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AI is moving fast, and for staffing agencies, keeping up can feel like a full-time job. With new tools, models, and AI agents appearing every day, it’s hard to know what’s worth the investment, how to get teams on board, and how to keep sensitive business and candidate data secure. The challenge isn’t just keeping pace with AI. It’s figuring out where it can make a real difference in your business without getting distracted by the latest shiny thing. On this episode of Staffing Made Simple, co-hosts Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield sit down with Lauren Jones, Founder and President of Leap Advisory Partners, to separate AI hype from practical value. With nearly 30 years of experience across staffing, recruiting, technology, and operations, Lauren brings a hands-on perspective on how staffing companies can approach AI with confidence. The conversation explores which tools deserve attention, how to drive team adoption, where to start, and how to put the right guardrails in place to use AI responsibly. The goal: make AI less overwhelming and give staffing leaders a clearer path from experimentation to meaningful results.

The staffing industry has faced a tough couple of years, but not every agency is feeling the pressure in the same way. Some firms are still growing, while others are struggling to gain traction. So what’s separating the two? In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, we dig into the 2026 State of Staffing Benchmarking Report to uncover what the numbers really say about the state of the industry and what the highest-performing firms are doing differently. Co-hosts Casey Wagonfield and Rob Geist are joined by David Folwell, President and Founder of Staffing Referrals and Staffing Hub and host of The Staffing Show, and Hillary Baker, Managing Director of Staffing Hub. Together, they unpack the data behind the report, including what’s driving growth, how firms are using AI and technology, why reliance on job boards is shifting, and what the industry’s strongest performers can teach staffing leaders looking to grow. Because the numbers don’t just tell us where staffing stands today. They show us what the firms pulling ahead are doing differently.

For our special 20th episode, join Staffing Made Simple co-hosts Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield as they take a step back and connect the dots across the first 19 episodes of Staffing Made Simple. From buyers and sales leaders to staffing executives and technology experts, their conversations revealed some surprising common themes about what staffing buyers really want, what sales experts keep getting right, and where AI and technology are taking the industry next. The conversation gets practical, looking at where salespeople may be missing the mark, what it takes to better engage prospects and win more business, and how AI and technology are reshaping recruiting and staffing sales. Along the way, Rob and Casey revisit a few standout moments and have some fun looking back at the first 19 episodes.

In staffing, everyone claims to offer great service, top talent, fast response times, and strong relationships — but so does everyone else. So how do you stand out before the first sales call, email, or LinkedIn message? In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, we explore how personal branding and social selling can help you build trust, credibility, and visibility with the right people, making every conversation warmer and every opportunity more meaningful. Hosts Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield are joined by Kendra Cato, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Advance Partners, to explore how staffing professionals can build an authentic personal brand without trying to become LinkedIn famous or posting just for the sake of posting. Together, they share practical strategies for finding your voice, building credibility, creating engaging content, and using social selling to earn trust long before you make the first call or ask.

Staffing sales has become a sea of sameness, where generic outreach and repetitive messaging make it difficult for agencies to truly stand out. Buyers are flooded with identical cold emails, repetitive follow-ups, and generic “we’ve got great talent” messaging that blends into the noise. In a market where attention is harder than ever to earn, the firms that stand out are the ones that create curiosity, connection, and memorable experiences that buyers actually remember long after the conversation ends. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, host Casey Wagonfield sits down with Dale Dupree, Founder and CEO of The Sales Rebellion and creator of the Totality sales conference, to discuss how staffing firms can break free from “same-sounding” sales strategies and create more human, curiosity-driven outreach. Together, they explore how to stand out without being gimmicky, why creating wonder matters in modern sales, and what staffing sales professionals can do differently to build stronger, more memorable buyer relationships.

The contingent workforce space is full of AI talk, but buyers and staffing firms are still dealing with the same core problem: too much noise and not enough clarity. Firms are trying to stand out, buyers are trying to sort real capability from claims, and RFPs are still one of the most time-consuming parts of the process. So, what actually matters when decisions get made — and what doesn’t? In this episode, co-hosts Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield sit down with Mickey Pelletier, Founder & CEO of CWM Strategies and cwRFP, to break it down. With 17+ years across MSP, VMS, and the client side, Mickey shares where AI can genuinely help without adding more noise, what buyers actually look for in staffing partners, how firms can differentiate once they’re in a program, and how to make the RFP process less painful for everyone involved. For anyone trying to win more deals, simplify RFPs, or use AI in a way that actually helps, this is a must-listen.

Contingent work isn’t slowing down. In fact, it’s becoming a more critical part of how organizations operate. But while demand remains strong, the way these programs are designed, managed, and measured is shifting fast. Buyer expectations are evolving, labor models are getting more complex, and the old approaches that once worked are no longer enough to stay competitive. The opportunity is still there, but only for those willing to adjust how they show up and deliver value. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, co-hosts Casey Wagonfield and Rob Geist are joined by Meea Evans-Cone from CEVA Logistics to explore how contingent workforce programs are evolving in real time. Drawing from experience on both the staffing and buyer sides, Meea shares what’s changing inside large-scale programs, how organizations are rethinking standardization versus local flexibility, and what it really takes to stand out today — from aligning with buyer expectations to delivering measurable quality and retention in light industrial environments.

