Trading Partners, what would you tell them?

“Find a Core Group of people you can trust and whose job orders you can basically understand.  If you’re an exporter, look for recruiters with good client control.”

7. What other advice would you give a new Member?

“Be persistent.  Really persistent.”

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If there’s a Top Producer you think we should be asking questions, email their name to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

Believe it or not, the first month of 2011 is already gone.  Where did it go?  Don’t ask us.  But you can ask us who the Network’s “Recruiter of the Month” is.  We have the answer to that one: Tim Hopkins, CPC/CTS of Stephens International Recruiting, Inc.

Those aren’t the only answers that we have, at least as far as recognition awards for the month of January are concerned.  We recognize recruiters for both monthly and quarterly performance in three categories—Recruiter of the Month, Highest Split Fee of the Month, and Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month.

Below are the winners of the awards for January.  We’d like to congratulate those recruiters who earned them and thank them for their efforts.  Remember, for more information about the placements and cash-in totals associated with these awards, please login to the Members’ Area and view the profiles and placement details of the recruiters involved.

Recruiter of the Month
Tim Hopkins, CPC/CTS of Stephens International Recruiting, Inc.

Tim was one of three recruiters who made two Network placements during the month of January.  However, he edged out the other two based upon his cash-in total for those placements.  The other two recruiters were Ron Sunshine of Ron Sunshine Associates and Tom Heeney of Corporate Resources, LLC.

Highest Split Fee of the Month
Tom Heeney of Corporate Resources, LLC and Don Fredrick of Executech, Inc.

This placement was for a Sales Manager.  The action causing this placement was listed as “Regular phone communication with a TE Network Member in my specialty area.”

Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month
Michael Foster of Mike Foster & Associates, LLC

The position for this placement was a Hospital Services Analyst.  Donna received quite a hefty sum for placing the candidate, and once again, you can see the exact amount of the fee by accessing her Recruiter Profile in the Members’ Area.

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Our criteria for these awards:

Top Echelon Network is a split placement network.  As such, we place an emphasis on split placements, and that emphasis constitutes a large part of our criteria for these awards.  We determine the monthly and quarterly award winners based upon two things, which are listed below in order of importance:

1.) The number of split placements made
2.) The amount of cash-in dollars earned as a result of those split placements

Welcome to the second blog post in our series about the 2010 Top Echelon Network Regional Award winners.  Last week, we published the winners in five of the nine regions: Pacific, West North Central, East North Central, New England, and Middle Atlantic.  This week, we’re announcing the award winners in the remaining four regions. For the purposes of this award, we break the country up into nine different regions, and the Regional Awards are based upon the Frequent Placer Program (FPP) points that Preferred Members earn over the course of the calendar year.  Members can earn FPP points in a variety of ways, starting with making split placements.  They can also earn them for telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and meeting other Preferred Members in person. Listed below are the award winners in the four remaining regions.  The top four or five recruiters in each region are listed, along with the number of FPP points that they earned.  The top recruiter in each region will receive an award at the 2011 National Convention in May. South Atlantic 18,844—Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group 17,372—Marc Tappis of Opportunity Search, Inc. 13,320—Dan Simmons, CPC of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc. 12,256—Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc. 11,503—Michael Foster of Mike Foster & Associates, LLC Mountain 8,032—Marty Stan of Samaritan Technical Professional 4,948—Peter Oettinger of Front Line Solutions, LLC 4,792—Linda Parobek of The Alexander Group 4,516—Thomas Edwards of Front Line Solutions, LLC West South Central 20,182—Sean Napoles, CPC of Career Brokers, Inc. 6,744—Greg Downs of Downs Associates 6,604—Cathy George, CPC of C.G. & Company 5,343—Carolyn Barcus of Barcus Associates 5,172—Tim Hopkins, CPC/CTS of Stephens International Recruiting, Inc. East South Central 12,248—Larry Barlow of Tax Advantage Personnel, Inc. 12,080—Glenda Smith of Metaljobs Network 9,026—Paul Johnson of Paul Johnson & Associates 6,990—Betsy Vincent of The Williams Company 6,133—Tim Hughes of Hughes & Associates Be sure to check future issues of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog for additional articles regarding award winners within the Network for 2010.

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MDemaree@TopEchelon.com (330) 455-1433, Ext. 172

Last week in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog, we published the names of the Top Ten Recruiters in Top Echelon Network for 2010.  The number-one Top Producer, of course, was Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc.  This week, we’re continuing our series of articles regarding 2010 awards with our Regional Award winners.

