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Hiring Skills That Fill Your Deficits!

Happy September.  I am still trying to wrap my head around where this summer went.  Time just keeps flying by faster and faster.  To that note, ProRecruiters just passed its 10.5 year mark.  I am often times in awe of how an idea that stemmed from a dinner conversation between Brett and I resulted in a small business being created that now employs 8 full-time people and has put over 5000 people to work since inception!

The 10 years have been an amazing journey.  There have been lots of highs and some lows.  When you start a company, it often means limited resources which means you have to wear multiple hats.  I can vividly remember my role of receptionist, recruiter, business development professional, payroll specialist and account manager all wrapped into one day!  As the business grew, I could hire and slowly relinquish roles and responsibilities to people that compliment my weaknesses. 

One of my biggest weaknesses has been developing people.  I am great at driving the business and being the visionary but when it comes to building the team and fostering a learning culture with the house that was built, well let’s just say that was not my forte.  My style was more, this is what needs to happen and then I was off making it happen leaving everyone else behind me trying to keep up.  It takes humility as a leader to accept that you are not good at everything but that insight is vital for a business to continue to grow.  That is why I am thrilled to announce bringing on Larry Cheatham to serve as President.  As President he will bring a wealth of knowledge in executive leadership and Human Resources capability to develop the team at ProRecruiters.  Hiring Larry will give the team the development leader while allowing me to focus on the big picture and growing and expanding services.    

Cheatham just finished his tenure as Vice President of Employee Services of local 700-employee construction company, Flintco, LLC.  A twelve-year veteran of Flintco, Larry was responsible for leadership and development of all aspects in Human Resources: EEO/AA compliance, Ethics, Compensation, Talent Management, Succession Planning and Flintco’s 401k and Welfare Benefits. During the last 18 months of his tenure at Flintco the Company recruited, screened and filled over 100 professional positions.

His 40-year career, to date, encompasses the aerospace and construction industries plus serving on the boards of non-profit organizations. Cheatham has led Payroll, Operations, Safety, Marketing and Equipment departments in addition to Human Resources.  While with Wichita, Kansas-based Eby Construction Company, he initiated Project-based partnering that resulted in the Eby Company winning six national Marvin Black Partnering Excellence Awards from the Associated General Contractors of America.

Cheatham has a Bachelor's degree from Harding University and a Master of Science in Public Administration from the University of Missouri College of Business. He holds the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SCP) certification plus the HRCI Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification. He is a member of Leadership Tulsa - Class 51, a member and former President of the TulsaHRC organization and an active member of his church.

Sometimes as managers and business owners you need to hire people who are smarter than you and who can help fill in the deficits we all have as humans.  I would encourage you all to think about what you love and what you are good at and be courageous to hire people that can help you!  They say it takes a village to raise a family, well I think it takes a village of great people around you to grow a company.  Call us when you are ready to grow, we will be ready for you!

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