Hiring and retention are a single system, not separate processes. The all-too-pervasive attitude of, “Let’s just get them in here and we’ll figure out how to keep them later,” is a wasted opportunity that costs companies dearly.
Workforce development encompasses four key areas—recruitment, assessment, training, and leadership management. Organizations that only focus on one or some of these areas will never fully solve their skilled workforce challenges.
According to 2019 JBKnowledge ConTech Report, 75% of contractors are unable to find workers who are able to operate new technology, and 40% of firms say they lack the staff to support new technology.
“The idea that individuals have to go to a four- year college to be successful or continue on a formalized education route is slowly changing,” says Dan Belcher at NCCER. And that’s good news.
Organizations with positive cultures have engaged, productive employees who feel respected, valued, and invested. They have lower turnover, more innovation, and better ability to hire based on their reputation.
In the construction and utilities industries, safety compliance is paramount to the success of the operation and the lives of the people working within it. The difference between compliance and commitment comes down to authentic leadership.
Senior Partner
707.252.8880
krammer@okospartners.com
Peter Krammer is Okos’ Senior Partner. He co-manages the business, directs its strategy, and consults with a wide range of clients in multiple industries.
Peter designs and manages projects that include: leadership development; management and team alignment and engagement; business and go-to-market strategy and planning; sales, sales management, and sales leadership capability building.
Peter has a strong working knowledge of many industries, including construction, utilities, staffing, insurance, business services, healthcare, consumer products, agriculture, computer hardware and software, music, and film.
Peter lives in Napa, California. He is active in improving local community housing and mental health services.
Join Peter on LinkedIn.
Director of Business Development
305.799.7354
ray@okospartners.com
Ray brings more than 20 years of business development experience from the utilities, heavy equipment, manufacturing, aerospace, and defense industries. Ray is well versed in sales of training consulting services, workforce development solutions, and virtual training technologies. He has a keen eye for how companies can leverage simulation-based training, software tools, and technology to help recruit, train and retain the next generation of leaders.
Join Ray on LinkedIn.
Senior Strategy Consultant
502.418.4335
webb@okospartners.com
Laura has more than 20 years of business management and leadership experience, working in strategy, marketing, and innovation within the B2B and B2C sectors. For a decade she led marketing strategy and execution for several branded portfolios and managed global innovation for Brown-Forman, a $3 billion wine and spirits company.
As founder of Webb Brand Consulting and strategic partner with Okos Partners, she has worked with multitudes of startups, private equity portfolio companies, non-profits and some of the best-known Fortune 500 brands in the world. In a consulting capacity, she helps CEOs, leadership teams and their organizations:
Join Laura on Linkedin.
CIS CEO
Co-founder, Trade Up
770.783.9292
debbie@craneindustryservices.com
Debbie Dickinson has worked with Okos Partners in various capacities for more than 20 years. She is an author, accomplished speaker and storyteller, and has devoted her career to training, developing, and engaging workforces in multiple industries. Today, as CEO of Crane Industry Services, LLC (CIS), she leads an organization that provides NCCER accredited certification and qualification for skilled trade workers in construction, energy, manufacturing, utilities, maritime, government and military markets. Debbie develops safety and skill-building initiatives that include OSHA compliance for skilled work, while CIS helps employers assess relevant job-specific skills and knowledge to improve safety and productivity in classes, hands-on learning, and simulator technology.
Debbie holds ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and NCCA (National Certification for Certifying Agencies) accreditation in multiple programs used by Utilities, Construction and other industries for certifying crane operators and riggers. In her work, Debbie creates plans for training, qualification and certification to document craft professionals’ credentials and engage the workforce.
Debbie’s career credentials include positions in creative development, training and assessment working for companies, such as Wilson Learning, Disney, and Ford Motor Company.
Join Debbie on LinkedIn.
Blue Collar University President
Senior Advisor to Trade Up
925.354.0277
bart@bluecollaru.com
Bart has worked in some of the toughest industries, including oil and gas exploration, heavy industrial dismantling, refinery repair, and pipeline construction.
