ADVISORY: Deputy Secretary Censky in Minnesota TOMORROW
(Washington, D.C., November 8, 2017) – U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Steve Censky will be in Minnesota TOMORROW, Thursday, November 9th, to keynote the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council’s annual meeting and conference. Minnesota AgriGrowth Council is a non-partisan, non-profit member organization representing the agriculture and food systems industry. Deputy Secretary Censky, a Minnesota native, was unanimously confirmed as USDA Deputy Secretary on October 3rd.
Deputy Secretary Censky Delivers Keynote Address
WHAT: Deputy Secretary Censky will keynote the Minnesota AgriGrowth Council’s annual meeting and conference.
WHEN: TOMORROW, Thursday, November 9th at 12:55 p.m. CT
WHERE: Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55403
*NOTE: Media interested in covering the address should RSVP to Kurt Zellers at kurt@mzacompany.com prior to the event.
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Four Recruiting Tips for Small Business
Owners in an Overtapped Labor Pool
When you operate a small business, every team member matters greatly, and an open
position can drastically impact your production. Hiring expert Scott Wintrip reveals
tips to help small businesses find superior job candidates more quickly and easily.
New York, NY (November 2017)—As a small business owner, you're beyond busy—and that isn't likely to change. One moment, you're serving as a salesperson, trying to close that new piece of business. The next, you're playing service rep and solving a buyer's problem or doing executive tasks like running to the bank to sign loan documents. Add to these roles more selling, more service, and more managing. Suddenly, your best employee gives notice. Hiring expert and business consultant Scott Wintrip asks the important question: As busy as you are, how will you find time to recruit, interview, hire, and train a replacement?
"Small business owners are competing with one another for quality employees," says Scott Wintrip, author of High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant (McGraw-Hill Education; April 2017; ISBN: 978-1-2598594-7-2; $30.00). "The Internet leveled the playing field, and now your company and all others—big and small—are able to reach out to top talent. This is straining an already tapped out talent pool and has left many small business owners searching far and wide for talented and resourceful job candidates."
Wintrip points out that small business owners have to find great talent quickly in order to perform at full capacity.
"When you're operating with a small crew," he says, "you have to find smart, resourceful talent capable of keeping up with the fast-paced dynamics that come along with a small company. Luckily, fitting hiring into your already busy day isn't that complicated—it just requires a few easy adjustments."
Keep reading to learn the four steps you can take to make hiring for your small business more efficient than ever.
Leverage the most productive streams of talent. Asking for referrals and networking with other business people has long been a highly effective way to locate talent, says Wintrip. In fact, business owners who carve out time each week for networking and referral generation discover a secret: The labor pool isn't as tapped out as they originally thought. They simply weren't taking a disciplined approach to recruiting. NOTE: See attached tipsheet on how to get great referrals.
Actively share the talent you discover with other business owners. Keep in mind that you're not going to be able to hire every great candidate you meet. Sometimes talented candidates just aren't the right fit for your company, and other times, all of your positions are filled. When this happens, be sure to share candidates with other business owners to help them solve their own hiring challenges; they will also be happy to reciprocate. According to Wintrip, business owners who share talent in this manner with at least eight or more businesses report greater success in hiring faster and making better hires.
Conduct hands-on interviews. The standard approach to hiring is to conduct interviews where candidates talk about work. Not only is this a huge drain on time, it's also an inaccurate way to assess whether a candidate fits your job. That's why many small business owners have turned to doing hands-on interviews.
"In a hands-on interview, you experience the candidate doing sample work," says Wintrip. "If it's for a sales role, the candidate joins you on a sales call. If you're hiring for a customer service role, he can help solve a customer's problem. By watching the candidate in action, you save time while also making a more accurate assessment of whether or not someone is a good fit."
Line up key people before you need them. "Some roles are more vital than others, and when these roles are left unfilled, they can harm your business," asserts Wintrip. "Plus the extra work usually falls on your already overflowing plate. Instead of waiting until an employee in an essential job quits or gives notice to start recruiting, do yourself a favor and recruit ahead of time. Dedicating 30 minutes to recruiting each week pays off by creating a pipeline of potential talent ready to be hired the moment that vital job becomes open."
"Hiring cycles don't always happen at the best time, but when they do, you must dive right in and locate talent that will keep your company thriving," concludes Wintrip. "If you've maintained viable contacts through networking and referral generation, you'll be able to locate and hire exceptional talent faster than you might expect—even in an overtapped labor pool. Then you can get back to your regular tasks and help your company stay strong."
