optomi

Eliminating the certification gap: How The Meridian Program has helped embed ServiceNow curriculum directly into college coursework

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:16:11 GMT

The Meridian Program is a unique partnership approach to college-level internships designed to equip STEM and Computer Science students with the skills and experience needed to launch successful careers in IT. By collaborating closely with colleges and universities, Provalus , a division of Optomi Professional Services, provides interns with opportunities to work on real-world client projects before graduation, ensuring they gain meaningful, hands-on experience and a clear pathway to a career in IT. This innovative model not only prepares students for the workforce but also strengthens a sustainable talent pipeline, furthering our mission to create high-quality jobs in rural America.

Now aligned with seven colleges and universities, Provalus partnered with Stephen F. Austin State University (SFA) in Nacogdoches, TX, to build the first iteration of Meridian in 2022, aiming to combine classroom learning with real-world training under the guidance of industry experts.

Our partnership established a clear path to hire interns at SFA as full-time employees at Provalus upon graduation. However, one valuable prerequisite was missing: students began the Meridian Program internship without ServiceNow skills. Meridian interns were spending too much internship time training rather than gaining hands-on experience, limiting their scope of work within the program and hindering development.

SFA aimed to create a course to prepare future ServiceNow interns to make an immediate impact as soon as their internship starts. The result was immediate for Provalus interns. In 2024, the first ServiceNow course was introduced at SFA, enabling students to earn credits while also completing their ServiceNow certifications. Now, students arrive at The Meridian Program certified and ready to contribute to meaningful work right from the beginning.

According to Dr. Matthew A. Beauregard, SFA Associate Dean for Faculty and Administration, the new ServiceNow course has shrunk the gap to onboard an intern working in ServiceNow by an entire semester. Eliminating this certification gap transformed student career readiness, with nearly 100% of the inaugural class securing internships. Additionally, multiple students have shifted from internships to full-time employment with Provalus.

See the full story on ServiceNow.com: https://www.servicenow.com/customers/sfasu-servicenow-university.html

AI Code Generation – Promise or Problem?

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 17:34:14 GMT

I recently attended an AI conference where one presentation started with a question: “If AI can generate your source code, do we still need developers?” I see this question from two perspectives: As a long-time developer and as a Data Scientist.

As a Data Scientist, I find these questions fascinating (and a bit frightening). The amount of training necessary to create these systems is extraordinary. I am in awe of the people who have been able to create these systems.

As a developer, I wonder: Would AI-generated code be capable of writing, testing, idiot-proofing, documenting, and preparing my code for deployment? Are there AI agents out there to do that? Can I really rely on an AI agent to generate the initial source code, unit tests, security vulnerabilities, and documentation? My initial response was “no”, but I wanted a more complete answer, so I decided to take a closer look.

A quick Google search finds dozens of code generators available from Claude to GitHub Copilot and Cursor. These systems are extremely capable and, when used correctly, can generate code. But those two words: “used correctly” are the catch. Can a non-developer create the necessary prompts to generate code? Will the code be good enough? Just as human-developed code needs to be tested and scrutinized, so too does AI-generated code. Will a non-developer be able to do that, or will they trust the AI system?

Understandably, allowing an AI agent to write my code is enticing. Code that might take me hours or days can (in theory) be written in minutes. The prompts provided will largely determine the type and quality of the code generated. Code generation is iterative. As flaws and weaknesses are identified, code is improved, whether by a developer or additional prompts to the AI system.

Kolawole Samuel Adebayo recently wrote in Forbes about The Messy Cost Of AI Code . In the article, he describes both the promise of AI-generated code and the pitfalls. He notes that AI-generated code will often look good but fail in practice. This, in turn, leads to long developer lead debugging cycles because the AI systems often just aren’t sophisticated enough to debug their own code.

A recent survey in Stack Overflow highlights that while developers want to use AI in the development process, the generated code fails to handle complex tasks and is not trusted by developers. Respondents say AI code is almost right (66%), but not quite, which in their view also leads to longer debugging cycles (45%).

“Vibe” coding is trending. “Vibe” coding starts with a set of general parameters, then iterates through various fixes or changes, in theory getting closer to a final set of code as the process progresses. The weakness here is the iterative nature of code generation, requiring someone (a developer?) to review the outcome before the next iteration can begin. “Vibe” coding focuses on the overall “Vibe” of the code, rather than the syntax. 72% of respondents said they do not use “Vibe” coding because they find flaws in the outcome. It’s unclear if the flaws are due to inadequacies in the prompting or the AI agent.

In my experience, AI-generated code can include “lazy” mistakes, and once a mistake is made, that mistake risks being perpetuated. Code fixes should be carefully evaluated to ensure new issues are not being created and old issues are not perpetuated. If a developer is involved in AI-generated code, is there really any time savings? Or is it simply democratizing code generation?

Based on the Stack Overflow survey, there is little to no savings here. If the user must iteratively fix the code, then review the code for completeness and accuracy, time savings are reduced or lost. If the user blindly accepts the code, there is a real possibility that the outcome will be wrong or worse yet, look right but still perpetuate an error.

AI systems themselves are imperfect. AI-generated chatbots have produced biased output, or worse, derogatory statements. ( AI chatbots are creating more hateful online content: Researchers , ABC News, Aug. 30, 2025; Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot is posting antisemitic comments , CNBC, Jul 8, 2025)

Despite the possible flaws, AI systems are and will continue to be a useful tool for many tasks, such as documenting code ( GitHub Copilot , Mintlify , testing code ( TestSprite ; LambdaTest ), and code analysis ( Sonar , GitHub Copilot ).

So, in what capacity should we utilize these tools? Who should control, check, and validate the outcomes? Are developers even needed anymore? I believe there is a place for these tools when used with care and attention to detail. AI-generated code can potentially save time during the SDLC by documenting, identifying weaknesses, unit testing, and stress testing. While each use case is different, and each development team would have to reach their own level of comfort, these tools can be used to the benefit of development teams.

Today’s AI code generation tools are good and getting better. I don’t know if they are production-ready. That’s not to say they won’t get to that point, but I just don’t think they are ready today.

Are we ready to trust AI-generated code in production? Once the code is generated, who will review and test the code? If not a developer, then who? As a developer, I admit this is a little threatening, but as a data scientist, I find this infinitely intriguing.

Can a non-developer utilize these tools today? Absolutely. BUT will that non-developer be able to understand the code or know coding best practices well enough to determine if the AI-generated code is correct and complete? I don’t think so. For that, I still think a developer is needed.

Should we use AI-generated code? – YES! With an old paradigm: Trust but Verify.

Connect with Harry on LinkedIn

Optomi Professional Services Appoints Chief Operating Officer

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 14:45:01 GMT

Optomi Professional Services (OPS), a 100% U.S.-based IT solutions and staff augmentation provider, announced today that Nick Murphy has been appointed Chief Operating Officer effective December 1, 2025.

Since joining OPS in 2023, Murphy has served in roles across various facets of the organization; most recently, he served as Vice President of Marketing, Sales Enablement, and Enterprise Strategy. Murphy seamlessly integrates stakeholder insights with data to guide strategy and drive high-impact outcomes. With a background in investment banking and organizational optimization, he brings more than a decade of experience in operational leadership, corporate strategy, and business transformation, along with a proven track record of delivering results to his new position.

In the role, Nick will be responsible for leading cross-functional teams to strengthen operational performance and execute upon strategic initiatives within the organization.

“Working across multiple functions within OPS has shown me the power of aligned teams,” says Murphy. “As COO, I’m committed to enhancing cross-functional collaboration, advancing operational maturity, and ensuring that OPS operations remain fully aligned to our long-term enterprise strategy as we continue to grow.”

“Promoting from within allows OPS to harness the expertise of leaders who know and live our culture,” says OPS CEO Chuck Ruggiero. “During his tenure with OPS, Nick has demonstrated a rare combination of strategic insight and collaborative skill, and we are confident he will accelerate OPS’s growth while advancing our performance and operational maturity.”

Provalus Featured in The Wall Street Journal for Bringing Technology Jobs to Rural America

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:15:53 GMT

We’re proud to share that Provalus has been featured in The Wall Street Journal in an article titled “These Jobs Often Go Overseas. One Company Is Bringing Them to Rural America.”

The feature highlights how Provalus is helping bridge opportunity gaps by creating technology and service careers in communities that are often overlooked. Rather than sending these roles overseas, Provalus builds them in the heart of rural America, strengthening local economies while delivering exceptional outcomes for our partners.

The article showcases how this approach is transforming towns like Tahlequah, Oklahoma, where meaningful, sustainable careers are creating a renewed sense of pride and making a measurable economic impact. It also captures the human side of this mission, showcasing team members who are gaining access to professional opportunities that once felt out of reach and how that progress can affect entire communities.

This national recognition reinforces what our teams and community partners experience every day: talent exists everywhere, and with the right investment and vision, great things can happen close to home.

We’re honored to be recognized by The Wall Street Journal and grateful to everyone who continues to make this mission possible.

Tyler Snellings to Succeed Founder Radka Winwood as President of Optomi

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 12:30:13 GMT

Optomi Professional Services (OPS), a 100% U.S.-based IT solutions and staff augmentation provider, today announced that Tyler Snellings will be named President of Optomi , the organization’s IT Staffing division. Effective October 1, 2025, he will succeed OPS co-founder and current Optomi President Radka Winwood, who plans to retire.

Tyler has been with Optomi for four years, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, where he played a key role in expanding client partnerships and scaling delivery teams. He brings to his new role over 20 years of industry experience. Known for his collaborative leadership style, he has been instrumental in mentoring future leaders, aligning teams with Optomi’s mission, and driving initiatives that helped the organization achieve multiple years of double-digit growth. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles in IT staffing and consulting, giving him a deep perspective on how to pair top technology talent with meaningful opportunities.

In his new role as President, Tyler will be dedicated to nurturing company culture, building meaningful career paths, and uniting the team for sustained, shared growth.

“This company is about so much more than business; it’s about people, purpose, and opportunity. During my four years here, and across two decades in this industry, I’ve seen the transformative impact Optomi has,” he said. “As President, I will honor the legacy Radka and our founders established by continuing to invest in our people, cultivating future leaders, and ensuring every decision reflects our mission to drive positive change while delivering exceptional value for our clients.”

“Tyler’s passion for our industry, our people, and our clients is evident in everything he does,” said Winwood. “Having grown up in the staffing world, he leads from the front and brings a wealth of experience that inspires those around him. I’m confident that under his leadership, Optomi will continue to thrive, build strong partnerships, and create meaningful opportunities for our team.”

“Tyler’s promotion represents an exciting new chapter for Optomi,” added Optomi CEO Chuck Ruggiero. “He came to us with deep industry experience, and throughout his time here, he has continued to grow as a leader, taking on new challenges and delivering strong results. We are grateful for Radka’s leadership and the foundation she established. I am confident Tyler will build on her work, continuing to support our teams, enhance our culture, and drive meaningful results for our clients and partners.”

Optomi Professional Services Advances to Specialist Partner in the ServiceNow Consulting and Implementation Partner Program

Wed, 10 Sep 2025 12:30:26 GMT

Optomi Professional Services (OPS) today announced it has advanced in the ServiceNow Consulting and Implementation Partner Program to the Specialist Partner segment.

OPS powers high-impact initiatives by providing expertise and guidance aligned with partner goals. With a focus on delivering scalable teams and tailored solutions, OPS helps organizations maximize the impact of the ServiceNow platform.

“OPS views ServiceNow as a strategic solution partner, enabling us to deliver talent, professional, and managed services to clients nationwide,” said Senior Director Joshua Smith. “Being recognized as a Specialist Partner affirms our unwavering commitment to our customers and highlights the real, everyday value the platform delivers.”

The ServiceNow Partner Program recognizes and rewards partners for their diverse expertise and experience, driving opportunities, reaching new markets, and helping joint customers transform their businesses across the enterprise. Consulting and Implementation partners provide strategic guidance and expertise to help customers deploy, adopt, and scale ServiceNow solutions.

ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

Optomi Professional Services Announces Vice President of Public Sector and Strategic Accounts

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 16:49:28 GMT

Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Cowling as the organization’s Vice President of Public Sector & Strategic Accounts. In this role, Amy will focus on expanding OPS’s presence with large enterprise and government sector partners, strengthening client relationships, and driving growth across key industries.

Amy brings a proven track record of delivering measurable outcomes in highly competitive markets. Her career is defined by a focus on impact, growth, and meaningful partnership.

Throughout her career, Amy has consistently delivered results by combining strategic vision with hands-on leadership. She has driven enterprise growth initiatives, built lasting partnerships, and led teams through periods of significant growth. Her ability to translate business goals into measurable outcomes has established her as a trusted leader and partner across the industries she has served.

“We are extremely excited to have an industry veteran like Amy on our team,” said Chief Revenue Officer, Blake Guyton. “Her proven experience driving results in large-scale enterprise accounts, combined with her passion for our mission, makes her the perfect leader to accelerate growth within two of the most strategic areas of our business. We are thrilled to welcome Amy to OPS.”

In reflecting on her decision to join OPS, Amy shared:

“The common thread throughout my career, the anchor that’s guided me, has been a deep belief that business should be more than transactions or growth metrics. It should create a lasting, positive impact on people, businesses, and communities. As I thought about this next chapter, I was very intentional about aligning with an organization where that belief wasn’t just spoken but truly lived in practice.”

She continued:

“That’s what excites me most about OPS. I’ve been watching the company from afar for several years and have consistently been impressed by the clarity of its leadership, the authenticity of its culture, and the way it executes with both momentum and heart —an approach that is clearly paying off in today’s market. OPS proves that business success and meaningful impact can go hand in hand. For me, joining OPS is about contributing to something bigger than business; it’s about building a legacy of opportunity for others.”

Amy will be based in Washington, D.C., where her proximity to key public sector partners and enterprise clients will further strengthen OPS’s ability to deliver impact at scale. Her presence in the nation’s capital positions her to play a pivotal role in deepening relationships, expanding opportunities, and advancing the organization’s mission.

Optomi Celebrates Ninth Appearance on Annual Inc. 5000 List

Tue, 12 Aug 2025 00:40:18 GMT

Optomi is proud to announce its inclusion on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list, marking the ninth consecutive year the company has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies. This milestone underscores Optomi’s sustained growth, unwavering commitment to excellence, and dedication to delivering exceptional technology talent solutions nationwide.

“To be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list for the ninth consecutive year is an extraordinary achievement. In a marketplace defined by constant change, this consistency speaks volumes about the partnerships we’ve built and the trust our clients place in us to deliver exceptional talent,” said Chuck Ruggiero, Chief Executive Officer of Optomi Professional Services. “That trust, combined with the relentless commitment of our team, has fueled our ability to grow year after year, no matter the challenges in front of us.”

Each year, the Inc. 5000 list celebrates the most successful and dynamic businesses in the country—those that are fueling the U.S. economy. Earning a place for nine straight years is an achievement few companies realize, highlighting Optomi’s ability to adapt to market shifts, embrace innovation, and maintain a trajectory of consistent growth.

“Recognition on the Inc. 5000 list for nine consecutive years reflects not only revenue growth, but also our commitment to long-term financial health,” said Chief Financial Officer Tony Pritchett. “We’ve consistently reinvested in our people, technology, and processes, ensuring we can meet our clients’ evolving needs without compromising stability.”

This recognition comes during a time of economic uncertainty, rising operational costs, and rapidly evolving workforce demands. Optomi’s ability to thrive in this environment, achieving 63% growth over the last three years, speaks to the strength of its business model, the dedication of its team, and the trust of its partners.

About Inc.

Inc. is the leading media brand and playbook for the entrepreneurs and business leaders shaping our future. Through its journalism, Inc. aims to inform, educate, and elevate the profile of its community: the risk-takers, the innovators, and the ultra-driven go-getters who are creating the future of business. Inc. is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with fellow leading business publication Fast Company. For more information, visit  www.inc.com .

Seamlessly Integrating ServiceNow to Improve Productivity and Operational Efficiency

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:17:34 GMT

Challenge

Employee reluctance to adopt ServiceNow, driven by a lack of understanding and confidence in navigating its features, resulted in a significant decline in the client’s productivity and operational efficiency. Facing an urgent need to effectively implement ServiceNow, the client partnered with Optomi Professional Services (OPS) to devise a strategy to seamlessly integrate the platform into employees’ daily workflows.

Solution

OPS implemented a comprehensive training program to provide employees with the critical skills and knowledge to navigate ServiceNow confidently. The program featured hands-on training sessions in a dedicated lab environment, allowing employees to practice using the platform. To enhance its effectiveness, interactive meetings were held with all teams to tailor the training content to their specific needs. All training sessions were recorded to facilitate ongoing learning and reference, allowing new employees to access the training materials at their convenience.

Testimonial

“The training program provided by OPS was a game-changer. Our employees are now empowered with the knowledge and confidence to fully utilize ServiceNow. This has led to significant improvements in productivity and overall efficiency.”

- Deputy Director of Application Support, Office of Information Technology

Impact

The training program’s implementation yielded notable improvements, with employee engagement in ServiceNow increasing significantly. As employees gained a deeper understanding of the platform’s capabilities and grew more confident in its use, productivity and operational efficiency soared. Additionally, the availability of recorded training sessions streamlined knowledge sharing and simplified onboarding for new employees, ensuring a consistent level of ServiceNow proficiency throughout the workforce.

Our operational solutions have empowered the client to unlock the full potential of ServiceNow, transforming their approach to technology and workflow management. Employees are now more engaged, confident, and proficient in using the platform, resulting in heightened productivity and streamlined operations. This newfound efficiency has not only optimized daily workflows but has also enhanced collaboration across teams, empowering the client to achieve their organizational goals more effectively and efficiently. Through our partnership, the client is now better equipped to drive innovation and sustain long-term success.

Take the first step toward seamlessly integrating ServiceNow to improve productivity and operational efficiency

Realizing Unseen Value with GRC Module Re-Integration

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 15:17:22 GMT

Challenge

A leading healthcare insurance company experienced several challenges with their Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) module due to the extensive customizations made during the initial implementation. While originally intended to meet specific needs, these customizations deviated significantly from standard configurations, leading to system inefficiencies, maintenance difficulties, and issues with platform upgrades. The client engaged Optomi Professional Services (OPS) to address these issues head-on.

Solution

The OPS team immediately began re-implementing the client’s GRC module, streamlining processes, and optimizing the system to align more effectively with its out-of-the-box functionality. We successfully imported 943 control objectives into ServiceNow and added 179 risks to the client’s Risk Register, enhancing both the compliance and risk workspaces. Our thorough review included identifying customizations for business rules, client scripts, dictionary entries, dictionary entry overrides, notifications, UI actions, access controls, UI policies, and flows. This analysis allowed us to streamline their system and eliminate excessive customizations, setting a strong foundation for future growth.

Our actions enhanced both the compliance and risk workspaces. This analysis allowed us to streamline the client’s system and eliminate excessive customizations, setting a strong foundation for future growth.

943

control objectives successfully imported into ServiceNow

179

risks added to the client’s

Risk Register

Impact

Since our involvement, the client has experienced significant improvements in their policy exception process, now leveraging out-of-the-box functionality and ensuring seamless upgrades without the risk of disruption. Their control objectives are fully integrated within ServiceNow, eliminating the need for external tools, and their risk registry is up-to-date and actively managed within the platform. The client’s processes are now significantly more streamlined, requiring less effort to maintain and providing greater clarity and efficiency, particularly during system upgrades.

With the foundational configuration of their GRC module complete, the client is now in a significantly stronger position, equipped with clear plans to expand its capabilities further. Their streamlined GRC processes allow them to complete tasks more quickly and efficiently, enhancing overall productivity.

Testimonial

“As the Manager of Cyber and Information Security Compliance and Assurance within Enterprise Information Security, I’m extremely pleased with the work Optomi Professional Services has done. They’ve streamlined our policy exception process by eliminating unnecessary customizations, allowing us to fully leverage ServiceNow’s capabilities. By consolidating multiple tools into ServiceNow, we’ve greatly reduced the complexity of our GRC processes. This has saved us valuable time and made it easier to manage everything within a single platform.”

