Previous NCJS Meetings

These are previous topics, speakers, and resources North Coast Job Seekers provided for its members. The first meeting of each month (on the Second Monday) is ordinarily a Networking Meeting.  The other monthly meeting involves a speaker and presentation. Join us in future meetings to sharpen your job seeking skills, interact with well-connected professionals, and learn from some of the North Coast's best job skill leaders.

Second Monday of Each Month

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Job Search
Troubleshooting Roundtable

We've all been there in our job searches... those times when we hit a speedbump or roadblock and need help talking it through.  We have discovered in our virtual NCJS meetings that in addition to networking, some of our most valuable time is when we bring our issues to the group and ask for troubleshooting help.  This meeting is a Roundtable of Experts -- ALL of us helping one another.

 

• Troubleshooting Help

• Tools & Tips

• Resource Sharing

• Networking

 

We will make the best use of this face-to-face time to help one another in a roundtable format.  We will always have members of the community who have extensive experience, including our facilitators and board members.  All are welcome and all are encouraged to seek input for solving those speedbumps and roadblocks.

Monday, March 11, 2024

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Selling Yourself to Potential Employers

Speaker: Marvin Montgomery

For more than 30 years, Marvin Montgomery has earned widespread national recognition and praise for his informative, practical and stimulating programs that reflect his basic philosophy: “Preparation and practice are the keys to sales success.”

 

Marvin began his career with one of the nation’s largest jewelry chains and worked his way up to the Director of Sales position. It was here that Marvin began refining his approach to training. In total he trained more than 1,200 associates in 95 stores during his time with the organization.

 

Since that time, Marvin’s captivating presentations have assisted hundreds of organizations to meet or exceed their sales goals using his training programs. Many of Marvin’s clients have said that getting “Marvinized” has truly made a difference in their company and Marvin has become a mandatory part of company training.

 

Marvin is the author of Practice Makes Perfect and Training Wheels. For more information and much more about Marvin's work, visit his website: www.MarvinMontgomery.com. He is also a regular contributor to magazines such as Smart Business Cleveland and Smart Business Akron/Canton, COSE Update, and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

Monday, February 26, 2024

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

ChatGPT – Use It or Lose It?

Tailoring Your Resume for Success: Leveraging AI and Human Touch

Speaker: Tyrone Robinson III

In today's job market, crafting a compelling cover letter and resume is essential to standing out from the crowd. With the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), individuals now have the opportunity to leverage AI tools to streamline and enhance their cover letter and resume creation processes. In this presentation, we will explore the benefits and drawbacks of using AI for cover letter and resume generation.

 

Meet Tyrone M. Robinson III, a highly experienced and passionate business consultant with over 15 years of experience in developing, managing, and leading successful programs, organizations, and small businesses. With a strong focus on building world-class organizations that impact the success and satisfaction of their employees, internal and external customers, shareholders, and communities, Robinson is a highly sought-after speaker and thought leader in the business world and beyond!

 

As the lead consultant and owner of Opportunities 2 Serve, a business and IT consulting firm, Robinson has spearheaded initiatives that have strengthened organizational values and expanded revenue-generating and service capabilities for numerous clients. By delivering impactful results, Robinson has demonstrated a strong ability to support business growth and enhance profitability.

 

Prior to founding Opportunities 2 Serve, Robinson was recognized as a top mental health professional in the nation. He helped individuals suffering from severe mental illness unlock their potential and achieve success in life, employment, business, and education.

 

Website: www.opportunities2serve.com

Monday, January 22, 2024

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Measuring and Identifying a Great Culture While Interviewing

Speaker: Shawna Whitlock

In this presentation, Shawna Whitlock will explore with participants how to measure and identify a great culture while interviewing, including how to professionally detach when the culture doesn't feel right through the interview process.

 

Shawna Whitlock is a Human Resources and Labor Relations professional with over 30 years of experience supporting sales, manufacturing, delivery, media, and content creation disciplines. She has her law degree from Case Western Reserve School of Law and has partnered collaboratively with business leaders at all levels as the HR subject matter expert to deliver strategic solutions aligning HR platforms with business initiatives to improve and increase employee engagement. Known as a trusted leader with excellent communication skills, Shawna is committed to successful business operations through maximizing the employee experience.  Shawna started her business, Strategic Workplace Solutions because she believes in an honest direct approach to fulfilling business initiatives through fair and consistent execution of HR driven strategies.