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Referrals 101: Five Easy Tips to Help You Network and Discover Top Talent
Word of mouth is a powerful and often overlooked way to find great talent and fill open positions in your small business. Hiring expert Scott Wintrip is the author of High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant (McGraw-Hill Education; April 2017; ISBN: 978-1-2598594-7-2; $30.00). Keep reading to learn how a referral system will help you find the perfect job candidates and keep your company going strong.
Don't be afraid to ask for help. If there's a "magic bullet" for effective networking and getting quality referrals, it's this: Just ask for help.
"Just telling someone that you need help—even saying the word itself—creates an important dynamic," says Wintrip. "It's human nature for us to help one another. When you use the word 'help,' you're reminding the person you're asking of your shared humanity. This simple approach often paves the way for people to be generous in pointing you in the right direction."
Realize a little goes a long way. Investing a few minutes each day in referral recon pays off in dividends. And it's so easy it doesn't even feel like work.
When a vendor stops by, ask for their help with referrals; at the local office supply store or that restaurant where you're having lunch, network with the employees you meet; a phone call to a friend could turn into two or three candidate referrals. Small, quick inquiries such as these can turn into big wins when you find a great person to hire.
Get specific with qualities you're looking for. Don't just ask your contacts for referrals to people who are looking for a job, says Wintrip. Ask for referrals to the specific type of person you want to hire.
For example, if you're looking for a store manager, you might say, "Who do you know who is good at managing a retail store? I'm looking especially for someone who listens more than they speak." This precision helps the person you're asking thoroughly "search" their mental Rolodex for the right person amongst the hundreds of people they know.
Don't forget to ask your "obvious" networks for referrals. How often do you ask current employees for their help with candidate referrals? What about their family members or the previous employees who left your business on good terms? Have you asked your own family and friends to put you in touch with referrals they know?
"It's easy to overlook the obvious resources for strong referrals," says Wintrip. "But when we do this, we're likely missing out on the insight of the very people who are most likely to want to help us."
Remember the most important "rule" for attracting great talent. Wintrip says the best attractor of top talent isn't high salaries or fancy titles; it's being a great place to work. Make sure your business has a positive and engaging environment, and you'll develop a reputation as an enjoyable place to work. Then when you network and request referrals, the people you ask will go out of their way to refer their friends and colleagues to you.
"Reaching out to the people you meet—as well as those you already know—can connect you with impressive talent," concludes Wintrip. "Make referral generation a regular part of your managerial tasks, and before you know it, you'll realize that good help is easy to find."
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About the Author:
Scott Wintrip has changed how thousands of companies across the globe find and select employees, helping design and implement a process to hire top talent in less than an hour. Over the past 18 years, he built the Wintrip Consulting Group (WintripConsultingGroup.com), a thriving global consultancy. Scott, the acknowledged leader of the on-demand hiring movement, is pioneering improved methods for recruiting and interviewing job candidates. For five consecutive years, Staffing Industry Analysts, a Crain Communications company, has awarded Scott a place on the "Staffing 100," a list of the world's 100 most influential staffing leaders. He's also a member of the Million Dollar Consultant Hall of Fame and was recently inducted into the Staffing 100 Hall of Fame. Scott and his wife, Holly, live in St. Petersburg, Florida.
About the Book:
High Velocity Hiring: How to Hire Top Talent in an Instant (McGraw-Hill Education; April 2017; ISBN: 978-1-2598594-7-2; $30.00) is available at bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers.
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Nine Fall Fashion Must-Haves
Image consultant Marla Tomazin shares her fall fashion favorites to help you transition into the season with ease while still looking fabulous.
New York, NY (November 2017)—Now that fall is here at last, you've pulled out your tried-and-true supply of scarves, jackets, and sweaters. But the changing seasons could signal that it's also time to make some updates to your cooler-weather clothing. If you're tired of the same old jacket and jeans uniform you've been sporting the past few years, New York-based image consultant Marla Tomazin has some great advice to help you ease into fall in style.
"Fall is one of my very favorite times of the year," says Tomazin, who has been an image consultant for 25 years after earlier experience in the fashion industry. "I always feel energized and inspired by the vibrant colors of nature and the chill in the air. It's also the perfect time of year to update your look with a few fresh styles, not to mention some timeless classics as well."
