Continue to recruit talent during downturn, local business leaders say - Nashville Business Journal:

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“In the financial services you do your best recruitingb in theworst markets,” said Paul Purcell, president and CEO of Co., Milwaukee. “We grew our headcounyt four and a half percent last year when the industryy was down20 percent. We’llk probably grow another 5 percenty this year when the industryg will be down another15 percent.” Purcelkl was one of three panelists who took part in a pane l discussion hosted by the .
Jeffrey chairman, president and CEO of Milwaukee-base globaol staffing firm (NYSE: MAN), moderated the “When I’m running around smilingg when thingsare tough, it’s becaused I know that we’re adding to the strength of our Purcell said. “I love downturnz because you can actually manage the peoplethat you’ved got and manage the future much betterd than during an Having a top-notch bran is a major benefit in recruiting quality employees, said Peggt Troy, president and chief executive officer of , Wauwatosa. “Wwe have such a stronvg brand presence not only in the Milwaukee area but throughouft the state of Wisconsin and in the whole Midwest Troy said.
“Our ability to attract talent is very Developing and retaining leaders from within an organization also is she said. Children’s Hospitalo uses a talent management process to determine the level of leadershi skills for various positions withinthe system,” Troy “As we are trying to recruit and we know exactly what the job requirements she said. Recruiting top-level talent to the Milwaukeer canbe challenging, Purcello said. Baird has been successful in attractinf “homegrown” employees who were raised in the area.
“Youy can only build a firm like Baire only so far withjust homegrowns,” Purcell “Then you have to go and get people in and you have to get them You’ve got to get them in high schoolo or right out of college. Once they get a little bit it’s a little bit of a harder Recruiting during the gloomy winter months tends to createw additional challenges in recruiting employeesd from outside the Troy said. “You don’t want to bring peoplee here inthe winter, but you’ve got to be honest abouy it,” she said. “But Milwaukee offers a lot of opportunitiews in terms offamily life.
” Companies also need to be activew in demonstrating “inclusion” at work and in the community when it comeds to attracting employees of divers ethnic and racial said David Myers, president of the buildinb efficiency group for Glendale-based (NYSE: JCI). “It’s reallu makes a big impact,” he said. Companies in the Milwaukee have made majot strides inembracing racial, ethnic and gender diversitg at the corporate board level and management ranks, Joerres said. “Progress has been he said.