Brooklyn's Progress
December 2006/January 2007

BY HAROLD EGELN

An exciting, new human resources management seminar series geared to attracting and retaining top talent for business was launched on Oct. 26 with "Hiring to Last: Great Interviewing Skills," the first of three information seminars.

The three-part series, sponsored by Massey Knakal Realty Services, is the result of a collaboration between the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, the Brooklyn Business Solutions Center – a mayoral initiative partnering the Chamber with the NYC Department of Small Business Services, and Retensa, a nationally recognized human resources consulting firm.

"This is a terrific and engaging series," said Jeanette Nigro, Vice President, Workforce and Training Services, Brooklyn Chamber. "This series is a milestone, because it's the first time HR management issues are being addressed in this way at the Chamber."

"We will look at the employee life cycle in this series. We will focus on the beginning stages first with pre-recruitment and then into new hiring training and. lastly, retention," said Chason Hecht, President, Retensa. "It's about motivation and direction."

HR Management Lessons
Carol Ann Caccioppoli, Director of Training Services at Retensa, conducted the first two sessions of the series.  At the first seminar, audience members commented on the value of the session, some who have not conducted interviews and others who have and want to improve their skills.

"I'll be hiring for the first time. This was a good lesson and the information is very useful," said Tiffany Brown, President and Independent Consultant, Opulence Group.

The second seminar, “New Hire Training: What to Do and What to Avoid” held Nov. 21, focused on bringing new employees successfully into a business, including attention to effective training.

"One of the really important touch points is the day a new employee comes in," said Ms. Caccioppoli. "How many times has it been overheard in a workplace, 'Here's your desk. See ya!'  Nobody has communicated what this job will really be like. That's a misstep," she added.

"It can be a nameless, faceless and seemingly irrelevant process," agreed seminar participant, Scott Caruthers, Director and Lead Instructor, Training For Life, a company that provides CPR and First Aid training and equipment.

Ms. Caccioppoli cited a poll that indicated 30% of all employees are engaged in their work, 54% are passively disengaged and 16% are actively disengaged. She asked seminar participants to name some of the characteristics needed to motivate employees; responses included passion, integrity, steady-focus, sense of humor, innovation and creativity.

“ ‘Am I appreciated?’ is a query from employees,” noted Ms. Cacciopolli. "People need gold stars; employee recognition is imperative. Make employees feel that they are working toward a goal, smart goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic or relevant and timed," she added.

The room was packed room for the third and final seminar in the series led by Retensa President Chason Hecht, "How to Retain Your Best: A Guide to Employee Retention,” held on Dec. 12.

"What if you are faced with the question, 'How do I replace lost employees?' In 70% of resignations, the manager had no idea the employee was looking elsewhere," Mr. Hecht said. "The vast majority leaves for a competitor in the same field as your business. A big loss,” explained Mr. Hecht, “is the intellectual capital or knowledge employees take with them.”

"It's been a popular and successful series,” said Ms. Nigro. “It's very important to our Brooklyn Business Solutions Center and Chamber business owners."

Chamber’s Human Resources Assistance Program
In addition to seminars, the Brooklyn Chamber’s Human Resources Assistance program offers technical assistance to small businesses including training and staff development, assistance with applying for training grants and more.  For information or to make an appointment, please contact Jeanette G. Nigro, Vice President, Workforce and Training at 718-246-5219, ext. 2025, or at jnigro@brooklynchamber.com.