- Director of Risk Compliance and Cybersecurity

Take the first step toward realizing the unseen value with GRC Module Re-Integration

Swift Intervention Transforms Vulnerability Response, Enabling Real-Time Decision Making and over $1M in Annual Savings for Fortune 150 Institution

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 15:17:02 GMT

Challenge

A Fortune 150 financial services institution faced significant setbacks due to a stalled Vulnerability Response implementation utilizing the ServiceNow platform. The lack of industry expertise from the selected implementation partner resulted in the inability to move any code to production after months of attempts. ServiceNow was a newly implemented platform for the organization, leading to internal confusion, skepticism, limited adoption, and an inability to automate, orchestrate, or build new functions.

Solution

Recognizing the critical nature of the situation, our team determined that resetting the ServiceNow environment with a Z-boot instance to eliminate flawed development work was the best course of action. Our resources then conducted comprehensive workshops to engage stakeholders at all levels, ensuring their needs were thoroughly understood and addressed. Adopting an Agile methodology, the project was managed within the client’s instance, breaking down development work into manageable stories and sprints. This approach enabled incremental progress, regular feedback loops, and adaptability to the client’s evolving needs.

$1M

in annual savings

<0.1%

SOR error rate

Impact

In less than three months, OPS resources successfully deployed the Vulnerability Response module to production, delivering substantial value to the client. The solution automated the work of several teams, including the entire risk management team, and streamlined approval processes for risk acceptance and deferral saving the client more than $1M annually. The implementation also centralized the system of record (SOR), significantly improving data integrity with an error rate of less than 0.1%, a nearly 100% improvement from previous methods. Data pulls that previously occurred weekly now occur every four hours enabling near real-time decision-making and empowering the client to create critical dashboards for executive leaders and decision-makers.

Testimonial

“Not only could the resources provide specific, granular technical details of how to implement the solution, but they could also clearly unpack the why behind those technical decisions and advocate for the overall business value. They successfully turned around the program and went live with a product significantly exceeding expectations…able to pivot quickly as our organization changed and built strong bridges across teams."

- Vice President, American Bank holding company

Take the first step toward transforming your vulnerability response to increase your annual savings

Providing Local, On-Site Resources to Fuel Your Platform and Project Initiatives

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 15:15:13 GMT

Our dedicated recruiting team is attuned to your environment and excels at identifying and securing the ideal additions to your team

Challenge

A mobility, Big Data, and Cloud Intelligence company struggled with finding local, on-site resources to deliver cutting-edge connected products. The client required skilled software engineers and product delivery resources with experience in mature agile/Scrum methodology within a production environment to transform the automotive industry.

Solution

After exhausting their resources, the client knew they needed to pivot their approach to find the right resources for the job. Aware that deadlines were closing in quickly, they decided to partner with Optomi to source local, high-performing candidates to lead their teams.

Successful engagements include, but are not limited to:

Data Science
Data Engineering
ML/NLP Engineering
Customer Experience Analysis
Analytics Platform Engineering Management

The OPS Difference

Our dedicated recruiting team is deeply attuned to the client’s environment and objectives. With an extensive network of top-tier talent, they excel at identifying and securing the ideal additions to your team. Due to the nature of the work being very modern and cutting-edge, many candidates in the market did not have experience working in this type of environment.

To meet the client’s needs, we:

Staffed a dedicated delivery team to focus solely on building resource pipelines.
Appointed an Executive Sponsor of Delivery to guarantee quality control for the client is a top priority at Optomi.
Have been intimately involved in product road-mapping strategy sessions resulting in a strong understanding of the overall environment and challenges, enabling us to assess resources to ensure they possess the right skills and capabilities for the job.

Impact

With the help of Optomi, the client was empowered to meet deliverables across multiple product lines.

Since the beginning of our collaboration, multiple Optomi resources have been converted to full-time team members and are now in positions of leadership. We are working with the client to achieve their goal of cutting costs by 25%, meaning they see higher functionality at a lesser spend.

25%

cost savings

Take the first step toward sourcing local, on-site resources to fuel your platform and project initiatives

Driving Growth: Accelerating Innovation Leveraging Agile Process and Product Engineering Excellence

Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:10:00 GMT

Challenge

A leading global provider of digital commerce solutions for retailers and restaurants struggled to keep pace with new feature demands in the face of strong and innovative new entrants into the highly competitive POS market. The client originally outsourced several development squads to a large, renowned global IT consulting firm that was extremely expensive and grappled to deliver efficiently. With a need to improve new feature delivery velocity and volume for one of their flagship products, the client engaged Optomi Professional Services (OPS) to address their budget and capacity constraints head-on.

Solution

OPS deployed a nine-person scrum team with expertise in product development, software engineering, Agile delivery, and test automation. With proficiency in multiple programming languages, the team of polyglots provided exceptional flexibility and efficiency to enable continuous parallel development of full-stack product features in a complex product ecosystem. We addressed the client’s budget constraints by implementing a fixed sprint fee and fixed-capacity model, offering a significantly lower cost than the previous firm. This approach significantly accelerated the release and availability of updates for customers, allowing OPS to become a collaborative partner, identifying process gaps and proposing efficiencies that further increased velocity.

Technologies Used

Development:

Java/Android
C++
C#
Angular
React
JavaScript
EXT JS
SQL Server

Test Automation:

Playwright
Appium
Cucumber
Selenium
Postman
Typescript
Test Rail

Impact

OPS resources acclimated quickly within a highly complex and demanding ecosystem, resulting in the offboarding of all development squads from the incumbent partner and solidifying OPS as the exclusive external feature team. All deliverables required 80%-unit test coverage, multiple peer code reviews by a globally distributed team of internal product SMEs, full test case automation within each sprint, and use of multiple device and printer emulators to ensure functionality across diverse hardware.

Beyond the client’s scoped deliverables, OPS provided:

A comprehensive assessment of the client’s existing Agile processes, improvement, and best-practice recommendations which were fully adopted, leading to increased velocity, quality, and feature release frequency.
Test automation best practices to enhance quality, velocity, and delivery efficiency.
Optimization recommendations for the client’s peer review, pull request, and CI/CD processes to maximize delivery throughput.

OPS leadership worked closely with client stakeholders to provide comprehensive guidance and thought leadership as they reorganized their internal development teams to mimic the team structure and tactics used by OPS throughout our engagement. Our proven model of success remains intact across this team and others within the organization, allowing OPS to make a continued impact for years to come.

Take the first step toward empowering teams to drive growth and efficiency

Optomi Professional Services Appoints Chief Revenue Officer

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 13:08:00 GMT

Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is pleased to announce the addition of Blake Guyton as the company's Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). In this role, Guyton will provide strategic and tactical leadership across key revenue-focused initiatives as OPS continues to unify and elevate their service offerings.

Guyton joins OPS after more than ten years of service with Robert Half/Protiviti where he most recently served as Managing Vice President, responsible for driving revenue growth, implementing sales strategies, and leading high-performance teams. His leadership was instrumental in shaping and expanding the overall managed technology solutions division, helping drive its growth to account for over 20% of the organization's total revenue.

"As we continue to expand, having Blake Guyton lead our strategy surrounding professional services and key practice areas ensures we are positioned to capitalize on emerging market opportunities and accelerate our growth trajectory," said Optomi Professional Services CEO, Chuck Ruggiero. "Blake's unique perspective and vast experience in the space will empower us to create more value for our partners and stakeholders while fueling long-term growth and success."

With over twenty years of experience in the professional services sector, Guyton brings a deep understanding of the industry and a proven track record of achieving revenue objectives in fast-paced environments. He will work closely with the executive team to align the company's sales and marketing efforts with its long-term business goals.

"Coming from a small town in West Texas, the Provalus mission of delivering solutions from rural America immediately resonated with me," said Guyton. "When you combine that with Optomi's impressive culture and proven track record in the staffing industry, it's clear that the growth potential for OPS is tremendous. The leadership team's vision paired with their commitment to innovation and excellence make this an incredible opportunity."

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is a 100% U.S.-based firm dedicated to providing skillset-focused support through three service channels: talent, professional, and managed services. Collectively, our partners are provided with a comprehensive suite of services to fuel their technology initiatives through our two brands, Optomi and Provalus. Founded with a mission of giving back, we strive to make a positive impact on our consultants, clients, and communities.

View the full release here.

Optomi Recognized as One of the Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in 2024

Tue, 17 Sep 2024 12:51:00 GMT

Optomi is proud to announce its recognition from Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as one of the fastest-growing staffing firms in the U.S. Appearing on the list for the fifth time, Optomi ranked 2024 and 9th among IT-focused firms. The company's continued success showcases its dedication to delivering top-tier IT solutions.

Driven by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 27.9% from 2019-2023, this ranking reflects Optomi’s ability to adapt and thrive in a competitive landscape.

"Earning this recognition year after year highlights the power of our collaborative efforts and our relentless pursuit of innovation. Our team’s passion and resilience allow us to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing industry," said Tony Pritchett, Chief Financial Officer of Optomi Professional Services. "This achievement is a reflection of our collective strength and our unwavering focus on delivering excellence at every stage of our journey.”

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is a 100% U.S.-based firm dedicated to providing skillset-focused support through three service channels: talent, professional, and managed services. Collectively, our partners are provided with a comprehensive suite of services to fuel their technology initiatives through our two brands, Optomi and Provalus. Founded with a mission of giving back, we strive to make a positive impact on our consultants, clients, and communities.

Optomi Shines Again as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company for the 8th Year in a Row

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:05:00 GMT

Optomi has once again been named one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies by Inc. Magazine with the release of its annual Inc. 5000 list. This marks the eighth consecutive year that Optomi has earned this recognition, showcasing an unwavering commitment to excellence and growth.

“This achievement highlights our team's ability to navigate challenges and seize opportunities. We're proud to be part of the Inc. 5000 and excited for the future as we continue to grow and evolve,” said Chuck Ruggiero, CEO of Optomi Professional Services. “Our inclusion in this list for the eighth consecutive year serves as a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish together. We are more motivated than ever to push boundaries, embrace change, and drive forward with the same determination that has brought us this far."

Compiled annually by Inc. magazine, the Inc. 5000 list recognizes the fastest-growing private companies in America. This award is based on sustained revenue growth over a three-year period and showcases organizations that have demonstrated consistent growth and the ability to thrive in competitive markets. Over this period, Optomi achieved an impressive 145% growth, highlighting our commitment to excellence and innovation within a dynamic marketplace.

Optomi President Radka Winwood said, “We are thrilled to be recognized among the fastest-growing companies in America, a testament to the extraordinary grit, tenacity, and drive of our team. This achievement underscores our unwavering perseverance, innovation, and ability to stay ahead of industry trends. As we move forward, our focus remains on driving growth and exceeding expectations for our partners and consultants alike.

View the full release here .

Optomi Recognized as One of the Largest IT Staffing Firms in the US by SIA

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 12:24:00 GMT

Once again, Optomi is pleased to announce its recognition by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as one of the Largest IT Staffing Firms in the US in 2024.

Organizations recognized on this list account for over 80% of the IT staffing market, which is estimated to have generated nearly 40 billion dollars in revenue in 2023. All companies included in this year’s edition have generated at least $100 million in US staffing revenue in the previous year.

Recognized as a Top 50 firm for the second year in a row, our success is a testament to the tremendous dedication and passion of our team who provide best-in-class customized solutions to consultants and partners alike.

SIA is a global advisory firm providing staffing and workforce solutions to all parts of the ecosystem in staffing, recruitment, and contingent work. See the full list here .

Optomi Recognized by SIA as One of The Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in 2023

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:07:00 GMT

Optomi is pleased to announce its recognition by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) as one of the Fastest Growing Staffing Firms for 2023. Optomi was ranked 77th on the comprehensive list, but 17th for IT staffing companies.

To qualify for the 2023 Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firms list, companies must have posted a minimum of $1 million in US revenue in 2018 and have had a compound annual growth rate of at least 15% from 2018-2022. This year, the methodology for selection has become even more stringent, further elevating this prestigious achievement.

“It is an honor to be named to SIA’s list of fastest-growing staffing firms. This is our fourth year on their list and it’s a testament to the hard work our team puts in every day,” said Optomi CEO, Chuck Ruggiero. “This recognition has come close on the heels of Optomi being named to INC 5000’s list of fastest growing companies and we are extremely proud of the explosive, organic growth we have continued to achieve year after year.”

Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) is a global advisory firm providing staffing and workforce solutions to all parts of the ecosystem in staffing, recruitment, and contingent work.

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Optomi Professional Services is a 100% U.S.-based firm dedicated to partnering with clients to fuel their technology initiatives. Through our elite brands of Optomi and Provalus, we deploy the best tech talent to help define the technology of tomorrow. Our skillset-focused support through two service channels (talent services and onshore outsourcing solutions) provides the comprehensive suite of services our clients need to achieve success. OPS was founded on a mission of giving back and positively impacting our consultants, clients, and communities.

Optomi Recognized as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company for the 7th Year in a Row

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 12:11:00 GMT

This week, the Inc. 5000 list revealed Optomi, LLC as one of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies with a ranking of 2,782. Optomi Professional Services has made this prestigious list every year of its eligibility, making this the company’s seventh consecutive year being ranked.

Optomi Professional Services, comprised of both the Optomi and Provalus brands, is an IT talent services and outsourcing firm dedicated to partnering with clients to fuel technology initiatives.

“We’re honored to be listed alongside some of the most innovative, successful, and fastest-growing companies in the U.S. In this incredibly competitive and challenging business landscape, doing the extraordinary is what keeps you at the top. I’m proud of how the team serves our clients and consultant base so well,” commented Optomi Professional Services CEO, Chuck Ruggiero.

Companies are selected for the Inc. 5000 list based on their percentage revenue growth over the previous three years. Optomi, LLC has experienced a 3-year revenue growth of 192% which has also earned it recognition from Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Fastest Growing Staffing Firms. In the Inc. 5000 subcategory of Human Resources, Optomi, LLC achieved the notable ranking of number 128.

President of Optomi, Radka Winwood, said, “This recognition is a testament to the drive and passion of our team to deliver excellence as we support our clients with the highest-quality talent for their projects.”

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Optomi Ranks #1 Among Companies Awarded for Best Leadership

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 13:25:00 GMT

In a remarkable testament to our exceptional leadership team, we are honored to announce that Optomi has been presented with the prestigious Best Company Leadership award from Comparably. Out of millions of ratings, we have proudly secured the coveted first spot among the top 100 small/medium-sized companies .

The recognition of our exceptional leadership team by Optomi’s own employees validates our dedication to creating a positive, motivating work environment and empowering our employees to reach their full potential. In fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity, our leadership team is duly equipped to set their teams on a path to success.

Optomi’s leaders understand that investing in their team’s professional and personal well-being is key to maintaining a high-performing and engaged staff. Through mentorship programs, ongoing training initiatives, and opportunities for advancement, Optomi empowers its employees to excel in their careers and achieve their aspirations. One Optomi employee said, “Leadership is always on your side and looking out for your best interest! They are committed to your personal growth as well as your career growth.”

In securing the #1 spot for Best Company Leadership, we not only celebrate our leadership team’s success but also reaffirm our commitment to continuing to provide the best possible experience to Optomi employees. Our leaders remain dedicated to nurturing a culture of innovation, collaboration, and growth, ensuring that Optomi continues to be a place where employees thrive and achieve remarkable success.

Interested in working with leadership that cares? Work with us! Learn more about The Acadomi training program and internal opportunities with Optomi today!

Optomi Ranks Among Top 50 Companies for Best Career Growth

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 09:36:00 GMT

We are delighted to announce that Optomi has been honored with the prestigious Best Company Growth 2023 award from Comparably. Out of millions of ratings, we have proudly secured a place among the top 50 small/medium-sized companies . This esteemed recognition reflects our unwavering dedication to fostering a work environment where our employees can flourish and achieve their full potential.

At Optomi, we are committed to providing exceptional growth opportunities, exemplified by our renowned training program, The Acadomi. This program has had a profound and positive impact on our employees’ work experience, enabling them to acquire new skills and knowledge while advancing their careers. The Acadomi is an elite training program for sales careers in tech, designed to cultivate successful sales careers through a well-rounded education in the technology staffing industry. With a comprehensive curriculum tailored to the technology staffing industry, this program serves as the ideal launchpad for recent graduates seeking to embark on their professional journey in the tech sector as Associates with Optomi.

Through The Acadomi, participants, known as Acadomites, gain specialized technology skillsets, refine their communication acumen to effectively engage with business executives, and acquire a deep understanding of the intricate workings of the technology staffing realm. At Optomi, we recognize the importance of fostering talent across the board, which is why employees who do not undergo The Acadomi training program are offered comprehensive training to ensure their seamless integration and success within the company. One Optomi employee said, “Leadership is always on your side and looking out for your best interest! They are committed to your personal growth as well as your career growth.”

Receiving the Best Company Growth 2023 award from Comparably reaffirms our ongoing commitment to cultivating a culture of continuous learning and professional development. We believe that investing in our employees’ growth is not only vital for their individual success but also for the collective achievement of our organization.

Moving forward, Optomi remains steadfast in its pursuit of excellence, continuously striving to provide exceptional growth opportunities and maintain an environment that empowers our employees to thrive. We are honored to be recognized with the Best Company Growth 2023 award and will continue to set new benchmarks for fostering employee growth and creating a culture of success.

Interested in creating a career path with growth opportunities? Work with us! Learn more about The Acadomi training program and internal opportunities with Optomi today!

Optomi Ranks Among Top Businesses for Best Company Outlook Second Year in a Row

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:00:00 GMT

For the second year in a row, Optomi has ranked among the top businesses in the country for Best Company Outlook. Recognized by Comparably, Optomi has received this award thanks to anonymous ratings by our own employees. We are honored to receive this accolade.

Our future is bright, indeed, as Comparably’s Best Company Outlook list includes companies that look to the future with purpose and intent. The list is derived from millions of anonymous ratings from current employees.

Since 2012, Optomi’s mission has been to drive tomorrow’s technology with today’s optimum talent. From the start, we have been committed to giving back to our local communities and those in need. Since day one, we have provided a food-insecure child with a weekend bag of meals with every consultant we place. This initiative became our Opt2give program .

Along the way, our culture developed into something truly special. Each and every individual at Optomi is connected to something bigger than themselves. An employee on Comparably said, “Being able to be around people I genuinely like spending time with and when I connect with my candidates on a personal level it makes the job that much more special.” Another employee said that what makes them the most happy at work is, “the culture! It's like no other! I truly enjoy coming into the office and being around my co-workers 8+ hours a day.”

Our team is full of ambition… and we know they’ll help keep us at the top. Join our team today!

See the full list here .

Optomi’s 2023 New Year’s Resolutions

Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:42:00 GMT

Over the past decade, Optomi has had the opportunity to make a difference, not only in the business world but in the lives of others. Cheers to a prosperous 2023!

What is REACT?

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 13:25:00 GMT

What is React?

You most likely use React apps every day, whether you are watching your favorite TV shows, browsing through social media, or just checking your email. React is a JavaScript library built and maintained by Meta (Facebook). React is a very efficient, declarative, and flexible open-source JavaScript library for building simple, fast, and scalable front-ends of web applications. It is by far the most popular open- source JavaScript library and is used by most Fortune 500 companies.

What Does React Do?

React allows developers to create large web applications that can change data, without reloading the page. The main purpose of React, as mentioned above, is to be fast, scalable, and simple. It lets you create complex UI’s from small and isolated pieces of code called “components”.

What is the Importance?

The React library provides users templates and elements that serve as a base for developing creative web interfaces. Applications developed using React tend to have a high performing nature and state of the art user interaction and experience in addition to maintaining high traffic.

Client #1 is a photo and video sharing social networking service. The use of React within the popular social media app is HUGE. A proof for that is numerous features including the geolocations, Google Maps APIs, search engine accuracy as well as tags that pop out without hashtags. React is all there in the API of the app and the public seems to love it.

Client #2 is an American subscription streaming service and production company that uses React for a specific platform called “Gibbon.” Gibbon was designed with the intent to bring a better user experience to individuals who have low-performance TV devices instead of the traditional model used in web browsers. Their decision to adopt React was a no- brainer as it helps with startup speed, improve runtime performance, and modularity.

Talent Insights

Hiring demand is extremely high across the United States, especially in industries such as Financial Services, Retail, Telecommunications, and Real Estate.

Compensation Range: $125,000/yr. – $215,000/yr.

