Staffing Industry Professional Development

Canadian Certified Personnel Consultant CPC

http://bit.ly/ACSESS_Winnipeg_Dec3  
Winnipeg - Register December 3, 2014

http://bit.ly/ACSESS_Calgary_Dec2  
Calgary - Register December 2, 2014

Not all staffing companies are created equal. The same goes for recruiters. Client managers repeatedly tell us that the most significant factor in selecting their staffing service company or recruitment firm is the person they deal with.

 
Sure, brand matters, technology matters, specialties, size, locations and reputation all matter. But, in the end, the actual recruiters and the people on the service team make customers happy. (and unhappy).
Dedicated recruitment industry professionals know how important it is to differentiate themselves from the rest of the pack. That's why top performing staffing professionals don't think twice about achieving their Certified Personnel Consultant (CPC) designation as a credible and demonstrative differentiation.

Hiring managers want a rapport with their recruiter that is based upon "Trust and Confidence". In gathering Trust and Confidence, they look at the credentials and qualifications of the recruiters and account managers. Trust and Confidence go well beyond an agency’s name and brochure. They are developed, they are earned, they are proven; and then they ultimately are given.

Hiring managers may not ask whether your staffing agency is a member of ACSESS. You should never miss the opportunity to tell them anyways. Tell your clients and prospects and candidates that as a member of the Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services, you have pledged to uphold the industry’s code of ethics and standards. The code addresses everything from disclosure of information to adherence to laws and respect of individuals. Active membership in ACSESS lends credibility to a client's decision to lend you their Trust and Confidence.

Don't miss the opportunity to print the letters “CPC” behind your name. The Certified Personnel Consultant designation is the only certification for professionals working within the Canadian staffing industry. A recruiter with the “CPC” credentials has made a commitment to the their profession, to the industry and to professional performance. If you've got it, flaunt it.

The CPC courses and exams address important topics such as the legal aspects of staffing services, human rights, privacy laws, employment standards, employment equity, health and safety, recruitment and selection techniques, and industry ethics.
A staffing industry professional with the CPC designation can speak proudly of a commitment to professional conduct and skilled practices.

ACSESS local chapters play an important role in promoting and offering CPC sessions.
I'm looking forward to delivering CPC courses in both Calgary, Alberta on December 2, 2014 and in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 3, 2014. My visits to Western Canada will also include appearances at ACSESS Chapter events. I'll be speaking on "Inspirational Leadership" while in Calgary and while in Winnipeg, I will present a repeat of the ACSESS Conference favorite session "Stop Trying to Change Me".

http://bit.ly/ACSESS_Winnipeg_Dec3 Read More about Winnipeg - Register December 3, 2014
http://bit.ly/ACSESS_Calgary_Dec2   Read More about Calgary - Register December 2, 2014

Register your seats today!

Executive Director - Ontario Track 3 Association

Ontario Track 3 Ski Association for children with disabilities is considering qualified candidates for the position of Executive Director.


Executive Director
Ontario Track 3 Ski 
for Children with Disabilities


Ontario Track 3 Ski Association is a well established and highly regarded volunteer based charity enabling kids with disabilities to discover their confidence, develop their talents and achieve their physical potential through the magic of snow sports.  Ontario Track 3 engages over 450 volunteers to professionally deliver adaptive ski and snow board programs at 14 ski resorts across Ontario.

The Role of Executive Director


The Executive Director has responsibility to lead and manage the organization according to the strategic direction set with the Board of Directors. The ED will actively engage in all aspects of the organization's activities, fostering effective team work between staff, volunteers, committees, ski resort
partners, funding agencies and the volunteer board of directors.

Reporting to the Board, the Executive Director’s priorities include:

• Over-all delivery of programs for children with disabilities
• Managing and leading a small core of staff
• Recruitment & retention of volunteer
• Leading and supporting committees
• Fundraising through sponsorships and grants
• Fundraising through promotions and events
• Ski resort and partner relations
• Facilities and equipment
• Public relations, promotions and communications
• Operational effectiveness, systems and efficiencies

Qualifications:


This successful candidate should have excellent inter-personal and leadership skills with knowledge of issues related to services for children with disabilities, charity governance and alpine snow sports. The ideal candidate will possess a post-secondary degree complemented by financial, administrative and related operational experience.


