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Ingenuity IEQ
A Provider of Indoor Environmental Quality Solutions
Employees: 28
Founded in: 1985
Headquarters in: Midland Michigan
On March 24th 2008, GRS partnered with Ingenuity IEQ, a provider of indoor environmental quality solutions located in central Michigan. This discussion was the first of many between Colleen Bement and Heather Goldberg of GRS, and Mike Fox and Lori Richardson of Ingenuity IEQ, but was originally set up to find out the basics. Due to expansion, Ingenuity IEQ was looking for a Sales Account Manager in Northeast Ohio to handle the accounts in the area. GRS took the time to not only understand the position available, but also Ingenuity IEQ as an organization and the people that worked within it. This 30 minute conversation created a relationship between the parties that is still ongoing today.
"We have wasted, literally,
millions of dollars on wasted
searches before talking to GRS."
-- Mike Fox |
After that first discussion with Ingenuity, we began searching our database for the most qualified personnel we had that would fit the position. We felt that our first conversation with Lori Richardson, VP of Finance, and Mike Fox, President, had given us the direction we needed to find the best people. Over time we gathered the most qualified and eager salesmen that fit the position. The next step then, was to introduce these individuals to Ingenuity one by one and gather feedback from both parties after every interview. Lori and Mike were so impressed by the quality of the candidates, not only did they find the Sales Account Manager they were looking for but they also created a new position, a Service Sales Account Manager, for another one of the candidates.
..."GRS is on absolutely
the right track
with their process."
-- Lori Richardson |
"We have wasted, literally, millions of dollars on wasted searches before talking to GRS." Those words came from Mike Fox in a brief discussion I had with him about the placements. Mike and Lori had both explained to me that, not only other recruiters, but also individual efforts could not even come close to the quality of candidates GRS found for them. Mike told me that the time saved on lost searches by working with GRS was used much more sensibly. In talking with Mike and Lori about the entire process, they could not be any more pleased with the outcome and the relationships formed. They both commented how GRS got to know the company and the individuals within, separating them from other recruiting firms. When speaking about the extra time that GRS took to get to know Ingenuity IEQ as a company, Lori commented "we genuinely care about our customers so we appreciate those same qualities in people that work for us as well!" They went on with this thought to emphasize that other firms are just looking to make money by moving bodies, while GRS is in the business of hiring people and examining backgrounds to ensure everything makes sense. Mike and Lori therefore believe "that GRS is on absolutely the right track with our process." Mike, Lori, and the entire Ingenuity IEQ staff believe that their organization is now more efficient and will now continue to grow within the air purification markets.
"The quality of the
companies you are
representing are some
of the best out there"
-- Jarrod Hamilton |
The client isn't the only individual we focus on however, and is not the only individual I talked with concerning this placement. I also talked with the two gentlemen who are now new employees with Ingenuity IEQ, Travis Gertner and Jarrod Hamilton. In talking with both of the gentlemen separately, the general consensus was pure excitement. They were excited that they get to explain their story and excited about their career advancement. I first spoke with Jarrod, who had worked with recruiters in the past and had been "indifferent" about the entire experience. Jarrod quickly changed his perception of recruiters throughout this process, claiming that it was more than a process and that "personal relationships were formed" with the members of the GRS team. Jarrod told me that he believes the team environment within GRS only added to the quality of this process. "The quality of the companies you are representing are some of the best out there;" something Jarrod has realized over time, as this was not his first interview he went on through GRS.
"When you're making a
career and life changing
decision, there are always
going to be questions. GRS,
or Colleen, would get the
right answers for me quickly,
which helped put me at ease
in making my career change."
-- Travis Gertner |
I also took time to speak with Travis Gertner, who is "without a doubt" in a better situation in his opinion. Travis, like Jarrod, has dealt with recruiters in the past producing a "so-so" experience. Travis stated that other recruiters were too pushy, but GRS rather built a relationship with open communication between both parties. This open communication caused Travis to be comfortable throughout, even during the verbal offer which came just prior to the written acceptance. When asked what he would change about the process, Travis replied, "I would not change a thing, the whole interview process was very comfortable. The instant and honest feedback I received from Colleen was very comforting." Travis labeled this as a "really unique experience", as he was the individual that a position was created for. "Ingenuity must have really seen something in me to create a new position for me", Travis stated when reflecting on the process. "When you're making a career and life changing decision, there are always going to be questions. GRS, or Colleen, would get the right answers for me quickly, which helped put me at ease in making my career change."
To put another little twist on the story, Travis and Jarrod were friends prior to the first interviews. The interviews are 100% confidential so they did not know they were competing, but the outcome was in their favor and they are now delighted to work together. Since this successful search has closed, Ingenuity has trusted GRS with another search. This second search, for a service engineer, also went successfully and GRS has now placed three individuals with Ingenuity IEQ in a matter of months.
Ingenuity IEQ's main point of contact at GRS, Colleen Bement, also wished to share some of her thoughts on this process. "Working with Lori and Mike was a great experience; they always gave open and honest feedback after each interview which truly allowed us to adjust our search accordingly. I also enjoyed working with Travis and Jarrod as candidates and I am so happy that I was able to place them into such a great organization."
(Above): The three individuals placed with Ingenuity through GRS at a company picnic. From left to right: Keith Long, Service Engineer, Travis Gertner, Service Sales Account Manager, Jarrod Hamilton, Sales Account Manager.
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