Read where C&A Industries and our affiliates have made the news in our
industry and in our community.
For media inquires, contact the Marketing Department by phone at 800.574.9829
or by
email.
As Area Job Market Sees Continued Growth, Staffing Firms Add Services
Midlands Business Journal - November 20, 2012
(Celebrity Staff)
Despite the pressures on the national economy, concerns about the fiscal cliff
and uncertainty surrounding health care reform, Nebraska companies continue to
grow. This keeps unemployment down and the job market competitive.
"Increased requests for executive assistants and mid-to-upper level
administrative staff are one sign of an improving economic outlook, said Patty
North, regional manager with Celebrity Staff, a division of C&A industries.
"These are positions that were eliminated or combined with other roles in
offices when the recession first began," she said. "A recent CareerBuilder
survey indicates that more than 1 in 4 companies plan to hire in the 4th
quarter." Good candidates may find themselves with several offers to choose
from, North said. Interested companies are challenged to move fast when they
find the right person. "There are software tools that many employers use to
screen candidates, and if they don't have the right key words on their resume,
they may be overlooked," she said. Currently Celebrity Staff is working to
identify passive candidates, people who are already employed but considering a
job change. "Those individuals benefit from our ability to match them with an
open position they may not know about or did not consider previously" she said.
Open dialogue, vigilance in record keeping can bring significant tax savings
Midlands Business Journal – October 12, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Just as clients should keep their accountants in the loop not just during “tax
time” so should industry professionals or the appropriate managers across
industries, stay in the loop with their recruiting specialists so they’re
prepared with the right staff to accommodate heightened demand for their
services. “Aureus Group’s finance and accounting team starts our ‘tax season’
recruiting in August,” said Managing Director Chris L. Carlson. “The top talent
is committed to their contract assignments in the fall. Many firms request the
same contract employee back year after year.” Those top employees may not have
the best resumes, so she urges accounting firms and business owners alike to not
make decisions with regard to their tax professionals based off a piece of
paper. “People who are best at getting the job aren’t always the best at doing
the job,” Carlson said. “The two primary causes of all hiring mistakes are not
knowing what you’re looking for and moving forward based on first impressions.”
She also indicated that a lack of defining and communicating clear expectations
can also have a less-than-stellar result. “Hire employees who are
people-oriented and want to prepare tax returns not only to earn money, but
because they like the challenge of tax preparation and want to help people,”
Carlson said, adding, “Hire hard, manage easy. You can teach a turkey to climb a
tree or hire a squirrel.” Borrowing that analogy and hiring what is effectively
a turkey not exactly made to climb or suited for the job can be very costly,
Carlson stressed. “In the tax business, as with any other service business,
people represent the greatest expense and the greatest source of frustration, as
well as the greatest opportunity for business success,” she said. “Prevent bad
hires by understanding your needs and creating a recruiting strategy that
encompasses how to reach the candidate pool and these key considerations; people
skills, tax knowledge, experience, availability, and conflicts of interest.”
Generally tax professionals want you, the client, to meet with them at least
twice a year, and nothing quite ruffles the feathers like disorganization.
Employees seek leadership development opportunities to move up within the ranks
Midlands Business Journal – October 5, 2012
(C&A Industries)
Many employees today look to hone their leadership skills through training and
development programs available through their employer, outside firms or
institutions of higher learning. C&A Industries, for example, has training
programs for employees who want to rise through the ranks and supervisors who
want to take their leadership skills to the next level, said Liz Hall, executive
director of training and development. At C&A, Hall’s responsibility is to
oversee training and development opportunities for the company’s 400 employees.
This includes training for newly hired employees and leadership and professional
development opportunities for other worker. C&A offers professional development
for employees who have been with the company for six months or longer, Hall
said. Two 12-week programs are available for employees to develop their
leadership skills. This training , held in one 90-mnute session a week, helps
employees develop their communications kills, learn better how to deal with
conflict and improve their “soft skills,” Hall said. “It helps give them some
sense of empowerment in the organization,” she said. The program also gives
employees exposure to executive management personnel in the company that they
otherwise would not meet, she said. Another program offered at C&A is geared
toward those already in leadership positions. It aims to help them improve their
abilities to coach others.