Monday, December 11, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Self-Care and How to Embrace Change

Speakers: Monica Ascar & Josip Markus

Stress, worry, anxiety, and depression are very real aspects of job transition at any time, much less during this Covid-19 pandemic.  These feelings can be compounded with the upcoming holidays.  Whether or not these fears represent your experience, the reality is that job transition is fraught with challenges and an emotional roller coaster heightened by the pandemic and the holidays ahead.  In order to address some of these realities we have asked Monica Ascar and Josip Markus to join us for this virtual panel discussion.  The intent of this conversation is to provide coping techniques, practices, and resources to help manage stress.

Our Conversation Leaders

Monica Ascar, MSW, LISW-S currently serves at the MSW Coordinator at The University of Akron School of Social Work, Lakewood Campus. Her social work practice has included extensive work within the health care and child welfare settings. As a senior medical social worker at Dayton Children’s, her work included completing psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, mental health assessments, emergency department services, and child abuse assessments and prevention. She also worked in chronic illness serving children and families involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.  As a child welfare caseworker at Montgomery County Children Services, she worked with children and families within on-going services. Ms. Ascar most recently worked at Cuyahoga County Division of Health and Human Services where she coordinated the University Partnership Program (UPP) and the Graduate Field Program.

Originating from modest Croatian roots, Josip has led a blessed life rich with global influence and personal triumph. With a wealth of wisdom garnered from myriad cultures, Josip's story is woven from the vibrant cities he's called home and the over 40 countries that have expanded his worldview. Whether sharing moments of kinship on the bustling streets of Tokyo or embracing communal healing in the Amazon, his narrative celebrates the universal language of human connection.

 

Josip’s greatest journey, however, delves into the depths of self — seeking to understand and unify every aspect of his being into a complete whole. Emerging from the crucible of intense personal struggle with a profound awakening, he has reframed his existence. Liberated from self-limiting beliefs, Josip continually transmutes his challenges into a source of deep insights and unyielding strength.

 

Now, as a guide for conscious evolution, Josip leads with a vision: we are divine architects of our reality, capable of manifesting a life beyond what we once believed possible. He inspires and empowers individuals to forge their paths with authenticity, embrace the interconnectedness of all things, and share their unique gifts with the world.

Our First In-Person Opportunity

Since COVID!!!

Monday, November 27, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Special In-Person & Virtual (Zoom) Hybrid

Holiday Mocktail Party

You're Invited!

A Primer for Mixing Job Seeking and

"Post-Pandemic" Party Mingling

In-Person Gathering will be at

Sandler Training by MP Solutions

6060 Rockside Woods Blvd N #105

Independence, OH

Our annual Holiday Mocktail Party is back! Like many businesses, organizations, families, and groups of friends, we will once again gather face-to-face. This will be a hybrid party, so you can certainly join virtually through our Zoom meeting site.

As a job seeker, these holiday gatherings are fraught with challenges. It's awkward when we're asked, "So what do you do?" Or even worse, "How are things at _____ company?" Or what if the person you have been trying to arrange a meeting with for months is actually there! Is it okay to greet them and introduce yourself, or are job search topics a taboo? Can we use a social gathering to do networking?

Join NCJS for a dress rehearsal holiday party where you can practice holding a plate of food, a drink glass, AND shake someone's hand. We will also discover polite ways to include your elevator speech in conversations, talk about being in a job search without being embarrassed, and how to leverage these holiday gatherings into networking opportunities.

If you join us online, you'll need to supply your own appetizers and beverage, but for those coming in person we'll have you covered. See you at the party!

Monday, October 23, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

HUMAN RESOURCES PANEL

Q&A with HR Experts

Panelists: Mike Barni, Kevin Carey, Regina Loiko

Join in a lively conversation with our panel of HR leaders.  Topics include:

  • Their BEST TIPS for the job search process.
  • What is the best way to get noticed when going after a posted opening?
  • Is there more I should be doing? Will my phone calls and emails help or hurt during the process? How much is too much?
  • What is the best piece of advice an HR professional could share with you to make your search more effective?
  • What burning question do you have that an HR professional could answer?

