Meeting Date: February 27, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: St. Thomas Episcopal Church – click here for a map & address information
Speaker: Yvonne Shelfer, CPA and Partner at Vaco Birmingham

“Making the Right Match – A Staffing Firm Perspective“

About Yvonne Yvonne is a CPA who began her career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen in the Houston, Texas and Birmingham, Alabama offices. She has a combined eight years of experience in public accounting and auditing before she made the transition to recruiting and consulting. She has been an accounting and finance recruiter for over 14 years working, initially, in the contingency recruiting division of a local firm in Birmingham, Alabama before starting Vaco Birmingham over three and a half years ago. A native of Lafayette, Louisiana, Yvonne is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.

Currently, she has a broad industry background, serving clients of all sizes throughout Alabama, within the areas of finance, accounting, and consulting with a specialization in projects or roles sponsored by the CFO’s office.

“As an executive recruiter for many years, I chose to join the Vaco family of companies as I wanted the opportunity to continue helping my clients with a firm that is easy to do business with – one that is entrepreneurial and flexible in their approach. Companies have a choice on who they want to do business with, and I recognize that. I am able to provide a solution to their needs, either on an interim basis or to fill a permanent role, in a much timelier manner and with the same professional approach that my clients have come to appreciate, and expect over the years.”

In addition to being very involved in professional networking organizations, Yvonne has been a member of the Junior League of Birmingham for 10 years, taught Sunday School at St Francis Xavier Catholic Church and been involved with Glenwood, Inc., the autism and behavioral health center as a past board member and participant of fund-raisers.

Click for the February Meeting Flyer

Interested in learning more about other Career Groups and Events for February? Click here

Mark Your Calendars for our March Career Connections Meeting
Meeting Date: March 26, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Samford University Center, Howard Room
Stay Tuned for Speaker Details and Topic! 

Mark your calendars now!

Career Connections’s February meeting details are as follows:

• When – Monday, February 27, 2012
• Where – St. Thomas Episcopal Church (2870 Acton Road, Birmingham, AL 35243 – Map It Here)
• Time – 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
• Speaker – Yvonne Shelfer, Resources Partner at Vaco, a leader in recruitment and executive placement

Find the comprehensive list of career groups and events by clicking here.

Meeting Date: January 23, 2012
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Prince of Peace Catholic Church – click here for a map & address information
Speaker: Forrest Cook, VP of Human Resources and Risk Management at NCP Solutions

The program will be “A Common Sense, Systematic Approach to Finding Your Next Career Home.” Mr. Cook will share insights and perspectives about job search preparation and how to navigate the process. Given his extensive experience as a hiring manager, HR Executive and his broad knowledge of the Birmingham employment market, participants are sure to look at their search through a new lens.

About Forrest Forrest serves as Vice President of Human Resources and Risk Management for NCP Solutions, LLC, in Birmingham, AL. Prior to joining NCP in 1997, he served as Director of HR for Healthcare Realty Management, HR Director for PCA/Southeast Health Plans and worked in HR for Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Alabama.

Cook attended Samford University where he completed undergraduate studies and did post-graduate work. He is a national SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) Member, served with the Alabama SHRM State Council and is a member, past officer and past advisory board member of SHRM in Birmingham, in addition to serving as a volunteer leader with numerous other non-profit organizations.

Forrest has contributed to ABC World News Tonight, National Public Radio’s Morning Edition, People Management Magazine (UK), The Birmingham Business Journal and the Birmingham News on Human Resource topics, as well as presenting at local, regional and national SHRM events.

Click for the January Meeting Flyer

Interested in learning more about other Career Groups and Events for January? Click here
Update: The AWARE Seminar for LinkedIn Beginners on January 17th has been moved to a NEW TIME. The Seminar will now be held at 6:00 pm.