Compensation and benefits will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and over-all value to the organization.

How to Apply
 
Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a resume by email in confidence to Steve Jones, President Ontario Track 3 Association President before May 19th, 2014.  

email: steve.jones@bell.net 



Also posted : http://www.bullhornreach.com/job/1577752_executive-director-ski-association-for-children-with-disabilities-toronto-on-canada

www.track3.org

In Memoriam - Henk Engels

Henk Engels, Executive Director - Ontario Track 3 Ski Association

After a long and courageous battle with cancer, Henk Engels, Ontario Track 3 Executive Director, passed away peacefully on the morning of Monday April 7, 2014 while resting in North York General Hospital.

Henk Engels 73, graciously and generously gave over 37 years of service to children with disabilities and the Ontario Track 3 Ski Association.  Henk was an early partner of Ontario Track 3 as a volunteer ski instructor and was instrumental in the transition from an Ontario Easter Seals program to a highly respected independent charitable organization.  Over his many years of service he selflessly contributed as an instructor, fund raiser, board member, President and Executive Director.  Henk has played an important role in changing the lives of thousands of children with special needs. His contributions and accomplishments are truly reflected in Ontario Track 3 as one of his life’s great legacies. 

Henk is survived and missed most by his loving wife Susan, his proud sons Kevin and Randy and his grandson Bret. 

Our most sincere condolences and sympathies are expressed to family and friends on behalf of the Track 3 Board of Directors, staff members, volunteers, students of past and present and all association members.

Further information about visitations and the funeral service will be posted on the Track 3 website at www.track3.org  as details become available.

Steve Jones
President
Ontario Track 3 Ski Association

Bob Cohen Remembered

During the past 30 years I have witnessed a consistent transformation of the Canadian staffing industry and its players.   In the early 80’s, the industry was truly “entrepreneurial”.  At the time, Bob Cohen was the founder and President of Staffing Consultants.  He was a leader of the staffing industry’s entrepreneurial spirit.

I originally met Bob Cohen in Toronto in 1983 or 1984 at an Association of Canadian Search, Employment & Staffing Services meeting (formerly FTHS and CATS) and he quickly became a trusted mentor and advisor.  He believed that we could all thrive and succeed in our fledgling industry if we would collaborate together to promote the industry, share best practices, and set standards.  While some owners were naturally untrusting, insular, protective and secretive around competitors, Bob Cohen was the exact opposite.  He set a positive example for openness, sharing and professionalism. His goal was to make it a better industry for us all.

As a newcomer to the industry, I turned to Bob and few other industry greats for guidance, advice and leadership.  If you know a bit about the Canadian staffing industry’s past, you’ll understand why I associate Bob Cohen with Gil Rosen, Bill Coke and Ted Turner.  These guys cared and worked hard to foster the health and growth of an industry that has now become an important and integral part of Canadian business success.

Bob understood that relationships of trust are the key ingredient to successful collaboration. He phoned, he met, he talked, he was professional but most of all, he was personal.  Almost every time that we greeted each other or laughed or departed, Bob was comfortable in putting a hand on my shoulder.   Bob and I had many lunch meetings in Toronto, drinks in Montreal, dinners in Dallas and laughed in streets of Las Vegas.  Some men have the knack for comfortably nurturing relationships of trust and confidence.  He was that man.

With over 40 years in the industry Bob knew and influenced countless others as he did me.  He was instrumental in the staffing industry association merger, various industry public relations projects, government lobbying, conference planning and became the North American expert in staffing business valuations, mergers and acquisitions.

Together with his friend and business partner Sam Sacco, they successfully completed over 140 staffing industry M&A transactions.

