Q: What did you do prior to
becoming a recruiter?
A: I
graduated from Ball State University in 1975 and joined Delco Remy
Div, General Motors. I had been at General Motors for 12 years as a
first line supervisor dealing with the UAW and it was the worst job
in the world as far as I was concerned. I had 72 hourly employees in
the strongest labor union local at that time and my department could
shut down General Motors if we did not make our production
schedules. I decided that I did not go to college for 4 years to be
a baby sitter for adults who did nothing to help me make our
production goals. I became restless and decided to develop a plan to
leave GM.
Q: Why did you decide to become
a recruiter and what year (xx, xx, xxxx) did you become a recruiter?
A: I had
aspirations to be in sales, be compensated for what I accomplished
(eat what I kill), and be my own boss. I sold my home and used the
equity to start a janitorial supply business. After 1 ½ years
or working two jobs, my largest competitor purchased my company. I
visited George Ceryak's Sales Consultants office in Indianapolis
looking for a sales job. I went in there looking for a sales job and
told him I wanted high risk, all or nothing sales job where I was in
control of my own income. He explained the role of a recruiter and I
thought…"Oh, what the heck" and decided to give it a
try. I joined the corporate owned Indianapolis Sales Consultants
office on September 10, 1984.
Q: If you went
out on your own as a recruiter what prompted that decision?
A:
I developed a specific niche market which to this day
has been the biggest source of my revenue for the last 20 years. I
was doing splits with a Philadelphia based privately owned search
firm and they taught me more about the world of recruiting that I
ever learned from Sales Consultants. They did a lot of retained
search in addition to contingency and that really appealed to me.
After 2-3 months of splits, MRI corporate called George Ceryak and
said I was doing too much business outside the MRI system and it
would make the franchise owners mad. In particular, I remember
George said that owners of multiple franchise offices like the owner
in Texas at that time would complain. The franchise offices could do
splits outside the system, but the corporate offices were expected
to set an example. I was told I had to stop working outside the MRI
system. I never have been very compliant when it comes to a large
corporation telling me what I can and cannot do; especially when
they were paying me a minimum wage draw at the time plus
commissions. So., I resigned and joined the search firm in
Philadelphia, working in a remote location. I knew that George
always enforced the non-competes. I had to work for a year in an
offsite prior to opening the Indianapolis office. My office was 50
miles as the crow flies north of the city limits of Indianapolis.
So, I ended up in a trailer park in Fairmount, Indiana (the home of
James Dean) for one year across the street from a working prostitute
and near a hog farm. After the year non-compete expired, I opened a
real office in Indianapolis and managed the operation. I decided to
go out on my own when they invited me to the Christmas party in
Philadelphia where a complete array of illegal drugs was offered to
all in attendance. I made a decision at that time that no one would
ever be in charge of my professional life again. Hudson Associates,
Inc. was incorporated November 23, 1989.
Q: Who were your role
models and are you mentoring others now?
A: I
have been a Christian since November 17, 1977. Jesus Christ is my
ultimate role model. My son is my best friend and believe it or not,
he is a tremendous role model for me. I have realized every father's
dream in that my son is now my business partner and doing quite well
as a recruiter. I have found it easy to mentor him because he
catches on very quickly. He is a natural recruiter and talented
businessman..
Q: If you were asked what your
job title is, how would you respond?
A:
I prefer the title of Managing Director. I do not have
a title on my business cards, as I am not a title oriented person. I
am a performance oriented person. I really do not care how anyone
refers to me. I am like "Jerry McGuire;" just show me the
money!.
Q: Is your primary job
function sales driven or recruiting driven?
A:
I am totally sales driven utilizing MPC marketing
and my son is 100% the recruiter at this time in our business. It
works well for us, as his research skills are very well developed.
Q: Why did you join USRC and what prompts
you to continue to be a member?