The panel of HR professionals with unique experiences in diverse organizations will share their job search insights and do their best to answer your important questions. Click the button below to find out more about our outstanding panelists.

Monday, September 25, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Alternative No More: Career Options Beyond the Traditional 9-5

Speakers: Matt Coatney & Terese McGroarty

You can’t turn around these days without hearing about the rise of entrepreneurs and the gig economy. Professionals are discovering viable career options that were once only the path of last resort for the otherwise “unemployable”.

 

In this session, Matt Coatney and Terese McGroarty will discuss several alternatives to the traditional full-time employment career path, including franchising, starting your own business, and freelancing. They will share their experiences from the front lines as practitioners and provide a candid perspective on the good, bad, and ugly.  

 

Matt Coatney is a technology executive who has extensive experience in startup businesses and freelancing, including his work as a practicing “fractional CTO” and as a thought leader whose recent book The Human Cloud explores the future of work at the intersection of freelance and Artificial Intelligence.

 

Terese McGroarty specializes in helping clients looking to become entrepreneurs to find the best possible match for their skills, lifestyle, goals, and financial capabilities. From start to finish, her professional approach and business knowledge will guide you through exploring top-quality business ownership opportunities. Together, we will find a fit that leads to a lifetime of fulfillment. Terese is passionate about helping job seekers whether it is for a business opportunity or finding their next position in the corporate world. She is a great connector and networker and is happy to help you in these areas.  Her business website is www.frannet.com/tmcgroarty.

Monday, August 28, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Networking and the Job Search

Speaker: Christopher Gentry

Join me in a captivating presentation on the art of networking, where we'll explore its purpose, uncover invaluable tips, and dive into practical strategies to maximize its potential in job seeking. Learn how to prepare for networking events and engage in meaningful discussions that can broaden your horizons. Discover the three critical tasks that will significantly enhance your job hunt: networking, networking, networking! Don't miss out on this opportunity to unlock the true power of networking. #NetworkingSkills #ProfessionalDevelopment #JobHuntingTips #NCJS #NorthCoastJobSeekers

 

Christopher Gentry became interested in this topic when his position was eliminated in 2003. At the time, his company provided him "outplacement services." Through this experience, he was introduced to the world of networking, job search groups, and techniques he had never heard of, all of which have helped him stay employed.

Monday, July 24, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

"From One Job to the Next:
Financial & Legal Best Practices"

 

Speakers:  Gina Betti & Emily Smayda Kelly

Gina Betti works as a Financial Advisor.  Her aim professionally as well as personally is to seek the highest quality possible and work for that goal.  Gina sees both financial matters and every person she meets with the understanding that there is no such thing as "one size fits all."  She is committed to listening, learning, and providing the best service she can.  That extends from her professional life into her extensive volunteer work, including North Coast Job Seekers.  Connect with Gina on LinkedIn and join her in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

 

Emily Smayda Kelly, Esq. guides both individuals and companies through transitions with her legal consulting company, Kel-Lume Group.  She has taken twenty years of being a labor and employment attorney experience in public (Jane Campbell Administration), private (Union Representation), corporate (Tradesmen International), and nonprofit (GC of Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio), settings on both sides of the table and now focuses on making a difference.  She helps individuals navigate through their employment challenges, including non-compete, severance packages, unemployment and coaches them through to their next opportunity be it traditional employment, business owner, or independent contractor.

Monday, June 26, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Working with a Recruiter
Speaker:  John DiNallo

Monday, June 12, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

ChatGPT for Job Search
Speaker:  Jeff Trattner

Jeff Trattner is a business-to-business marketing executive with demonstrated accomplishments and deep expertise across a full range of marketing disciplines in commercial and industrial goods.  He leverages career disruptions as learning opportunities to develop job search techniques. He excels in securing challenging roles and now helps others navigate the job market. Jeff holds a BS in Journalism from Ohio University and an MBA from Case Western Reserve University. He is an operating advisor at Ronin Equity Partners and principal advisor at Construct Advisory.

Monday, May 22, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

Are You On the Right Path?