Bob passed away peacefully on Saturday.  I know that I speak for many when say that our thoughts and prayers are with Bob and his family, especially his loving wife Debra.  He will be missed and always thought of with tremendous respect for his knowledge, his accomplishments, his values and his friendship.

Bob was instrumental and influential over many of the changes to the Canadian staffing industry. But while the business changed and evolved, the personality, the commitment and honourable nature of the man behind it remained the same.  Bob Cohen – Rest in Peace.

http://steelesmemorialchapel.com/condolence.html?fid=2456605.84482639#!  

“Cohen, Robert A. (Bob). Passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Beloved husband of Debra Joy Eklove. Devoted father of Paul Cohen, Julie and Corey Chandler. Adoring grandfather of Hudson Davis and Smith Beckett Chandler. Brother of Michael Cohen and Stephen Cohen both of California. Bob was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to Toronto to begin a business in the staffing industry. His passion as a teacher was expressed through his work in schools, as an entepreneur and leader in the Staffing industry for 40 years, as a baseball coach, mentor and scout for the Major League Baseball Commissioner's Office. His strength and courage, and feisty character will be sorely missed by family, many lifelong friends and colleagues.”

Canadian Labour Market Survey - September Surprise Data!

Finally, Statistics Canada reports believable numbers suggesting that employment was relatively unchanged in September.  The unemployment rate dipped under 7% as fewer youth searched for work.   

Shockingly, the numbers bureau reported a decline in youth job seekers during September when students returned to university and college.  So much for seasonal adjustments but common sense prevails over their typical strange revelations. 

In recent months, Statistics Canada’s has portrayed a roller coaster of economic ups and downs.  The wonky monthly data has proven to be unreliable and inaccurate. It is important to note that the Canadian Labour Market Survey is just that… a “Survey”. The monthly report is not intended to be a fact but that doesn't stop money traders and stock brokers from overreacting to the numbers, It's best to just stand back and observe the silliness.

Unemployment Rate

 

If the economy was really as volatile as the numbers suggest, we would all be in a persistent state of anxiety. The agency reported 11,000 jobs created in September, with 59,000 created in August, job losses in July and a massive 95,000 jobs gained in June.   

Employment and staffing industry professionals know there are far more reliable sources of information than the Statistics Canada Ouija Board Report.  For starters, the Canadian Staffing Index produced by ACSESS (Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services) is the largest Canadian sample of actual hours worked and should be viewed as one of the more reliable job indicators.  

According to StatsCan, Canadians gained 212,000 since last September, representing an increase of 1.2%. The number of workers in the job market also grew a similar pace.   Disappointingly, job creation continues to grow faster in part-time employment than full time.  

From the ACSESS website, “The Canadian Staffing Index was 113 in August. The index was unchanged from August a year ago, when the index was also 113.”    The Canadian Staffing Index is based upon actual hours worked for a significantly large sampling of temporary staffing providers in Canada. It is based upon the number of billed hours and is not seasonally adjusted.
  
"The August value of 113 is unchanged from a year ago, which implies flat or slightly positive growth in demand given that there was one fewer working day this August compared to a year ago. For most of 2013, the index has shown a trend of very minimal year-over-year growth in overall demand," says Timothy Landhuis, Research Analyst at Staffing Industry Analysts.

It will be interesting to see how the markets react to the ho-hum information.  My advice continues to be “Buy low, sell high and don’t read too much into the Statistics Canada Ouija Board report on the Labour Market”.

Best Baseball Song - The Pitcher

This is Harry Hildebrand's original song and performance of "The Pitcher".  The Best Baseball song ever.   Hildebrand is a Mississauga, Ontario resident and mechanical engineer specializing in commercial HVAC systems.  He's hit a home run with "The Pitcher", a ballad describing the hopes and heartbreaks of every kid with the promise, talent and chance to go to the show.    Rumour has it that some of America's musical greats are already showing interest in re-recording this song which will surely be recorded time and time again throughout the future as one of the best baseball songs ever written.. 

Congratulations Harry!    Are those cameo performances by Bob Skeates?  Whoa!