Agenda:

8:00-8:30am: Continental Breakfast & Networking
8:30-11:00am: Program
11:00-11:30am: Networking

Hiring key employees and strong management team is a challenge most entrepreneurs and business owners are faced with, and can be an overwhelming undertaking for anyone in this position. Whether just launching a venture or growing a business, business owners need to find not only qualified individuals but also people who are a good fit within their overall company culture.  Join us for this panel discussion where several successful entrepreneurs will talk about how they were able to build their teams.  Topics will include:

• How to determine appropriate compensation
• How to find people that “fit” with your team & culture
• How to effectively recruit candidates
• What questions to ask during the interview process
• How to delegate responsibilities to new team members

Panelists
 
Erich Dierdorff, DePaul University

Erich is an assistant professor of management at DePaul University. He teaches courses in organizational behavior, strategic human resource management, and training and career development. He has consulted to numerous public and private organizations including the U.S. Department of Labor, American Council for the Teaching of Foreign Languages, U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Siemens AG, Nortel Networks, Research Triangle Institute, and the City of Chicago. His work has appeared in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Personnel Psychology, The Leadership Quarterly, Academy of Management Learning & Education, Journal of Management, and the Academy of Management Journal. He serves on the editorial boards of the Journal of Applied Psychology, Academy of Management Learning & Education, and Human Performance. He received his Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from North Carolina State University.
 

Mark Hattas, Geneca

Mark has been doing what he loves to do -- selling, satisfying, engaging, leading -- since the seventh grade. With 14 jobs before graduating college (from pizza maker to airport lineman to Cutco Cutlery sales rep), Mark understood the value of work at a young age.  After establishing himself as a technical sales whiz, by age 26 he was on his way to becoming the CEO of one of Chicago’s fastest growing, most respected IT services firms.  Today, Mark is a charismatic leader widely respected for his commitment to his clients, employees, community, and family. At the helm since 1998, Geneca clients look to Mark as their advocate and trust him to deliver the business value they need.  Prior to founding Geneca, Mark was a sales representative at GE Medical Systems.  A driven and independent thinker, he led sales to record territory levels for capital equipment, service, and financial leasing offerings.  Mark has been honored with a Young Executives Award, is an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Nominee, and has led Geneca to its receipt of Deloitte’s National Fast 50/500, Inc. 5000, and 101 Best & Brightest Places awards. He is a published author and invited speaker on topics such as Generational Theory, sales methodology and the role of IT on delivering business value. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University.

Kevin Turner, Model Metrics

Kevin is a Principal with Model Metrics, one of the nation’s leading Salesforce.com partners.  Model Metrics delivers applications and services at the cutting edge of the fast growing Software-as-a-Service and Platform-as-a-Service industries.  In addition, Model Metrics develops applications for the iPhone and other mobile platforms.  Since its founding in 2003, Model Metrics has grown to 70 employees with offices across the country, and has won numerous awards including the Illinois Technology Association “Rising Star” award in 2008.  Kevin is a past president of the CRM Association of Chicago, and has had the honor of addressing many business associations and lecturing at a number of universities.  As a principal partner of the advisory board of the DePaul University Center for Sales Leadership, he provides strategic guidance to the center’s curriculum and students. Kevin earned a Bachelor's of Business Administration from the University of Michigan and MBA with a specialization in Entrepreneurship from DePaul University.

Moderator

Adam Robinson (MBA '04), illuma, LLC

Adam is a noted recruiting industry expert, speaker, and author.  He is the founder of illuma, a leader in low-cost outsourced recruiting solutions, and Ionix Hiring Systems, a provider of Interview and Assessment tools for high-growth organizations. Adam is passionate about entrepreneurship, donating time to a number of organizations that support the entrepreneurial cause.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Entrepreneur’s Organization’s Chicago chapter, where he recently participated in the development and launch of a new national program that mentors early-stage entrepreneurs.  Adam is also on the Board of Advisors for DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center, where he serves as both a resource and speaker at the #2 ranked Entrepreneurship program in the United States.  Adam completed his undergraduate study at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and received his MBA from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.  He lives in Chicago with his wife, Anna, and their family.