Current Active Candidates:

7.8k individuals are open to work across the country

OPS Chief Executive Officer Named Best CEO for the Second Year in a Row

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:22:00 GMT

Optomi Professional Services CEO, Chuck Ruggiero, has been recognized as Best CEO for the second year in a row! Chuck ranked #49 among the top 100 CEOs, all rated by employees. Culture is and has always been at the core of Optomi’s success, and it’s that very focus that has awarded him this honor.

Comparably awards are derived from sentiment ratings provided by employees who anonymously rate their employer over a 12-month period. Employees answer questions from several categories including Leadership, Work-Life Balance, Professional Development and more.

We’re grateful to have Chuck leading both our Optomi and Provalus brands into a successful future full of growth. OPS was also named a “Best Company in Atlanta,” “Best Company Outlook” and “Best Company for Leadership” in 2022.

View the full list on Comparably.com here .

What is NODEJS?

Wed, 16 Nov 2022 06:01:00 GMT

NodeJS is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment and library to run web applications outside the client’s browser. It is used to create server-side (backend) web applications.

What Does NodeJS Do?

NodeJS is primarily used for non-blocking, event-driven servers, due to its single-threaded nature. It’s used for not only traditional websites and backend API services but was designed with real-time, push-based architectures in mind.

What is the Importance?

NodeJS sits on the server (backend) which is an application that runs and listens and what it listens for is people who want to connect to that server via requests – whether on your phone, laptop, or someone on an internet-connected refrigerator can make a request to a server and grab the requested data.

Case Studies Utilizing NodeJS

Client #1 is an American subscription streaming service and production company that uses NodeJS. Their platform streams tons of data at a very quick rate and this is where NodeJS comes into play. It solves data streaming problems for the client and increases overall efficiency for a great user experience!

Client #2 is an online shopping website that contains a large amount of data loaded in a web browser. NodeJS makes the data more accessible and therefore the uptime of the website will always be high.

Talent Insights

Hiring demand is extremely high across the United States, especially in industries such as Financial Services (Accounting, Banking, Investment Management), Retail, and Entertainment.

Compensation Range: $135,000/yr. – $225,000/yr.

Current Active Candidates: 5.5k individuals are open to work across the country

Optomi Earns Charlotte Business Journal Best Place To Work Award

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 10:28:00 GMT

We are thrilled to announce that our Charlotte team has made the Charlotte Business Journal’s Best Place to Work list! This list represents the best of the best in the Charlotte region that offers a remarkable culture, great benefits, and engaged employees.

Alexandra Williams, a Senior Account Executive in Charlotte, spoke about the origins of the office opening and how leadership has really taken their passion for culture and ran with it. “Having people in leadership roles lead the culture committees for the whole organization is really special because when you have someone from the top really instill a culture, it’s going to stem down. That’s where it all begins,” said Alexandra. “We have people who have just joined the company wanting to be a part of something bigger and get involved in more than just their day-to-day jobs.”

The culture in Charlotte is truly unmatched. The environment our team has created is one to remember. “We are a family. We celebrate professional success and milestones with one another, but we also celebrate one another on a personal level. We have housewarming parties and baby showers for husbands and wives who are married to someone at Optomi and we celebrate them and welcome a new baby into the home. We have wedding showers, we go to the beach together, we travel…we choose to spend time with one another. It’s a choice, but it’s because of the people that Optomi hires,” said Senior Account Executive Tyler Sheltra.

This award is especially honorable as the honorees are chosen based on a third-party survey that the team must provide feedback on. Thank you to our dedicated team in Charlotte for honoring us with this award. We would not be here without your genuine spirits and exceptional culture.

What is .NET?

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 06:34:00 GMT

.NET is an open-source development platform for building different types of applications. Microsoft first introduced the framework in 2002 after taking inspiration from Java, as well as their learnings from the ecosystem they provided, and came up with .NET. There is a variety of programming languages available on the .NET platform such as VB.NET and C# being the most common ones.

.NET Standard vs .NET Core

.NET Standard

Allows engineers to develop websites, services, and apps on strictly Windows OS (Operating System) based machine
Last version released in standard was 4.8

.NET Core

.NET Core allows engineers to develop anywhere due to its cross-platform compatibility
You can develop websites that are cross platform and can function on a variety of operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS based machines

Latest version of .NET Core is .NET 6 (Microsoft decided to drop ‘Core’ from the name after version 3.1 to emphasize that .NET 5 is the “future” of all earlier versions of .NET Core!)

What is the Importance?

The use of .NET helps in the creation of web applications and websites. The applications are getting mainly developed which can be used on a computer, laptop, or mobile easily and with great performance. The framework also provides great features that help developers or programmers develop applications that remain in sync with all platforms. Also, .NET provides great scalability for developing both small and large applications and has been found to be a great platform for redesigning small applications to scale with the growing needs of an organization or to make them large as per the client's requirements.

What Can You Build Using .NET?

Case Study Utilizing .NET

Problem

The client had 3 different customer-facing websites, each with its own look and feel; the main website, one for online ordering, and one for catering which really wasn’t conducive to business.

Solution

Build a new unified web presence from scratch using the below technologies
Technologies used: C#, .NET Core, Visual Studio Code, and Azure

Benefits/Results

As a result, ordering processes became more streamlined and seamless
Marketers can now make changes to the site in minutes, including menu items and availability, while developers are freed to focus on making the site richer in other ways.
Since everything is now hosted in Azure (Microsoft’s cloud service), the client no longer needs to worry about operational issues such as maintenance, patching, availability, and scalability!

Talent Insights

Hiring demand is extremely high across the United States, especially in industries such as Insurance, Financial Services, Telecommunications, Retail, and Automotive.

Compensation Range: $80,000/yr. – $150,000/yr.

Current Active Candidates: 1.7k individuals are open to contract work out of roughly 4K total open to work

Optomi Makes SIA’s 2022 Fastest Growing Staffing Firms List

Wed, 21 Sep 2022 10:35:00 GMT

We’re thrilled to announce our recognition by Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Fastest Growing Staffing Firms. Optomi’s continued growth is an accomplishment of 10 years of grit and perseverance. We have also been recognized as one of SIA’s Largest Staffing Firms this year.

To qualify for the 2022 Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firms list, companies needed to have had a compound annual growth rate of at least 15%. The most-represented segment on the list was I.T. with 45 firms stating that Information Technology staffing was their top segment.

We owe our growth and success to our incredible team of top producers who truly embody all of our core values. Our culture has won us awards and kept our bond strong and our team is comprised of passionate individuals dedicated to doing the right thing in every circumstance.

SIA is the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. SIA’s analysis provides insights into the services and suppliers operating in the workforce solutions environment, including staffing firms.

Learn more about SIA here: https://www2.staffingindustry.com/Research/Research-Reports/Americas/Fastest-Growing-US-Staffing-Firms-2022-Update?cookies=disabled

Optomi Makes SIA’s 2022 Largest IT Staffing Firms List

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 10:47:00 GMT

We are honored to have made SIA’s prestigious list of Largest IT Staffing Firms in the U.S.! When we launched back in 2012, our founders had a saying that they wanted the company to be “the best”, not necessarily the biggest. As it turns out, Optomi is both! Our name is derived from the word optimum. We’re thrilled to be able to deliver the best talent to our clients with such broad reach.

Staffing firms on this list must have generated $100 million or more in US staffing revenue last year to qualify. This report ranks 62 IT staffing firms that have done just that.

Optomi Recognized as an Inc 5000 Fastest-Growing Company for the 6th Year in a Row

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 10:40:00 GMT

For the 6th year in a row, Optomi Professional Services joins the elite list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies with INC 5000. Optomi has made this prestigious list each year we’ve been eligible.

The list represents a unique compilation of the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment-its privately-owned businesses. Optomi Professional Services is a firm dedicated to partnering with clients to fuel their technology initiatives. OPS is comprised of the Optomi and Provalus brands which specialize in deploying highly qualified technology talent in the areas of cybersecurity, data modernization, software engineering, business optimization, cloud and infrastructure, Salesforce, emerging technologies, BPO, Service desk, Help desk, and ITO. It is 100% U.S.-based and purpose-driven to positively impact consultants, clients, and communities.

With the demand for technology talent at an all-time high combined with the resurgence of American workers providing outsourced solutions, OPS is on a growth trajectory rarely seen in the traditional professional services industry.

Optomi Recognized by Comparably for Best Leadership Team Award

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 10:52:00 GMT

For the second year in a row, we are honored to be recognized by Comparably for the Best Company Leadership Team. Among the 100 companies ranked, Optomi ranked #10 on the list!

Our leadership team is comprised of some of the best in the business with core values that outshine the competition… and it shines through in our reviews on corporate evaluation sites like Comparably. We couldn’t have done this without the Optomi family! Thank you for honoring us with this prestigious award.

Optomi Professional Services Recognized by Inc Magazine for Prioritizing Women in the IT Space

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 11:08:00 GMT

We are so grateful to be recognized by Inc.com for our commitment to furthering the careers of women in tech. Creating space for women in the I.T. space has proven to be not only inclusive but essential to our success. Optomi Professional Services [OPS] is comprised of both the Optomi and Provalus brands. Optomi has a workforce of over 50% women with a female President while Provalus employees are 56% female also with a President who is female. Our Provalus President, Laura Chevalier, has been an asset to rural communities in small-town America. She was recently recognized as a “Veteran Champion of the Year” (Read more on GI Jobs )

Inc wrote about OPS, “Helping these women start independent career paths that foster self-sufficiency is part of the company’s purpose.”

OPS was born out of a passion for making a meaningful impact all across the U.S. We employ a team of innovative thinkers, industry disruptors, and refreshingly enterprising strategists influencing a more purpose-driven world. The women filling these roles exemplify these qualities. Our team is anchored by some truly incredible women who continue to drive our mission each and every day.

We recognize the value of diversifying our team to stimulate growth. Our four founders, Michael Winwood , Todd Black , Radka Winwood , and Christen Black , have always instilled our core values and the importance of being appreciative of everyone’s contribution to our success. Our culture is simply centered around being “the best.” We define it by six core values. We are… innovative, passionate, respectful, genuine, dedicated, and connected. The women at OPS truly embody our core values and continue to prove they are what makes our company thrive.

Read the full article on Inc.com here .

Optomi Ranks in Top 5% for Best Companies in Atlanta

Wed, 30 Mar 2022 11:14:00 GMT

We’re so proud to have been recognized as one of Comparably’s Best Companies in Atlanta! THANK YOU to our amazing Atlanta team for always being so genuine and passionate about Optomi.

Join the team! https://optomi.com/join-our-team/

Comparably’s annual Best Company Atlanta list is derived from millions of ratings from employees who anonymously rated their professional development opportunities over a 12-month period.

Optomi Ranks in Top 5% for Best Company Outlook

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 11:38:00 GMT

A little proof that our future is bright! We’re honored to be recognized by Comparably for Best Company Outlook. Optomi ranked in the top 5% of companies submitted for this award.

Comparably’s annual Best Company Outlook list is derived from millions of ratings. Our team is full of ambition… and we know they’ll help keep us at the top.

Join us! https://optomi.com/join-our-team/

How to NOT Lose a Candidate in 10 Ways

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 06:48:00 GMT

More often than not, recruiters are juggling multiple candidates at once. During the process, an applicant may grow uninterested, so you’ll need to know how to keep candidates warm to avoid losing them altogether.

1. BE QUICK

When trying to hire the top talent, you’ve got to be fast. Your front-runner candidates will probably be on someone else’s shortlist too, so it’s important that you move quickly. But you don’t just need to be quick about a job offer. Candidates will start losing interest a few days after applying, so make sure you’re reaching out promptly.

2. OVER-COMMUNICATE

We all know that over-communicating is better than under-communicating, but it’s important to put this into practice in your hiring. Beyond the basics of communicating when you need something from candidates, it’s a good idea to communicate your plans. For example, letting your candidates know when they will hear back and sticking to it. So, if you’re going to give them feedback within the week, let them know!

3. BE HONEST

Be honest in your communications. If something goes wrong, explain the situation. Hiring can be a long process and lots can go wrong. Your needs could change, your lead client could have issues, your funding could be pulled – anything can happen. It’s important to stay honest and open with your applicants throughout hard times.

4. GIVE YOUR CANDIDATES ENOUGH TIME

If you only give your candidate a 20-minute slot, you’ve got less time to get to know them, their skills, and whether they’re the right person for the job. If they have to rush through their answers – or when you rush through your questions and leave early – this sends a really bad message. This says that you don’t have the time to speak to them, you have better things to do, you’re not interested, and not going to hire them.

5. BE UNIQUE

Candidates in today’s markets know their value and can afford to be picky, so you have to try harder to win them over. What sets this role apart from the others your candidate may be interested in? A candidate may accept the role with a lower salary if you sell them on everything else.

6. PROMOTE OUR CULTURE & VALUES

Create an emotional connection with your candidate by providing some insight on Optomi’s values. Your top candidates will probably be someone else’s top candidates, so their opinion of your company could be the thing that makes or breaks your job offer. Mention our Opt2give program in partnership with The TGB Foundation. If they accept your offer, they’ll help feed a kid for a weekend!

7. BE PERSONABLE

Being personable during your candidate's interview process is extremely valuable. Smiling and being pleasant is a great start, but theres much more to be aware of. Have confidence, be a good listener, make eye contact, have good time management skills, be patient, be reliable – your candidate will appreciate these traits.

8. COACH YOUR CANDIDATES

Fully prepare your candidate for their upcoming interview! While this seems like standard procedure, not all recruiters are investing in candidate coaching. Set interview expectations beforehand; What types of questions they can expect in their interview? Does the hiring manager have any pet peeves? Guide your candidate towards the type of answers you know the hiring manager values.

9. BE CURIOUS

Ask about your candidates! Show interest in their lives! What are their hobbies? What movies do they like? Where are they from? Do they like sports? Did they attend an event recently? Ask how it went! People want to work with real people, not just a process. This could be the thing that makes them take the job.

10. BE FLEXIBLE

Make yourself available. Don’t be afraid to break out from the normal work day. Some candidate processes may call for early mornings or late nights. Having a flexible hiring process is important if you’re hoping to attract the best talent. The more flexibility you can offer, the greater success in hiring the right candidate.

Optomi Awarded Top Workplaces 2022

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 11:44:00 GMT

Optomi’s culture and core values have always been the core of our success. It’s also an amazing foundation for an exceptional workplace culture. Our dedicated, passionate, and genuine team strives to create the best environment possible to achieve amazing things. It’s also a competitive advantage when searching for the right people to JOIN OUR TEAM! We’re so grateful to be recognized as one of the Top Workplaces 2022 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the nation’s most credible Georgian employer recognition program.

Our team is truly extraordinary! Learn more on our Top Workplaces profile: https://lnkd.in/e7csb-DQ

Virtual Interview Tips

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:16:00 GMT

In the current job market (and state of the world), you’d better have your act together for that virtual interview or you won’t stand a chance against the competition. Check yourself on these basic points before you go on that all-important virtual interview.

1. Ace Your Technology

Be sure to test your technology prior to your virtual interview. It’s imperative to ensure you’ll dodge any technical glitches so you’re set up for success. Check your internet connection and test your webcam and microphone as far in advance as possible. On the day of your virtual interview, check your internet and test your equipment again. It can be difficult to locate a webcam just minutes before your interview, and especially frustrating knowing it could have been avoided.

2. Dress Professionally

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you should look like it. Dress to impress, just as you would in-person. This shows respect to people you are meeting with virtually and the seriousness you have for the position.

Try to avoid busy patterns and prints and opt for a more simple, sophisticated option. You are the most important part of the interview, not your clothes. When choosing your outfit, make sure to dress professionally from head to toe – you never know who might ask you to stand up during your interview.

3. Set Up Your Space and Minimize Distractions

Creating an illusion of how you’ll be perceived through a screen is important. Virtually speaking, opportunities to convey your emotions and uniqueness in the conversation will be limited, so you’ll need to make a strong first impression.

Determine where you will be during the virtual interview. Find a space with optimal lighting and few distractions, guaranteeing you are what the hiring manager focuses on during the interview. Make sure the visible space surrounding you is clean and uncluttered. It won’t be very convincing to the hiring manager that you’re detail-oriented and organized if your space isn’t. If you choose to use a virtual background, try to stick to office or home settings. Other settings like mountains or beaches can be distracting.

Place your computer on a steady surface and make sure your webcam is at eye level. If you need to raise your computer a bit, feel free to utilize books or other sturdy, stackable items to achieve the correct position. Silence your cell phone, close nearby windows, and turn off any other devices that may unintentionally cause a ruckus. On your computer, close any programs, documents, or browsers you aren’t using during the interview.

4. Be On Time

Never arrive late to an interview…even a virtual one. You should enter your virtual meeting at least 5 minutes prior to its scheduled time. Don’t let the Hiring Manager wait on you.

5. Communicate Confidence and Monitor Your Body Language

While a virtual interview may have a similar discourse as an in-person interview, there’s one thing missing: your ability to fully convey your personality and uniqueness. Virtually speaking, it’s more difficult to express enthusiasm through a screen, but there are ways you can show your excitement during your interview.

Eye contact demonstrates confidence – try to look at the camera instead of yourself on the screen. Sit up straight and speak distinctly in a confident voice, even if you feel shaky. Hiring managers like people who are interested and passionate about the job.

6. Listen

One of the most neglectful interview skills is listening. Be attentive and make it known that you are listening to what the Hiring Manager has to say (i.e., nod your head while they are speaking). Also be aware that there may be technical issues during a virtual interview, so be sure to wait until the interviewer is finished asking their question before you begin speaking. Make sure to have 3-4 questions lined up for the interviewer to show you’re actively listening and interested.

7. Send a Thank You Note

Remember to send a “Thank you” note to the person(s) you interviewed with. This is a great way to state your interest in the position as well as give the Hiring Manager a reminder of your interview. If the position you virtually interviewed for is on-site, mention that you are looking forward to meeting them in person.

Optomi Professional Services Secures Significant Investment from FFL Partners

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 11:59:00 GMT

Optomi Professional Services is pleased to announce its partnership with San Francisco-based private equity firm FFL Partners (“FFL”) today. The investment solidifies the Company’s strength and potential for significant expansion on the back of nine years of above-market organic growth and a current revenue run rate of $200 million.

“We’re thrilled to partner with FFL to continue empowering our clients to achieve their digital transformation initiatives,” said Chuck Ruggiero, CEO of Optomi Professional Services. “We’re confident that FFL’s resources and expertise will further enable Optomi to meet the demand for next-generation IT talent and provide Provalus with more opportunity to launch additional delivery center locations that benefit rural U.S. communities.”

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Atlanta, OPS provides technology consulting, team augmentation, and domestic rural outsourcing services to Fortune-listed clients all across the U.S. OPS operates through two primary brands: Optomi , which focuses on high-end IT consulting and staff augmentation, and Provalus , a trailblazing provider of domestic IT outsourcing through jobs in rural communities that contribute to their revitalization. The Company’s services include a wide range of cybersecurity, data modernization, software engineering, cloud & infrastructure, helpdesk, customer experience, and business optimization consulting services.

OPS Cofounder and Board Chairman, Michael Winwood commented, “We’re immensely proud of what we have built over the last nine years since our inception. This is the result of our team’s incredible dedication and tenacity for which we are profoundly grateful. OPS was built on the back of strong core values and we are pleased to have found such a culturally-aligned partner in FFL, whose knowledge and experience in our industry will help propel us to the next level of success.”

“The need for expert IT talent in software development, cybersecurity, data modernization, and business optimization has never been greater, and OPS is helping companies solve the technology talent shortfall in new and unique ways,” said Jonathon Bunt, Director at FFL Partners. Cas Schneller, Managing Partner of FFL Partners, added, “our experience in the space has helped us identify and partner with some of the best companies in the business and we look forward to supporting OPS’ continued success.”

Our Chief Executive Officer Named Best CEO, Ranked #14

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 12:06:00 GMT

Our CEO, Chuck Ruggiero, has been recognized for the second time this year! We are so proud to have one of the Best CEOs for 2021 on Comparably.com . Chuck ranked #14 among the top 100 CEOs as rated by employees. We’re grateful to have him spearheading our #Optomi and #Provalus brands with record-breaking growth as we cultivate a remarkable #culture in tandem.

Optomi Awarded One of the Fastest-Growing Staffing Firms in 2021

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 12:15:00 GMT

Optomi is pleased to announce its recognition by Staffing Industry Analysts as one of the Fastest Growing Staffing Firms.