Using & Interpreting the Trimetrix DNA Instrument

 

Speaker & Facilitator:  Jim Folger

Registration Is Required for This NCJS Program

Jim Folger has been using behavioral sciences to help clients make better hiring decisions by aligning the right people with the right jobs for almost 2 decades.  In Jim’s volunteer work with job seekers he has also used these tools to help job seekers understand whether they are pursuing the right jobs.

 

TRIMETRIX DNA ASSESSMENT

Prior to the meeting, you will be given an opportunity to take a self assessment tool to provide insights into your behavioral style, the things that motivate you, and the development levels of 25 soft skills that the instrument looks at.  Jim has arranged for NCJS members to receive and use this instrument at no cost (it ordinarily costs $360 per individual).  In a group presentation Jim will give an overview of how these relate to our jobs.

 

In this session you will:

  • Receive a FREE online instrument utilizing 3 sciences:  Behaviors, Motivations, and Skills (a $360 value).

  • Gain a better understanding of yourself, how you interact with others, why you do what you do, and how your behaviors, motivations, and skills  align with your career.

  • Understand how to read others and adapt your style to improve communication effectiveness.

* * * * *
NOTE:  Thanks to Jim Folger and Target Training International,

this $360.00 instrument is offered to NCJS members for FREE.

* * * * *

Jim Folger is a recruiter, and the President of OneSource Technical, Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for a broad range of professional positions.  Jim is an Engineer with 2 decades of industry experience in Engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.

 

Jim’s background as a hiring manager and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk.  Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas.  Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company’s network of nearly 1.000 recruiters.

Monday, April 24, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services

 

Speaker: Ebony M. Hogan

Cuyahoga Works: Job & Career Services’ professional career counselors take pride in helping job seekers put their best foot forward to find employment, advance their careers, or pursue new career paths. Since 1976, Cuyahoga County Public Library has helped adults at all stages of their working lives acquire the skills employers desire, find jobs, and transition to new careers. Among services offered:

  • Career Counseling & Coaching
  • Resume, Cover Letter & Social Media Profile Reviews
  • Job Search Strategies
  • Interview Preparation
  • Free Workshops & Community Collaborations

​Ebony M. Hogan, M.Ed. is the Career Services Supervisor and a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Cuyahoga County Public Library. In this presentation she will offer an overview of the many services available in the Cuyahoga Works program.

 

Ebony received a Master’s in Education with a major in Rehabilitation Counseling and a Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies from Kent State University. She has also earned a myriad of professional certifications including Rehabilitation Counselor (CRC), Professional Resume Writer (CPRW), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner, and Digital Brand Strategist (CDBS).

 

As an advocate of people and change, Ebony takes pride in providing everything from time to resources to a listening ear to a word of advice or encouragement to here clients. Her life's journey and work has always been to see others realize their utmost potential so that they can reach the highest height in their respective life venture.

Monday, March 27, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Marketing Yourself Like a Pro

 

Speaker: Jim Folger

Jim Folger will be giving a presentation detailing a process and methodology for successfully marketing yourself into target companies where you don’t already have a contact. The presentation will show you how to expand your list of target companies, identify people to market to, obtain their contact information, and propose a methodology for initiating contact.

Jim Folger is a recruiter, and the President of OneSource Technical, Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for a broad range of professional positions.  Jim is an Engineer with 2 decades of industry experience in Engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.

 

Jim’s background as a hiring manager and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk.  Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas.  Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company’s network of nearly 1.000 recruiters.

Monday, February 27, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Developing a Marketing Plan

 

Speaker: Jean Gagné

In this meeting, Jean will share the cumulative knowledge he has gained over the years in both using and coaching others to employ a personal Marketing Plan.  Additionally, he will explain the purpose and value of this critical job transition document as well as dissect the content for anyone to easily make your own.  Come one, come all ,and learn how this simple one-page plan can accelerate your transition to your next great opportunity!

 

Jean Gagné is an Information Management Professional with experience in manufacturing, distribution and retail organizations.  His formal background is in Information Technology, but in addition to serving in various IT management positions, he also gained significant business acumen working in Customer Service, Warehousing and Distribution, Supply Chain and Human Resources.  Earlier in his career, Jean found himself in transition which forced him to develop and refine a comprehensive Job Search Process Map ranging from what you need to do before you start your search through on-boarding your next opportunity.  Jean serves as board member on two job search groups in NE Ohio and has been part of NCJS from its inception in 2014.