Are your prospects ghosting you? Are sales cycles dragging on while “just checking in” emails disappear into the void? Deals take longer, inboxes stay silent, and selling on price feels like a race to the bottom. Staffing sales has shifted — and if you’re still relying on old tactics, you’re already behind. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, we unpack what it really takes to sell consultatively in today’s market, how to differentiate beyond filling orders, and how aligning sales, marketing, and ops can turn stalled conversations into real momentum. That’s why we invited Mark Winter, Principal CEO of WinSource Group, to join the conversation. With more than 20 years in staffing — from running branches to leading sales enablement for a multi-billion-dollar organization — Mark shares practical strategies for building stronger pipelines, tightening execution, and helping teams sell with confidence in a tougher market. If you’re tired of being ghosted and competing on price, this episode delivers insights you can put to work right away.

A new year brings new opportunities for staffing agencies — but it can also bring new rules, increased enforcement, and more ways to get caught off guard. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, we sit down with legal experts Lia Elliott and Joanna Monroe of Staffing GC to break down the toughest states for staffing agencies, emerging compliance pressure points, and the legal landmines tied to immigration changes, I-9 requirements, and non-competes as 2026 gets underway. We also take a clear-eyed look at AI — where tools meant to improve hiring speed can quietly introduce bias and legal exposure if they’re not governed properly. If you own, lead, sell for, or recruit in staffing, this episode lays out what’s changed, what’s coming, and where to focus before small issues turn into big risks.

What if you could sit down with someone who talks daily to enterprise buyers managing contingent workforce programs and the staffing firms competing for their business, and get the inside scoop? In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, we dive into the latest Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) data on the economy, break down VMS and MSP trends, and show why technology and AI are now essential for agencies that want to specialize and show up as true partners — not just vendors. To tackle these topics, co-hosts Casey Wagonfield and Rob Geist of SimpleVMS sit down with Kersten Buck, Senior Vice President of Global Strategic Solutions at SIA. Kersten breaks down what the data says about buyer and staffing trends, how the contingent workforce landscape is evolving, and what agencies need to do right now to stay ahead and thrive in a fast-moving market.

In staffing sales, everyone claims to value relationships—but too often, the chase for quick wins takes over. This episode of Staffing Made Simple digs into what it really means to move beyond being “just another vendor.” It explores why clients can sense when your outreach is transactional, how to shift from chasing recs to earning trust, and what separates sales reps who get ignored from those who get invited to the table. Joining us for this conversation is Casey Jacox, bestselling author of Win the Relationship, Not the Deal, and host of The Quarterback Dadcast. Drawing on his experience as a top national staffing salesperson, Casey shares how leading with service, consistency, and genuine curiosity builds lasting business partnerships. Whether you’re an account manager, recruiter, or sales leader, this episode will challenge how you think about success — and help you refocus on relationships that drive real results.

Selling staffing today is a whole new ballgame. Decision-makers are tougher to reach, buyers are doing their homework long before you ever make contact, and differentiation has never been harder. The old playbook – impersonal cold calls, generic pitches, and canned follow-ups – just doesn’t cut it anymore. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, hosts Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield dig into the realities of selling in 2025: what’s changed, what’s working, and how the best staffing pros are rethinking their approach to prospecting, positioning, and closing. To help unpack it all, they’re joined by Tom Erb, President of Tallann Resources, national speaker, and author of Winning the Staffing Sales Game. With more than 25 years of industry experience, Tom brings proven strategies for standing out in a crowded market – sharing what top producers do to build trust faster, add real value in early conversations, and win clients who stick.

What if a single partnership could open new revenue streams, accelerate your growth, and make your client relationships stronger? That’s exactly what happens when staffing leaders embrace SimpleVMS – the most vendor-friendly VMS on the market. Built to partner with agencies, SimpleVMS helps you scale faster and differentiate your value with clients. In this milestone 10th episode of Staffing Made Simple, Rob Geist and Casey Wagonfield sit down with Bob Baer, Chief Growth Officer at TalentLaunch. With over 30 years in staffing, Bob has been leveraging the SimpleVMS model for more than a decade across multiple companies – proving it’s not just software, it’s a growth engine. If you’re ready to move beyond transactional staffing and build something sustainable, scalable, and truly different, this conversation will change how you look at VMS partnerships.

Is your compensation plan helping – or hurting – your bottom line? Rising costs, shrinking margins, and stagnant producer performance are all signs that your compensation model may be working against you. When you’re overpaying for the wrong results – or failing to reward the right ones – you’re quietly bleeding profit while competitors surge ahead. If your pay structure isn’t attracting new talent, keeping your best people, and driving profit, it may be time for a serious reset. As President of Visus Group, Tom Kosnik has spent decades helping staffing agencies uncover profit leaks and build comp plans that actually drive results. In this episode of Staffing Made Simple, Tom shares proven strategies for designing structures that fuel growth, motivate producers, and protect your margins.

The staffing industry is at a crossroads. Market conditions are tougher, technology demands are higher, and the old playbook for growth isn’t cutting it. Yet some agencies are thriving while others struggle. What’s the difference? That’s what we’re exploring today with the latest State of Staffing benchmarking report from Staffing Hub. Surveying hundreds of staffing leaders, the study reveals a clear pattern: the most successful agencies aren’t just moving faster — they’re moving smarter. In this episode, David Folwell, President of Staffing Referrals and founder of Staffing Hub, breaks down this year’s research on transformation — how agencies are adapting, where they’re investing, and what separates the winners. He’ll share the key trends shaping the industry, the strategies fueling high growth, and how to build high-functioning talent pools that drive lasting success.