Gossiping, dressing too casual at the
office can violate workplace etiquette
Midlands Business Journal - September 7, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Workplace etiquette is a concept that often is misunderstood, but it is very
important, experts say. Workplace etiquette is important because it prevents
misunderstandings and sets clear expectations in the workplace said Chris
Carlson, managing director of Aureus Group, an affiliate of C&A Industries.
Etiquette will help employees to know what they are to do in the workplace,
Carlson said. Most organizations outline expected behavior in their handbooks in
order to avoid workplace tension, negative confrontation, and office politics.
“Workplace etiquette tells the individual how to behave when dealing with
situations in a working environment however trivial the situation is,” she said.
Etiquette in particular apples to co-worker interaction and communication with
colleagues. A basic rule of thumb is to be respectful of others, she said.
Staffing firms broaden search as need for
skilled employees grows
Midlands Business Journal – August 24, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Staffing firms in this area are being challenged to keep up with requests for
qualified, skilled candidates in a number of professional fields. “We have been
doing more regional and national recruitment to bring talent back to the
Midwest,” said Chris Carlson, CPC, managing director at Aureus Group, an affiliate
of C&A Industries, Inc. “Speed to market is critical so we continue to educate
ourselves on our customers’ talent gaps, strategic initiatives and succession
plans so we can pro-actively recruit as an extension of their talent acquisition
teams.” Unemployment for Nebraska was a t 3.9 percent in June, just up from
pre-recession levels according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistic’s staffing
industry analyst Pondel Wilkinson, Carlson said. “We’ve seen the biggest
increase in hiring in the information technology and systems area,” she added.
“Temporary workforce in all disciplines will continue to increase.”
AurStaff Launches Mobile Website
August 3, 2012
(AurStaff)
AurStaff, a leader in staffing and recruiting, has announced the launch of its
new mobile website,
http://m.aurstaff.com. Accessible via any web-enabled phone or smartphone,
the site offers a wide range of information about the company and its services,
including areas of specialty and information for customers, such as career
options for job seekers.
The mobile site, which boasts a clean design and user-friendly navigation,
features a comprehensive job search tool that enables job seekers to view
available direct hire and supplemental/temporary positions in the industrial,
technical, engineering, and architectural fields. Jobs may be searched by
profession, position, and location, and may also be shared through social media,
such as Facebook and Twitter.
Job seekers may apply for jobs directly from their mobile devices via
job-specific links to AurStaff’s online application.
“As society trends more and more toward smartphone usage, we’re pleased to offer
an improved mobile experience with the information and features most relevant to
our current and potential clients & employees,” said Teresa Lauver, director of
marketing, AurStaff. “Our goal was to develop a mobile website that is simple to
navigate, visually conveys our brand, and also provides the functionality that
allows job seekers to quickly search and apply for career opportunities from
anywhere and at any time.”
Smartphone users may also link to AurStaff’s Facebook & LinkedIn pages and Blog
from the mobile site, as well as opt for access to the full website from any
page.
C&A Industries Launches Mobile Website
July 19, 2012
(C&A Industries)
C&A Industries, a national leader in staffing and recruitment, has announced the
launch of its mobile website
http://m.ca-industries.com.
C&A, headquartered in Omaha, is the parent company of four specialized staffing
and recruitment firms, Aureus Medical Group, Aureus Group, AurStaff, and
Celebrity Staff; Focus One Solutions, a vendor management and software provider;
AurTravel, a full-service Omaha travel agency; and AurHomes, a corporate housing
provider.
Accessible via any web-enabled phone or smartphone, the site offers company
information, service offerings, affiliates along with areas of specialty, and
information geared toward job seekers.
