News

INNOVA People Launches INNOVA Healthcare and INNOVA Tech Staffing Groups

February 26, 2024 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

PLANO, Texas – INNOVA People, a Starfish Partners company, is proud to announce the launch of INNOVA Healthcare and INNOVA Tech staffing practice areas.Leveraging decades of expertise in healthcare and technology staffing and merging the staffing divisions of INNOVA People and Direct Recruiters Inc., the newly formed staffing specialty areas broaden the spectrum of talent acquisition and consulting services. This newly formed staffing powerhouse offers comprehensive solutions, including contract, contract-to-hire, and temporary placements. By expanding and launching the INNOVA Healthcare and INNOVA Tech specialized teams, INNOVA People will deliver best-in-class customized staffing services encompassing consulting, sourcing, identifying, acquiring, onboarding, and retaining top-tier professionals to top-tier organizations.

Joel Slenning, founder and Managing Partner of INNOVA People shared, “After investing significant time getting to know each other, it became obvious that this was the right move for INNOVA People. Dan Charney and Frank Myeroff of Direct Recruiters were the perfect people to build a strategic partnership with and grow our two businesses together as one. With the tenured expertise that the Direct Recruiters team brings to the table, and INNOVA’s very progressive, technology-driven, workforce solution offering I am confident that we have made a sound decision for both organizations and am excited about bringing our teams together and serving our health system clients made possible only through this collaboration.”

To further enhance and support team growth, INNOVA People has also expanded to include offices in Ohio, complementing its original offices in Oregon. Operating throughout North America, INNOVA People will expand its footprint to sourcing supplementary talent for the healthcare and technology sectors. CEO Joel Slenning, drawing from over two decades of experience, alongside the INNOVA People team, will leverage their distinctive technology stack and artificial intelligence platform, which have cemented the firm’s reputation as a crucial staffing ally for the healthcare and technology industries.

“We have diligently been searching for the right firm to merge our existing staffing business with since the inception of Starfish Partners. Joel Slenning and INNOVA People are the ideal partner based on their existing footprint in the hospital IT space. Additionally, their expertise in several other areas of hospital staffing will allow us to become a complete solution for our clients. Frank Myeroff, Practice Leader and Managing Partner of the Direct Recruiters existing staffing group will work closely with Joel to continue to grow this division for Starfish across leading medical centers and several other strategic markets that we have identified,”shared Dan Charney, President and CEO of Direct Recruiters, Inc.

In 2023, Starfish Partners, an international investment and ownership platform for niched professional and mid- to upper-management search specialists, announced the acquisition of INNOVA People, an Oregon-based firm that works across North America placing supplemental talent in the healthcare and technology industries.

Learn more at www.innovapeople.com.

Starfish Partners provides capital for recruiting firms looking to scale, as well as exit strategies for owners seeking to secure value for their firm in cash and/or stock. It also provides liquidity and the ability to monetize some value while simultaneously providing equity opportunities for key producers and leaders. The collective revenues of Starfish Partners will exceed $300 million annually while continuing to pursue aggressive growth through a variety of mergers, acquisitions, and capital infusion activities.

Learn more at www.starfishpartners.com.

Starfish Partners Acquires INNOVA People

November 22, 2023 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

PLANO, Texas – Starfish Partners, an international investment and ownership platform for niched professional and mid- to upper-management search specialists, announced the acquisition of INNOVA People, an Oregon-based firm that works across North America placing supplemental talent in the Healthcare and Technology industries. CEO Joel Slenning, with his over two decades of experience and the INNOVA People team will expand Starfish Partners’ reach into the Healthcare and Technology industry by continuing to utilize their unique technology stack and artificial Intelligence platform that has allowed the firm to be recognized as an essential staffing partner for the Healthcare and Technology industry.

Joel Slenning, founder of INNOVA People shared, “For so many years now, the team that drives Starfish Partners has been coveted advisors to the businesses that I have built and managed. The opportunity to partner directly with this team, as well as bring a whole new dimension and business offering to Starfish Partners in Healthcare Staffing, is incredibly exciting and a long time coming.”

“Joel is one of those rare combinations of superior capabilities and production as a search professional while also establishing himself as an extraordinary leader, having built several firms in the industry. Joel is a visionary but also one who can execute and implement with excellence. We are very fortunate to welcome Joel as an owner and are thrilled his team has joined as well,” shared Jeff Kaye.