He knows from personal experience the pain managers and their managers go through when they don’t know what their job really requires and when they don’t have the new tools to accomplish it.
He is also very aware that their bosses are also frustrated. That is why he created Blue Collar University—to help managers and leaders understand how to work more effectively with each other.
Bart is an advisor, trainer, and the author of two books, They’re Managers—Now What? How to Prepare Blue Collar Managers and Supervisors and I’m a Manager—Now What? 11 Traits of Effective Managers and Supervisors (upcoming).
Join Bart on LinkedIn.
Mack Enterprise President
Senior Advisor to Trade Up
310.279.3670
smack@okospartners.com
Stephanie Mack, President of Mack Enterprise, an Okos partner company, is focused on working with unique industries requiring very specific and exceptional talent needs. A strong operator, Stephanie also works with companies to transition or turn around their business. Stephanie believes that, “If you can’t be the best, don’t do it at all.” This foundational belief has directed Stephanie’s career from its roots in Sea Girt, New Jersey, scooping ice cream to leading nationwide teams of Hospitality and Ports & Terminals staffing professionals to $65m and $20m, respectfully, in revenue growth over recent years.
Along her 30+ year career path, Stephanie has positively influenced many of today’s hospitality/staffing industry leaders and organizations through servant leadership, talent development and engagement to drive results. Stephanie has shared her talents through on-site and corporate roles with Marriott International (18 years), the multi-brand organization, Lodgian, StepStone Hospitality, Hospitality Staffing Solutions and TrueBlue/PeopleReady, a $2 billion staffing company.
Stephanie is an award-winning leader with a focus on developing others, professionally and personally. She spearheaded and chaired a “Women in Leadership” initiative at PeopleReady while maintaining her commitments on the Board of Directors of the Abukutsa Arts Academy—giving children joy in their lives through the arts, and as President of the Brighton Hall School Board, working on moving education forward for creative minds.
Stephanie holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and has served on five industry boards and councils.
Join Stephanie on LinkedIn.
Managing Partner
510.846.3348
shalvoy@okospartners.com
Mary Lee Shalvoy joined Okos in 2007. In her role as Project Manager, Mary Lee works with both internal and external resources to plan, execute, and complete projects on deadline and within budget. Mary Lee oversees the corporate marketing strategy and all communications.
Join Mary Lee on LinkedIn.
Senior Solutions Architect
650.347.2438
hamilton@okospartners.com
Stephen Hamilton joined Okos in 2004. With a career established on an international sales and marketing foundation, he has a proven ability to transform organizations through the application of technology to business processes. Stephen helps his clients build sales and sales channel processes and systems, with a focus on organizational governance and alignment via a holistic approach to people, process and technology.
Client industries include the full spectrum of high tech, mining, agriculture, staffing, and direct marketing.
Join Stephen on LinkedIn.
Co-founder
530.745.4288
labadie@okospartners.com
Jean Labadie co-founded ELA, now Okos, in 1980 and helped build the company into one of the San Francisco Bay area’s most successful sales and management training firms. Jean became CEO in 2001 and retired in 2019.
Join Jean on LinkedIn.
Senior Strategy Consultant
505.296.3440
stewart@okospartners.com
Keri Stewart joined Okos in 2014 as a Senior Consultant and Facilitator. She uses her many years as a commissioned salesperson, as a corporate coach and as a facilitator to engage and relate with clients. She works closely with leadership teams, project teams, strategic teams, sales teams, and individuals to gain focus, accountability, and results specific to their business. Keri is an engaging, interactive facilitator and presenter who weaves life stories, hands-on lessons, a variety of take-away points to make the class materials relevant, fun, and memorable. Her style is humorous, conversational, and most importantly, enlightening. As a key member of the Okos team, Keri works to train, coach, and develop employee skills in the areas of leadership, communications, sales, customer service, and planning.
Join Keri on Linkedin.
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