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 EDT
[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, September 25, 2023

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
North Coast Job Seekers 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 EDT
[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.

Monday, September 26, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[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.

Monday, August 22, 2022

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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 EDT
[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).

Monday, December 13, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Accelerate Your Holiday Job Search”

Speaker: Mark Gonska

Historically, 70% of your competitors think
“No one gets hired between Thanksgiving and January 2”

Events, family gatherings, and holiday parties
can yield job offers

How a robust networking plan can fit
while wearing your Christmas tie

Gonska has a super-secret hack on overcoming
unemployment embarrassment in the HO, HO, HO

Mark Gonska is Executive Vice President for Dise & Company. During his extensive career, Gonska has assisted thousands of individuals in career acceleration by providing strategic coaching in identifying and reaching their vital goals. He works primarily with executives and high-impact employees. As an Executive Coach, he has helped them obtain new positions or explore other career or entrepreneurial options. In addition, Gonska has substantial experience in working with groups – he has worked on plant closings and job relocation projects throughout the United States.  He also has experience in delivering leadership and executive coaching.  His clientele spans many disciplines and includes human resource leaders.

Gonska brings a significant network of contacts from business, industry and not-for-profit organizations.

Gonska’s background includes international marketing and product management positions in a Fortune 200 corporation, as well as participation in the successful start-up and development of a technology-based company. He holds a BA in communications from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and has completed additional human resources study at Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio).

Gonska has been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management and is on the Faces of Hope committee for the Volunteers of America.  In addition to being a nationally certified professional resume writer, he contributed to the book The Five O’Clock Club Guide to Building a Great Resume. He is a frequent speaker and personality on television, radio, podcasts and many groups interested in career management or job search acceleration.

Monday, November 22, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Ask A Recruiter”

with Lloyd Buckwell, Jim Folger & Mark Kelly

What would you like to ask a recruiter?  Here's the chance to get answers to YOUR questions straight from the recruiters.

We will have three professional recruiters online and you can ask them YOUR questions. Have you every wondered... What is the difference between various recruiters?  Why do the recruiters ghost me?  How do I know if I can trust a recruiter?  These are all fair questions plus any you want to pose to our panel.  This is such a unique opportunity – you won't want to miss it!

Monday, October 25, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“10 Second Resume”

Speaker:  Jim Folger

Jim Folger will give a presentation on resumes, sharing what is most important from a recruiter's perspective to quickly communicate the key things in your background.  This presentation will provide insights that might help you get screened IN vs. screened out.

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.  Connect with Jim on LinkedIn and join him in the NCJS LinkedIn Group.

Monday, September 27, 2021

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[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, August 23, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Video Interview Tips in the Pandemic &
Post-Pandemic World”

Speaker:  Michael Spiro

Michael Spiro has been a 3rd-Party Recruiter and Account Executive in the staffing industry for over 20 years.  He is currently the Director of Recruiting / Northeast Ohio for Jefferson Wells, a dedicated business unit of ManpowerGroup.  Other recent positions include President of Midas Recruiting, a boutique head-hunting firm, and Director of Talent at Patina Solutions, a professional services firm that deploys professionals with at least 25 or more years of experience.  Prior to that, Michael was with two of the largest publicly-traded executive search firms in North America – Management Recruiters International (MRI) and Kforce Professional Staffing – where his specialty area was permanent placement.

Michael has sourced candidates for clients in multiple industries, including Software Development, Manufacturing, Banking, Insurance, Legal, Retail and Medical.  He has recruited candidates for positions in Sales, Healthcare, Information Technology (IT) and Finance & Accounting.  Michael is also the creator of a popular blog, Recruiter Musings, providing free advice for job-seekers and receiving thousands of hits a week from all over the world.

Before his career in the staffing industry, Michael was a director-level manager and department head for a $10 million non-profit social-services organization.  And in a former life, Michael was active in the entertainment industry, with extensive road-warrior experience as a touring performer (singer-songwriter / guitarist / comedian) and as a recording artist, music producer and booking agent.  A long-time resident of the Cleveland, Ohio area, Michael received a B.A. degree in Psychology from Case Western Reserve University.

