Company: Staff Management, Chicago, IL
Company Description: Staff Management | SMX builds sustainable value for its world-class clients through innovative contingent workforce solutions that provide best talent, drive compliance and yield tangible savings. As a trusted advisor, Staff Management | SMX partners with its clients to find innovative ways to solve complex problems and to yield ongoing return on investment.
Nomination Category: Management Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Executive of the Year - Business Services

Nomination Title: Joan Davison, COO & President

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2011 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

In 2010 Joan Davison led Staff Management | SMX to win the Stevie Award for Women in Business for Best Turnaround of the Year. Since that win, Joan has led the company to many additional wins.

In 2011, Staff Management | SMX achieved nearly 20% growth as compared to the industry which grew at an average rate of 14%. Thanks in large part to Staff Management | SMX’s strong growth, Staff Management | SMX’s parent company was ranked one of America’s Top Job Creators on Inc. Magazine’s 2011 Inc. 500|5000.

In 2011, Staff Management | SMX was ranked the #1 Managed Service Provider (MSP) worldwide on HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen and achieved its best ever ranking on the Staffing Industry Analysts’ (SIA) list of largest U.S. staffing providers. Staff Management | SXM also made its first appearance on SIA’s list of largest global staffing providers and was a SIA Top Ranked Staffing Firm. Staff Management | SMX now ranks in the top 1% of staffing firms worldwide by revenue; the American Staffing Association (ASA) estimates that there are 6,000 providers in the U.S. alone.

In October 2011, Staff Management | SMX achieved Workers’ Compensation Risk Certification, a third-party designation that recognizes staffing firms that operate above the safety and risk management standards established by industry leadership. Crowning 2011’s achievements, Staff Management | SMX won the Stevie Award for Women in Business for Best Company of the Year in its category.

In July of 2011 Joan also achieved a significant individual win when she was appointed President of the $415M staffing firm in addition to her role as Chief Operating Officer (COO), which she has held since 2006. In the 5 years since Joan was appointed COO, Staff Management | SMX has grown by more than fifty-percent and Joan has led its expansion across the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. As a result of her accomplishments, Joan was recently featured in a leadership profile, Breaking All Records, on Womenetics. The profile explored how Joan has helped to lead Staff Management | SMX to smash all company records and outperform the industry.

What’s the secret to her success? Joan credits the strategy that she and her executive team adopted to weather the recession. Joan focused on the long-term and banked on her clients to come back strong. Joan persuaded her board to retain as much tenured talent as possible and to stick by their clients despite shrinking revenues. The client loyalty paid off. Staff Management | SMX achieved 100% client retention in 2009 and when its clients came back strong over the past 24 months, Staff Management | SMX did too. Client loyalty has not only resulted in major revenue growth but has also driven continued growth of the company’s global footprint with major client expansions into India, Hungry, Spain, France, Germany and Ireland. The strategy to retain top talent has also paid off. Joan’s executive team averages 15 years tenure with the company each; another key to the company’s success. As Joan and her team look to the future, they are focused on driving sustainable value for Staff Management | SMX’s clients.

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Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

Joan Davison is the Chief Operating Officer and President of Staff Management | SMX and a thought leader for the staffing industry. Joan has led Staff Management | SMX’s international expansion into Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Asia-Pacific Region. During Joan’s tenure, Staff Management | SMX achieved charter membership in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement IMAGE Program and was ranked the #1 Managed Service Provider (MSP) worldwide on HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen. Joan is a featured industry speaker and regular contributor to industry publications. Joan received her BA in Business Administration and Management from Saint Xavier University.