The mobile site, which boasts a clean design and user-friendly navigation,
features a comprehensive job search tool that enables job seekers to view career
opportunities available with C&A’s corporate office and the positions for which
C&A is currently hiring, including sales jobs such as Account Manager, Business
Development, and Relationship Manager, along with other roles across the
organization. Jobs may be shared through social media, such as Facebook and
Twitter.
Job seekers may apply for available positions directly from their mobile devices
via job-specific links to an online application.
The mobile site also offers videos illustrating C&A’s culture and philanthropic
activities, as well as testimonials from current employees. C&A has been named
among Omaha’s Best Places to Work for four consecutive years.
“As smartphone usage is on the rise, we’re pleased to offer an improved mobile
experience that is simple to navigate and provides the information and features
most relevant to our customers and those considering careers at C&A,” said
Teresa Lauver, director of marketing, C&A Industries. “Our goal was to develop a
mobile website that visually conveys our brand as a staffing provider and
employer of choice, while incorporating our affiliated firms and providing the
functionality that enables job seekers to quickly search and apply for career
opportunities with us from anywhere and at any time.”
Smartphone users may also link to C&A’s social media and Blog pages from any
page of the mobile websites.
Aureus Medical Joint Commission
Certification Renewed
July 3, 2012
(Aureus Medical Group)
Aureus Medical Group, a national leader in healthcare staffing, is proud to
announce that it has renewed its Healthcare Staffing Services Certification with
the Joint Commission, earning a Gold Seal of Approval™.
Aureus Medical was certified with no negative observations or findings cited –
an outstanding achievement.
An independent, not-for-profit organization, The Joint Commission accredits and
certifies more than 19,000 health care organizations and programs in the United
States. Joint Commission accreditation and certification is recognized
nationwide as a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to
meeting certain performance standards. Its mission is to continuously improve
healthcare for the public and inspire healthcare organizations to excel in
providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value.
As a component of the certification protocol, Aureus Medical underwent an
unannounced onsite inspection/review of processes, procedures, and competencies
of healthcare staff as they relate to the Joint Commission standards for company
leadership, human resources and information management, customer service, and
performance improvement.
Onsite evaluations are conducted every two years with comprehensive online
audits taking place in the interim. Monthly quality monitoring data is required
to be submitted to the Joint Commission on an ongoing basis.
"We are very pleased to, once again, be recognized by the Joint Commission with
the Gold Seal of Approval,” said Craig Wolf, Vice President, Aureus Medical
Group. “As one of the top staffing firms in the country, certification signifies
our commitment to the highest level of standards in the healthcare staffing
industry and our unwavering dedication to our clients, employees, and patient
care."
Aureus Medical was one of the first healthcare staffing firms in the nation to
become Joint Commission certified in 2005 and has successfully renewed its
certification continually since that time.
Aureus Medical is an affiliate of Omaha-based C&A Industries, Inc.
Social media in business can bring
both benefits, challenges
Midlands Business Journal, June 22, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Julie Link, senior IT recruiter at Aureus Group, said she looks up every
applicant on LinkedIn. She also uses LinkedIn to search for potential job
candidates and encourages those struggling to find a job to leverage social
media as a networking tool. Social media helps Link stay top-of-mind with people
and companies, she said. When they have a hiring need, or decide they are ready
to take that next step in their career, they think of me – updates, discussion
postings, and linking to others via social media, also helps a recruiter stay
connected to candidates who may not be actively seeking new employment, but
would be open to a career advancing opportunity, she said. Of course, social
media can’t be the only source for finding job candidates or jobs. You still
need to pick up the phone and call to add that personal touch, she said.
National Staffing Leader, C&A Industries,
Launches Mobile Websites of Affiliates, Aureus Medical Group and Celebrity
Staff
June 12, 2012
(Aureus Medical Group and Celebrity Staff)
C&A Industries, a national leader in staffing and recruiting, has announced the
launch of mobile websites for its affiliates, Aureus Medical Group (http://m.aureusmedical.com)
and Celebrity Staff (http://m.celebritystaff.com).