Monday, July 26, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Are You Ready for Takeoff?”

Speaker:  Pat Schultz

Success coach, Pat Schultz, helps entrepreneurs over 40 crush their limiting beliefs so they can finally break free of the chains that have been holding them back.

Pat uses a straight-forward 4-step plan to help individuals reach their goals. This method has helped individuals land career positions as well as reach business goals. She empowers people to embrace their dreams, remove perceived blocks to achieving them and take transformative action to create the life they’ve always wanted.

Pat earned an MBA from CWRU, is a certified speaking coach through the Transformational Speakers Agency, and a certified facilitator through the Proctor Gallagher Institute.

In her presentation, Pat will introduce you to a secret weapon for your job search.

Monday, June 28, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

HUMAN RESOURCES PANEL

Q&A with HR Experts

Panelists:
Mark D’Agostino, Kevin Doherty,
Maria Gaeta, Suzanne Nebe Mullenhour

Moderators: Emily Smayda Kelly, Terese McGroarty

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, May 24, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Modern Job Searching”

Speaker:  Rico Aliers

In this interactive presentation Rico Aliers will discuss OhioMeansJobs resources, tapping in to hidden job networks, using applicant tracking software, creating ATS-proof modern resumes, and conducting virtual interviews.  There will be plenty of opportunities to engage on specific topics of members' interest as well as question-answer period.

Rico Aliers is a seasoned training and development professional with more than 10 years of experience teaching diverse groups of adults.  He teaches career and social media workshops at the Ohio Means Jobs center in Summit County in order to assist job seekers in finding and retaining full-time permanent employment with benefits.  OhioMeansJobs is an amazing organization that is responsible for placing thousands of job seekers every year into full-time permanent positions.  The organization works with diverse populations from the seasoned executive, the multi-felon, to the individuals that have never obtained paid employment.  No matter the background, no matter the experience, if an individual needs a permanent full time job with benefits, Rico and OhioMeansJobs is committed to helping them find and land their position.  All services are offered free of charge.

Monday, April 26, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Personal Branding”

Speaker:  Kris McGuigan

In today’s competitive business world, having a personal brand is essential to differentiate yourself and stand out among the crowd. Are you able to articulate your personal ROI in a clear and compelling manner?

In this interactive program, you will learn to:

• Discover your unique value proposition
• Communicate your brand in a memorable, meaningful manner
• Develop simple strategies for ongoing reputation management

Kris McGuigan, MBA, BCC, ACRW

Early in Kris’s career, a supervisor coined the term “professional courage” to describe her direct and fearless approach to problem-solving. Kris McGuigan now brings that same bold outlook to her clients and their career aspirations.

In founding Professional Courage, Kris translated 15 years of corporate success into a targeted mission: empowering high potentials to step up and stand out in the marketplace. She built a premier career services firm from the ground up, replacing a 6-figure income within 24 months of leaving her corporate position. In 2019, Kris was honored as an Entrepreneurial Woman of Note by Crain’s Cleveland Business.

Kris is distinguished as a Board Certified Coach with 200+ hours of training alongside some of the industry’s top experts. She also holds the prestigious ACRW designation, making her one of only a handful of Academy Certified Resume Writers across the globe to also hold an MBA.

With a brand formed by courage and constancy, Kris uses her own story to guide clients and audiences to success in an ever-changing job market. When not on stage or in the office, she and her husband, Rick, enjoy time with their two children – Claire and Matthew – and a mini golden named Geoffrey.