The company’s strength and potential for significant expansion is on the back of 9 years of explosive above-market organic growth. A current revenue run rate of $200 million ranks Optomi, LLC in the top percentages of all U.S. companies in the I.T. staffing industry.

To qualify for the 2021 Fastest-Growing US Staffing Firms list, companies needed to have had a compound annual growth rate of at least 15% from 2016 to 2020. The most-represented segment on the list was I.T., with 20 firms stating that Information Technology staffing is their top segment.

“We’re grateful to be recognized for fast growth by SIA, but our success would not be possible without the dedication of our team to our purpose” commented Chuck Ruggiero, CEO of OPS. “Our incredible culture allows us to attract the best. And our people keep us increasing in revenue while always delivering a quality experience to our clients.”

The complete list can be found on the SIA website .

10 Ways to Demonstrate Emotional Intelligence

Fri, 12 Nov 2021 08:52:00 GMT

EQ is believed to affect relationships with leaders, coworkers, and clients. It also impacts the productivity of an employee and their ability to conceive of and implement successful strategies. Hiring employees with a high EQ can foster a healthier workplace and therefore has become a trending topic.

Most recently, recruiters and hiring managers are laser-focused on bringing individuals with sound skills and a high EQ into the fold. Typically in an interview setting, questions aimed at determining a candidate’s emotional intelligence quotient come in the form of behavioral questions. Following is a list of potential questions and how to respond to them when asked.

This specific advice is taken from an article written for the MUSE by Alexandra Frost

1. Tell Me About a Time You Experienced a Conflict at Work.

This question is really about your thought process in addressing an issue, says Thompson, who looks to gauge the applicant’s perception of their role and others’ roles in solving the problem.

When you get a “Tell me about a time…” question, or others assessing EQ, answer using the STAR method , advises Joanna Lovering, an executive presence coach and workplace psychologist at Copper+Rise . Describe the situation (S), explain your task (T), lay out the specific actions you took (A), and end with the results of your efforts (R). “This shows a proven record of emotional intelligence instead of simply being able to talk about it,” Lovering says.

To employ the STAR method for this particular interview question, consider a project or event that actually did have a conflict with a coworker, client, or boss. Explain the situation you encountered— including what conflict occurred and why—but keep it brief and neutral and, whatever you do, avoid blaming or bad-talking anyone else. You can simply state the facts as they happened, without opinionated words, or you can take responsibility for some of the conflict tactfully, showing self-awareness and leadership on your part. Then explain the task, or what you were responsible for doing in this situation. Next, list specific steps and processes you tried in order to solve the conflict, such as meeting with colleagues for open dialogue and using your empathetic listening skills to clear up a misunderstanding. Finally, give the results of your efforts, even if they didn’t work as you’d hoped, and the lessons you took with you. Remember, you are showing your process and reflection afterward, not trying to prove that you’re perfect.

2. Tell Me About a Time You Experienced a Setback and How You Dealt With It.

This question is an indicator of resilience, Thompson says. Someone with high EQ tends to use setbacks to learn and ultimately gain the advantage of new knowledge about themselves, others, and workplace processes that will help them avoid similar issues and set them up to succeed the next time around. Those with low EQ might wallow for an extended time, blame others, try to change the circumstances, or fail to see the lesson or the bigger picture.

Future employers looking for high EQ are trying to see how you reacted to the setback at the moment: Did you get agitated and snap at your coworker? Did you let the problem fester and grow because you didn’t want to deal with it? Or did you handle it gracefully and see it as a learning opportunity for you and your team? If you can choose a time when a setback actually resulted in a better outcome, or led to an improved process in the future, all the better. Once again, you can use the STAR method to structure your answer—just avoid speaking negatively about your colleagues, and don’t forget to emphasize the results and learnings.

3. How Do You Respond When a Coworker Challenges You in a Meeting?

A key element to EQ is identifying when you feel yourself getting upset and strategically choosing what to do about it, when, and how, instead of going with your first knee-jerk reaction. This question is the perfect opportunity for future employers to understand how you assess and address a situation, says Kimberly Prescott , President of Prescott HR, a consulting firm for small to midsize businesses. How you answer this interview question reveals your ability to regulate your emotions when the stakes are high and the situation is charged, Prescott says. “If they say, ‘If I know I’m right I’m going to make sure people understand it,’” that communicates one type of employee, she says, versus someone else who says, for example, “I make sure I let people know the points I have and that I understand they will make their decisions based on all the information they have, and I’m always available for questions.” Prescott watches out for someone who is “easily frustrated who may try to shove their opinion down peoples’ throats.”

To succeed at communicating EQ in your answer, ideally pick a real example (you can turn to the STAR method yet again), and don’t shy away from explaining the emotions you did feel at the time. Remember, EQ isn’t a lack of emotions but rather the ability to regulate and handle them in a productive way. To that end, if you were stressed or angry that you were being publicly questioned, you can say so, but then take the interviewer through your personal process of managing those emotions. Maybe you practice deep breaths. Maybe you take a walk and reengage later. Or perhaps in this particular situation, you asked a question to clarify if the tone you were sensing was actually what the person intended, which shows you’re able to pause and ensure you fully understand before reacting, a key trait for future employees at any company.

Clarify if the tone you were sensing was actually what the person intended, which shows you’re able to pause and ensure you fully understand before reacting, a key trait for future employees at any company.

4. When You Start a New Job, How Do You Adapt to Your Work Environment?

People with high EQ invest in relationships with their bosses and coworkers from day one. If your answer focuses broadly on relationship building rather than narrowly on getting up to speed on your own tasks, that demonstrates you value teamwork and realize your projects won’t happen in a vacuum. In addition, your answer will give your interviewer a sense of your self-awareness and ability to read social cues in a new setting, which can be a nerve-racking experience.

You can reference other times when you’ve been in a new environment, and discuss ways you integrated seamlessly into the team and its mission. For example, you might discuss how you listen and observe to understand the company’s values as well as individual personalities and team dynamics before inserting your opinion or trying to change direction. Perhaps you’d say that you like to schedule one-on-one time with folks on your direct team as well as anyone else you’ll be working closely with to get to know them and what they do.

Your interviewer might also be thinking about what your answer says about your work style —and how well you’d mesh with the existing team. Ultimately, the best answer for this type of question is one that reflects your authentic self to ensure it’s a match with the company environment.

and how well you’d mesh with the existing team. Ultimately, the best answer for this type of question is one that reflects your authentic self to ensure it’s a match with the company environment.

5. Describe Your Strengths and Weaknesses.

You can almost guarantee most interviews will have some form of this question, whether it’s about your “greatest weakness” or both strengths and weaknesses. Regardless, it’s less about the chosen strength or weakness itself, and more about your honesty, self-awareness, ability to take feedback, and motivation to pursue growth.

Here, too, you can bring your answer to life by telling a story about a strength or a weakness in action, such as when the former helped you meet a big goal or land a major client deal or when the latter prevented you from doing so. Just don’t forget to get to the “so what?” part of your answer. That might mean explaining why the strength you mentioned makes you such a great fit for this particular role or talking through what steps you’re taking to further your development in an area that needs improvement.

6. What Are Your Strategies for Keeping Work-Life Balance?

At a time when employees report experiencing burnout at high rates , this question is essential to show you value your own mental health and will be taking care of yourself. From the interviewer’s perspective, not only do they care about their employees’ well-being in and of itself, but your success also means you’ll be more productive in the long run, help foster a healthy and positive environment, and be less of a flight risk.

So take this question seriously rather than joking about how you love to work more than anything. You can demonstrate your high EQ through self-awareness: Do you know what you need in order to do your job well for the long haul? Maybe you’ve been working on a brief meditation process that helps you succeed when you incorporate it into your daily routine as well as in stressful work moments. Or go ahead and share a hobby you enjoy outside of work—maybe trail running helps you destress or scrapbooking serves as the perfect outlet for your creativity—which will have the added benefit of making you seem like a real person and possibly more memorable as well.

7. What Inspires You?

Interviews don’t have to be all conflict and setbacks and weaknesses. They can also be the perfect place to show just how passionate you are about your work, including past and future projects. Being able to answer this type of question demonstrates you are thinking about your own future intentionally rather than floating through your career half-heartedly, which gets to the heart of an applicant’s EQ, says Janine Nicole Dennis, Founder and Chief Innovation Officer of Talent Think Innovations , a business strategy and management consulting firm dedicated to helping businesses and individuals realize their potential.

Instead of presenting yourself as a “caricature” of what you think the interviewer is looking for to get a job, Dennis says, you should focus on authenticity, which is much more sustainable than being fake anyway. Plus, giving an honest and emotionally intelligent answer can show your interviewer what you really care about and why this role would be so fulfilling.

Try zeroing in on a project or type of work you’ve done that you found really exciting and satisfying, preferably the type of work you’d be doing for the company or something adjacent to it. For example, if you’re interviewing for your first nursing position in the pediatrics department of a hospital, you could talk about the volunteer work you did with an organization for kids with rare diseases that inspired you to go to nursing school in the first place. How you talk about the project is more important than what it is, so go ahead and give specific anecdotes of memorable moments that mattered to you and let your voice and body language reflect how you feel—part of EQ after all is being in touch with your emotions and being able to convey them to others.

8. What’s Something You’ve Done in the Last Year to Grow Professionally?

If you hesitate in answering this, it’s possible that you need to work on furthering your emotional intelligence. This question might not look like EQ on the surface, Thompson says, but it “shows the person has a learning orientation and looks at themselves and can be self-reflective.” People who are introspective and in tune with their own emotions strengths and weaknesses are able to openly identify and convey what they’re doing to improve themselves, both personally and professionally.

Don’t answer this question by discussing mandatory training, Thompson says. Instead, discuss something you initiated on your own, such as a conference you attended of your own volition, a book you read on a trending topic in the field, networking you did that turned into a helpful professional relationship, or intentional steps you took at work to hone a specific skill (sharpening your data skills, for instance, by putting together weekly social media campaign reports and presenting them to your team in a regular meeting). Whatever you decide to talk about, give it context by telling the interviewer how it fits in your larger plan toward professional growth. For example, maybe you’re reading books by a variety of leaders in your field to get an idea of what type of leader you want to become as you grow into more senior roles toward professional growth. For example, maybe you’re reading books by a variety of leaders in your field to get an idea of what type of leader you want to become as you grow into more senior roles.

9. What Would You Do if You Noticed a Coworker Was Struggling With Their Work?

The second aspect of EQ is to extend your understanding of the power of emotions to others and to use that awareness to rally your team or workplace toward success. Prescott explains that it’s particularly essential in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic—and as some of us return to in-person workplaces—that we have an awareness of our own emotions as well as the ability to read and respond to others’ emotions. “People are dealing with so many things…you never know what level of trauma,” she says. You should “be able to read other people and identify, ‘Oh, I’m going down the wrong path with this person…maybe I shouldn’t say or do that.’”

When you’re answering this question, it’s important to illustrate concrete steps you would take to help a coworker who’s struggling, Thompson says, and to also emphasize that it may not be an indication of their abilities. For example, you might talk about how you’d ask the coworker how things have been going for them in a judgment-free conversation, outside of the stressors of a work meeting or even the work day. People with a higher EQ are also able to identify when others need solutions versus just a listening ear, so discussing your ability to distinguish between the two is also helpful. Don’t forget to tell a specific story, if you can, and employ the STAR method to ensure you cover all the important elements.

10. How Are You Most Likely to Be Misunderstood by Others?

This question is about showing your awareness of the vibes you put off in a workplace environment and your understanding of your impact on others. For instance, “If you are really passionate, they may perceive that as overwhelming,” Thompson says. “If you are quiet, people may think you are unassertive.”

Instead of being concerned about what observations people have made about you in the past (and what your prospective employer may think of them), discuss them openly as well as what you are doing to mitigate potential misunderstandings. For example, if you’re pretty quiet, and in the past others have asked you what’s wrong, you could discuss how your careful and thoughtful approach can come off as disinterested, but that you’ve actively worked on asking questions early on to ensure your colleagues know you’re listening and invested from the start, even if you need time to process before giving meaningful insight.

The full article can be read here: https://www.themuse.com/advice/emotional-intelligence-eq-interview-questions

Optomi Awarded Best CEO for Women

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:56:00 GMT

So proud to have one of the Best CEOs for Women 2021 as rated by female employees on comparably.com . We’re grateful to have Chuck Ruggiero leading our #Optomi & #Provalus brands and our double-digit growth as we cultivate a remarkable #culture in tandem. The list represents the top-ranked CEOs in the nation. Chuck was appointed CEO at the turn of the year (2021) and what a year it’s been. In a season of global uncertainty, Optomi has forged new frontiers in business operations and the use of technology tools. Amidst the adversity of today’s climate, we continue to blow away revenue projections. Optomi has been solidified as one of the “BEST” in several categories.

Optomi Ranked #4 in Best Opportunity for Career Growth

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:48:00 GMT

Optomi, LLC ranked #4 on the annual list of companies with the best opportunity for CAREER GROWTH. In the last 12 months and in a season of uncertainty, Optomi has advanced the careers of over half our team. #NewCareer #Looking #Optomi

Optomi Awarded Best Leadership Team

Mon, 23 Aug 2021 12:38:00 GMT

THANK YOU Optomi family for honoring us with the Best Leadership Team award! We think you’re the best too! Our leadership team is comprised of some of the best in the business with core values that outshine the competition… and it comes through in our reviews on corporate evaluation sites like Comparably and Glassdoor. (Comparably’s annual list is derived from millions of anonymous employee ratings on executive leadership & direct managers over a 12-month period.) #Optomi #Culture

Optomi Earns Inc 5000 Award for the Fifth Year in a Row

Fri, 20 Aug 2021 13:07:00 GMT

Optomi Professional Services joins the elite list of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies, with INC 5000 – being recognized for the fifth consecutive year. The list represents a unique compilation of the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment-its privately-owned businesses. Optomi Professional Services is a firm dedicated to partnering with clients to fuel their technology initiatives . The company delivers skillset-focused support through three service channels: I.T. consulting, team augmentation, and domestic rural outsourcing. OPS is comprised of the Optomi & Provalus brands which specialize in deploying highly qualified technology talent in the areas of cybersecurity, data modernization, software engineering, business optimization, cloud and infrastructure, Salesforce, emerging technologies, BPO, Service desk, Help desk, and ITO. It is 100% U.S.-based and purpose-driven to positively impact consultants, clients, and communities.

“We are honored to receive this recognition which validates our mission to offer innovative solutions to our clients with quality and partnership unparalleled in our industry, especially in a year such as this,” says Optomi Professional Services CEO, Chuck Ruggiero. I am grateful to the entire Optomi team for their commitment to our purpose which makes this all possible.”

“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important rosters of companies ever compiled,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Building one of the fastest-growing companies in America in any year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we’ve lived through is just plain amazing. This kind of accomplishment comes with hard work, smart pivots, great leadership, and the help of a whole lot of people.”

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Optomi Professional Services is a purpose-driven collection of elite brands – connected by our core values – tackling the tech talent shortage. It is a 100% U.S.-based firm dedicated to partnering with clients to fuel their technology initiatives. The firm provides skillset-focused support through three service channels: IT consulting , team augmentation, and domestic rural outsourcing . OPS was born out of a passion for making a meaningful impact all across the U.S. We are advancing technologies through innovative alternatives to stale traditional staffing and offshore outsourcing while impacting kids, communities, and generations to come. As we deliver our holistic solution to address the tech talent shortage, we fulfill our mission to provide meals for under-resourced children, lift the spirits of hospitalized kids, present opportunities for families to thrive through the creation of technology careers, and elevate entire communities as a result of the economic growth we enable. We are purpose-driven. www.optomiservices.com #Optomi #Inc5000 #CommunityImpact #Provalus

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:21:48 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list
Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly
Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself
When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively
Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:21:48 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information. Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality
When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication
Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips, and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO
Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free
Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regular blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand
A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

Tue, 29 Jun 2021 08:21:48 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience
You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post
Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images
Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting
Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.

Optomi Significantly Reduces the Time and Expense of Hiring for Clients Seeking Technology Talent

Sun, 20 Sep 2020 13:18:00 GMT

Optomi, the technology talent brand of Optomi Professional Services , is known for significantly improving the interview-to-hire ratio for clients through a skill-set-focused approach to recruiting. Discovering culturally aligned candidates who possess the skills necessary to excel in their roles is a strength of Optomi’s. As reported; http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/4799887

A typical employer seeking to hire for a position will review 250 resumes and conduct 6-8 first interviews with 2-3 rounds afterward before making an offer to a single candidate. Optomi takes the burden from the hiring manager by vetting candidates so effectively that the firm averages an interview-to-hire ratio of 3:1 versus the industry norm of 6:1 (or worse).

“A time-consuming hiring process eats up hiring managers’ bandwidth and causes delays that can affect the entire organization. Our highly effective skill-set approach to recruiting talent coupled with our proven processes streamline the hiring and greatly improve the chances that our clients will find the talent they need most cost-effectively,” said Ben Tucker, Vice President of Delivery, Optomi Professional Services.

Optomi assisted an enterprise technology provider client by partnering with a group of hiring managers when the human resources (HR) department was overwhelmed by the task of finding resources for a 40-person project. The corporation needed to build a scrum team, and hire Java developers, BAs, C#, and QA testers. The client was having trouble finding candidates that met its needs despite interviewing a significant number of individuals. Typically, this Fortune 500 company’s hiring managers would interview 15 contenders to find one good fit. A Vice President at the client recommended Optomi’s services after using the firm for a project. Soon, word spread about the superior quality of the Optomi candidates and the streamlined process. It did not take long for the glowing inter-company referral to gain momentum. Optomi placed 70 contractors at once and currently has several hundred working for this client, with 94 percent on contract. Optomi was able to improve the interview-to-hire ratio from 15:1 to 4:1 immediately with its skill-set-focused approach to recruiting and its Opt2vue video technology.

Using its skillset-focused approach, Optomi improved another Fortune 500 corporation’s interview-to-hire ratio by 38%. This financial services company was seeking employees based in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area to manage its data. The client’s technical team was changing over from waterfall to agile and needed workers proficient in iOS/Android development, agile, digital transformation, backend development, QA testing, and DBA skill sets. Hiring managers were spending excessive amounts of time interviewing and it was seriously limiting their ability to focus on their core responsibilities. The result was a mounting backlog of work and a series of costly project delays.

Further compounding the problem were challenges with onboarding quality talent who could seamlessly dive into work. Furthermore, the firm needed staff members who were able to transition from contract to full-time employees as needed. A partner with integrity was also important to the client, as they had experienced frequent deception from previous staffing firms. The client also wanted candidates who were a good cultural fit for the business and who felt loyalty to the brand.

Optomi’s team met with hiring managers at the financial services company to gain a full understanding of their business objectives. Optomi’s high-quality candidates fit both the cultural parameters and the skill-set specifications. By implementing the Opt2vue video technology combined with its skill-set-focused approach, Optomi improved the client’s interview-to-hire ratio by 38%, elevating the efficiency of the financial service company’s hiring process. Due to Optomi’s consultative approach and partnership, it was able to provide agile coaches and multiple scrum masters and developers for the projects.

The strong client relationship led to an introduction to the OPS domestic outsourcing brand Provalus. The Provalus brand of OPS sourced economical resources to ensure the stagnant projects got back on track. The Provalus technology talent was required to pass rigorous background checks and fingerprint screenings due to the sensitivity of dealing with financial data in real-time. Because Provalus employees are American, these security concerns were easily addressed. The Provalus workers in rural towns write test cases based on requirement documents and perform system integration testing using PL/SQL for backend testing and Hue for testing the Hadoop environment.

The rural location of the tech talent has resulted in cost savings and increased employee retention. The employees provided by Provalus caught up to the internal development team and eliminated the backlog in just eight months – the first time the client experienced this outcome.

The Optomi Professional Services approach to business is truly unique and effective. The financial services company continues to leverage Provalus to hire more tech talent. The company frequently engages Optomi for onsite high-level technology projects. The ability of OPS to provide onsite and offsite technology talent and services gives the organization a unique position in the marketplace.