Aureus Medical is a leading healthcare staffing agency, specializing in the
fields of nursing, allied health, and advanced practice professionals as well as
physicians. Celebrity Staff specializes in placing professionals in the
administrative, management, and legal fields.
Accessible via any web-enabled phone or smartphone, the sites offer company
information, service offerings, areas of specialty, and career options for job
seekers.
The mobile sites, which boast clean designs and user-friendly navigation, each
feature a comprehensive job search tool that enables job seekers to view career
opportunities available nationwide. Jobs may be searched by
specialty/profession, position, and location, and may also be shared through
social media, such as Facebook and Twitter.
Job seekers may apply for available positions directly from their mobile devices
via job-specific links to an online application.
Aureus Medical’s mobile site also offers video testimonials providing real life
snapshots of employees and their medical careers in travel nursing, travel
respiratory therapy, and other areas of healthcare.
“As society trends more and more toward smartphone usage, we’re pleased to offer
an improved mobile experience with the information and features most relevant to
our current and potential clients & employees,” said Teresa Lauver, director of
marketing, C&A Industries. “Our goal was to develop mobile websites that are
simple to navigate, visually convey our brands, and also provide the
functionality that allows job seekers to quickly search and apply for career
opportunities from anywhere and at any time.”
Smartphone users may also link to the social media and Blog pages for Aureus
Medical and Celebrity Staff from any page of their respective mobile websites.
C&A Affiliate, Celebrity Staff, to Cut
Ribbon for Office
May 31, 2012
(Celebrity Staff Lincoln)
Celebrity Staff Lincoln, a leading provider of staffing and recruiting services,
will hold a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at
its new office location at 300 N. 44th Street, Suite 204 in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Celebrity Staff is an affiliate of C&A Industries, a national staffing leader.
The event will be hosted by the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.
"We are excited to move to a new location after 20 successful years in Lincoln,"
said Patty North, Regional Manager, Celebrity Staff. "We're looking forward to
continuing the trusted relationships we have with our customers and providing
them with the same outstanding level of service from our new office."
Celebrity Staff specializes in placing professionals in the administrative,
management, and legal fields.
Engaging company culture helps to
attract quality workers
Midlands Business Journal – May 25, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Small business owners need to hire employees carefully, making sure the
candidate is the right fit for the company. “It’s far more efficient and
effective to pay more for the right competency and emotional intelligence that
is aligned with your business goals than it is to change and train an
individual,” said Chris Carlson, managing director of Aureus Group, an affiliate
of C&A Industries. “The cost of hiring the wrong person or the cost of an
unfilled position is hard to calculate but is a very tangible large expense.”
Once the right person is hired for the position, retaining them is equally
important. “Retaining the right employees makes a significant impact on
financial performance,” Carlson said. “Leaders who believe the success of their
company is based on the caliber of its people and life by this concept attract
and retain the best talent available.” “My observation of successful
organizations – including all sizes and industries – is that there is a
significant investment in people development,“ Carlson said. “Helping employees
be more successful personally, professionally, and monetarily while aligning
their goals with the company’s mission keeps everyone going in the same
direction.”
Employment agencies can help save
time, money for applicants and companies
Midlands Business Journal – May 11, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Employment agencies serve two types of clients – companies that are looking for
workers and workers who are looking for companies. Businesses that use staffing
firms range from small mom and pop shops to Fortune 500 companies, said Chris
Carlson, managing director of Aureus Group, an affiliate of C&A Industries. Aureus
Group has a range of company clients from small to large shops and everything in
between, Carlson said. Many companies are seeking temporary workers. “We are
seeing an uptick in temporary workforce across all industries from staff level
to interim executives,” Carlson said. “Most businesses can use an extra set of
hands to handle a big project or a new surge in business, but most are also
reluctant to hire full-time head count.” Companies that work with staffing
experts get access to a screened talent pool, she said. This reduces the cost of
searching for applicants. Clear expectations should be set regarding how often a
staffing company will stay in touch with a company client, Carlson said. A
recruiter should contact the company before representing it to a job candidate.