For the purposes of this award, we break the country up into nine different regions, and the Regional Awards are based upon the Frequent Placer Program (FPP) points that Preferred Members earn over the course of the calendar year.  Members can earn FPP points in a variety of ways, starting with making split placements.  They can also earn them for telephone interviews, face-to-face interviews, and meeting other Preferred Members in person.

Below are the winners of five of the nine regions within Top Echelon Network in 2010.  The top five recruiters in each region are listed, along with the number of FPP points that they earned.  The top recruiter in each region will receive an award at the 2011 National Convention in May.

Pacific

97,517—Richard Lechtenberg of Dick Berg & Associates
78,530—Denice Kerr of Moonriver Resources
53,350—Kathryn Shepherd, CPC/CSP of The Focus Agency
47,827—David Wood of The David Wood Company
40,000—Merlin McIntire of McIntire & Carr

West North Central

98,140—Bob Wylan of R.A. Wylan & Co., Inc.
86,238—Matt Scheihing of J. Miles Personnel Services
76,745—Dan Schultz, CSP of Premier Employment Solutions
76,266—Alan Carty of Automationtechies.com
69,357—Thomas Windsor of Corporate Resources, Inc.

East North Central

166,127—Carol Brinkman of Corporate Resources, LLC
145,344—Maria Hemminger of MJ Recruiters, LLC
144,419—Pat McCombs of KB Search Team, LLC
137,840—Eric V. Stearley, CPC of Eric Stearley & Associates
133,572—Suzanne Griffith, CPC of J S Griffith & Associates

New England

172,964—Richard Connors of Vista Technology
133,114—Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates
70,018—Maynard Charron of Paper Industry Recruitment
55,648—Donna Carroll of Systems Personnel
45,571—Betsy Harper of Sales and Marketing Search, Inc.

Middle Atlantic

134,749—Philip Bartfield of Bartfield Search, Inc.
115,520—Larry Radzely of Adel-Lawrence Associates, Inc.
107,685—Joseph F. Papa, CPC/CTS of American Medical Personnel Services, Inc.
100,307—Shari Skurnik of Omega Management Group
70,947—Cindy Sommer of SearchStars, Inc.

Be sure to check next week’s issue of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog for the rest of our Regional Award winners, as well as other 2010 awards winners within Top Echelon Network.

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MDemaree@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 172

In years past, we’ve run the names of Top Echelon Network’s Top-Producing Recruiters in The Pinnacle newsletter, particularly when the newsletter was in hardcopy form (consisting of actual pieces of paper), as well as the Adobe PDF version.  Well, now that The Pinnacle newsletter is a blog, we intend to still recognize the names of the Top Producers, especially when it comes to their accomplishments during a full year.

In this case, that year is 2010, and the recruiters I’m recognizing are those constituting the Top 10 in the Network.  Before I announce the Top Producer for last year (as if you didn’t already read that in the headline), a quick word about the awards.

In years past, we’ve had separate awards for both split placements and non-split placements.  About midway through 2010, we switched to our Job Javelin job order posting service, as opposed to the contingency model, which we had used previously.  As a result, 2010 will the last year that the Top Producers will be determined through a combination of split placements and non-split placements.  Going forward, the focus will be split placements only, and the recruiter who earns the most cash-in on split placements (both perm and contract) will be the Top Producer overall.

But once again, we combined recruiters’ split placement and non-split placement cash-in totals to determine the Top 10 in the Network for last year.  It might come as no surprise that Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc. was the Top Producer in Top Echelon Network in 2010.  To be sure, there are some newer names in the Top 10, but Sean has consistently been in the Top 10 for years now, and he’s been at the top of the list quite a few times.  He’s as consistent a producer in Top Echelon Network as we’ve ever had.

Below is the rest of the Top 10 for 2010:

1st—Sean Napoles of Career Brokers, Inc.
2nd—Rich Connors of Vista Technology
3rd—Marc Tappis of Opportunity Search, Inc.
4th—Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group
5th—Carol Brinkman of Corporate Resources, LLC
6th—Pat McCombs of KB Search Team, LLC
7th—Suzanne Griffith, CPC of J S Griffith & Associates
8th—Eric Stearley, CPC of Eric Stearley & Associates
9th—Philip Bartfield of Bartfield Search, Inc.
10th—Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc.