Learn more at www.starfishpartners.com.

How Taking 5 to Meditate Can Improve Your Leadership Skills

June 6, 2023 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

From the moment the alarm goes off, you’re inundated with distractions. The pull to respond to the notifications on your phone, emails fill your inbox, and requests pile up. Within moments your attention is scattered.

As our lives have become filled with technology, the distractions we face have increased exponentially. With it, our ability to focus has diminished, but our need to think clearly to make complex decisions has not. More than ever, leaders need to train themselves to be fully present.

How can mindfulness meditation help?

Incorporating meditation into daily practice can help reduce stress, improve decision-making, increase focus, enhance creativity, and boost emotional resilience. Avoid burnout and reduce negative thinking.

The fundamental concept underlying meditation is the intentional act of being still. This can prove to be challenging in a society that values busyness, but its benefits have been scientifically proven.

Now it’s more convenient than ever to learn how to meditate on your own. Popular apps such as Headspace, Sattva, Buddhify, Calm, Healthy Minds Program, and the Mindfulness App, help those discover the benefits of this ancient old practice and guide you along the way. Its benefits have also caught the eye of the business world, as companies like Apple, Google, Ford Motor Company, Nike, McKesson, and American Express offer employees training in meditation programs to enhance leadership skills. Cloud computing giant, Salesforce created “mindfulness zones,” or quiet areas, on every floor of its building in San Francisco.

According to a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report, 75% of Americans believe that workers today have more on-the-job stress than people did a generation ago. Constant anxiety increases the risk of mental and health ailments ranging from mood and sleep disorders to cardiovascular disease to musculoskeletal problems to having a negative impact on your relationships and productivity. The estimated $300 billion each year costs U.S. businesses due to absenteeism, turnover, disabilities, and reduced productivity.

David Gelles explains in his book, “Mindful Work,” that a highly stressed employee requires more healthcare spending by the company as compared to a less stressed employee. However, the implementation of mindfulness programs by companies has resulted in decreased healthcare costs.

Pause and take a breath.

Mindfulness meditation, at its origin, is a style of meditation that involves paying attention to sensations, feelings, and thoughts in a non-judgmental way. Research shows that 15 minutes of mindfulness-based meditation results in more rational thinking when making business decisions.

Leaders who focus on mindfulness at work tend to have happier employees and improved morale, according to the results found in this study. Mind training, of which meditation is one form, can change the composition of your mind. Research by Wisconsin’s Richard Davidson demonstrated a direct correlation between mindfulness and changes in the brain – away from anger and anxiety and toward a sense of

calm and well-being. UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center found meditation can improve executive functions (sustaining attention, diminishing distractibility) better than medication in many cases.

What are ways you’re incorporating mindfulness meditation into your business? We’d love to hear what kind of results you are seeing.

Latest Report Shows Despite Industry Layoffs, Hiring Rates for Tech Roles Growing Strong

May 24, 2023 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

Layoff rates among contingent workers over the past six months rose from 8.3% to 6.9%; however, they appear to be trending downward after reaching a four-year high in the fourth quarter, according to the Spring 2023 U.S. Labor Market Report released this week by Magnit.

The report highlights the impact of recessionary trends and economic uncertainty on the talent landscape, including changes in employment rates and talent availability.

Despite layoffs in the tech industry, the demand for tech roles across various sectors has increased by 34% as a percentage of total hires, surpassing all other job categories. Organizations across industries rely more on IT and technology to protect and revitalize their businesses, leading to this rise in demand.

Other key takeaways from the report cited by Magnit:

The voluntary termination rate dropped by 24%, reaching an all-time low of 12.6% in the first quarter – less than half of what it was during the Great Resignation (29.1%).
Worker priorities have shifted, with a nearly 5% increase in focus on company reputation in Q1.
While hiring volumes increased by 39% year-over-year in 2021, wage growth turned negative and fell behind the historic growth of inflation. Over the past 12 months, year-over-year wage growth averaged 3.5%, whereas inflation averaged 7.5% among all workers.

Magnit’s report utilizes proprietary algorithms and data from various sources, including hundreds of client programs. With data on hundreds of thousands of workers and over 51,000 unique roles, the report provides insights into talent optimization and recession strategies for organizations.