Candidates who are looking for jobs will find benefits of working with a
staffing company, Carlson said. It will be beneficial to anyone who is looking
to do a confidential search in a particular field and does not have the time to
invest in interviews that don’t align with their specific needs, Carlson said.
Firm websites should be researched for their areas of specialties. Aureus Group
is a professional recruitment firm that is comprised of four specialized
recruitment teams, including accounting and finance, information systems,
executive search, and wealth management. “The more specialized your recruiter
is, the deeper their network is, the stronger their market intelligence and
ultimately the better your experience will be,” Carlson said.
C&A Named #1 Employment Agency by B2B
Magazine
March 28, 2012
(C&A Industries)
C&A Industries, a national leader in staffing and recruiting, has been named the
#1 Employment Agency in Omaha by B2B Magazine for the fourth
consecutive year. The announcement is featured in the April 2012 issue.
The publication’s annual “Best of B2B” awards, with results based on readers’
votes, recognizes the top businesses and service providers in the Omaha area.
B2B is Greater Omaha’s premiere business publication, featuring the
latest business developments as well as features on Omaha’s most prominent
business leaders.
“This recognition means a great deal to us because it’s a direct reflection of
the outstanding and dedicated group of employees at C&A,” said Scot Thompson,
CEO of C&A Industries. “From our account managers and recruiters to those across
our entire organization, our focus is on helping our clients and candidates
achieve success in business and in their careers. Being the very best in our
industry would not be possible without our employees’ passion for our business
and commitment to excellence each day.”
In addition to “Best of B2B”, C&A was recently named among Omaha’s “Best Places
to Work”, an annual competition sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of
Commerce and Baird Holm. C&A was recognized for the fourth year in a row.
C&A Industries Named Among Best Places to
Work for Fourth Consecutive Year
February 24, 2012
(C&A Industries)
C&A Industries, Inc., parent company to a portfolio of leading staffing and
recruiting firms – Aureus Group, Aureus Medical Group, AurStaff, and Celebrity
Staff - has been named among the “Best Places to Work” in Omaha for the fourth
consecutive year.
The annual initiative, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and
Baird Holm, recognizes a select number of companies based on the results of
surveys which measure employee satisfaction and engagement. C&A has been named
in the category of organizations with more than 200 employees.
“To be recognized among Omaha’s best for the fourth year is an incredible
achievement and one that we’re extremely proud of,” said Scot Thompson, Chief
Executive Officer, C&A. “First and foremost, I can’t say enough about the
fantastic employees of C&A who are dedicated to excellence, have a passion for
serving our customers, and work together to help C&A achieve market-leading
positions locally and nationally. Being a great place to work starts with having
the very best people. And, when that is in place, there’s no limit to what can
be accomplished.”
C&A will be recognized along with other Best Places to Work recipients during a
luncheon on April 19, 2012.
IT needs in every industry bringing about
more jobs throughout Metro Omaha
Midlands Business Journal – February 10, 2012
(Aureus Group)
With technology changing daily, businesses need to keep up on all the trends,
equipment, software and logistics of it all. That means that those with IT
backgrounds, education and experience will have more and more opportunities
opening up to them. Most of the data says more than 50 percent off companies
will experience increase in their need for IT resources, said Linda Aughenbaugh,
recruiting manager at the Aureus Group in Omaha. “This includes companies of all
sizes and industries,” Aughenbaugh added. “Some of those positions will be
full-time employment , but more will be for staff augmentation and special
projects that are being funded. These consultant jobs average 6-12 months but
many go far beyond that timeline. “Using consultants is still a more cost
effective, efficient alternative to hiring a full-time employee on staff and
then being faced with laying them off when the project or work is complete,” she
said.