Read on for nine of Tomazin's fashion must-haves to help you spice up your style and look and feel your very best this fall.
A fall-fresh manicure. As the leaves change and the temperature drops, it's time to give your nails a seasonal makeover. Go for richer, darker colors, like a deep burgundy, coffee, or eggplant. These deeper shades will mirror the coolness (and the moodiness!) of the weather.
A classic neutral foundation. Neutrals are anything but boring, says Tomazin. Outfits in this palette are timeless and effortlessly elegant. And when worn head-to-toe, they even help you look taller and leaner by creating a column effect. So stock up on basics in blacks, grays, and navies, as well as camels, pecans, and beiges. Once you have these foundational colors in place, you can build a memorable look by adding a bright accent accessory such as a scarf, piece of jewelry, or handbag.
A versatile pair of boots. A perfect pair of boots effortlessly transitions your wardrobe into cooler weather. It's a good idea to choose a boot option that is dressy enough to wear with skirts and dresses, but casual enough to pair with jeans and a tee shirt. There are also many different boot lengths to consider: knee-high, over-the-knee, mid-length, or an ankle boot or bootie. Be sure to choose boots that complement your lifestyle.
A bold outer layer. "Remember, your outerwear is just as important as the outfit you wear underneath it," says Tomazin. "So this fall, consider adding a statement coat to your closet. Whether you choose an edgy leather jacket, an emerald-hued pea coat, or an elegant poncho, you'll be able to stay warm and stroll the streets in style!"
Dark floral prints. Move over, spring and summer! Dark florals are hitting the runways this fall and are looking more feminine and sophisticated than ever before. Bright flowery prints combined with darker background colors make this style trend grown up and edgy, not girly. Ready to try this look? Go with a printed dress or blouse paired with a neutral leather jacket and boots.
Red, red, red! Deep shades of red are making a splash this season, showing up in shoes, bags, sportswear, dresses, and coats. This fall, consider choosing a crimson shoe, purse, or coat. And don't forget about your lips! Find a classic red lipstick shade that complements your skin tone; it will never go out of style.
A fuzzy sweater or cardigan for layering. "Fall is known for its mercurial temperatures, so layering is key for staying warm or cool depending on the weather," says Tomazin. "That's why a sweater should be your best friend all throughout autumn. A rich brown, charcoal, or black option is versatile enough to wear with most any outfit."
White, yes white, jeans. Gone are the days when women packed away their white jeans after Labor Day. Now crisp white jeans can be worn year-round with confidence! Pair yours with a luxurious sweater or a supple suede jacket and flats. And when the weather gets even colder, Tomazin advises switching to white or cream corduroy.
A classic sheath. Sheath dresses are the perfect fall essential, suitable for work or the weekend. When paired with dark-colored tights, boots, and a jacket, cardigan, or blazer, a sheath dress helps you feel fun and feminine while staying warm. Consider choosing one in black, navy, or gray, as well as a fun fashion color like red.
"Be sure that no matter how you choose to update your look, you stay true to yourself in the process," concludes Tomazin. "Fun trendy styles will come and go, but you'll know the ones that really resonate with you when you see them. And every woman looks great in the timeless classics, no matter the season. So this fall, have fun updating your look and be sure to savor the gorgeous weather as well!"
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About Marla Tomazin:
Marla Tomazin, Certified Image Consultant, established her image consulting business in 1990 with the goal of helping clients identify an authentic image and develop its effective expression.
From a successful career in the fashion industry, Marla gained expertise in retail buying, merchandising, sales, and marketing. She began with May Company in Denver after earning a B.S. in Marketing from the University of Denver. Marla moved to New York where she worked with several well-known Seventh Avenue design firms. As she developed her business skills, Marla made a serendipitous discovery—an innate sense of style and facility for working with fabrics and colors to maximum advantage.
The progression to Certified Image Consultant was a natural transition. Marla utilizes her abilities in evaluating body shape, movement, and coloring as well as synthesizing optimal cuts, lines, colors, and textures. This results in balance and proportion that accentuate attributes and conceal flaws. Her clients include women, men, and corporations seeking external revitalization that mirrors their internal development.
Marla has appeared on numerous TV and radio stations and programs, including 12 on the Money, Telemundo, and Remarkable Woman, and recently presented at New York City's Cosmopolitan Club.
For more information, please visit www.marlatomazin.com.