Monday, January 23, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

I Have LinkedIn, Now What?

How to leverage LinkedIn for the next-level job search

 

Speaker: Christopher Gentry

Join us for an overview of areas on LinkedIn job seekers can leverage to improve their career search and networking activities. Topics to be discussed will be LinkedIn follies for new users, top-notch networking tips, job search suggestions, and Security and Privacy settings. Come with your questions as this will be a great opportunity to network and learn next-level details about LinkedIn.

 

Christopher Gentry became interested in this topic when his position was eliminated in 2003. At the time, his company provided him "outplacement services." Through this experience, he was introduced to the world of networking, job search groups, and techniques he had never heard of, all of which have helped him stay employed.

Monday, November 28, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Job Search Process and Lessons Learned

Speaker: Christopher Gentry

Navigating the job search can be daunting for many, no matter where you are in your career. Join us for a discussion with Christopher Gentry, where we’ll cover the core tools you’ll need, dos and don’ts, and what to do once you’ve received an offer.

 

Christopher Gentry became interested in this topic when his position was eliminated in 2003. At the time, his company provided him "outplacement services." Through this experience, he was introduced to the world of networking, job search groups, and techniques he had never heard of, all of which have helped him stay employed.

Monday, November 14, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Special Virtual Networking Meeting:

“Zoom Mocktail Meeting”

You’re Invited!

A Primer for Mixing Job Seeking and Party Mingling
in the Age of Virtual Gatherings


Remember the "normal" holiday cocktail party where business, recruiting, and networking would mingle  like the well-dressed guests around the room?  Many of those gatherings will still be happening, but with the added awkwardness of being virtual.  It was one thing to balance a glass and a plate of hors d'oeuvres while shaking the hand of the person you've been trying to meet with for a month, but now it is with the added awkwardness of all-things-virtual.  What should I wear (at least in camera view)?  What about computer/camera placement and audio?  And just how DO I get the introductions I am hoping for?


Join NCJS for a dress rehearsal Zoom Mocktail Meeting.  This year you will need to supply your own appetizers and beverages, but we will practice the art of "social gatherings," virtual meetings, and networking.  We'll include tips for working in your elevator speech, how to navigate introductions, and getting yourself noticed without being overbearing – because this is, after all, yet another opportunity for networking.

 

Black Tie Optional

Monday, October 24, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Self-Care and How to Embrace Change

Panelists: Monica Ascar & Josip Markus

Facilitator: Emily Smayda Kelly

Our Conversation Leaders

Stress, worry, anxiety, and depression are very real aspects of job transition at any time, much less during this Covid-19 pandemic.  These feelings can be compounded with the upcoming holidays.  Whether or not these fears represent your experience, the reality is that job transition is fraught with challenges and an emotional roller coaster heightened by the pandemic and the holidays ahead.  In order to address some of these realities we have asked Monica Ascar and Josip Markus to join us for this virtual panel discussion.  The intent of this conversation is to provide coping techniques, practices, and resources to help manage stress.

Monica Ascar, MSW, LISW-S currently serves at the MSW Coordinator at The University of Akron School of Social Work, Lakewood Campus. Her social work practice has included extensive work within the health care and child welfare settings. As a senior medical social worker at Dayton Children’s, her work included completing psychosocial assessments, crisis intervention, mental health assessments, emergency department services, and child abuse assessments and prevention. She also worked in chronic illness serving children and families involved with the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital.  As a child welfare caseworker at Montgomery County Children Services, she worked with children and families within on-going services. Ms. Ascar most recently worked at Cuyahoga County Division of Health and Human Services where she coordinated the University Partnership Program (UPP) and the Graduate Field Program.

Josip Markus.  After more than 20 years of building an outwardly successful life of global travel, an international technology and business career with some of the best-known companies in the world, and having checked many of life’s “must haves” boxes, Josip found himself struggling with depression, anxiety, and a restless mind. Mired in an existential crisis, he pondered questions like: Who am I? Why am I here? Why is everyone asleep?