Determining future staffing needs
requires reflecting on past, strategizing new ideas
Midlands Business Journal – January 27, 2012
(Celebrity Staff)
Determining adequate staffing needs is one of the major challenges that
companies face on a regular basis. Planning for staff needs requires reflecting
on the past year and setting predictions for the new year, said Patty North,
regional manager with Celebrity Staff. Companies need to examine where their
staffing needs faced challenges by looking at workflow and overtime hours, North
said. Determine whether those same staffing patterns will repeat themselves in
the new year. “That analysis may identify an area where support staff will help
offset the overtime and handle new or increased business the new year may
bring,” she said. Sales or business development plans for a new year should be
coupled with staff analysis on who will handle the increased workload as new
initiatives produce results, she said. In addition to traditional hiring, many
companies choose to use temporary employees as the workflow increases as they
enter into peak seasons, North said.
More employers adjusting to multiple
generations together in the workplace
Midlands Business Journal – January 20, 2012
(C&A Industries)
When employees ranging in age from 21 to 65 work together, there are bound to be
some differences that arise, but it can be beneficial as well, according to
local professionals. Three primary generations are working together in today’s
workforce, said Bret Williams, director of human resources for C&A Industries.
Williams described the generations working together today as the Baby Boomers,
Generation X, and the Millennial generation. Baby Boomers, born between 1946 and
1964 are optimistic, competitive and have a strong work ethic, he said. They can
be credited with much of the business growth in the economy over the past
several decades. Generation Xers, born between 1964 and 1976 are independent,
flexible and strong. They prefer not to be micromanaged and want to have fun at
work. The Millennial generation, born between 1977 and 1998 work well in a team
structure and technology is integrated into every aspect of their daily lives.
“It’s these generation al differences in the workforce that can be the catalyst
to elevate an organization’s grown, improvement, or competitiveness,” Williams
said.
For some, start of the new year means
brushing off resumes, looking for work
Midlands Business Journal – January 6, 2012
(Aureus Group)
For many people the start of a new year brings more than a desire to lose weight
or stop smoking. It makes them want to look for a new job. Skilled positions
will be plentiful this year and those looking for one of them should be patient
for the right opportunity, said Gabe Romero, branch manager with Aureus Group.
Romero suggests job seekers hold their ground since skilled positions will be
“in abundance” this year. “If you are making a change or getting a new job be
patient and take the right opportunity,” he said, adding an expected shortage of
talent will help job seekers. Romero urges job seekers to leverage their
relationships. A resume will never outline the full picture of a person’s skill
sets. A professional network will go a long ways in painting that picture for an
employer. It is best to know the company in which a job is being sought, Romero
said. Hiring officials appreciate candidates who can display a true
understanding of what the company is about.
Flex financial muscles with goal
setting, reviews with trusted advisers
Midlands Business Journal – January 6, 2012
(Aureus Group)
Not surprisingly, getting physically fit mad the top of the New Year’s
resolution surveys again this year. But foresight and discipline – at the core
of an exercise /nutrition regimen – is also required of those looking to get
financially fit. Chris Carlson works with tax and finance and accounting
professionals as regional manager with placement firm, Aureus Group. To get the
most out of this working relationship to reach one’s financial goals (and
possibly minimize tax impacts and harness incentives,) Carlson said clients need
to do as much work in-house as possible. She also noted that they can realize
savings tied to paying tax preparers for their time. “To get a head start on
your taxes the business owner or their accountant should prepare your records
ahead of time,” she said. “Updated record of both accounts receivable and
accounts payable, detailed records of bank statements and receipts should be
ready to be provided. “The next ‘to-do’ is to list your issues and questions,
analyze your financial statements and note the changes in laws during the year
and discuss them with your tax advisor.”