As we bid farewell to 2024, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the remarkable individuals who have made Green Key’s journey unforgettable. Throughout our #WeAreGreenKey series, we highlighted exceptional team members, each offering their unique and inspiring insights.
As the year draws to a close, we revisit their powerful reflections. With 2025 on the horizon, we are excited to continue our journey with open hearts and a commitment to driving further innovation. Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous New Year!
Gregory Ponce
“Over my tenure at Green Key, I’ve seen a dramatic change in how departments interact. When I started, departments were more segmented and siloed, with minimal day-to-day interaction beyond basic greetings.
Credit goes to certain leaders who empowered middle management to cross-collaborate, finding solutions and workflows that benefit other departments. Now, we lean on each other more, solving issues through natural conversations rather than formal meetings. This has significantly improved our efficiency and teamwork.”
Traci Schroeder
“Finding the right match for someone is a challenge I’ve always loved, and it’s what brought me back to recruiting. Selfishly, I love the feeling of placing someone in good company and a job that changes their life. It’s incredibly rewarding to hear their gratitude, sometimes even tears of joy, knowing that I’ve made a positive impact on their life.”
Jessie Fleishman
“Essential skills for a successful payroll supervisor include problem-solving and attention to detail, as there are many moving parts that require careful attention. It is also important to be organized and good at time management. Additionally, strong leadership skills are crucial to delegate tasks and ensure the team meets deadlines.”
Larry Greenbaum
“Helping people find new jobs and advancing their careers is incredibly rewarding. I really enjoy interacting with clients and, at this point, being a mentor for my team. Sharing my experiences and being a voice of reason when they’re having a frustrating day is something I value. It’s about helping them navigate obstacles so they can learn and grow.”
Mariam Abdallah
“What I enjoy most about my job is definitely the relationship aspect. Helping people and creating meaningful connections is incredibly rewarding because, at the end of the day, you’re assisting them in providing for their families or themselves. It’s a feel-good moment for both parties. These relationships often lead to referrals and continued support, whether from friends or family. Being there for them, listening, and supporting them from day one is the best feeling ever. It’s all about being able to say thank you and knowing you’ve made a positive impact.”
Tim Hartill
“Understanding what candidates are looking for is crucial. We delve into their big life goals, whether it’s salary, location, or family benefits. Identifying these key factors ensures their next career step is the right one. The last thing we want is for someone to feel uncomfortable in their new position. We aim for them to stay with the client until they retire.
We also focus on building personal relationships with candidates, truly getting to know them. Unlike other agencies that may see them as just a number or a placement, we prioritize each individual’s unique needs and aspirations.”
Erika Cavallo
“Working in the healthcare sector is incredibly rewarding because how I think of it is putting the patients first by staffing employees who care for them, whether in shelters or urgent care. It’s fulfilling to place people in environments where they can succeed and grow their careers. I’ve had the opportunity to see medical assistants become RNs, and watch their careers progress. I’m passionate about helping others, and building relationships with candidates is also rewarding. I talk to them daily, offering support and guidance. I really enjoy meeting people from all walks of life and building those connections.”
Thomas Newham
“The most rewarding moments for me have been helping people and companies find their perfect match. Job changes are significant life moves, and they don’t happen too often. When they do, finding a position that excites someone makes me feel great, knowing I’ve positively impacted their lives and their families.”
Sacha Rupall
“I’m passionate about Recruiting/Human Resources because it provides insights into all industries within your area. For me, that’s New York. I loved finding a career that allowed me to understand how NYC worked as a city. This enhanced my networking capabilities, allowing me to assist people more effectively in finding their ideal job. It’s also incredibly rewarding to hear from candidates who are grateful for the help I provided at the start of their careers. I also take pride in the growth I’ve achieved in my career, advancing from a Research Analyst to a Director.”