IT Recruitment Trends in 2023

May 5, 2023 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

How companies adapt to the (likely continual) uncertain business climate in 2023 will vary. But talent teams must closely monitor recruiting trends as they arise to ensure they’re prepared to meet their org’s headcount and growth needs in the year ahead.

Here are some IT recruitment trends include to watch in 2023:

Retention: Companies of all sizes attempt to retain as much of their workforce as possible amid ongoing economic headwinds. They want to be prepared to pick up their growth efforts on the other side of a potential recession. That is a markedly more difficult goal to realize if they lay off many employees to tread water now and must hire replacement workers mere months from now.

2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Companies prioritize DEI in their IT recruitment efforts. They are actively seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds, including women, underrepresented minorities, and individuals with different perspectives and experiences, to promote a more inclusive and diverse workforce in the IT industry. In addition, enhancing DEI initiatives help employers stand out.

3. Upskilling and Reskilling: Given the rapidly evolving nature of technology, employers are increasingly looking for candidates willing to learn and adapt. Upskilling and reskilling programs are being implemented to help IT professionals stay relevant and acquire new skills. Employers are looking for candidates with a growth mindset and a willingness to learn and develop continuously.

4. Bolstering Employer Branding: Companies are focusing on building a strong employer brand to attract top IT talent. This includes showcasing their company culture, values, and benefits and promoting their commitment to employee development and work-life balance. The recruitment actions a company takes continuously reinforce the employee brand.

5. The Great Resignation Return: A joblist report found that one in four professionals who quit their previous job regret their decision. Of those who found a new job after quitting, 42% say that their new job has not lived up to their expectations. This sentiment could lead to more job seekers.

6. Flexible Work Arrangements: Flexible working hours, part-time roles, and job-sharing are becoming more popular in IT recruitment. Employers recognize the importance of work-life balance and offer flexible options to attract and retain top IT talent.

7. Virtual Recruitment Events: Virtual career fairs, online coding challenges, and virtual interviews are becoming more prevalent in IT recruitment. These virtual recruitment events allow employers to connect with candidates from anywhere worldwide, making the hiring process more efficient and inclusive.

8. Data-Driven Recruitment: Data-driven decision-making is becoming a key trend in IT recruitment. Companies leverage data and analytics to identify trends, patterns, and insights to optimize recruitment strategies, improve candidate experience, and make informed hiring decisions.

9. Gig Economy and Freelance Work: The gig economy and freelance work are gaining traction in the IT industry. Employers are increasingly hiring IT professionals on a project basis or as freelancers to meet their immediate needs and tap into specialized skill sets.

Staying updated with these trends can help talent teams, and IT professionals navigate the dynamic landscape of IT recruitment effectively.

Small Business Confidence Surge

February 14, 2023 by INNOVA People Leave a Comment

Small businesses are heading into 2023 with a significant upswing in industry confidence in the face of headlines centered around layoffs, inflation, supply-chain snarls, and interest rates. It’s the most considerable confidence surge in the past two years.

CEOs still face some challenges but seek opportunities despite the uncertainty, according to the latest WSJ/Vistage Confidence Index. The index posted an 8.7% increase, rising to 84.3 in December, which was the largest month-over-month gain since March 2021.

Key driving factors include:

Both customer demand and rising prices drive revenues; 70% of small businesses are planning price increases in the next 12 months.
Tempering inflation rates have led profitability anticipations to sweeten.
Workforce expansion plans grow as small businesses enter the new year with new goals and budgets.

Hiring challenges has lessened for small businesses over the end of the year – 24% report hiring is more manageable as the talent pool seems to be leveling out according to the report. Yet, as small companies seek to expand their workforce, a sharp examination of salary budgets and needed volume shows having to pay higher wages (more than 80%) for similar roles offered earlier in the year.

Small businesses have an advantage with the added layoffs from big tech. More than ever, more talent is looking for jobs, and it is creating an excellent opportunity for small businesses to attract top talent. Retention still needs to remain a key area of focus, setting a solid foundation from which to maintain and grow personnel, with the quit rate still hovering over 4 million a month.

If you need help sourcing the right talent for your team contact INNOVA People today.

The December WSJ/Vistage Small Business CEO survey was conducted December 5-12, 2022, and gathered 666 responses from CEOs and leaders of small businesses.