Monday, March 22, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

“Power of Presence:
The Secret Sauce for Being Unstoppable in Life

and in Your Job Search”

Speaker:  Jeff Nischwitz

Jeff Nischwitz is known as a Snow Globe Shaker who’s on a mission to help people shift how they lead and thereby shift their leadership impact. He's an international speaker and personal transformation coach known for his unique perspectives, challenging traditional thinking, and delivering tangible shifts for leaders to grow their people, build their businesses and enhance their relationships. Jeff's the Founder of The Nischwitz Group, a speaking, consulting and coaching company that transforms people and organizations—one truth at a time! He's the co-founder of Cardivera.com, a leadership development ecosystems that grows leaders and their impact. He also co-hosts the Impact Leadership Podcast (www.impactleadershippodcast.com). Jeff has published four leadership and business books, including his most recent – Just One Step: Walking Backwards to the Present on the Camino Trail (Eagle Heart Press 2020).

Join us on March 22, 2021 as Jeff shares the Power of Presence: The Secret Sauce for Being Unstoppable in Life and in Your Job Search. Jeff has experienced the power of presence first hand and believes that presence is the most powerful state of being on the planet – the secret sauce – and presence is the only state of being that allows you to experience being UNSTOPPABLE! Join us as Jeff helps you explore and enhance your presence and ultimately your job search effectiveness and impact.

Monday, February 22, 2021

7:30 – 9:00pm EDT
[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, January 25, 2021

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

North Coast Job Seekers Meeting

The Art of Hello:
Professional Branding

Be Remembered in a Noisy World
 

Speaker:  Paula Calise

As professionals we all deserve to be known for our achievements, and to be understood for our value proposition.

Right now, it’s a particular noisy world. The news is cluttered and people are preoccupied with the Covid-19 virus.

Now is not the time to lose ground on being known for your professional achievements, hard work accumulated over years or decades. Be proactive in using your Art of Hello™ message, making it simple and clean so that people can “hear you” over the din of our troubled times.

Often called personal branding, the core is introducing yourself to people in a way that the listener understands the essence of your professional life. Once scripted and perfected, your branded introduction is a durable asset. It is useful for emerging professionals, for senior leaders, for business owners, for those seeking positions on boards, and job seekers.

A well-conceived professional brand introduction is the old-fashioned elevator pitch polished up to a professional level with a memorable impact. It differentiates you from others. So simple to recognize when done well, and so hard to make one your own. Paula provides the background, tips and rules and a three-step method that results in you having a professional brand introduction of your own to use, that day. It’s called the Art of Hello.

ABOUT PAULA CALISE

Paula specializes in filling hard to fill positions, completing over 600 mission critical searches since founding Linked Executive Search.  Paula is known for rapidly finding talent to fill key positions that fit the company, culture and team – delivering quality candidates who can step in and immediately produce positive results.  Across many professions and industries, Paula often fills jobs that have been open for 6 weeks to 6 months. Forbes lists Linked Executive Search #1 headquartered in Texas and 9th overall in the US on their list of the US Best Recruiting Firms for 2020.

As a hiring manager by profession, Paula fills jobs like her clients would themselves, if they had the time.  With years of leadership in sales and marketing at TXU Energy, LexisNexis and IBM, she brings a wealth of placement and executive experience to every client search.

Paula is a frequent speaker and author on The Art of Hello™, Be Remembered in a Noisy World, providing presentations, workshops and keynote addresses. Paula can be heard at MBA programs, professional associations, conferences, internal company leadership programs, and job seekers support groups. Paula’s popularity as a speaker is in part due to providing actionable and fresh perspective on the topic of personal branding for professionals and executives. Paula shares the tips and tools on The Art of Hello weekly on LinkedIn.

Paula earned an undergraduate degree in HR from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the University of Houston. She is actively involved in community volunteerism and leadership. Paula serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of North Texas College of Business.  She is a board member of the Dallas/Ft. Worth Retail Executive Association, co-founder of Dallas Executive Women’s Network Group, a founding member and Vice President of The Board Connection, and a former Assistant Vice President of Southwest Higher Education Authority.

2020 Meetings & Topics

To view previous meetings from 2020, click button below: