2026 Annual Education & Training Conference (Wednesday, November 04, 2026)

Wed, 04 Nov 2026 14:30:00 GMT

NJSA's Annual Conference is the region’s premier staffing training event for owners, managers, sales and recruiting professionals of direct hire and temporary staffing firms. Attendees will take part in this special training opportunity featuring some of the staffing industry’s most respected professional trainers.

TOYS FOR TOTS COLLECTION: NJSA will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots. Please bring an unwrapped toy to the Annual Conference!

AGENDA

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Registration & Networking

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 am.
Opening Remarks

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
"Backfilling, Reskilling and Behavioral Based Interviewing"
Presented by Susan Russo

Your next great placement may be in the talent pool you already have! Discover how to turn current talent into new client opportunities in this fast-faced, practical session. Participants will learn how to map skills for effective redeployment and use technology to create an internal job market to repurpose proven talent into new opportunities. Strengthen selection decisions by taking a clear approach to determining key competencies and effectively utilizing Behavioral Based Interviewing to assess candidate skills and authenticity. You will gain actionable tools to uncover hidden potential, make stronger matches and place talent where it can deliver the greatest value.

Learning objectives include:

Skill mapping for effective movement to new clients
Leveraging technology to build your internal job market and repurpose the talent you already have
Best practices of Behavioral Based Interviewing
Determining and assessing competencies (knowledge, skills and abilities)
Methods to assess candidate authenticity

Susan Russo, MHRM, SPHR, GPHR, SHRM-SCP is a seasoned HR leader with more than 20 years of experience supporting private and global organizations in strategic HR and leadership roles. She brings deep expertise in organizational strategy, leadership development and strategic human resources. Today, she shares her perspective through teaching, speaking and thought leadership focused on professional and organizational improvement. She is an Adjunct Professor at Fairleigh Dickinson University Silberman College of Business and is the author of the book “Now a Manager, Next a Leader.” She regularly speaks at national conferences and provides training and development workshops for organizations of all sizes.

11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
"The Future of Sales Is Still Human"
Presented by Lynda Wolf

The future of sales isn't about choosing between AI and people. It's about combining the power of both. While AI can automate tasks, analyze data, predict customer behavior, and generate content, it cannot replace creativity, emotional intelligence, trust, or authentic relationship-building. In this engaging and interactive workshop, participants will learn how to combine the power of AI with creative marketing campaigns and relationship-driven sales strategies to influence decisions, build credibility, strengthen partnerships, and create lasting customer loyalty in today's AI-powered marketplace.

Lynda Wolf is the Founder and Principal of FizGIG Workforce Solutions and a sales, workforce, and leadership strategist with more than 30+ years of experience helping organizations grow through stronger relationships and smarter business development. From recruiter to Regional HR Director for a Fortune 500 company and Division Director for one of the world's largest staffing firms, Lynda has built a career driving sales growth, expanding client partnerships, and leading high-performing teams. Today, she helps sales professionals combine the power of AI with the human skills that close deals, including relationship building, emotional intelligence, creativity, communication, and trust. Her engaging, interactive presentations provide practical strategies that participants can immediately apply to increase sales performance and strengthen customer loyalty.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch, Networking & Annual Business Meeting

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
"Beyond the Buzzword: Real-World AI for Staffing and Recruiting"
Presented by Verlin Miller

The staffing industry is entering one of the most transformative moments in its history. AI is changing how recruiters work, how candidates engage, and how firms compete in a rapidly evolving market. In this engaging session, we'll explore how AI is changing the industry today, separate hype from reality, and uncover practical opportunities for firms of all sizes. Through compelling examples and industry insights, attendees will discover how to embrace AI as a competitive advantage and prepare for the next generation of recruiting!

Verlin Miller is the Manager of AI & Automation at Masis Staffing Solutions and a leader in AI-driven transformation within the staffing and recruiting industry. He specializes in helping organizations leverage artificial intelligence and automation to improve recruiter productivity, streamline business processes, and create competitive advantages.