Yearning for inner peace and clarity of purpose, he found his way  in early 2016 in the depths of the Amazon jungle with an indigenous tribe, and ultimately onto a path he once could not have even imagined existed. Today, Josip is a disciple of his highest self, moving through every moment in humble reverence to the ceremony of daily life. He has committed himself to a path of serving people and all life, and Earth—our home. Drawing from the deep well of wisdom that is gently filled through his personal journey of healing, expansion, and struggle, he now guides other awakening souls as a life coach and spiritual teacher through his coaching and education business, Walk Your Path®.

 

He also passionately supports deeply personal philanthropic projects such as The Spirit of Tatá, a documentary film about one of the last great shamans of the Amazon rainforest, Tatá Yawanawá, and his people, the Yawanawá.

Monday, September 26, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

The Powerful and FREE
Reference Solutions Tool

 

Speaker:  Brian Pritchard

Brian will introduce and show you how to use the free Reference Solutions tool to take a more laser focused and time efficient approach to job seaerch and networking activities. Reference Solutions, from Data Axle, contains detailed records for millions of U. S. businesses with over 2.5 million current job postings. The tool can be used to conduct job searches, find sales leads, track down addresses and phone numbers, and more. This incredible tool is provided free through our public library systems.

 

Brian Pritchard has spent the last 20 years building a highly specialized Holistic Business Approach, based on identifying a growing need for Outsourced Business Solutions. Primarily focused on the areas of Marketing Strategy & Implementation, Brian also has an extensive background with Talent Acquisition, Executive Search and other key Business Growth Services.
 
Thought of by clients and friends alike as a "Swiss Army Knife," Brian will present you with the right tool, at the right moment!
 
On a personal note, Brian is the father of 2 lovely children and husband to 1 beautiful wide. Brian is also a musician (guitar and drums), a proud film nerd, and is forever ethical, respectful, and kind in all areas of life.

Monday, August 22, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

HUMAN RESOURCES PANEL

Q&A with HR Experts

This NCJS presentation will be a conversation with a panel of HR leaders.  Topics will include:

  • Their BEST TIPS for the job search process.
  • What is the best way to get noticed when going after a posted opening?
  • Is there more I should be doing? Will my phone calls and emails help or hurt during the process? How much is too much?
  • What is the best piece of advice an HR professional could share with you to make your search more effective?
  • What burning question do you have that an HR professional could answer?

The panel of HR professionals with unique experiences in diverse organizations will share their job search insights and do their best to answer your important questions. Click the button below to find out more about our outstanding panelists.

Monday, July 25, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

“Happiness @TheSpeedofLife:

Five Prescriptions for Living and Leading

in a VUCA-Pandemic World”

 

Speaker:  Jim Smith

The Executive Happiness Coach®

The idea of VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, Ambiguity) is decades old, but we’re now immersed in a living VUCA laboratory! This talk will provide you foundational principles for living and leading a happier, more balanced life in a world gone crazy!  You will leave with five specific actions you can practice to improve the strength of your “positive emotional muscles” and increase your experience of happiness in life, work, and job search.

 

You will also learn how much control you really have over your attitude, even in the worst of times.  Why is this important to you?  Hey, happier people make better partners, parents, and friends, as well as better leaders and candidates.  It starts with you!

 

Jim Smith is The Executive Happiness Coach®, a global executive coach, health & wellness coach, author, international speaker, and troublemaker.  His passion is to create a Happier world and workplace, one Leader at a time.
 

Drawing on his 20+ years of executive experience as well as 50+ years as a Human Being, Jim has coached leaders from 30 countries and six continents to better balance their lives, upgrade their confidence and executive presence, and build more positive workplace cultures. 
 

Jim is also the author of four books on Happiness, Leadership, and Coaching, and has touched the lives of over 18,000 people through his work on Positive Emotion and and Leadership. He holds multiple credentials in Human Resources and Coaching and he won’t ever stop learning!
 

Finally, Jim wants you to know this: he lives in a multigenerational compound filled with love and good food, he dances a little every day, and he worships Dark beer, Dark Coffee, and Dark Chocolate... and deeply believes that Happiness is a Decision, not an Event!

 

Learn more about Jim at www.TheExecutiveHappinessCoach.com.