I want to congratulate all of these recruiters and thank them for their hard work and dedication as Preferred Members of our Network.  Their efforts are greatly appreciated and their success is a testament to the fact that Top Echelon Network can and does help recruiters leverage the resources of their desk and their firm so that they can make split placements and generate more revenue.

We’ll be publishing the winners of other 2010 awards in future issues of The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.

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MDemaree@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 172

Everybody likes to be recognized for their accomplishments and achievements—and Top Echelon Network Preferred Member recruiters are no different.  This is why we like to recognize them, in as many ways as we can.  One way is here in The Pinnacle Newsletter Blog.  How do we recognize them?  Glad you asked.  For both monthly and quarterly performance in three categories—Recruiter of the Month, Highest Split Fee of the Month, and Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month.

Top Echelon Network is a split placement network.  As such, we place an emphasis on split placements, and that emphasis constitutes a large part of our criteria for these awards.  We determine the monthly and quarterly award winners based upon two things: 1.) The number of split placements made, and 2.) The amount of cash-in dollars earned.

Below are the winners of the awards for December of 2010, as well as the awards for the fourth quarter of the year.  We’d like to congratulate those recruiters who earned them and thank them for their efforts.  For more information about the placements and cash-in totals associated with these awards, please login to the Members’ Area and view the profiles and placement details of the recruiters involved.

Recruiter of the Month
Bob Long of Executive Personnel Services

Bob was one of three recruiters who made two Network placements during the month of December.  However, he edged out the other two based upon his cash-in total for those placements.  The other two recruiters were Bill Quackenbush, CPC/CTS of QCI Technical Staffing and Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group.

Recruiter of the Quarter
Trey Cameron of the Cameron Craig Group

Trey made a total of four placements during the fourth quarter of 2010, and that total was one more than any other recruiter in the Network.  Carol Brinkman of Corporate Resources, LLC and Marc Tappis of Opportunity Search, Inc. made three placements apiece.

Highest Split Fee of the Month
Maynard Charron of Paper Industry Recruitment and Kathryn Shepherd, CPC/CSP of The Focus Agency

This placement was for a Vice President of Sales.  The action causing this placement was listed as “Regular phone communication with a TE Network Member in my specialty area.”

Highest Split Fee of the Quarter
Maynard Charron of Paper Industry Recruitment and Kathryn Shepherd, CPC/CSP of The Focus Agency

Maynard and Kathryn won the award for the month . . . and their split fee for this placement was so large that they won the award for the fourth quarter of 2010, as well.  Remember to login to the Members’ Area to view the specific information associated with this placement.

Highest Non-Split Fee of the Month
Donna Carroll of Systems Personnel

The position for this placement was a Hospital Services Analyst.  Donna received quite a hefty sum for placing the candidate, and once again, you can see the exact amount of the fee by accessing her Recruiter Profile in the Members’ Area.

Highest Non-Split Fee of the Quarter
Donna Carroll of Systems Personnel

Just like with Maynard and Kathryn, the amount of Donna’s non-split placement fee was large enough to garner both the monthly AND quarterly award.  And incidentally, this was Donna’s 109th placement as a Preferred Member of Top Echelon Network.  Congratulations!

There are many recruiters in Top Echelon who are enjoying success using the Network’s tools and services.  In this feature, “The Recruiter’s Resume,” we’re going to highlight those recruiters, their accomplishments, and how they’ve been successful.

If you’d like to nominate somebody for this feature (including yourself), send an email to marketing@TopEchelon.com.

Preferred Member:

Matt Scheihing of J. Miles Personnel Services in Springfield, Missouri

Network Accomplishments:

Since J. Miles Personnel Services joined Top Echelon’s recruiter network as a Preferred Member firm in February of 2010, Scheihing has made four placements, all of them split placements.  (He also currently has an offer accepted with Dan Simmons of Continental Search & Outplacement, Inc.)

Matt’s Keys to Success in Top Echelon Network:

“We’ve been the supplier and placer an equal number of times, and communication with other Top Echelon Network Trading Partners has been key.  Letting them know what we have that’s really hot and also sharing solid candidates with the Network has also been important.”

Matt’s Trading Partners:

“We’re enthused that of the four splits since we joined Top Echelon Network earlier this year, we’ve worked with three different Trading Partners.”  (John Zurek of Zurek Professional Resources, LLC; Jacquelyn Zajac of ETSI Personnel; and Josie Erent of Talented Minds)

The Activity Level in Matt’s Niche (Technical and Professional Manufacturing):

“The activity level is definitely increasing.  We’re experiencing more job orders being released and candidates are receiving multiple offers.”