Optomi Honored as an Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company in 2020

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 13:26:00 GMT

We’re honored, once again, to be part of one of the most prestigious ranking lists – Inc. 5000 in 2020. With a growth rate of 106%, Optomi, LLC sits amongst the fastest-growing private companies. #Optomi #Inc5000 #fastestgrowingcompanies

Optomi Partners with Children’s Health to Read Books to Hospitalized Children During Virtual Story Hour

Sat, 01 Aug 2020 13:37:00 GMT

Optomi spent the day reading a favorite childhood book to share with patients across the Children’s Health System. These readings will be broadcast on our very own Red Balloon Network during the daily story hour.

The team also participated in a book drive along with the virtual story hour. We donated the books, and read during the virtual story hour, to the Children’s Health library so that patients can read along with our videos.

To learn more about Children’s Health giving back opportunities, visit: https://give.childrens.com/ways-to-give

Invest In Your Career

Tue, 12 May 2020 09:32:00 GMT

You may be finding you have a few extra hours in your day without your traditional commute time, water cooler breaks, or work travel. Successful individuals are capitalizing on this phase in their careers by engaging in career-furthering activities.

Even now, companies ARE hiring.

Our clients are eager to jump ahead of the competition by completing projects that may have otherwise been in a queue. Initiatives that require the technology talent we work with every day have a unique advantage. Still, the competition for strong candidates in the technology arena is heightened with some of the recent layoffs. To give those in the IT field a leg-up in the marketplace, there are two things we suggest you give attention to.

CERTIFICATIONS
RESUME-BUILDING

Here, we outline the recommendations from our knowledgeable Optomi tech recruiting team. They provide sound advice in these unpredictable times.

1) Enhance your skills with relevant certifications

A must-have for Project Managers – The Project Management Certification is a fundamental credential.

As companies continue to transition from a waterfall into an agile community, especially in enterprise environments, a scrum master certification can set you apart. It is geared towards a faster leaner process for project management & managing cross-functional teams or technical teams.

Taking what you learned from a Scrum Master Certification and scaling it into an enterprise environment, a SAFE (Scaled Agile Framework) Certification will go a long way.

PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION (PMP)

https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/project-management-pmp

SCRUM MASTER CERTIFICATION- SCRUM ALLIANCE

https://www.scrumalliance.org/get-certified

SAFe® CERTIFICATION (SCALED AGILE FRAMEWORK CERTIFICATION)

https://www.scaledagile.com/certifications/about-safe-certification/

CERTIFIED CHANGE MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL (CCMP)

https://www.acmpglobal.org/page/ccmp

CERTIFIED PROBLEM AND CHANGE MANAGER (CPCM)

https://gaqm.org/certifications/change_management/cpcm#R_process

Certifications are more than just letters at the end of your name. Hiring Managers look for these certifications as evidence the candidate has a baseline understanding or expertise in the field and is trained in the guidelines that should be followed. Those in roles of Functional IT can significantly enhance their skills.

AGILE CERTIFICATION

https://www.pmi.org/certifications/types/agile-acp

DEVOPS CERTIFICATION

https://devopsinstitute.com/certifications/

CERTIFIED CLOUD SECURITY PROFESSIONAL (CCSP)

https://www.isc2.org/Certifications/CCSP

NETWORK CERTIFICATION

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training-events/training-certifications/certifications/associate.html

GOOGLE CLOUD CERTIFIED – ASSOCIATE CLOUD ENGINEER

https://cloud.google.com/certification/cloud-engineer

AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Professional

https://aws.amazon.com/certification/certified-solutions-architect-professional/

CompTIA Cloud+ Certification

https://www.comptia.org/certifications/cloud

2) Make your resume stand out in the stack

The best resumes are achievement-based resumes. Things like a cost-saving effort, a process improvement, and an efficiency you implemented are the things you want to call out. Don’t just list your duties. Note accomplishments like: leading a project that finished 6 months ahead of schedule, saving the company a hundred thousand dollars in costs… something you did that made you stand out.

Make sure the experience listed is relevant to the role that you’re going after. If possible, tailor your resume to highlight the parts of your career that correlate to the position you are applying for.

Give attention to resume length. Too long can be distracting.

Make sure the resume is cleanly formatted. Every role involves communication and organization. If a hiring manager is looking at a sloppy resume, it’s interpreted as a reflection of your work.

For Designers & Developers, have some tangible work samples. Managers need a portfolio, but they don’t care if it’s a portfolio that you created with your own URL or something on a free platform like Dribble, Behance, Dribbble, Coroflot, StackOverflow. It’s all about the content.

Update your portfolio during this downtime. If you are a Developer, contribute to your GitHub profile. The more active on GitHub you are with contributions, the more you will be noticed by a hiring manager!

Be sure to include wire-framing examples and mock-up examples. Hiring managers want to see the thought process. When interview time comes, be prepared to talk about the value you added to the team.

Don’t put all group projects on your portfolio. Emphasize the elements of the project that you specifically contributed to. If a lot of your work is under an NDA, take this time to create something original you can show. Be creative! MANY Managers WANT to see and hear thought process before you attack something as it relates to UI/UX.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile marries well with your resume. Your online profile is really an extension of the traditional resume in this day and age.

FOR MORE ADVICE FROM OUR SAVVY TEAM, FOLLOW US ON LINKEDIN .

In These Uncertain Times, Here’s Why You Can Have Confidence In Us

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 09:37:00 GMT

Many things may be unsettling amid this ever-evolving COVID-19 crisis. Here at Optomi, we’ve been practicing what many are now scrambling to figure out. The processes and philosophies we instituted upon our inception in 2012 are even more relevant in this world of remote work and WFH living. Rest assured that in this tumultuous time, Optomi can be a stable resource for your business. We are well-equipped to assist our clients as they adapt to new ways of bringing on the talent they need to stay ahead of the competition.

Here’s why you can have confidence that we can deliver with these 7 reasons why you can have confidence in us.

Opt2vue – our video mechanism. We’ve used it for almost a decade to video interview candidates for our clients so they don’t have to wait for an in-person interview to see if the candidate will be a good fit. Now ,more than ever, this tool is one of the best features we offer here at Optomi. Hiring managers can ask interviewees specific questions or use our library of interview questions to determine the viability of the candidate.
Onboarding – our entire process of filling out paperwork has never involved “paper”. The onboarding process is done via online portals. Our business is hiring consultants to work “on site” for our clients. In this current climate, “on site” is defined as WFH. Our onboarding process has always been virtual, which is proving to be a huge advantage in these crazy times. We also have special programs in place to ensure full integration of our consultant with their new team.
Skill-set focused – Optomi was founded on having recruiters that specialize in high-end technology skillsets. Their network is deep and as a result, our consultants tend to refer other experts, so you can be confident you’re getting high caliber talent.
Contact Methodology – our recruiters regularly reach out to the consultants all throughout their assignment with our clients to ensure everything is going as expected. We connect with them a week prior, the day of and a the end of their first week on the project. There are several connection points thereafter as well to confirm the client’s expectations and the consultant’s performance.
Giving – with each consultant we place, we’re able to feed a food-insecure child for a weekend. Our charitable efforts are directly influenced by the number of IT professionals we put to work. We’ve always been about fulfilling a purpose while making a profit.
Relational – we believe in creating genuine relationships with our candidates and consultants. Our team knows the right questions to ask that will spark meaningful conversations. We are thought of as career coaches rather than recruiters.
Valuable – we partner with our clients and consultants in ways other firms don’t. We can’t give away all of our trade secrets, but if we have not yet had a conversation – let’s talk!

So You’re Working From Home…

Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:46:00 GMT

S o you got the directive to work from home… but it’s not as seamless of a transition as it sounds.

Initial elation may turn to anxiety when you come to the realization that getting work accomplished from home requires self-discipline in order to be productive. And if y ou’re in a consulting gig, you can’t afford to let your productivity decline.

Now more than ever, corporations will be watching costs as they navigate this current COVID-19 pandemic. You’ll need to be more productive than ever or risk being labeled expendable. No one wants that. Here are some tips on working remotely in this current environment.

DESIGNATE A SPECIFIC WORKSPACE

It’s important to separate your work life from your home life as much as possible. If possible, try and designate a specific room as your home office. Being able to close a door helps you identify that space for working. If needed, use a portion of your kitchen table as a workspace. Don’t just slump on the couch or work from bed, that’s not good for your productivity or your posture.

STICK TO A ROUTINE

Set your alarm for the same time as you always get up for work so that you stick to the same morning routine. It’s important to still do your morning routine as you usually would if you were commuting into the office since it signals to your brain that it’s time to work—not to lounge.

REMOVE DISTRACTIONS

It might be tempting to catch up on that Netflix series or your laundry, but again keeping to a routine will help you stay focused. Maybe even Invest in a pair of noise-cancelling headphones. This can be a total game-changer to remove distractions. Have the discipline to keep these distractions away from you at home. Unplug the T.V.., etc. Also, resist unnecessary social media platforms.

CONVERT FACE-TO-FACE TO SCREEN-TO-SCREEN TIME

Download Zoom, Skype, Facetime, whatever your video-conferencing app of choice. They will be your saving grace when you need a little Facetime with your colleagues. As nice as it may sound to have a break from the office for a little while, it’s easy to get that cabin fever type of feeling when you’re isolated from the people you see every day. You might also want to use those noise-canceling headphones for conversations. They will be more clear and more productive.

SPEND YOUR COMMUTE TIME DIFFERENTLY

Spend your commute time preparing for the day. Listen to a podcast, read, workout, go for a walk… whatever energizes you for the day.

PREPARE FOR YOUR DAY AS USUAL

Sure, maybe your dress code can relax a little, but there’s something to the act of getting up, taking a shower, and dressing in something other than sweatpants that shifts your brain into productivity mode.

EAT HEALTHY

Junk food will drag your energy level down. Eat well and keep your mind sharp.

GET OUTSIDE

If you’re not sick or under quarantine, nothing is stopping you from getting outside for some fresh air. Use your lunch hour, or that extra hour in the morning to go for a walk. Nature is indeed the best medicine, and we’re all going to need some fresh air to keep our minds fresh.

LET THIS CHANGE OF PACE REINVIGORATE YOU!

How to Grab The Attention of the Best Talent in the Industry

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 09:56:00 GMT

Nowadays our society seems to be obsessed with situations where one person is vying for the attention of another—everyone is becoming a contestant in the game of life. Cases in point: The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Bachelor in Paradise, Big Brother.

In this era of a technology talent shortage, every company is also playing “contestant” in a way… vying for attention from the best talent in the business. As a corporation, it’s important to stay true to your unique culture, purpose, mission, and whatever makes the company stand out.

While a great salary might be the deciding factor for a candidate, it’s also critical to have a strong benefits package to attract and retain the best talent. Optomi works with hundreds of clients from Fortune 50-Fortune 5000 companies. In our experience, ensuring you offer quality, balanced benefits will make a project more desirable and help guarantee employees stay longer. Find out how to recruit employees’ attention with a strong benefits package. We’ve found that candidates admire the following perks and benefits most:

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND EXPANDING SKILLSETS

They say if you’re not learning, it’s likely you’re no longer in the right position. At Optomi, we think it’s important to ensure that you’re constantly learning from your manager or colleagues and are challenged professionally. Consultants value being able to constantly upgrade their skillsets.

FLEX TIME

According to a recent survey by EY , 9700 full-time employees at eight of the largest U.S. corporations listed flexibility as a top feature in a job, right behind competitive pay and benefits. It was also cited as a top reason they would quit if there was a lack thereof. While having a balance of paid and unpaid time off can combat burnout and increase productivity, so can allowing your employees to choose their own schedule—such as working four 10-hour days per week rather than nine to five Monday through Friday.

A perfect example is Microsoft in Japan. It recently tested having a four-day work week and the result, the company reports according to Forbes ., was a productivity boost of 40 percent.

REMOTE WORK

Trusting your team is key in any role, and giving them the opportunity to work remotely (when possible) instills trust and respect. Knowing they’ll get the job done, regardless of location is a huge morale booster. And sometimes allowing your employees to skip hours in traffic means more productive and focused time in front of their computers. It’s all about striking the right balance.

TEAM CAMARADERIE

The bottom line is, a happy team has proven to be a more productive one. Your employees spend the better part of each week at work, so having a solid company culture is an essential part of employee retention, loyalty, and overall happiness and morale at work. Many people will choose a company to work at based on how the employees are treated and how they treat each other.

MEDICAL/DENTAL COVERAGE

After salary, this benefit is not terribly high on the list of priorities for most potential employees, but if you have a poor plan it will affect your ability to attract them. Having a great medical and dental package can ensure employees aren’t stressing about how to manage their finances to take care of themselves and their families when and if illnesses happen.

Optomi specializes in recruiting employees with high-level technology skillsets. These happen to be the skills in the highest demand, a ‘candidate’s market’ as they say. As potential candidates explore opportunities, our qualified consultants are looking for the best place to call home. Our role at Optomi is to ensure the perfect fit for our clients and candidates. The more transparent about your workplace and the more authentically you represent your brand, the better chance you have of securing that successful match.

Why Your Next Rockstar Employee Won’t Come From a Job Board

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 10:01:00 GMT

According to the Staffing Industry Analysts 2019 Growth Assessment report, unemployment in the software development sector is under one percent. Acquiring talent with specialized IT skillsets is becoming more challenging. The demand for Software Developers is projected to grow 32.4 percent this year.

Optomi has a fresh approach to locating, assessing, and acquiring this hard-to-find talent. While most firms in the IT staffing industry scour job board websites like Indeed, Monster.com, and CareerBuilder, Optomi pursues the passive candidate—consultants who are gainfully employed—on social media sites such as LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Social media is where most technologists spend their time looking for a job that’s the perfect fit for their lifestyle. No longer is any job good enough, candidates want to find a role with a company that matches their values, and work-life balance, has a great culture, and provides a supportive environment to grow in.

“We know that the best talent is not sitting at home, unemployed and binging Netflix, so we pursue candidates that have proven themselves in the workforce and offer them an opportunity to be part of something better,” says Todd Black, Optomi Chief Operating Officer.

To help mine the best talent, the recruiting staff at Optomi have become social media gurus. By connecting with potential candidates and networking with current consultants to find the optimum talent out there, it’s proven to be one avenue for success. Optomi attracts this talent with its unprecedented consultant service for employees and social media.

We use our social media accounts to recruit, as well as to share our brand story so that we can create a personable digital presence for potential clients and employees to connect with.

While the pool of highly qualified technical talent is shrinking and demand increasing, Optomi constantly strives to find unique ways to attract and maintain their consultants so that they can be readily deployed to every perfect opportunity. This is just one of the many ways that Optomi is driving tomorrow’s technology with today’s optimum talent.

How Optomi Cares

Wed, 13 Nov 2019 10:07:00 GMT

Sugar Spice and Everything Nice — I’m not a huge fan of nursery rhymes but that one has a good ring to it.

What does kindness mean to our consultant team? Kindness is what our Consultant Care team does well. That and a darn good job.

As we all know, success in business is because of the people. For us, it’s not only about the superior talent we provide our clients but also the internal OPS talent we have dedicated to making their employment with us enjoyable. And ours are the best. Helpful. Engaged. Nice.

Nice. It’s become somewhat of a lost art form in business these days. One of our Senior Data Engineer consultants said it best in a review on Glassdoor, “This recruiting firm does things right with a personal touch. All the recruiters I worked with were great. And after you are signed they continue to stay in contact with things like lunch, care packages, and happy hours to make sure your role is going as expected.”

From onboarding to travel logistics, relocation assistance to re-deployment on another project, our Consultant Care Team ensures our contractors have every resource necessary for them to exceed the expectations of our clients. Most of our competition relies solely on the recruiter to care for the consultants they deploy. We do not. Other talent firms (in the words of a Glassdoor reviewer) “pull fast-ones”. We’re better. Our “Consultant Care” is a team of folks dedicated to making a consultant’s experience the best it can be. They partner with the recruiter and the account executive to deliver superior support. This firm was founded on integrity, quality, passion, and purpose. Intertwined with that is a heartbeat to do the right thing, to positively impact those we come in contact with and to simply be nice.

Our Consultant Care Team has reason to be joyful in their work. They get to be part of something purposeful every day. Our consultants enjoy the knowledge that by working with us, a child is fed for the weekend through our Opt2give program. They are recognized when they exhibit our core values in their workplaces. They are invited to contribute to our consultant community blog. They receive bonuses for referring their peers to us. The list is extensive, but the point is that, here at Optomi, we go above and beyond whenever possible. It’s just what we’re made of.

Optomi’s 2019 Opt2give Day Was a Hit Across the Country

Wed, 06 Nov 2019 05:30:00 GMT

Optomi had a fantastic Opt2Give Day, celebrating Optomi’s 7th birthday at some of our favorite charities!

The Atlanta team celebrated by giving back to Power My Learning, a long-time partner of ours, and an organization that is making a huge impact in the child-education and tech space in Atlanta. Great event with a great team!

Our Baltimore crew spent their day at the Maryland Food Bank and the Ulman House. During our visit to the food bank, we sorted more than 34,000 lbs of food and other necessities, which equates to more than 28,000 meals! We spent the day at the Ulman House making brunch for a number of their visitors, doing some general maintenance around the property, and filling a few postcards with words of encouragement for some of their former guests whose stories we’d read.

The Charlotte team had an amazing day volunteering at Beds for Kids! We spent the day organizing their warehouse, refurbishing old furniture, delivering furniture, assembling beds, and praying with families in need.

The Chicago office volunteered at Ardmore Elementary for JA in a Day! We taught multiple lessons to K-5 kids to help them understand the skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices!

Our Dallas team spent the day giving back at Uplift White Rock Hills Preparatory site! We read & helped the children pick out cool books to take home with many hugs. We also gifted the teachers with Amazon Fire Tablets for each class!

The Denver crew volunteered at Food Bank of the Rockies, sorting and packing food to go to different agencies around the city. There are 55 agencies total, and every day the food bank feeds about half a million people.

Our Detroit team volunteered at The Children’s Center, an organization that provides total family services to local families in need, including a clothing boutique, a library, cooking classes, and tutoring.

Credibility

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 10:11:00 GMT

Bob Dylan has passed… according to Siri. If you asked her last week about the famed musician, she would have said he passed in 2008. He has not. Fortunately, the mistake has since been corrected. What makes someone (something) credible? Though Siri is no longer erroneously reporting the singer-songwriter’s demise, the bug raises the issue of credibility.

Words like trustworthiness, honesty, and authenticity come to mind. At Optomi, a core aspect of the success of our technical recruiters is the importance of credibility. This starts with being genuine and honest. Our consultants trust them to relate honestly with them about their career objectives. Our clients trust that our team will find the best professional and cultural match for their projects and organization. And throughout, we lead by being an informed and transparent partner in the IT landscape.

Being credible is what sets us apart from so much of our competition. It’s a driver of why we remain atop the list of fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the U.S. (as reported by Staffing Industry Analysts).

Optomi attracts in-demand talent with its unprecedented consultant experience. Optomi Consultants are treated like true employees of the firm with genuine career partnerships, unique charity welcome gifts, and recognition for their dedication. They become part of the company’s mission to bring value to the client and the community we have the privilege to work with.

Optomi’s consultant retention rate for its key clients hovers around 86%. An astounding endorsement of Optomi’s ability to place quality, culturally on-point tech talent. It’s a testament to the trust our clients and consultants have in our company. Many firms in our Industry scour job boards and postings, while at Optomi we pursue the passive candidate…professionals who are gainfully employed but willing to make a career move for a particular reason. Establishing credibility is key to being a partner in a successful career move for a consultant and client.

The importance of credibility… it’s how Optomi is driving tomorrow’s technology with today’s optimum talent.

Optomi Honored as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Company in 2019

Thu, 15 Aug 2019 06:33:00 GMT

Optomi Professional Services joins the elite alumni of Inc. 5000 America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies by being recognized for the third consecutive year. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment — its independent businesses. Optomi Professional Services specializes in deploying technology talent in the areas of mobile, network/system engineering, information security, cloud, and application development as well as healthcare IT-related skills. Through its Provalus division, OPS competes head-on with offshore outsourcing by creating a new wave of domestic technology talent located within delivery centers in American rural towns.

Ranked Fastest Growing IT Staffing Firm on the 2018 Fastest Growing Staffing Firms List From SIA

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 07:30:00 GMT

Optomi ranked as the #1 IT staffing company and 13th overall firm on the Staffing Industry Analysts 2018 list of the Fastest Growing Staffing Firms in America. The list is compiled from a ranking of organic compound annual growth in revenue from 2013 to 2017 by Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA), the global advisor on staffing and workforce solutions. During this period, Optomi accomplished a CAGR of 65.2%. The minimum CAGR criteria was 15% with 94 companies qualifying for inclusion on the annual list.

Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi Professional Services commented, “We are thrilled that our Optomi brand has been recognized as the fastest-growing IT staffing firm in the U.S. today. This status is entirely due to the accomplishments of our teams across the country as a result of their hard work and dedication over the last 5 years. They have truly executed on our desire to be the best in identifying the top technology talent for our clients. We would like to say a big thank you to our entire Optomi family and our clients and consultants for enabling our success.”

“The fastest-growing staffing firms stand out for their top line growth and performance in a dynamic and evolving ecosystem,” said Barry Asin, SIA President.

Optomi Honored as an Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Private Company in 2018

Wed, 15 Aug 2018 08:24:00 GMT

Optomi has been honored with the position of 1882 on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. With a growth rate of 238%, we are amongst the top-ranked technology staffing firms.

Our unique philosophies of serving, being dedicated, displaying a passion for our work, and being consultant-centered and technology-driven have established us as innovative.

We strive to make a positive impact on individuals, families, and communities while challenging the tech staffing and services industry status quo.

Optomi Diversifies – Becomes Optomi Professional Services and Acquires Healthcare IT Firm

Thu, 07 Jun 2018 08:29:00 GMT

Optomi is rebranding to Optomi Professional Services (OPS) to appropriately reflect its expansion into the onshore outsourcing solutions business and the healthcare IT space. The creation of OPS represents a new, unprecedented collection of elite diversified brands rooted in a common purpose – identifying and creating talent to make a meaningful impact.

Michael Winwood, Co-founder and CEO of OPS noted, “The achievements of Optomi’s technology talent business over the past five years and the phenomenal success of our domestic rural outsourcing business, Provalus, have provided the catalyst for Optomi Professional Services. Now, adding healthcare IT expands our growth potential and creates a unique suite of services within the industry. We are pleased to announce the acquisition of healthcare technology talent company 1st Solution USA as we broaden our capabilities.”

Kimberly Bowden, CEO and Founder of 1st Solution USA commented, “Having created a very specialized business that focuses on technology recruitment for the healthcare industry, we are delighted to be merging into OPS. Our firm’s culture matches incredibly well with OPS’ values. Their mission, unique methodology, and financial support will allow us to take our services to the next level nationally.”

The privately held firm has experienced success in the healthcare direct hire market and will expand its offering to include contract consulting under the OPS umbrella for even greater value to its client base. Todd Black, Co-founder and COO of OPS stated, “We are thrilled to have 1st Solution USA joining the OPS family. We would like to congratulate Kimberly and her team on their success in building a strong business. Having worked with Kimberly earlier in our careers, we have a great deal of respect for her. There is a fluid cultural synergy between our firms and we are confident we will do great things together.”

The addition of healthcare IT helps round out a unique portfolio of complementary technology talent solutions. 1st Solution USA will undergo rebranding over the next several months to authentically communicate its expansion of services. The transaction is expected to close on July 1, 2018.

ABOUT OPTOMI PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC

OPS was born out of a passion for making a meaningful impact all across the U.S. We take a refreshing approach to identifying and creating the best technology talent to fuel successful business relationships. Optomi Professional Services provides innovative alternatives to stale traditional staffing and offshore outsourcing.

Optomi Professional Services is a collection of elite brands that advance technology while impacting kids, communities, and generations to come. As we deliver our holistic solution to address the tech talent shortage, OPS fulfills its mission to provide meals for under-resourced children, create opportunities for families to thrive through the creation of technology careers, and elevate entire communities as a result of the economic growth we enable.

Thankfulness Days 2017

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 08:36:00 GMT

We celebrated THANKSGIVING with a Thankfulness Event honoring our clients and consultants. Optomi is grateful for all of our partnerships… they have helped us feed over 4,700 children, provide over 28,000 meals, employ 523 consultants, and work with 122 amazing client partners while we impact our communities through serving.

Optomi’s 2017 Opt2give Day Marks Five Years of Business AND Giving Back

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 09:03:00 GMT

Opt2give Day 2017 was a huge success! Each Optomite’s giving spirit shone through as they volunteered at some of their favorite organizations across the country.

The Atlanta office partnered with PowerMyLearning, a national non-profit that partners with schools and districts in under-resourced communities to deliver technology to kids who might not otherwise have access to a computer. We spent the day at their warehouse assisting with a variety of tasks (broken up into teams), including warehouse clean-up and organization, computer testing and troubleshooting, computer and equipment cleaning, etc. We were able to help them knock out a ton of work that would normally take their team much longer, and hopefully will speed up getting computers into the hands of Atlanta-area kids!

Our Baltimore gang teamed up with Paul’s Place, an organization we have a long-standing relationship with that provides programs, services, and support to the area’s underprivileged residents. What we love most about Paul’s Place is their motto: treat everyone with dignity and respect – and we all have fun doing it!

Optomi’s Chicago team had an incredibly successful day giving back to our community at not one, but TWO, different organizations! We started their day off at the HOPE Center at Journeys, The Road Home in Palatine, IL. The HOPE Center is a day resource center that provides free services to the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless. The team broke off into 3 groups, organizing food pantries, sorting donated clothes, helping the event coordinator with their Bid for HOPE event, and serving Chick-fil-A to the clients that came to the HOPE Center for a warm meal. The team made their way to Feed My Starving Children in Schaumburg, IL, where they packed 113 boxes of food, which consisted of 24,408 meals, and feeds 66 kids in Cuba for a year!!!

The Dallas market had another very successful event with the Amadi Guess Foundation at John R. Good Elementary School in Irving, TX, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children from underserved communities access to nutritious meals. We weave together a net of community groups, activists, and food programs for children facing hunger and surround them with nutritious food where they live, learn, and play.

Optomi’s Detroit office volunteered our time and labor to a wonderful service organization, The Children’s Center of Detroit. During our Day of Service, we helped in a variety of ways: organizing and restocking bagged meals in the pantry, sorting donated clothes and setting up tables for clothing displays, touch-up painting of a mural, and soliciting plastic bag donations from a local general store.

The OC branch had an amazing day volunteering with Giving Children Hope. We were able to put together over 150 backpacks with a week’s worth of food for homeless children in the Orange County area. We are looking forward to working with them again!

Inc 5000

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 09:22:00 GMT

Optomi has been recognized in the top 20th percentile of the INC 5000 list of America’s fastest growing private companies in -2017. “We set out to create a unique firm that would disrupt the tech staffing and services industry,” says Optomi Co-founder & CEO Michael Winwood. “We are delighted to receive this recognition in our first year of eligibility which validates our mission to offer innovative solutions to our clients that address the real challenges in finding great IT talent. We would like to thank the entire Optomi family for all their hard work and dedication.”

Top Company Cultures

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 09:17:00 GMT

Optomi joined Entrepreneur’s 2017 Top Company Cultures list, a comprehensive ranking created in partnership with CultureIQ® of U.S.-based businesses exhibiting high-performance cultures. The award recognizes the tech staffing firm for creating an exceptional culture that drives employee engagement and directly impacts company success. “As we stay true to our vision of creating a unique tech staffing firm with strong core values, we continue to build a company culture that appreciates its employees,” says Optomi Co-founder & COO Todd Black. “We’re genuine in our relationships, and that’s a unique way to do business.”

2017 SIA

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 09:13:00 GMT

During its Executive Forum award ceremony in San Diego, Staffing Industry Analysts recognized Optomi with the prestigious “2017 Best Staffing Firms to Work For®” award. This makes a four-year winning streak for the IT staffing firm. The “Best Staffing Firms to Work For®” honors workplaces where employees can thrive and deliver unparalleled quality to their clients.

“We set out to create a unique firm that would disrupt the tech staffing industry,” says Optomi Co-founder & CEO Michael Winwood. “Winning this award four years in a row is external validation of our strong culture. It serves as the foundation for building our brand and reputation.”

Georgia Fast 40

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 09:10:00 GMT

Optomi was recognized by the Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth® (ACG) as one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia and presented with the Georgia Fast 40 2017 Award. Optomi was amongst those with revenues between $15 million and $500 million. “We are delighted to be recognized by ACG as one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia. This is a tribute to the dedication of our teams across the country in our mission to bring a new disruptive approach to the industry and to raise the bar in the IT staffing world”, commented Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi. “As a tech staffing firm, we are in a business that begins and ends with people. Our people, the Optomi family, are the reason for our success. We founded a company based on a fantastic culture, strong core values that guide us every day, and a philanthropic approach to measuring our success through our ability to impact the communities that we live and work in.”

Optomi Honored as an Inc 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company in Its First Year of Eligibility

Thu, 17 Aug 2017 09:26:00 GMT

Optomi has been recognized in the top 20th percentile of the INC 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies in 2017. Optomi specializes in technology staffing in the areas of mobile, network/system engineering, information security, data warehousing, cloud, and application development. Through its Provalus division, Optomi competes head-on with traditional offshore outsourcing by deploying technology centers in rural America.

“We set out to create a unique firm that would disrupt the tech staffing and services industry," says Optomi Co-founder & CEO Michael Winwood. “We are delighted to receive this recognition in our first year of eligibility, which validates our mission to offer innovative solutions to our clients that address the real challenges in finding great IT talent. We would like to thank the entire Optomi family for all their hard work and dedication.”

Optomi places a strong emphasis on employee growth and leadership. With this supportive working environment, the firm has achieved a 3-year revenue growth of 453%. Todd Black, Co-founder & COO, added, “We strive to enable a strong company culture where our team’s dedication to their clients and consultants shines through. We have been successful because of our team’s passion to provide the best experience in the industry.”

IT Services Firm Provalus to Create 300 Jobs at Alabama Facility

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:56:00 GMT

MONTGOMERY– Governor Kay Ivey announced that Provalus, a company specializing in business technology service and support, plans to invest $6.5 million to open a center in Brewton staffed with 300 workers.

Atlanta-based Optomi, one of the nation’s fastest-growing tech-staff firms, launched Provalus to provide an alternative to overseas outsourcing of business functions. Provalus aims to utilize untapped talent in small communities for technology, business, and support positions.

“Our main mission is to provide value from the U.S. by bringing jobs back, especially to rural areas,” Provalus President Chuck Ruggiero said.

The center in Brewton, a city of 5,500 in Escambia County, will serve as the company’s flagship facility. Training for Provalus’ first group of technologists has already begun. Once staffing levels reach 50, construction will begin on the first of three buildings, which will occupy a combined space of more than 60,000 square feet.

“I’ve made a commitment to attracting 21st Century jobs to Alabama so that our hard-working citizens can count on a more secure future for their families and communities,” Governor Ivey said. “Provalus’ technology-focused jobs will create this kind of opportunity in Brewton while reinforcing the message that Alabama is open for business.”

The Provalus facility will offer business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology outsourcing (ITO), and Helpdesk services to clients including Fortune 1000 companies.

“Alabama’s economic development team is sharpening its strategic focus by targeting promising opportunities that center on innovation and technology,” Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce said.

“Technology is the lifeblood of business today, and our team is going to make sure Alabama is positioned for the future,” he added.

‘PROJECT SHERLOCK’

The recruitment of Provalus, codenamed “Project Sherlock,” also aligns with a broad strategic goal of attracting more jobs to the state’s rural communities, which sometimes face hurdles in winning economic development projects.

Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace said Provalus’ campus will generate substantial economic growth for the South Alabama city. An Alabama Department of Commerce financial analysis projects the company’s cumulative payroll over 20 years at $210 million.

“Governor Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” he said. “This project was the culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”

Besides Atlanta, Optomi has offices in Chicago; Dallas; Baltimore/Washington D.C.; Orange County, California; Detroit; Denver; Austin, Texas; and Charlotte. The company was founded nearly five years ago.

Alabama Jobs: Brewton Receives $6.5 Million from Atlanta-Based Tech Firm

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 09:44:00 GMT

As reported by WKRG News, the technology company, Provalus, announced today that it plans to invest $6.5 million on a flagship facility in Brewton.

Provalus is part of the Atlanta-based tech firm, Optomi. Created to provide an alternative to overseas outsourcing of business functions, Provalus’ goal is to bring tech jobs back to the U.S.

At over 60,000 square feet and employing more than 300 Alabamians, the facility will provide business process outsourcing (BPO), information technology outsourcing (ITO), and helpdesk services to clients including Fortune 1000 companies. When commenting on the companies new commitment to Alabama, Gov. Ivey said, “I’ve made a commitment to attracting 21st Century jobs to Alabama so that our hard-working citizens can count on a more secure future for their families and communities. Provalus’ technology-focused jobs will create this kind of opportunity in Brewton while reinforcing the message that Alabama is open for business.”

Part of Provalus’ core mission is focused on bringing jobs to rural areas. And estimates predict that the company’s cumulative payroll at the Brewton facility could exceed $200 million over the next 20 years. Showing support for Provalus’ commitment to local jobs, Brewton Mayor Yank Lovelace said, “Governor Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama. This project was the culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”

This significant investment in Alabama jobs comes after Gov. Ivey recently announced her commitment to job growth and education in Alabama.

YELLOWHAMMERNEWS.COM

Optomi Launches an Alternative to Overseas Outsourcing Through New Domestic Technology and Business Outsourcing Division Provalus

Wed, 26 Jul 2017 10:10:00 GMT

Optomi announced today that it launched a plan to bring 300 jobs to southern Alabama through its Provalus division. Provalus is elevating under-served communities by providing technology, business, and support positions to untapped talent in the U.S. Services in the areas of BPO, ITO, and Helpdesk will be available from the facility. The work provides Fortune 1000 companies with the dependable, quality, and practical services they need… straight from the heart of America.

“Our main mission is to provide value to the U.S. by bringing jobs back… especially to rural areas,” commented Chuck Ruggiero, President of Provalus. The IT solutions needs that have been traditionally outsourced overseas can now be serviced here in the U.S. through Provalus.

Optomi’s flagship facility is located in Brewton, Alabama which has a population of about 5,500. Training has begun for the first group and the bootcamp will yield a team of state-of-the-art technologists. Once staffing levels reach 50 employees, construction will begin on the first of three buildings, which will occupy a combined space of over 60,000 square feet. The campus will generate additional economic growth for the community in the way of commerce and real estate. “Governor Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Mayor Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”

Optomi is one of the fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the U.S. and makes a practice of implementing strategies that stand out from the competition as the most leading-edge and successful. Michael Winwood, CEO commented, “We strive to offer our clients a better experience. Through Provalus, we are able to provide services that have traditionally been outsourced overseas. Our strategies continue to disrupt the tech staffing industry.”

Brewton to Get 300 Jobs After $6.5M Deal with Optomi

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 10:25:00 GMT

BREWTON, AL (WSFA) – Hundreds of jobs are coming to South Alabama after the city of Brewton secured a million-dollar deal with a leading tech company.

According to Brewton City Clerk Alex McDowell, about 300 jobs will be coming to the city after it secured a $6.5 million deal with Provalus and its parent company Optomi, LLC. The 15-year agreement was finalized Monday and the site will serve as Optomi’s ‘flagship U.S. facility’ according to Provalus/Optomi President Chuck Ruggiero.

The partnership with Optomi, LLC, a tech-staffing firm, includes the construction of three buildings on 10 acres of the former Dogwood Hills Golf Course property. Once staffing levels reach 50 employees, McDowell says construction will begin on the first of three buildings, which will occupy a combined space of over 60,000 square feet.

Brewton beat out many other locations including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Tennessee, according to city and company officials. “What sold us on Brewton was its people,” Ruggiero said. “The first person I met was Mayor Yank Lovelace of Brewton and he represented the city very well. We have so much gratitude towards Mayor Lovelace for helping us along in this journey.”

The project is being funded by city and state resources. Gov. Kay Ivey also provided $1.5 million from the discretionary fund for the project. “Gov. Ivey made it clear from the start that she was behind new technology coming to Alabama,” Lovelace said. “This project was a culmination of the work of so many, and we couldn’t be prouder to welcome the company to Brewton.”

Optomi wants to be a part of the Brewton community by providing education and training. The first training class began Monday and the search continues for staff for the next class next month or September, Ruggiero said. Ruggiero says Optomi’s main mission is to provide value to the U.S. by bringing jobs back, especially to rural areas.

Those interested in applying are encouraged to visit the company currently located in the former Cracked Pot on Belleville Avenue.

Construction on the facility is expected to take about a year.

Atlanta's ACG Names Optomi as a 2017 Georgia Fast 40 Award Honoree

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 10:36:00 GMT

Optomi, in its fifth year of business, is achieving incredible organic growth within the tech staffing industry. To be recognized as an ACG Georgia Fast 40 company, applicants were required to submit three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth records. Optomi has experienced triple-digit growth year over year with an expanding client base to accompany it.

“We are delighted to be recognized by ACG as one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia. This is a tribute to the dedication of our teams across the country in our mission to bring a new disruptive approach to the industry and to raise the bar in the IT staffing world,” commented Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi. “As a tech staffing firm, we are in a business that begins and ends with people. Our people, the Optomi family, are the reason for our success. We founded a company based on a fantastic culture, strong core values that guide us every day, and a philanthropic approach to measuring our success through our ability to impact the communities that we live and work in.”

Optomi Honored as One of the Fastest-Growing Companies in Atlanta by the Atlanta Business Chronicle®

Fri, 28 Apr 2017 11:00:00 GMT

Optomi was honored yesterday with the 2017 Pacesetter Award® for the second consecutive year. As one of the top 100 fastest-growing companies in Atlanta, Optomi continues to disrupt the tech staffing industry with its unique approach. “The Pacesetter Award® honors Atlanta’s top fastest-growing privately held companies that are taking business to the next level. Their methods are unconventional and their growth is top speed,” according to The Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Tech Staffing Firm Optomi Recognized on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2017 Top Company Culture List

Thu, 23 Feb 2017 11:05:00 GMT

“As we stay true to our vision of creating a unique tech staffing firm with strong core values, we continue to build a company culture that appreciates its employees,” says Optomi Co-founder & COO Todd Black. “We’re genuine in our relationships, and that’s a unique way to do business.”

By establishing this recognition, Entrepreneur Magazine honors companies in a wide span of industries that are creating vibrant, healthy, and sustainable work environments through an effective culture. “Great company cultures don’t happen on their own. They’re the result of great leadership, and a conscious effort to make everyone on a team feel engaged and important,” says Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur. “The honorees on our 2017 list are proof that strong cultures make even stronger companies. Entrepreneurs at all levels can draw inspiration from them.”

The rankings for all companies were determined using CultureIQ’s methodology for measuring high-performance cultures. Employees at each company received a survey of 21 questions. The answers were used to assess a company’s strength across 10 core qualities of culture – performance focus, support, and innovation, to name a few. These quality strength scores were combined with the employee Net Promoter Score to create a cumulative CultureIQ Score. The companies with the highest CultureIQ Scores became the Top Company Culture list in ranking order. The full 2017 list can be found here .

For the Fourth Consecutive Year, Optomi Named One of the Best Staffing Firms to Work For®

Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:09:00 GMT

“We set out to create a unique firm that would disrupt the tech staffing industry," says Optomi Co-founder & CEO Michael Winwood. “Winning this award four years in a row is external validation of our strong culture. It serves as the foundation for building our brand and reputation.”

Optomi values a strong company culture and has instituted a set of company core values that guide its business conduct and have contributed to its success. Every employee’s business interaction with clients and candidates is characterized as: passionate, dedicated, innovative, unique, connected, and genuine.

Headquartered in Atlanta, the record-breaking tech staffing firm has been named one of the fastest-growing companies by the Atlanta Business Journal and ACG.

“The Best Staffing Firms to Work For®” program recognizes staffing firms that understand the importance of a supportive working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth that encourages an individual to bring passion and energy to the office each and every day,” said Barry Asin, President of Staffing Industry Analysts. The award is based on a survey given to employees that focuses on ten key engagement categories, including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation, and benefits.

Optomi Teams Across the Country Spend Their Days Volunteering for Opt2give Day 2016

Fri, 04 Nov 2016 11:23:00 GMT

This Founder’s Day, our teams across the country volunteered at local charities to make a difference.

The East Atlanta Kids Club gives youth who otherwise have limited after-school and summertime options a safe and stimulating place to play, to learn, and to express themselves under the supervision of caring adults. They offer out-of-school-time tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment programs.