Christina Kinchen
“In a competitive job market, you need to be persistent with your job search, make sure to do your homework, and leave a good impression. Clients want to know that you like their company, and you are genuinely interested in their company, that you have done your research. Personality is a big part of leaving a lasting impression. I always advise candidates to smile because I do believe if you are too worried, you’re not really going to be present and show your personality. Companies want to make sure you are a good fit and will get along with other people on the team. I know interviews can be hard because you are focusing on so many distinct aspects but remember to take a deep breath and just let your personality come through and enjoy the process as much as possible.”
Julia Augello
“The most rewarding aspect is helping people improve their lives. I speak to candidates daily who aren’t happy in their current situations or are burned out. Being able to connect them with an opportunity that not only just changes their position, but their well-being, is extremely rewarding.”
Jon Danko
“My job is rewarding. I love staffing to be honest. It’s such a good feeling when you make a placement and they’re so thankful. Life is tough and you were able to help change their situation or even just give them advice. That means a lot to me. I also enjoy seeing my colleagues grow and succeed.”
Olivia Eberle
“To candidates, I would say your resume is the thing that makes the first impression, so spend a good amount of time writing it and have a couple of different resumes on file. Especially, if you’re looking for different types of jobs, for example somebody like me, coming out of public accounting looking to go to private. There are a couple of different tracks that you can go on and you can write your resume in a couple of different ways to be a little bit more tailored to each. Additionally, I think that being yourself in interviews is really important. A lot of people don’t realize that even though they are working within accounting, which at times can be very solitary work you have to be interactive, and I think candidates are more successful when they’re willing to step outside of the box.”
Lauren Pratt
“From a personal aspect, nothing will ever top a grateful candidate or client – the call, the text, the LinkedIn recommendation – knowing that you have made a positive impact. From a professional aspect, being able to work in a sales role allows you to get out what you put in – and to be compensated for that success.”
Lucas Leitenberger
“Architecture is something that I sincerely find interesting. I was never talented enough to be much of a designer/drawer, so I have such a profound respect for the creatives that make our built environment come to life. This role allows me to utilize my sales skills while also working within an industry I have interest in.”
Meryl Schoen
“To build and maintain relationships with clients I try to approach it from a personal aspect. Firstly, I’ll introduce myself but then I very quickly segway into either current events or something that I’ve read that’s going on with their particular company or their particular industry or I’ll market something that Green Key is working on that they may have a network for on their end.”
Antonia Piazza
“I would always recommend working with a recruiting agency, specifically Green Key! While it is important to have a strong resume, recruiters are able to provide advice on your resume and also put your resume on the front desk of the hiring manager – along with a personal recommendation and the ability to highlight skills/experiences that are not listed on your resume – rather than applying on your own and being up against hundreds of applicants on LinkedIn, for example. When it comes time to the interview, recruiters are able to prepare you for the interview using insight we have from working directly with the clients. One interviewing piece of advice I give to all of my candidates is to not only show that they have the ability to learn and grow into the role they’re interviewing for but also the desire, as displayed interest in the job is sometimes the biggest differentiator amongst candidates with similar backgrounds.”
Mike Bosco
“Value every interview you go on and prepare like it’s your dream job. General preparedness, knowledge of the company, and showing genuine excitement in the opportunity to interview. I think hiring managers, a lot of the time, are looking for somebody who has a particular interest in their organization, not somebody who’s just looking for a job. Getting an interview typically shows you are qualified, but how do you stand out? Personality, enthusiasm, being prepared, and how you can clearly articulate your skills are things that can be worked on prior to an interview that will make a huge impact on a hiring manager’s decision.”
Kyle Gierke
“I would say be ready for the roller coaster ride as there are a lot of ups and downs in recruiting. You can have one week where everything goes right and another where you can’t catch a break. Here at Green Key the management team brings a lot of resources to us to help us with our work. They are willing to invest in new tools to help us get an edge on the competition. We also have an open-door policy, checking in with us on both a personal and professional level. When we feel things couldn’t get any worse, we know we have the support at Green Key from all levels of management.”
