Industry Leaders Preparing for Economic Recovery and Strategic Growth

ATLANTA, August 17, 2010 – TalentQuest, a human capital management consulting and software solutions firm, reported further signs of a stabilizing economy and a maintained sense of cautious optimism in the business community throughout the second quarter.

“Although most people agree that it will be a while before we return to pre-recession economic highs, businesses are focused on ensuring they have the right ‘people processes’ in place and that they are prepared to grow when the time comes,” said Rick Brandt, president of TalentQuest Consulting Services. “Many of our largest-employing clients including Morgan Stanley and Coldwell Banker are reinvesting in talent management initiatives, especially assessment solutions and management training.”

Brandt said that organizational downsizing over the last few years has created an abundantly full pool of highly qualified talent and that the real challenge is weeding out individuals who may be adept at portraying themselves as highly qualified to find those who actually are.

“We are working with many clients to create objective assessment and selection tools, virtually eliminating the subjectivity that exists in – and arguably compromises – the hiring process,” Brandt said. “In a world where virtually any business model can be replicated, only those organizations that are able to identify, hire and retain the best people will succeed in effectively differentiating themselves.”

New and Expanded Client Relationships

In the second quarter of 2010, TalentQuest added several new clients to its roster and expanded several client relationships, including:

• Diversified Trust, an employee-owned comprehensive wealth management firm.
• Fifth Street Management, a real estate management company.
• Genuine Parts, a distributor of automotive parts, industrial parts, office products, etc.
• Hyatt Hotels, a leading global hospitality company.
• LEAD Tennessee, a leadership development program for state leaders.
• ReachCall, a full-service telemedicine application services provider.
• Van Winkle & Associates, a full-service advertising agency.
• W.J. Deutsche & Sons, a marketer of wines produced by prestigious families.
• Welch’s, the world’s leading marketer of Concord and Niagara grape-based products.

New Alliances and Initiatives

In June, TalentQuest entered into a strategic alliance with Skillter, Inc., a new hiring platform that offers online tools to streamline the sourcing, filtering and interviewing of Generation Y job seekers.

“A critical component of Skillter’s solution is that every job seeker is required to complete a personality assessment, which is where we come in,” said Kevin Sessions, president of TalentQuest. “Rather than primarily prioritizing the candidate’s resume, Skillter will focus more on attitude and cultural fit, using TalentQuest’s proprietary and proven assessment and profiling capabilities.”

In July, TalentQuest released its much-anticipated Succession Management module, which enables organizations to track and develop high-performing and high-potential employees, effectively creating a talent pool from which they can select the best available candidate for any given position.

“In recent years, more organizations have come to appreciate the value of determining the specific competencies and characteristics that will ensure success in a position,” Sessions said. “Our Succession Module takes this a step further, enabling comparison of an individual’s expertise, experience, traits and characteristics with the customized competency profile for the position.”

Community Involvement

In the second quarter, TalentQuest continued to expand the TQ Giving Back initiative, a philanthropic program supporting the local communities in which the company operates. In one of the most notable contributions, Dr. Kelly Schuck, managing director of TalentQuest’s Birmingham office, created a customized skills assessment, career counseling, leadership development and executive mentorship program for the Birmingham Boys & Girls Club.

“We are very excited about TalentQuest’s level of commitment to our kids and their long-term success,” said Art Allen, president and chief professional officer of the A.G. Gaston Boys & Girls Club.