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Break

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
"Make It Work: Tactical Strategies to Build an Effective Team"
Presented by Therese Gopaul-Robinson, MPH

This high-impact session is designed to spark awareness and connection around the foundational leadership and HR challenges staffing leaders face in today's staffing industry - shrinking margins, burnout, increased competition, and constant change.

Drawing from real-world examples and years of leadership coaching in healthcare and staffing, Therese introduces the essential building blocks of high-performing teams through a lens staffing leaders will actually relate to.

Drawing from more than 20 years working inside complex healthcare organizations, Therese Gopaul-Robinson helps leaders solve the people and process challenges that often stand between strategy and execution.

Over the years, she noticed something that had nothing to do with talent. The organizations with the smartest people didn't always perform the best. Work got stuck. Decisions slowed down. Teams worked hard but struggled to move important work forward.

Today, through her work with CEOs, executive teams, and leadership roundtables, Therese helps organizations identify the bottlenecks, role confusion, communication breakdowns, and ownership gaps that create friction and prevent teams from operating at their full potential. Her practical approach helps organizations improve decision-making, strengthen collaboration, increase accountability, and create
momentum across teams.

As the creator of Security Stacking, Therese also helps leaders develop the self-trust required to navigate uncertainty, adapt to change, and lead effectively when theground shifts beneath them. By combining organizational effectiveness with personal leadership, she helps leaders create the conditions necessary for both performance and resilience.

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Closing Remarks

Sponsorships Available

By exhibiting and sponsoring the NJSA Education & Training Conference, you can expand your contacts and show your new products. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet with the people who will use your products and inﬂuence the sales decision.

Luncheon Sponsorship - $1,250 (1 Available)

Recognition as a Luncheon Sponsor
Exhibit table at the event
Two complimentary conference registrations
Opportunity to make 5-minute remarks about your firm’s services at the luncheon
Marketing flyer in attendee handout
Company logo on all pre/post event marketing, including emails, website and event signage

Educational Session Sponsorship - $1,000 (4 Available)

Recognition as one of our Educational Session Sponsors
Exhibit table at the event
One complimentary conference registration
Opportunity to make 5-minute remarks about your firm’s services prior to your sponsored session.
Marketing flyer in attendee handout
Company logo on all pre/post event marketing, including emails, website and event signage

Exhibitor - $750

Exhibit table at the event
One complimentary conference registration
Marketing flyer in attendee handout
Company logo on all pre/post event marketing, including emails, website and event signage

If you are interested in confirming a sponsorship, please contact Denise Downing at the NJSA Office at office@njsa.com.

New Year Kick-Off Reception (Wednesday, January 20, 2027)

Wed, 20 Jan 2027 22:30:00 GMT

We invite you to a cocktail reception to kick off 2027 with NJSA! Attendees will meet and mingle with the 2027 NJSA Board of Directors to learn what’s new in 2027 and how to maximize your NJSA membership.

Members from regional staffing firms will be on hand to tell you why they joined the New Jersey Staffing Alliance, and our valuable Industry Partners will be available to network with and learn what services they offer to assist in your company’s growth and success.

NJSA's lobbyist, Patrick Stewart from Public Strategies Impact, will also provide a brief update on the legislative and legal issues staffing firms need to know to operate successfully in New Jersey.

Registration Fee: $60
Dinner buffet is included. Cash bar available.

New Jersey Staffing Alliance upcoming events

2026 Annual Education & Training Conference (Wednesday, November 04, 2026)

AGENDA

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Registration & Networking

10:00 a.m. - 10:15 am. Opening Remarks

10:15 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. "Backfilling, Reskilling and Behavioral Based Interviewing" Presented by Susan Russo

11:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Break

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. "The Future of Sales Is Still Human"Presented by Lynda Wolf

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Lunch, Networking & Annual Business Meeting

1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. "Beyond the Buzzword: Real-World AI for Staffing and Recruiting" Presented by Verlin Miller

2:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. - 3:45 p.m."Make It Work: Tactical Strategies to Build an Effective Team"Presented by Therese Gopaul-Robinson, MPH

3:45 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Closing Remarks