Hirewell

For all intents and purposes, this has been my career. I started as a technical recruiter when we were a tiny shop and was afforded a wealth of opportunities: I launched our Digital Experience & Marketing practice, I launched our internal marketing and content function, and I currently lead our business development and strategy.

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Partner & Chief Growth Officer

Gregory Laka & Company

Every recruiter has their first gig somewhere.

Technology Recruiter

Strateg -- Aperios

Obligatory failed start up. Great experience. Gotta take a shot, right?

Business Development

Akamai Technologies

Account Executive

WorldCom

If you don’t remember these guys, it’s only because of Enron. Fantastic way to start a career and gain perspective…

Hosting Sales Executive

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I’m a Partner at 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 and I host Hirewell's 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 podcast. Those are the high points.

But what do we do specifically?

We recognize that hiring is hard. And hiring well is even harder.

But, that’s exactly what we help companies do: 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹.

Since 2001, we've been a staple in the Chicago business community, helping our clients grow by recruiting the top-tier talent they need.

𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱.
The recruiting industry is chock full of single skill set providers. What companies really want is a partner who can have a broad impact across all facets of their organization, solving whatever hiring challenges they have. We’ve done just that, building diverse teams of highly specialized recruiters in the highest demand fields:

𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆
𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀
𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴,
𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀
𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 & 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱...

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.
Flexibility in creating our custom solutions has been a staple in our approach. During our own growth, we recognized that the traditional fulfillment models for recruiting service are deeply flawed. 

Contingent Search is expensive and the two-sided lack of commitment often yields poor results. Recruitment Process Outsourcing suffers from poor fulfillment; flat-rate service means providers have no skin in the game to maximize the end result. And traditional Executive Retained Search is exorbitantly overpriced, tone-deaf to the modern world of freely available data.

But Hirewell’s 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝘀 are a paradigm shift in volume hiring. They’re built for fast growth situations, and more importantly, structured in a way that streamlines efficiency for all. It’s a best-of-all-worlds situation: Hirewell can provide dedicated onsite support, high-value services far beyond simple candidate sourcing (ATS management, hiring plans, job description creation and postings, interview set up and debrief, offer presentation and onboarding, etc.), and still utilize the entirety of Hirewell’s vast recruiting team and diverse skill area focus to achieve an optimized outcome.

See what our clients say about us on G2: https://www.g2.com/products/hirewell/reviews 

Contact me at james@hirewell.com or 312-386-1658.

James Hornick

Southern Staffing Group

Recruiter/Brand Ambassador for Southern Staffing Group which was founded in 2022 near Biloxi, MS. 

We specialize in the direct hire placement of Power Industry Professionals. Whether it is Power Generation, Transmission, Distribution or Testing, we have  you covered.

Managing Partner

Uniform Locker LLC

Partnered with a friend/ founder to build and develop a new medical clothing and accessory store. To date the business has quickly established retail sector dominance locally and is rapidly growing their online presence as well.

 Business is still maintaining pro forma expectations of breakeven within two years despite current economic challenges. 

•	Conducted most operational business planning and process implementation

•	Developed and implemented all organizational policies, ERP/CRM/Inventory systems and conducted all hiring

•	Collaborated with clients and partners to deliver best in class service in an underserved market

Consultant

US Navy

Led seventeen direct reports who provided administration, workforce, operations, budget execution, logistics, and training support for 350 personnel assigned to mission requirements worldwide.

• Managed a $203K operating budget improving the execution rate from 93.5% to 99.9%. Reduced administrative errors through changes in policy and methodology resulting in the 99% execution of $3.2M in payroll and the completion of 25K pay, personnel, and correspondence transactions

• Achieved 100% mobilization of 127 personnel, the organization’s primary function, during FY-19, a 10% improvement over FY-18 metrics

Head of People Operations

Led a department of 65 personnel in the maintenance and upkeep of an $800M C5I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, and Intelligence) suite to include multiple major capital allocation projects. 

Executive advisor to the organization’s principal on technical matters, performance evaluation, policy implementation, and change management. 

• Identified a shortfall in the training curriculum which if left unresolved would have prevented deployment and in turn caused a potential lapse in force projection abroad. Instead, we ensured the timely deployment of critical C5I systems while increasing operator competency by 23% and reducing equipment downtime

• Provided mentorship and improved access to secondary education opportunities, career development materials, personal development, and career decision mentorship which resulted in a 37% rate of advancement for our organization which is well above Navy norms

• Managed the maintenance, security, and operation of all shipboard Secured and Non-Secured networks, satellite communications, interior communications, information assurance, navigation and combat related RADARs, missile and ammunition storage, weapons handling equipment and qualifications

Head of Department

Studied advance warfare tactics, engineering best practices, performance evaluation, compensation structure, HR best practices, leadership, change management, and maintenance compliance.

