A Perfect Partnership: The Story Behind HireQuest’s Command Center Acquisition w/ Kevin Semerad & David Hartley

Talent Hunters

A successful acquisition takes place when an organization that sees something special to invest in meets a company that will be propelled further through a partnership.

It’s a perfect marriage allowing both sides to achieve more together than they would separately.

This is what HireQuest looks for when they’re looking to acquire a business. It’s not about money - in a people-facing service-based industry like recruiting, the true asset of a business is its employees.

An acquisition is about empowering and pouring into organizations that are bringing value to the industry. That’s why HireQuest focuses on not only investing into great companies, but also into talented employees who have the potential to become leaders in their own right.

For the target company, the acquisition is an opportunity to escape the corporate administrative burden a lot of businesses are cursed with, which fuels even more growth!

Today we’re joined by two people who were on each side of an acquisition - HireQuest Direct and Snelling franchise owner, Kevin Semerad and HireQuest’s VP of Corporate Development, David Hartley. They share why this partnership is the perfect marriage in the recruiting and staffing space.

Guest Bio

Kevin Semerad is a Franchise Owner at HireQuest Direct and Snelling. He has 35 years experience in multi-unit growth and management within the staffing industry and 11 of those years were in independent and franchise operations and 14 were in a public setting. Initially, Kevin built a regional staffing company from the ground up (1 to 16 units) that he sold in 2006. His experience is that consistent execution is achieved by hiring the right people for the right positions, clearly communicating goals and expectations, and empowering them while continually providing the training, tools, and support that is required to be #1. Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn.

David Hartley is the Vice President of Corporate Development at HireQuest Inc., specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), strategic growth initiatives, and corporate strategy. With nearly a decade of investment banking experience prior to joining HireQuest, including the 2019 HireQuest-Command Center merger, David brings a wealth of expertise in deal execution, valuation, and integration strategies. At HireQuest he has led 13 acquisitions of staffing/recruiting companies and franchisors significantly expanding the size and breadth of HireQuest’s franchise network. Before investment banking, David honed his skills in corporate development within the medical device industry. He holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a BA from Johns Hopkins University. Connect with David on LinkedIn.

About Your Host

Vince Holt is the founder and CEO of Management Recruiters of Mercer Island. With 35+ years industry experience, he is the only MRINetwork team member to win CSAM of the Year, Person of the Year and Lifetime Achievement Awards. In addition to spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren, Vince has raced motorcycles for over 50 years, winning 5 National Championships.

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