Optomi Baltimore has put another successful Founder’s Day in the books, spending time with the folks of Paul’s Place and making sure everyone who walked in the door was given “Dignity and Respect.”

The Charlotte team had a great day painting the entire interior of a Habitat for Humanity home today! The greatest part was seeing the future homeowner come visit the house to say thanks for the help. She had just completed chemotherapy and was so grateful for everything. Great work, team!

The Chicago team was honored to spend Opt2give Day at The Ronald McDonald House Charities and, in particular, their Meals from the Heart Program. In keeping with our message of feeding those in need, we had the pleasure of cooking lunch for families whose children are being treated at Advocate Children’s Hospital. It’s just across the street from the Ronald McDonald House, so families stay there while visiting their kids. The charity provides a “home away from home” offering comfortable private rooms where families can get a good night’s sleep knowing that their child is close by. Happy 4th Birthday, Optomi. It was a great way to spend the day!

Dallas had a great time playing with the elementary school kids at Good Elementary during Opt2give Day. We helped with homework and had lots of laughs.

Our Denver team served at the Food Bank of the Rockies. Their volunteer efforts helped the warehouse get food to people who needed it. The homeless population represents only about 10% of the Food Bank recipients. The rest? Every day, people like low-wage workers, children, seniors on fixed incomes, and individuals with health issues.

Detroit was proud to head back to Gleaners Food Bank for Opt2give Day 2016. Gleaners provides 33,000,000 pounds of food to those in need each year, with a focus on food-insecure children and their families. It amounts to 79,000 meals EVERY DAY. Incredible.

The OC team volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club Irvine! This involved hanging out with the kids and rotating through different activities with them, such as Physical Fitness & Health and Academic Enrichment.

Optomi Named One of "Best Places to Work" by the Dallas Business Journal

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 12:05:00 GMT

Optomi is pleased to announce it has been named one of the “Best Places to Work” in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex by the Dallas Business Journal.

“We are honored to be included in The Dallas Business Journal’s “Best Places To Work” 2016. Optomi is built on the core value of placing our people first, which I believe is reflected in this recognition. Our team has truly embraced the unique culture and philosophy of being genuine with our candidates and clients. We thrive on bringing passion to what we do every day,” commented Tim Gunn, Managing Director of the Optomi Dallas branch.

The Dallas Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” list recognizes 100 local workplaces that are committed to creating a dynamic culture and investing in their employees’ careers and lives. The list is formulated from the results of an anonymous employee survey about job satisfaction, working environment, community service, employee engagement, and more. The 2016 rankings for each business category will be announced at an awards ceremony on September 15.

Optomi is one of the fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the U.S. and makes a practice of implementing strategies that successfully surpass the competition as the most leading edge.

Optomi Named One of This Year's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Chicago

Wed, 20 Jul 2016 12:09:00 GMT

Every year companies throughout Chicago compete to be named one of “Chicago’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®.” Only companies that distinguish themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach have bestowed this honor. The Chicago branch of Optomi was named one of the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For®.

“This recognition is a tribute to the entire Optomi family. They have embraced and continue to build a unique culture that has resulted in a revolutionary staffing company,” commented Todd Black, COO of Optomi. Optomi is one of the fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the US and makes a practice of implementing strategies that surpass the competition as the most leading-edge and successful.

About Best and Brightest

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program of the National Association For Business Resources that provides the business community with the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices, and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community as a whole.

Optomi Named the #6 Fastest-Growing Company in Georgia on the ACG 2016 List

Fri, 24 Jun 2016 12:13:00 GMT

The Atlanta Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth® (ACG) today announced the 2016 Georgia Fast 40, recognizing Optomi as the #6 fastest-growing company in Georgia amongst those with revenues between $15 million and $500 million.

Optomi, in its fourth year of business, is achieving record-breaking organic growth within the tech staffing industry. To be recognized as an ACG Georgia Fast 40 company, applicants were required to submit three years of verifiable revenue and employment growth records. Optomi has experienced triple-digit growth year over year with an expanding client base to accompany it.

“We are delighted to be recognized by ACG as one of the fastest-growing companies in Georgia. This is a tribute to the dedication of our teams across the country in our mission to bring a new disruptive approach to the industry and to raise the bar within the IT staffing world,” commented Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi. “As a tech staffing firm, was are in a business that begins and ends with people. Our people, the Optomi family, are the reason for our success. We founded a company based on a fantastic culture, strong core values that guide us every day, and a philanthropic approach to measuring our success through our ability to impact the communities that we live and work in.”

Optomi Named This Year's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® in Atlanta

Wed, 22 Jun 2016 12:21:00 GMT

Roswell, Georgia | Every year companies throughout Atlanta compete to be named one of “Atlanta’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®.” Only those distinguishing themselves as having the most innovative and thoughtful human resources approach are bestowed the award. This week, Optomi was named one of Atlanta’s Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®.

“ Optomi is honored to be recognized as a top 101 Best and Brightest Company to Work For®. Our dedication to building a strong and unique company culture sets us apart in the tech staffing space”, commented Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi. Optomi is one of the fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the U.S. and makes a practice of implementing strategies that successfully surpass the competition as the leading edge.

About the 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® is a program of the National Association For Business Resources that provides businesses the opportunity to gain recognition, showcase their best practices, and demonstrate why they are an ideal place for employees to work. This national program celebrates those companies that are making better business, creating richer lives, and building a stronger community as a whole.

Optomi Ranks #16 of the Top 100 Fastest-Growing Companies in Atlanta

Wed, 27 Apr 2016 12:28:00 GMT

Optomi was honored with the 2016 Pacesetter Award® ranking #16 of the top 100 fastest-growing privately-held companies in Atlanta. “The Pacesetter Award® honors Atlanta’s top fastest-growing privately held companies that are taking business to the next level. Their methods are unconventional and their growth is top speed,” according to The Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Optomi is one of the fastest-growing tech staffing firms in the US and makes a practice of implementing strategies that stand out from the competition as the most leading-edge and successful. Michael Winwood, CEO commented, “We are very pleased to be recognized as the 16th fastest-growing privately held firm in Atlanta. This is entirely due to the efforts of our team. Optomi’s people, core values, culture, and strategy are disrupting the IT staffing industry. We want to raise the bar using unique recruiting processes combined with innovative technology to offer both our candidates and clients a better experience.”

IT Staffing Firm Optomi Opens New Office in Denver

Wed, 16 Mar 2016 12:58:00 GMT

Optomi, a leading tech staffing firm, continues to expand its national footprint by entering the Denver, Colorado market. Denver is ranked 11th in tech industry job growth. It has quickly built a reputation as a great place to live and work. By being well-positioned to serve Fortune 500 clients as well as mid-sized clients through its skillset-focused strategy, Optomi expects to be highly competitive in the region. The firm’s COO Todd Black remarked, “Denver has grown to be one of the most innovative cities in the U.S., so it's fitting that Optomi would enter this thriving market.”

The opening marks the firm’s eighth IT staffing hub since the fourth quarter of 2012. This latest expansion continues Optomi’s momentum as one of the fastest organically growing tech staffing firms in the U.S. Headquartered in Atlanta, Optomi has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore/Washington DC, Orange County, Detroit, Charlotte, and now Denver.

This expansion is not only the opening of a new office but also the opening of opportunities within the organization. Optomi is committed to offering location change and career advancement to its internal team. The company’s “promote from within” philosophy is foundational to its organic growth.

Optomi specializes in deploying project managers, business analysts, and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, information security, network engineering, business intelligence, cloud, mobile, and application development. Optomi’s niche approach and dedicated focus on higher-end IT skills enable the firm to better identify candidates with these in-demand skills. Expansion into the Denver area increases the capacity for the firm to supply tech jobs.

Staffing Industry Analysts Names Optomi One of the Best Staffing Firms to Work For® 2016

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 13:02:00 GMT

During its Executive Forum award ceremony yesterday, Staffing Industry Analysts announced Optomi as a winner of the prestigious award “2016 Best Staffing Firms to Work For®.” Optomi’s first award occurred in its first year of business. Having been recognized all subsequent years, Optomi is unique in achieving this status.

“We believe corporate culture has a strong influence on a company’s performance. We foster an environment that allows our team to perform at their highest level. No matter how large Optomi becomes, we are committed to growing an organization worthy of the distinction The Best Staffing Firms to Work For® every year,” says Michael Winwood, Optomi’s CEO.

Nearly 182 staffing firms took part in the survey given on behalf of Staffing Industry Analysts by an independent research firm specializing in employee engagement. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete a 40-question online survey that measured 10 key engagement categories including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation, and benefits.

Optomi’s company culture is one that was carefully designed and implemented. Its core values encourage every employee’s business interaction with clients and candidates to be described as: passionate, dedicated, innovative, unique, connected, and genuine. The firm is focused on an organic growth model, hiring exceptional talent and promoting top performers into leadership positions. Optomi is regularly expanding to incremental new markets. The company’s current markets include Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Orange County, Baltimore/DC, and most recently Charlotte.

“We attribute our growth to a strong company culture that values passion, innovation, and dedication, among others,” says COO Todd Black. “We’re genuine in our relationships, and that’s a unique way to do business in this industry.”

IT Staffing Firm Optomi Expands to Charlotte and Promotes Market Leader from Within

Fri, 22 Jan 2016 13:07:00 GMT

As an organization dedicated to training, mentoring, and promoting internal talent, Optomi is pleased to be expanding into the Charlotte, North Carolina market by promoting Matt Robinson (one of the firm’s first employees) to lead the new branch as Managing Director. As Optomi continues to expand its national footprint, it remains committed to offering new opportunities to the internal team.

Optomi CEO Michael Winwood remarked, “We could not be more thrilled to promote Matt Robinson into our Charlotte Managing Director role. Matt was one of our first hires in Atlanta and has been a consistent top performer. His passion for the industry and dedication have earned him this promotion. Optomi’s ‘promote from within’ philosophy is foundational to our long-term success.”

This latest expansion continues Optomi’s momentum as one of the fastest organically growing IT staffing firms in the US. Headquartered in Atlanta, Optomi also has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore/Washington DC, Orange County, Detroit, and now Charlotte. Charlotte has a wealth of experienced people across the IT field, making it an excellent market for Optomi’s niche skillsets.

Optomi specializes in deploying project managers, business analysts, and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, information security, network engineering, business intelligence, cloud, and application development. Optomi’s niche approach and dedicated focus on higher-end IT skills enable the firm to better identify candidates with these in-demand skills. Expansion into the Charlotte area increases the capacity for the firm to supply IT jobs.

By being well-positioned to serve Fortune 500 clients as well as mid-sized clients and start-ups through its skillset-focused strategy, the firm expects to be highly competitive in the region.

Optomi Named One of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®

Tue, 15 Dec 2015 13:11:00 GMT

The National Association for Business Resources named OPTOMI as one of the 2015 Best and Brightest Companies To Work For® in the country. The award recognizes the most influential, trend-setting companies across the nation who display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment.

Optomi thrives on a culture of commitment to team, community, and giving back. Passionate employees with innovative thinking and a dedicated work ethic have allowed Optomi to redefine the status quo of the staffing industry. Decades of successful leadership experience combined with the ingenuity and tech-savviness of the Millennial generation has helped the company achieve record accomplishments.

“We are honored to be one of the 2015 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For®,” says COO Todd Black. “It’s all about the people.” Optomi encourages a creative environment for its employees to find a way to be unique as they relate with clients and consultants. This philosophy enables the firm to continually attract top talent. The IT staffing firm differentiates itself through its skill-set focus, technology-driven processes, consultant-centered philosophy and its spirit of giving back.

The Best and Brightest Companies To Work For® 2015 winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. They include Compensation, Benefits, and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement, and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection, and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; Strategic Company Performance.

Opt2give Day 2015 Makes a Huge Impact

Sat, 07 Nov 2015 13:19:00 GMT

By the end of 2015, Optomi will have fed over 1,500 kids 9,000 meals through its Opt2give program. The company’s philosophy of ‘doing good’ has been part of its culture since its inception three years ago. On Thursday, November 5th (Optomi’s 3rd birthday), Optomi employees didn’t put on birthday hats or hand out cupcakes; instead, we rolled up our sleeves to serve in our neighborhoods.

Optomi devoted the day to giving back to children. Dedication to its people and the communities in which they live/work is central to the mission of Optomi. According to the organization Feeding America , one in 5 children struggles with hunger. Optomi is committed to alleviating this hunger epidemic. As Optomi uses its business as a driver for charitable contributions, it hopes to continue to make an impact. “The message is simple: when you do business with Optomi, you help children in need”, says CEO Michael Winwood.

Our teams volunteered at the following organizations:

Atlanta: Covenant House through Children’s Restoration Network

Baltimore/D.C.: Paul’s Place

Charlotte: Second Harvest Food Bank’s Mobile Pantry Program

Chicago: Riverworks of Fox Valley

Dallas: Amadi Guess Foundation

Detroit: Inner City Soup Kitchen

Orange County: Caterina’s Club

We are making a difference in several ways. Optomi’s Opt2give program provides children with weekend bags of food through local food bank backpack programs. With each consultant hired, kids who may not have food in the fridge when they get home from school are fed because of Optomi’s efforts. During its annual Opt2give Day, the company’s employees serve organizations in their communities. They host pizza parties for under-resourced children, serve in soup kitchens, feed and mentor at-risk inner-city kids, collect food for local food banks, and more. “Giving back is at the core of why we do what we do. As an organization in an industry focused on people, Optomi believes in investing in people’s lives,” commented Todd Black, COO.

Optomi Honored with Three Stevie® Awards at the 2015 American Business Awards

Wed, 24 Jun 2015 05:16:00 GMT

OPTOMI was presented with a SILVER Stevie® Award in the category of Fastest Growing Company of the Year, a SILVER Stevie® Award in the category of Management Team of the Year and a BRONZE Stevie® Award for Best Home/Welcome Page category in the 13th Annual American Business Awards in Chicago last night. Finalists that received a final average score of at least 8.0 out of a possible 10 were designated as Silver Stevie® winners. Bacardi Limited, IBM, AT&T and YouTube were among the winners of Gold Stevie® Awards.

“We are thrilled to have been recognized as a progressive, fast growing IT services firm. We really appreciate the amazing hard work and dedication of our entire Optomi family. Their passion to build a culture of performance is the key reason we have experienced unprecedented growth in the IT staffing industry. We are proud to have received these awards that serve as great external validation”, commented Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi.

More than 3,300 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Management Team of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Fastest Growing Company of the Year, among others. OPTOMI was nominated in the Fastest Growing Company of the Year category for Up to 100 Employees, Management Team of the Year in Business Services Industries and Best Home/Welcome Page.

More than 200 executives worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year’s Stevie Award winners. “We are extremely impressed with the quality of the entries we received this year. The competition was intense and every organization that won should be proud,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. “To those outstanding individuals and organizations that received Gold, Silver, and Bronze Stevie Awards, the judges and I are honored to celebrate your many accomplishments. You are setting a high standard for professionals nationwide.”

ABOUT OPTOMI, LLC

Optomi is a high-growth, market-leading IT staffing firm well-positioned to serve Fortune 500 as well as mid-sized clients clients through its skill-set focused strategy and genuine approach to engaging with consultants & clients. Optomi is inspired by: optimum…being the best…the ultimate. It is an IT staffing firm with a unique approach. Optomi has developed fresh philosophies as cutting-edge as the technology we represent. With a revolutionary consultant-focused approach, Optomi is completely dedicated to genuinely serving its consultants, clients and employees. By utilizing innovative technologies and developing industry leading recruitment processes, we are able to deploy the best project managers, business analysts and technologists in the ever evolving spaces of mobile technology, network design, cloud and application development…making us a leader in the IT staffing world. Optomi was awarded, in 2014 and 2015, one of the BEST PLACES TO WORK by Staffing Industry Analysts… an accomplishment never before achieved by a company in its first years of business.

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), Optomi is “DRIVING TOMORROW’S TECHNOLOGY WITH TODAY’S OPTIMUM TALENT.”

ABOUT THE AMERICAN BUSINESS AWARDS

The American Business Awards are the nation’s premier business awards program. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning “crowned,” the awards were presented to winners during a gala banquet on Monday, June 22 at the Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park Hotel. More than 400 nominees and their guests attended.

ABOUT THE STEVIE® AWARDS

Stevie Awards are conferred in six programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards here.

Sponsors and partners of The 2015 American Business Awards include BizTalkRadio, CallidusCloud, Engility, Fareportal, John Hancock, PetRays, and Softpro.

EY Announces Optomi's Co-Founder and COO, Todd Black, is a Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 Award in the Midwest

Thu, 18 Jun 2015 05:22:00 GMT

EY (a trusted global leader in business) announced that Todd Black is a Finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2015 Award in the Midwest. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Todd Black was selected after a nomination and rigorous interview process by a panel of independent judges.

“This recognition is a tribute to the entire Optomi family and its leadership team for their passionate pursuit of building a revolutionary company in the IT staffing space”, commented Todd Black, COO of Optomi.

About EY Entrepreneur Of The Year®

EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs. The unique award makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global award of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year® celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities in more than 60 countries.

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

Sponsors

Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year® Awards are nationally sponsored by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and SAP America.

Optomi Recognized as One of the "Best Staffing Firms to Work For" for the Second Consecutive Year

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 05:27:00 GMT

For the second consecutive year, Staffing Industry Analysts announced Optomi as a finalist for their prestigious award “2015 Best Staffing Firms to Work For” during its Executive Forum award ceremony in Orlando, Florida yesterday. Optomi is the youngest company ever to achieve this recognition.

The firm thrives on a culture of passionate employees with innovative thinking and a dedicated work ethic. “The Optomi leadership is dedicated to cultivating a strong company culture that values passion, genuineness and innovation among other core values," says COO Todd Black, “but our people are what make us one of the best staffing firms to work for.” Optomi nurtures a creative environment that encourages its employees to find a way to be unique as they relate with clients and consultants. The IT staffing firm differentiates itself through its skill-set focus, technology-driven processes, consultant-centered philosophy and its spirit of giving back.

Optomi launched in the fourth quarter of 2012 with two offices. It has since grown to seven branches in markets all across the country. The firm is focused on an organic growth model, hiring exceptional talent and promoting top performers into leadership positions and incremental new markets. The IT staffing firm specializes in deploying project managers, business analysts, and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, network design, cloud and application development. Optomi’s niche approach and dedicated focus on higher-end IT skills enables the firm to better identify candidates with these in-demand skills.

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource – a $550 million+ IT services leader) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), the privately held firm opened its first offices in the Atlanta and Chicago markets and has since expanded into Dallas, Baltimore/DC, Detroit and Southern California.

ABOUT THE SURVEY

Over 100 staffing firms took part in the survey given on behalf of Staffing Industry Analysts by an independent research firm specializing in employee engagement. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete a 40-question online survey that measured 10 key engagement categories including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation and benefits. “The Best Staffing Firms to Work For” program recognizes staffing firms that have successfully built a workplace that has enabled employees to perform at their highest level,” said Barry Asin, president of Staffing Industry Analysts. “These companies understand the importance of a supportive working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth that encourages an individual to bring passion and energy to the office each and every day.”

IT Staffing Company Optomi Expands Opening 7th Office

Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:32:00 GMT

Optomi, a leading IT staffing company, continues to expand its national footprint by entering the Detroit, Michigan market. The opening marks the firm’s seventh IT staffing hub since the fourth quarter of 2012. This latest expansion continues Optomi’s momentum as one of the fastest organically growing IT staffing firms in the US. Headquartered in Atlanta, Optomi has offices in Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore/Washington DC, Orange County, Los Angeles and now Detroit.

Expansion into the Michigan area increases the capacity for the firm to supply IT jobs. Optomi specializes in deploying project managers, business analysts, and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, network design, cloud, and application development. Optomi’s niche approach and dedicated focus on higher-end IT skills enables the firm to better identify candidates with these in-demand skills.

By being well-positioned to serve Fortune 500 clients as well as mid-sized clients and start-ups through its skill-set focused strategy, the firm expects to be highly competitive in the region.

Optomi CEO Michael Winwood remarked, “We are delighted to continue our national expansion into Michigan. We have been highly encouraged by the recovery we have seen in this market and have already established a client base that recognizes our unique approach to finding high-end in-demand IT talent. Our local team led by Laura Chevalier, our VP of National Accounts, is well positioned to establish Optomi as an IT staffing leader in the Michigan market.”