February Career Connections Meeting

When: Monday, February 27, 2012
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Saint Thomas Episcopal Church (2870 Acton Road, Birmingham, 35243)

March Career Connections Meeting

When: Monday, March 26, 2012
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Where: Samford University, University Student Center (Howard Room)

Watch for speaker details to be released in the coming weeks. For now, mark your calendars for our February and March meetings and check out the list of January Networking Events for opportunities to get out this month.

We have the list of Career Events and Groups for January ready to roll, and wanted to make sure to get them out so that you can plan for the month. We are looking forward to starting 2012 off with a bang, and hope that you will join us for meetings this year.

Career Connections’ January meeting details are as follows:

• When – Monday, January 23, 2012
• Where – Prince of Peace Church (4600 Preserve Parkway, Hoover, 35226)
• Speaker – Forrest Cook, Vice President of Human Resources and Risk Management, NCP Solutions

Find the comprehensive list of career groups and events by clicking here.

We have the list of December Networking Opportunities ready to roll, and wanted to make sure to get them out so that you can plan for the month. Please note that Career Connections will not meet this month – we will pick back up in January 23rd, so mark your calendars now!

Also, please note that the Birmingham Urban League has been added to the list! We are excited about this. They offer services for job seekers on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and have access to computers and internet through the Urban League wi-fi network. Contact them for additional information.

Find the comprehensive list of networking opportunities and group events by clicking here.

January Career Connections Meeting

When: Monday, January 23, 2012

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Where: Prince of Peace in Hoover

Click here for directions

*****

Join us to hear from Forrest Cook of NCP Solutions
Forrest is the Vice President of Human Resources & Risk Management at NCP Solutions.

We hope that you will join us for an opportunity to start 2012 off on the best foot!
We look forward to seeing you there.
Happy Holidays!

Sorry, but it appears that we failed to include the date & time information on our previous post regarding the November meeting. Forgive me!

Please plan to join us from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Monday, November 28th for our meeting featuring Paul Johnson.

November’s monthly meeting will be held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church – click here for a map & address information.

The program will be “How to Work with a Search Firm” with Paul Johnson of Paul Johnson & Associates, Inc. With years of experience as an executive recruiter, identifying and attracting superior leadership talent, Paul will have an invaluable perspective to share with job seekers at all levels.

About Paul Paul has a successful track record in industry and consulting to companies of all types & sizes. His firm specializes in helping clients find management team members in Sales and Marketing, General Management and Operations, I.T. and Finance, and Human Resources.

Before founding Paul Johnson & Associates, Inc., Paul served in industry and consulting to industry. He is an award winning HR professional, consulting leader, and recruiter. His experience includes serving with Datapoint Corporation, Motorola, and Drake Beam Morin (DBM). Paul also maintains a private practice as a Vocational Counselor at Covenant Counseling & Education Center in Homewood.

A Birmingham native, Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Air Force Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas in San Antonio.

Click for the November Meeting Flyer

We have the list of November Networking Opportunities ready to roll, and wanted to make sure to get them out so that you can plan for the month.

There is a lot going on this month and many opportunities to get out and network — we hope that you will join us for our November meeting, and visit some of the other career groups around town.

Find the comprehensive list of networking opportunities and group events by clicking here.

October’s monthly meeting will be held at Vestavia Hills United Methodist Church. The meeting will be on the fourth Monday of the month – October 24, 2011 – from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The program will be “Get Noticed Using LinkedIn.” You’ll hear from Daxko Corporate Recruiter, Kristi Merritt. Kristi will cover the ins & outs of LinkedIn including how to get noticed by a recruiter, formatting your profile, and the importance of contacts and groups.

About Kristi Kristi has been an active and visible recruiter in the Birmingham market for more than seven years.  For five of those years, she led the Mountaintop Community Church’s Career Assistance Ministry. Kristi enjoys sharing the insight she’s gained from recruiting for a local 3rd party agency and now as a corporate recruiter for Daxko. She teaches people the tools they need to be successful in their job search. You can professionally connect with her on LinkedIn and follow on Twitter (@kristi_merrVesitt).

Click for the meeting flyer