ATG is published in the MDHBA June 2009 Issue, "How Do You Find Real Talent"

Dr. Dale Campbell is published in the Community College Journal, Your Next Leader: Piecing Together the Executive Search

January 1, 2009 - Former President at AT&T Capital, MetLife Capital To Serve as ATG Chairman
For years, Jacksonville-based consulting firm, Assessment Technologies Group (ATG) has worked behind the scenes so that their high profile clients could enjoy the limelight over major staffing announcements and executive hires.  Now ATG finds itself attracting some substantial attention of its own.

The boutique firm, which specializes in personnel evaluation, leadership training and employee development, among other services, announced this week that George Deehan has come aboard as Chairman.   Deehan, a former Boston Celtics draft pick player, more famous for his work in the boardroom than on the court, helped run public and private companies such as AT&T Capital, Met Life Capital and Sunset Financial Resources, Inc. (NYSE: SFO).  

The move, even before its official announcement, prompted calls from the Wall Street Journal and other industry publications.  The curiosity centered around why Deehan, who has run billion dollar corporations, mainly in the financial services industry, would join forces with a smaller, relatively unknown player in the HR arena.

Now that the announcement is official, Deehan is finally able to answer the question.  “Although small now, ATG is a company with the potential to be a dominant force in their industry both in the U.S. and internationally,” says Deehan.  “I saw instantly there is no one better when it comes to assessing and developing human capital.  There’s a massive need for what they do, especially in a down economy.  In order to take full advantage of that need, they must grow.  With my finance background and their engaging business model, there’s an opportunity to take this company somewhere pretty special.”

Deehan says that an aggressive but responsible growth strategy is being put in place.  Initially, ATG is looking to grow through acquisitions, the first of which could happen within six months says Deehan. 
           
Stephen Pollan, the founder of ATG, will remain in his current position as CEO. “Our whole business revolves around helping companies put the right people in the right positions…then helping those people succeed.  We put George through the same assessment process we perform for our own clients.  So we’re extremely confident that George is going to be a spectacular fit.”

Even before Deehan’s arrival, the company was enjoying unprecedented growth.  Aside from a presence in North America, the company has expanded to add consultants in South America, Europe and beyond.

“Even though we’re going to get a lot bigger, we want to keep that small company feel,” says Pollan.  “All the things our clients love about ATG: our nimbleness, our responsiveness, our dedication…we’re going to work extra hard to keep that a cornerstone of who we are.”

Assessment Technologies Group was founded in 1996.  The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida

(And here’s a secret: These CEO’s are thinking about talent, not just people, because talent drives results whereas people may just be driving expenses.)

Talent: Is the main concern of great CEOs. They continually assess, select and position talent to meet strategic needs. And what do you think the direct reports of these CEOs do? They do what the CEO does. CEOs cast a large and influential shadow throughout entire organizations.

THREE TRUTHS ABOUT TALENT:
1. Talent (not people) is your most valuable asset. Talent is what distinguishes the good from the great. Studies show that a great employee is worth over ten times an average employee in the same job. Just think about the difference in contribution between your best employee and an average one.

2. Talent is scarce in all organizations. This one is so well documented you don’t even need the details. Education, housing and a host of other factors make it difficult to recruit and retain great talent here. Shouldn’t you do everything you can to insure your organization has a robust supply of great talent for years to come? If talent isn’t your competitive advantage, then it’s someone else’s.

3. ATG is the source for talent solutions. ATG is a practice of business psychologists focused on strengthening leadership in
organizations. By applying the science of talent assessment and psychology we’ve helped organizations lower unwanted turnover, distinguish ‘great’ leaders from ‘good’ leaders, and develop talent practices that deliver tremendous financial results.

SO, HOW MUCH TIME ARE YOU
SPENDING ON TALENT ISSUES?

1. Do you have the quality talent you need to win?
2. Do you have the pipeline of future leaders to grow?
3. Are you sure that your “A-Players” would never think of leaving you?

BOTTOM LINE:
Great CEOs spend over half of their time on talent issues. They know great talent is the top priority and isn’t easy to build and sustain. At ATG we spend 100% of our time on talent. It’s your job, but it’s our obsession. So, let ATG show you how we can help you lift your talent to drive great results.

R. Chris Steilberg, Ph.D. is the vice president of ATG’s Talent Management, business consulting firm specializing in leadership development. He can be reached at Chris@assessment-tech.com.

President and Consulting Psychologist, Leslie H. Krieger, Ph.D., SPHR, was recently published in News, Improved: How America's Newsrooms Are Learning to Change by Michele McLellan and Tim Porter (Washington, DC; CQ Press; 2007; pp. 76-79).

September 6th, 2005 - Dr. Dale Campbell's The Leadership Gap: Model Strategies for Leadership Development book is published