Matt’s Goals for Future Production in the Network:

“I will be one of the Top 12 Top-Producing Recruiters in 2011.”

Matt’s Advice:

“I believe it’s critical to locate TE Trading Partners you can work well with.  Finding Partners who I can communicate with and who understand my niche and/or requirements has been key.  In order to accomplish this, you must talk to the other Members to determine who’s a good fit, so pick up the phone and start meeting the people who want to help you.”

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Every month—and every quarter—we like to highlight the Top Producers in Top Echelon Network in The Pinnacle blog.  We now have two main categories of awards that we announce on a monthly and quarterly basis—Recruiter of the Month and Highest Split Fee of the Month.

Below are the winners of these awards for the month of November.  We’d like to congratulate those Preferred Members who earned them and thank them for their efforts.

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Recruiter of the Month
Rich Connors of Vista Technology

Rich made two placements during the month of November, while a group of Preferred Members made one placement apiece.  The two recruiters at the top of the one-placement heap (due to their cash-in total for that placement) were Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc. and Scott Riffle, CPC of SJR & Associates.

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Highest Split Fee of the Month–Scott Riffle, CPC of SJR & Associates and Eric Berg of JN Adams & Associates, Inc.

It makes sense that if Riffle and Berg had the highest cash-in totals for one placement during the month of November that they would be the recipients of this award, too.  This placement was for a General Manager of Operations, and Scott and Eric earned a 25% fee as a result of the placement.

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As always, if you have any suggestions for additional recognition awards, please email those suggestions to marketing@TopEchelon.com.  Live long and prosper.

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Has 2010 been a tough year for recruiters?  You’d better believe it . . . but many recruiters have enjoyed better than average years. And some have enjoyed good years.

Not great years, but good years.  However, in this economy, good is sometimes plenty good enough.

Preferred Member recruiter Bob Small of Carroll Technology Services, Inc., is one of those recruiters who’s enjoyed a good year in 2010.  How has he done it?  In large part, by relying on his Trading Partners.

“It’s been a good year,” said Small.  “Not anything like the record levels in 2003 through 2007, but it’s definitely been a good year.”

Small is currently ranked 15^th in the Network in terms of overall production.  This year, though, not all of that production has been from direct-hire placements.

“I’ve had more contractors out there, which has been good,” said Small.  “I haven’t done much contracting in the past, but it’s been working out for me.”

A couple of the Trading Partners with which Small has worked extensively are Philip Bartfield of Bartfield Search, Inc., and Dave Sgro, Jr. of True North Consultants, LLC.  However, it was a conversation that Small had with Dave Sgro, Sr. of True North Consultants, LLC that helped change his perspective—and improve his Network production—this year.

“Dave told me that he tries to have a certain number of Top Echelon touches every week,” said Small.  “I thought to myself, ‘He’s right, I’ve become too content with the Maryland [Regional] Core Group and the Trading Partners I’m comfortable with.’  I decided I needed to reach out to other recruiters.”

Among the different recruiters that Small contacted were Ed Nathan of Systems Search and Linda Gutekunst of LR Solutions, LLC.

Bob Small

“I’m looking to do more things in Top Echelon and to expand my networking space,” said Small.  “I’ve been busy trying to find people for these recruiters’ job orders.”

Making the decision to move out of his comfort zone and have a certain number of “Top Echelon touches” every week has translated into more job orders for Small.  He has not only his own, but also those of other Network Members.  No matter how busy Small is, though, he still finds time to communicate consistently.

“I have a lot of job orders on my desk, but I’m still trying to keep in contact with other recruiters,” said Small.  “I like to let my Trading Partners know what’s going on, either through email or over the phone, but I also like to call other recruiters who have job orders and say, ‘Hey, I might be able to help you with that.’  I like to stay in touch with people, so they think of me and keep me in mind.”

Small started in the recruiting industry in 1988 and Carroll Technology Services, Inc., joined Top Echelon Network in 2004.  During the past six years, Small has made a total of 47 Network placements, ALL of them split placements.

Small has some advice for those Preferred Members who want to enjoy more success within Top Echelon Network.

“You’re not going to have success with every recruiter in the Network,” said Small.  “But if you don’t reach out and try, you’re not going to get anywhere.  You have to participate and you have to put forth the effort.”

MDeutsch@TopEchelon.com
(330) 455-1433, Ext. 125

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