Monday, June 27, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Social Media & Your Job Search

 

Speaker:  Rico Aliers

Rico Aliers is a Global Career Developmental Facilitator with more than 15 years of experience developing and delivering training programs. Rico is in expert in the principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects. He currently teaches career and social media workshops at the Ohio Means Jobs center in Summit County and assists job seekers with finding and retaining full-time permanent jobs with benefits.

 

In his workshops, attendees learn how to navigate applicant tracking software, tap into the hidden job network, create an ATS proof resume, prepare for and answer the most challenging interview questions, and understand the process that applications and resumes will face throughout the 21st century.

Monday, May 23, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

Are You On the Right Path?

Using & Interpreting the Trimetrix DNA Instrument

 

Speaker & Facilitator:  Jim Folger

Jim Folger has been using behavioral sciences to help clients make better hiring decisions by aligning the right people with the right jobs for almost 2 decades.  In Jim’s volunteer work with job seekers he has also used these tools to help job seekers understand whether they are pursuing the right jobs.

 

TRIMETRIX DNA ASSESSMENT

Prior to the meeting, you will be given an opportunity to take a self assessment tool to provide insights into your behavioral style, the things that motivate you, and the development levels of 25 soft skills that the instrument looks at.  Jim has arranged for NCJS members to receive and use this instrument at no cost (it ordinarily costs $360 per individual).  In a group presentation Jim will give an overview of how these relate to our jobs.

 

In this session you will:

  • Receive a FREE online instrument utilizing 3 sciences:  Behaviors, Motivations, and Skills (a $360 value).

  • Gain a better understanding of yourself, how you interact with others, why you do what you do, and how your behaviors, motivations, and skills  align with your career.

  • Understand how to read others and adapt your style to improve communication effectiveness.

* * * * *
NOTE:  Thanks to Jim Folger and Target Training International,

this $360.00 instrument is offered to NCJS members for FREE.

* * * * *

 

Jim Folger is a recruiter, and the President of OneSource Technical, Inc., a national search firm that partners with small to medium sized companies to help them recruit for a broad range of professional positions.  Jim is an Engineer with 2 decades of industry experience in Engineering, management, and customer facing roles prior to founding OneSource Technical.

 

Jim’s background as a hiring manager and as a recruiter provides a unique perspective that encompasses both sides of the hiring desk.  Jim can be a valuable resource to reach out to should you be at a crossroad in your career and need to brainstorm ideas.  Job seekers are also welcome to Search Jobs in the company’s network of nearly 1.000 recruiters.

Monday, April 25, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Unleashing Your Potential

 

Speaker:  Marsha Friedman

Unleashing Your Potential

Does your workday look like this:  get up, get dressed, go to work, come home, eat dinner, play with the kids, watch TV, shower and go to bed… and repeat day in and day out?  You earn a decent wage, like the people you work with and the work you do.  It’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and keep doing what you are doing.

 

Or, is it?  Do you ever wonder is this all there is?  Do you ever think if I wasn’t afraid, what would I do?  Do you ever see someone else who is doing something and think, I could do that!  What’s stopping you??

 

During this fast-paced session, Marsha will reveal what you can start doing and, just as importantly, what you can stop doing to bust the barriers and unleash your full potential.

 

Marsha Friedman, MS, DTM, RCC, coaches business professionals who are outwardly successful but inwardly miserable helping them move from making a good living to living a good life.

 

Marsha’s unique personal and professional experiences provide her with a deep understanding of the challenges facing professionals today.  One of her greatest gifts is helping her clients uncover the stories that hold them back and take action that unleashes personal growth.

 

Marsha is a lifelong learner with a BS in Accounting from Miami University and a Masters Liberal Studies in Organizational Leadership from Fort Hays State University.  Marsha holds certifications as a Registered Corporate Coach, Master Trainer, Myers Briggs Type Indicator and DiSC facilitator, and Distinguished Toastmaster.

 

In addition to coaching, Marsha serves on the leadership team of Summit Networking Group – a job search group for senior leaders in Northeast Ohio and is a training facilitator for Corporate University (Kent State – Stark).  She is the author of Surviving and Thriving Despite the Drama and Job Search Mastery and she is an active member of the International Coaches Federation, the Copley Chamber of Commerce, and Toastmasters International.