Management Student

Led talent acquisition efforts in the fields of nuclear power, dentistry, medical, information systems, and chaplaincy for Navy Recruiting District (NRD) Houston, TX. Responsible for 216 personnel and twelve direct reports. 

•	Promoted from within the organization over two more tenured (higher ranking) candidates and during my first observed performance period the organization adopted new business rules and Standard Operating Procedures that I developed which improved transparency and processing kit quality

•	NRD Houston rose from performing in the bottom 50% of 17 NRDs to consistently maintaining top 15% across most graded monthly metrics nationwide. Graded metrics included pertinent categories such as candidate accessions, candidate program completions, recruiting to category specific needs, quality assurance of candidate packages, cost per candidate accession and various other metrics

•	Reduced overhead costs from $2M to $1.8M in government property through identifying and resolving wasteful inefficiencies utilizing LSS methodologies

•	Reduced budgetary operational requirements from $200K to $153K while simultaneously increasing talent attainment by 7% during the same year

Technical Recruiting Operations Manager/ Recruiter

Led seven direct reports and twenty-eight personnel in the maintenance, upkeep, deployment, and operation of Patrol Coastal vessels both domestically and abroad. 

Ship’s principal advisor on weapons doctrine, logistics, policy enforcement, and all human resource matters.

•	Managed the completion of eighteen projects for three Patrol Coastal vessels including communications, power generation, and weapons systems. We completed all projects on time and under budget

•	Led Vertical Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) efforts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom which drastically reduced smuggling operations in our Area of Responsibility

•	Recognized expert in Anti-Terrorism Force Protection policy and countermeasure implementation

Project Manager

Junior Project Manager and Human Resource Division Head who led twenty-two personnel in the maintenance and operations of $32M in technical underwater equipment.

•	Supervised the refurbishment of a $19M SONAR system leading to improved operational performance, enhanced detection ranges, and improved target acquisition

•	Developed and executed Undersea Warfare support strategy, which included tailored training, revised policy, and new tactical methodology

Project Manager/ Maintenance Compliance	

Radar and Console Technician responsible for the timely repair of the ship's primary Fire Control Weapons System. 

Experience with synchro/ servo repair, circuit board repair, troubleshooting, the use of schematics and technical literature.

 Comprehensive understanding of electrical theory, and the use of one line diagrams.

Directly responsible for the mentoring and supervision of 8 individuals, completing four deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while ensuring all weapons systems were operational. 

Participated in a working group to establish the concept of operations guidelines for all Naval vessels in the Straits of Malacca which were implemented and are still in use today.
Responsible for the maintenance and operation of the shipboard primary weapons system.

Electronics Technician/ Operator

Power Industry Talent Wizard ⚡NETA | NICET | Engineering | Plant Operations | Utilities | Substations | The Grid | Instrumentation | Medium Voltage | High Voltage | Testing & Commissioning| OSHA | NFPA | Safety

Served our country for a few years, tried retirement and didn't really care for it all that much. Now a recreational barnstormer, connector of candidates and companies, podcast consumer, student of leadership, and all around jack of all trades master of none. 

Retirement and consulting leaves one with a lot of time to ponder all aspects of life. Purpose, human interaction, religion, politics, macro economics. You name it, and I have spent more time than one should thinking on these matters. 

Mix in more than a man should know on how to get away with murder thanks to my wife's addiction to shows of that ilk, I guess you could say I am well seasoned at life. Not the packaged Montreal Steak kind, but the kind you learn to blend together over time.

I went through some pretty dark seasons during the quiet (i.e. retirement). Founded a little Direct Hire Recruiting Firm with the intent of placing highly talented folks in my geographic region which typically struggles with poverty so that we can grow industry locally while also donating 10% of our net profits to charity. While we have niched down both our genre and charity work to focus on the power industry and helping Veterans. The mission is still the same.

I will pass along nuggets on occasion as long as you can tolerate me. Sharing my story is part of my continuing growth and journey on finding purpose through giving back while seeking out a handful of friends who will always be there for each other. You know, American Dream stuff.

taplio

The Battle

James Hornick

Micah Clay 🧙‍♂️

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