Laura Chevalier commented, “Detroit continues to grow as an innovative and high-growth IT market. We are excited to partner with consultants and companies that value our genuine approach, appreciate our core differentiators and recognize the importance of making a positive impact on the communities in which we live. We are looking forward to further expanding our charitable efforts and take great pride in bringing our Optomi CARE program to Michigan as we partner with the Gleaner’s Foodbank to supply children with weekend meal bags.”

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), Optomi is driving tomorrow’s technology with today’s optimum talent.

Employees of IT Staffing Company, Optomi, Spend Workday Helping Others

Mon, 03 Nov 2014 05:40:00 GMT

Optomi is hosting its annual charitable Opt-to-Give event, making a significant impact in communities nationwide on the anniversary of the business being established. On November 5th, the company’s employees go out into their communities to spend the workday serving charitable organizations. Dedication to its people and their local communities and compassion for those in need are central to the mission of Optomi.

In only its second year of business, Optomi now has a presence in seven locations throughout the U.S. including Atlanta (Optomi headquarters), Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Orange County, Baltimore and Detroit. Optomi’s employees, now 55 strong, will be significantly impacting families and children on Opt-to-Give Day. “We’re delighted that our unprecedented growth in these first two years is enabling us to have an increasingly meaningful influence with our charitable efforts in the communities we operate in”, added Michael Winwood, Optomi CEO.

During last year’s event, with just 20 people, Optomi employees packed 11,000 lbs of food for those in need, helped feed over 18,000 kids and helped renovate a home for children ages 8-18 with their efforts. On November 5, 2014, over 50 employees will be feeding children, mentoring underprivileged kids, beautifying family shelters & schools and helping build a home. The organizations Optomi will be serving are: East Atlanta Kids Club, Parks and People Franklin School, Good Elementary School, Family Shelter Service and Habitat for Humanity. “We’re giving back in a tangible way because it is important to Optomi that we impact our communities. It’s one of the core beliefs of the company”, remarked Todd Black, Optomi COO.

As an organization in an industry focused on people, Optomi believes in investing in children’s lives. To learn more about Optomi’s commitment to enriching the communities in which it is involved, please visit www.optomi.com. Photographs are available at optomi.com/giving . #OpttoGive .

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), Optomi is an IT staffing company specializing in high-end skill-sets within the software development life cycle. Optomi was awarded one of the Best Staffing Firms to Work for 2014 by Staffing Industry Analysts. The privately held company is trending to be one of the fastest growing national IT staffing firms.

Optomi Expands Into the Baltimore/DC Market

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 05:43:00 GMT

Optomi continues it’s national expansion, opening a new operation in the Baltimore/DC market this week. The new branch is the fifth hub office to support Optomi’s growing national network.

In tandem with the new office opening, Optomi has appointed Anthony Petrelli as the Vice President of the Mid-Atlantic region. Anthony has over 14 years of experience in the Technology Staffing and Solutions industry. Throughout his career, Anthony has successfully grown and managed multiple offices in the region for one of the largest IT staffing firms in the US. Anthony’s leadership, proven track record and drive to succeed will help Optomi expand within the Mid-Atlantic region.

Optomi is also promoting and relocating Harvey Brockinton as the new Recruiting Manager for the Baltimore/DC branch. Harvey has a successful track record as a senior recruiter in Optomi’s Atlanta market. By over-achieving his goals in 2013, he earned a place in the firm’s high performer Platinum Club.

Optomi CEO Michael Winwood remarked, “We are delighted to have Anthony joining the team. Anthony’s past record of success working with our team gives us great confidence for the future of our Mid-Atlantic operation. We are also pleased to be promoting Harvey Brockinton from our Atlanta office to lead recruiting for our Mid-Atlantic operation. As we develop internal talent, our goal is to reward their dedication and success with promotion. Giving our top associates the ability to be an integral part of expanding our footprint into new markets helps us create a consistent culture, a strategy core to Optomi’s long-term success.”

#Opt2give - Announcing Our Partnership, The Organization That's Caring

Thu, 15 May 2014 05:50:00 GMT

We’re happy to announce a new partnership with the organization That’s Caring to help feed food-insecure children right here in the United States. Our program allows for a needy child to be given a weekend bag of food with every confection gift Optomi purchases for its corporate campaigns. We’re expecting to supply at least 400 children with bags of food in 2014! We #Opt2Give

Optomi’s reach with this charitable effort is nationwide, spanning from Southern California to Dallas and the Atlanta market to Chicagoland. Approximately 20% of US households with children experience food insecurity each year and that number is even higher for households with children under the age of 6. These hunger statistics translate to 16 million children living in food-insecure households according to feedingamerica.org.

The program being launched by Optomi allows for a food insecure child to be given a weekend bag of food with every confection gift Optomi purchases for its corporate campaigns. The gifts have been tailor made for Optomi with custom labels and even contain their own Optomi signature cookie recipe. That’s Caring CEO Jamie Pritscher commented, “We are very excited to be partnering and co-branding our product with Optomi. Our two companies’ beliefs (to give back and help the communities in which we work and live) are perfectly aligned. Together we will be able to not only increase awareness about the hunger crisis, but also to double our impact.”

Optomi has a big heart for those in need, especially those whose circumstances are beyond their control. So the staffing firm sought out a partner that mirrored its own commitment to giving. “We’re giving back in a tangible way because it is important to Optomi that we impact our communities. It’s one of the core beliefs within the company”, remarked Todd Black, Optomi COO.

In addition to its charitable work with children, Optomi dedicates one workday a year for its employees to donate their time doing charitable service in the communities they work in. Each quarter, Optomi recognizes both an outstanding employee and consultant for their efforts and achievements with a contribution to the charity of their choosing. More information about Optomi’s philanthropy is available at optomi.com/giving

Expansion to Southern California and National Presence

Tue, 08 Apr 2014 05:54:00 GMT

Optomi has opened a Southern California office and established a national accounts team to support its continued growth. The IT staffing firm’s next phase of expansion comes on the heels of a successful first year of business. Optomi is currently trending as one of the fastest growing national IT staffing firms and was recently recognized by the Staffing Industry Analysts for being one of the “2014 Best Places to Work”. The Newport Beach branch is the fourth hub office to support a growing national network of offices with plans to hire in excess of 70 employees by the end of 2014. Optomi is focused on an organic growth model, hiring exceptional talent and promoting top performers into leadership positions and incremental new markets.

To ensure a successful launch in the California market, Optomi has hired Tammy Hawkins, a proven sales leader with extensive IT staffing experience. Tammy comes with a strong track record of achievements within the industry. As a firm believer in giving back, Tammy appreciates Optomi’s charitable efforts and philosophy of networking in the local community. She is currently the Regional Alliance Chair for the Orange County chapter of WITI (Women in Technology International) and has been serving for numerous years as the Alliance Partner Chair for SoTeC.

In addition to adding a new office hub, the IT staffing firm has expanded its national presence by hiring Laura Chevalier as their new VP of National Accounts. Laura is tasked with building a world-class national accounts team to provide industry-leading service to Optomi’s clients. Laura has a background in strategic sales and large account management. Having previously managed an account portfolio in excess of $200 million, she brings a unique perspective on a diverse spectrum of IT services.

Optomi CEO Michael Winwood remarked, “This is the next phase of our planned growth and builds the platform for us to become a leading national provider. Having worked with both Laura and Tammy previously, we are thrilled to have them on the Optomi team. We are building a company that is and will be known for industry-leading philosophies. We believe the IT staffing industry will continue to be very responsive to our innovative approach.

Optomi is One of the Best Places to Work 2014

Wed, 26 Mar 2014 06:00:00 GMT

During its Executive Forum award ceremony, Staffing Industry Analysts announced Optomi as a finalist for their prestigious award “ 2014 Best Places to Work ." Nearly 140 staffing firms took part in the survey given on behalf of Staffing Industry Analysts by an independent research firm specializing in employee engagement. Internal employees at each firm were asked to complete a 40-question online survey that measured 10 key engagement categories including teamwork, trust in senior leaders, feeling valued, manager effectiveness, compensation and benefits.

Optomi has been in business only 16 months and has already expanded into the Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, and Southern California markets. The firm is focused on an organic growth model, hiring exceptional talent and promoting top performers into leadership positions and incremental new markets.

“We attribute our initial growth to a strong company culture that values passion, innovation and dedication among others,” says COO Todd Black. “We’re genuine in our relationships with internal employees and our consultants and clients. It’s a unique way to do business in this industry.”

“The Best Staffing Firm to Work For program recognizes staffing firms that have successfully built a workplace that has enabled employees to perform at their highest level,” said Barry Asin, president of Staffing Industry Analysts. “These companies understand the importance of a supportive working environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth that encourages an individual to bring passion and energy to the office each and every day.”

Optomi’s company culture is one that was carefully designed and implemented. The core values encourage every employee’s business interaction with clients and candidates to be described as: passionate, dedicated, innovative, unique, connected and genuine. “We believe corporate culture has a strong influence on a company’s performance. No matter how large Optomi becomes, we are committed to growing an organization worthy of the status of ‘Best Places to Work’ every year,” says Michael Winwood, Optomi’s CEO.

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black(formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), the firm opened its first offices in the Atlanta and Chicago markets and has since expanded into Dallas and Southern California.

Optomi IT Staffing Company's Annual Charity Workday Makes an Impact

Mon, 11 Nov 2013 06:07:00 GMT

Optomi’s workday dedicated to serving event called Opt-to-Give made a significant impact in the Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas communities yesterday. Dedication to its people and the communities in which they live/work are central to the mission of Optomi. So on the day Optomi was founded, November 5th, the company supported its internal employees as they spent their workday serving those in need. Each of its three teams chose an organization within their own communities.

The corporate office in the Atlanta market helped the organization CHRIS Kids whose mission is to heal children, strengthen families, and build community. Chris Kids takes in children from ages 8-24 with nowhere else to turn. The Optomi team began renovations on the house by demolishing the kitchen. They also reorganized the Chris Kids storage unit and completed some much needed yard work. The Chicago region offices served at the Greater Chicago Food Depository, packing 11,000 lbs of food for those in need. The Optomi Dallas branch packaged food for families in need at the North Texas Food Bank. Working alongside 40 other volunteers, they were able to feed over 18,000 kids with their efforts.

As an organization in an industry focused on people, Optomi believes in investing in people’s lives. To learn more about Optomi’s commitment to enriching the communities in which it is involved, please visit www.optomi.com. Photographs are available at www.optomi.com/giving-back.

Giving Hope to Job Seekers

Tue, 20 Aug 2013 06:19:00 GMT

From Roswell United Methodist Church:

The community is invited to a Job Networking “Mini” Job Fair on Monday, Aug. 26, to meet with employers such as General Motors (first time attending), ComCast Cable, award-winning CaraVita Home Healthcare, Northwest Exterminating, and Optomi, to name a few. The list of employers grows daily and can be found at www.rumcjobnetworking.com

Optomi IT Staffing Company Expands Into Dallas

Thu, 01 Aug 2013 06:22:00 GMT

The Dallas location is Optomi’s third office within seven months ofl launch. Optomi’s expansion into the Dallas market comes on the heels of a successful first seven months of business, currently trending to be one of the fastest growing national IT staffing firms. The Dallas office opened today with a team of account executives, recruiters and a solid network of clients and consultant contacts. Clark Dorsey, a senior recruiter from the Atlanta headquarters, has been promoted to Recruiting Manager and relocated to Dallas. The new Dallas branch will become the third hub office to support a growing national network of offices with plans to hire in excess of 70 employees by the end of 2013.

Optomi CEO Michael Winwood remarked, “We are delighted to be opening in Dallas, a market we know well and a great hub for our future western operations. As we have already seen in Atlanta and Chicago, our high-end skill set focus, pursuit of passive candidates, leading consultant care and innovative asynchronous video interviewing technologies will enable us to create real value with our clients and consultants. Every process we adopt for our business is geared towards high-efficiency with the goal of reducing time and costs for both our clients and consultants. We are building a company that is and will be known for industry-leading philosophies. We believe the Dallas market will be very responsive to our innovative approach.”

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), Optomi is headquartered in Atlanta with branches in the Chicago and Dallas markets.

Optomi Pioneers Innovative Video Interviewing Technology Within IT Staffing Industry

Fri, 19 Jul 2013 06:26:00 GMT

When Optomi launched in the fourth quarter of 2012, it focused on building new integrated technologies to significantly reduce the time and cost associated with hiring the best IT talent. Video interviewing is a cornerstone of the company’s immediate success. With it, Optomi continues to make its mark on the IT staffing industry, currently trending to be one of the fastest growing IT staffing firms.

Video interviewing technology gives the client a better sense of the candidate than a phone screen in less time and therefore uses less resources. From the candidates’ perspective, they appreciate being able to showcase more of their personality. Clients who are searching for a good cultural fit can also evaluate candidates more efficiently with this process. Video interviewing makes pre-screening candidates easy, no matter where they are, what the position, or the time frame. Using a webcam, the interviewee can respond to customized questions set by the client or from our extensive library of pre-recorded soft and technical skill assessments. Video interviewing has been integrated into all of Optomi’s processes of sourcing and acquiring the best talent. The technology is at the forefront of Optomi’s new website, visible in the home page slideshow, which links to a demonstration of the video interviewing process.

“We see this as a key differentiator for Optomi,“ says Todd Black, Optomi COO. “We are nimble enough as an organization to adopt innovative practices we feel will streamline the hiring process. Video Interviewing is a perfect example.” In a recent industry survey carried out by the Aberdeen Group on key drivers for improving the hiring process, video interviewing was cited as the leading technology in reducing both the time and cost of the search.

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), the firm opened its first offices in the Atlanta and Chicago markets. Optomi has plans for additional market expansion to Dallas in the summer of 2013.

Optomi Honors a Veteran of Its Own

Thu, 23 May 2013 06:29:00 GMT

As an IT staffing firm founded on strong core values, Optomi’s principles align with military principles in many ways. The company’s philosophy of loyalty to Company, Team and then Self is reminiscent of the military dedication to God, Country, Corps, Family, Self. Veterans tend to value teamwork, thrive in fast-paced environments and have a unique ability to adapt to adversity. Optomi recognizes that no one understands these philosophies and is able to apply them to business challenges better than the veterans who have lived them.

This Memorial Day weekend, the entire Optomi team recognizes one of its own, Daniel Guelzo. Optomi is proud to honor his nine years of service in the Navy where Daniel earned a Navy Combat Action award as well as two Navy Achievement awards during his five deployments. The leadership, dedication, resolve and integrity of Mr. Guelzo has contributed significantly to the success of the company. On the Friday before Memorial Day, the Atlanta-based firm honored him with a catered breakfast.

Optomi Chief Operating Officer Todd Black remarked, “We wanted to recognize Daniel for his service to his country as well as to Optomi. We appreciate his character and commitment. I have no doubt his experience in the military helped make him the exemplary leader he is at our firm. We’re fortunate to have him as part of the Optomi family.”

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), Optomi has a presence in the Atlanta and Chicago markets and will be expanding to Dallas, TX later this summer.

Optomi Expands Corporate Headquarters

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 06:31:00 GMT

After only five short (successful) months…we’re expanding our corporate headquarters. Optomi’s relocation lays the groundwork to employ over 100 nationally by the end of 2013.

Best Places to Work... All Around the www

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 06:45:00 GMT

Just a sampling of the incredible exposure we received from making the Staffing Industry Analysts “2014 Best Places to Work”

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/prnewswire/press_releases/Georgia/2014/03/25/PH89865

http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1809625

http://investor.wallstreetselect.com/wss/news/read?GUID=26770717

http://www.wall-street.com/hot-off-the-press/?doc=201403250830PR_NEWS_USPR_____PH89865&dir=0

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/optomi-named-2014-best-staffing-123000533.html

http://www.cbsatlanta.com/story/25065038/optomi-named-2014-best-staffing-firm-to-work-for-by-staffing-industry-analysts

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/prnewswire/press_releases/Georgia/2014/03/25/PH89865?ana=prnews

http://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/prnewswire/press_releases/Georgia/2014/03/25/PH89865?ana=prnews

http://www.mediawebsite.net/danews/story/?catSetID=7007&catID=290812&nrid=252223941&page=1

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/prnewswire/press_releases/Georgia/2014/03/25/PH89865?ana=prnews

http://markets.financialcontent.com/mng-lang.pasadena/news/read/26770717/Optomi_Named_2014_Best_Staffing_Firm_to_Work_For_by_Staffing_Industry_Analysts

http://markets.financialcontent.com/mi.miamiherald/news/read/26770717/Optomi_Named_2014_Best_Staffing_Firm_to_Work_For_by_Staffing_Industry_Analysts

Optomi Capitalizes on the Increase in Temporary IT Labor

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 06:50:00 GMT

The demand for Software Developers is projected to grow 32.4% by the year 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Within this broad spectrum of IT, demand for professionals with skills in Cloud Computing and Mobile Applications is projected to be particularly high. IT Staffing firm , Optomi, focuses on a finite set of skills within the software development life cycle, including mobile software development, cloud and application development, network design, project management, and business analysts. Understanding these technology trends, Optomi founders Michael Winwood and Todd Black intentionally aligned the company’s focus on these skillsets.

“We fully intend to position Optomi to meet this projected increase in demand”, stated Michael Winwood, CEO of Optomi.

Technology Staffing Firm Optomi Launches

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 07:03:00 GMT

Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), the company is launching this week in the Atlanta and Chicago markets. Optomi has plans for additional market expansions in 2013.

“Rather than follow the paths established in the industry, we are building a company dedicated to being unique and innovative in everything we do. We’re initiating some of the most cutting-edge technology and combining it with a service-oriented company culture founded on strong core values," says Todd Black, Optomi COO.

IT Staffing Firm Optomi Raises $8 Million to Finance 300-Job National Rollout

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 06:59:00 GMT

IT staffing startup Optomi LLC has raised $8 million and plans to roll out a national network of offices.

The Alpharetta-based company focuses on recruiting for the mobile technology, network design, cloud and application development sectors. (Read More)

Optomi Launches with $8 Million Backing

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:15:00 GMT

With significant support from successful IT staffing industry veterans, Optomi is building an innovative staffing firm focused on simplifying and optimizing the client and candidate experience.

Optomi plans to utilize leading-edge technologies and a proactive skillset-focused recruiting process to redefine the level of service offered to clients and consultants. Optomi CEO Michael Winwood explained, “We are passionate about finding the best passive IT candidates and building new levels of expectations around consultant care. We are also driving new technologies and processes to significantly reduce client time and cost associated with hiring IT contingent labor.

We believe our strategy is unique and will raise the bar within our industry. Led by co-founders Michael Winwood (formerly the President & COO of Technisource) and Todd Black (formerly the Senior Vice President of Technisource), the company is launching this week in the Atlanta and Chicago markets. Optomi has plans for additional market expansions in 2013. “Rather than follow the paths established in the industry, we are building a company dedicated to being unique and innovative in everything we do. We’re initiating some of the most cutting-edge technology and combining it with a service-oriented company culture founded on strong core values”, says Todd Black, Optomi COO.

High-Level Technology Staffing Firm Optomi Launches

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:11:00 GMT

By deploying the optimum talent for IT projects, we enable our clients to define the technology of tomorrow. Our ability to position project managers, business analysts, and technologists in the ever-evolving spaces of mobile technology, network design, cloud, and application development makes us a leader in the IT staffing world.

Optomi Launches in Atlanta and Chicago

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:09:00 GMT

From the Atlanta Business Chronicle… OPTOMI to fund 300+ jobs (read more)

Optomi plans to utilize leading-edge technologies and proactive skillset-focused recruiting processes to redefine the level of service offered to clients and consultants. Optomi CEO Michael Winwood explained, “We are passionate about finding the best passive IT candidates and building new levels of expectations around consultant care. We are also driving new technologies and processes to significantly reduce client time and cost associated with hiring IT contingent labor.

Former Technisource Execs Start New IT Firm

Fri, 07 Dec 2012 07:06:00 GMT

Launched by two former IT Staffing Industry Executives

Co-founders Michael Winwood and Todd Black were inspired to create a company with a unique corporate culture founded on strong core values… an innovative company that is completely dedicated to its clients and consultants. With over four decades of industry success combined, they are passionate about applying their experience to produce a high-performance, reputable, and industry-leading company. (read more)