 

In her free time, Marsha enjoys cooking and sharing meals, crocheting for charity, and working out.  She is passionate about live theater and films, dark chocolate, and good wine!  Marsha and her husband, Bob, have 4 children and 10 grandchildren.

Monday, March 28, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET

[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Improving Your “BAT”-ing Average
During Your Job Search

 

Speaker:  Rick McDermott

Improving Your  "BAT"-ing Average During Your Job Search

For most professionals, being in transition can create a lot of anxiety of what the future holds.  Finding your next landing zone becomes a full-time job.  In 2012, Rick McDermott (now principal at Sandler Training, Independence) was bounced from his job in a corporate reorganization.  “I knew my position was in jeopardy, yet when I was let go it felt like a punch in the stomach.”  Rick leaned on his formal training that allowed him to create a plan to get his career back on track.

 

In this session Rick will guide you through the success triangle for professionals, something he leaned on back in 2012.  He will help you apply the same philosophies his clients use today to find that extra advantage over the competition.  Spoiler alert, it all starts with your behavior.

 

Prior to joining the Sandler network, Rick McDermott spent over 20 years with several of North America’s largest steel distribution centers providing a broad range of products, value-added services, and logistic solutions to companies in diverse industries such as Oil & Gas, Semi-Conductor, Aerospace, Power Generation, and Capital Equipment Manufacturing.


He joined the Sandler network in 2013 with a vision of providing world-class professional development solutions that empower organizations to reach their full potential, scale-revenue, and create pathways to a better business and life-long prosperity for all.

 

Rick's mission is to drive organizational change by challenging the status quo while building best-in class revenue generating operations.

Monday, February 28, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

Why Is My Job Search Stalled?
Fill in the Blanks for Better Job Search Results

 

Speaker:  Katherine Burik

Why Is My Job Search Stalled?

Fill in the Blanks for Better Job Search Results

The human mind fills in a vacuum, making up reasons when nothing else makes sense.  Katherine Burik calls this, “I’m too….”.  When your job search stalls, it is natural to fill in the blanks with seemingly logical reasons.  It must be something about me.  “I’m too…”  Which “I’m too” does your mind jump to?  I’m too old?  I’m too young? I’m too black?  I’m too white?  No one will hire me because I’m too…

 

What if the reason your job search stalls has little to do with you?  What if there is another reason?  What if you could change your actions to change your outcome?

 

Join Katherine Burik, The Interview Doctor®, to explore this phenomenon, including one of the biggest Boomer conclusions, “I’m too old”.

 

Katherine frequently speaks to job seekers groups with advice on how to move your job search forward so you can get the job you want.  She published three books and hundreds of blogs filled with ideas reflecting the job search experience.

Monday, January 24, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm ET
[online meeting room will open at 7:15pm]

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

 

“Jumpstart Your Job Search
in the New Year”

 

Speaker:  Kristen McLaughlin

Jumpstart Your Job Search in the New Year

With many people currently looking for a new job (or thinking about looking for a new job), Jumpstart Your Job Search by starting off strong!

 

Focus on what you CAN control in your search and how to increase your odds of landing a new job faster.

 

Join this session to learn more about what you CAN control related to your job search during this time:

 

1. The #1 thing you must identify right now

 

2. How to best showcase yourself professionally

 

3. Strategies for taking control back of your job search

 

Kristen McLaughlin
Owner, KM Career Coaching & Consulting

 

Kristen McLaughlin, MBA, BCC, works with motivated professionals who are at a transition point in their career and want clarity and support to help them reach their career goals. She is passionate about working with clients to uncover their strengths and how best to utilize these in the workplace. Clients from a variety of industries and stages of their career have seen success in working with Kristen.


Kristen’s unique experience in working with a variety of companies over the past 10+ years in external partnership roles provides her with an understanding of the challenges facing professionals today.

 

Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, USA, Kristen earned her Executive Coaching Certificate from Case Western Reserve University and is a Board Certified Coach. She earned business degrees from John Carroll University and Case Western Reserve University.

 

Kristen is a member of several professional organizations, including International Coach Federation (ICF) – Cleveland Chapter and the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO).

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