The Growth Game

What happens to staffing after 40+ consecutive months of decline and a complete break from GDP trends?

In this episode of The Growth Game, Paul DeLuca sits down with Tom Kosnik, president of The Visus Group and leading staffing consultant, to unpack what’s driving the downturn and what opportunities are hiding inside it.

They dig into:
➡️ Why the traditional hourly, transactional staffing model is sunsetting
➡️ How offshoring, nearshoring, and automation are quietly reshaping demand
➡️ Where smart firms are moving: RPO, SOW, higher-value solutions
➡️ How owners can rethink their business model instead of just “waiting for the cycle” to turn

If you’re a staffing founder or leader trying to decide what to build next, this conversation will give you data, language, and a clearer map of where the industry is going.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of staffing, funding, and growth.

Connect with Tom Kosnik (The Visus Group)
Website | https://www.visusgroup.com/ 
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/tkosnik/ 

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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X3 only staffs three trades, and that’s exactly why it works.

In this episode, X3 CEO Darren Bolingbroke breaks down why specialization—coined “workforcing” by the X3 team—and a referral model that actually pays are helping flip the traditional temp staffing model on its head.

Topic highlights

• Staying trade-lean means faster placements and stronger relationships
• A referral program that rewards the whole workforc
• Prioritizing worker growth and client accountability over short-term coverage

The episode explores a new way of approaching labor, especially in industries like construction.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of staffing and growth.

🔗 Learn more about:

Darren Bolingbroke

CEO, X3 

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrenx3/

Website | https://x3tradesmen.com/

Paul DeLuca

LinkedIn | /merituscapital

Meritus Capital 

LinkedIn | /meritus-capital-inc-

Website | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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Are you a staffing founder or operator looking to grow without adding unnecessary complexity—or leaving revenue on the table?

In this episode, Paul DeLuca sits down with Pat Peri, Founder & CEO of 33 North Group, to unpack how niche focus and cross-border staffing unlock growth. Pat is also an early Rostyr client of Meritus Capital’s—using the staffing industry’s first operating system to unify payroll funding, compliance, and workforce management.

Pat shares how his background in construction, manufacturing, and entrepreneurship led him to build a specialized staffing company that helps U.S., Canadian, and Mexican businesses hire confidently across borders. By simplifying payroll, compliance, and insurance, 33 North enables staffing firms and direct clients to scale without turning away qualified talent.

Pat also breaks down how he identified a major gap in the staffing market—one most firms don’t realize is costing them growth—and how niche focus, lean systems, and strong back-office support can unlock placements that would otherwise be missed.

They dive into:
🌱 Why staffing firms say no to more placements than they think
🌱 How niche specialization creates leverage and defensibility
🌱 What Pat learned by calling 100 staffing agencies before launching
🌱 The operational realities of cross-border staffing and compliance
🌱 Why people-first values and smart systems fuel sustainable growth

Meritus Capital is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services are provided by i3 Bank, Member FDIC. The Meritus Capital Visa Debit Card is issued by i3 Bank pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.

👉 Subscribe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of staffing and growth.

Learn more about our Guest: 

Pat Peri - Founder & CEO, 33 North Group
LinkedIn |   / pat-peri-iv-05283461 
Website | www.33northgroup.com

#StaffingIndustry #CrossBorderStaffing #StaffingLeadership #NicheStaffing #WorkforceCompliance #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurJourney #GrowthGamePodcast #StaffingWorld

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

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In this episode of The Growth Game, Paul DeLuca, CEO of Meritus Capital, sits down with Daniel Hixon, the founder of GoodWork, a new job board platform aiming to revolutionize healthcare staffing. Daniel shares his journey from building a fast-growing staffing agency to taking on giants like Vivian and Indeed.

They dive into:

Why most job boards are incentivized to fail

How GoodWork only profits when jobs actually get filled

The real reason ghosting happens—on both sides

Daniel’s toughest leadership lessons

Why staying local and focused is key in staffing

If you're a healthcare entrepreneur, recruiter, or just passionate about disrupting outdated systems, this conversation is gold.

👉 Subscribe for more insights from top leaders in staffing and growth.

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Daniel Hixon | https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhixon/

#HealthcareStaffing #StartupJourney #JobBoardDisruption #StaffingAgency #TechForGood #EntrepreneurLife #GoodWorkApp #FutureOfWork #NurseStaffing #GrowthGamePodcast

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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Andy Kohler, VP at Marsh McLennan, joins The Growth Game Podcast live from the SIA Executive Forum in Miami. In this episode, Andy breaks down the most common insurance mistakes staffing firms make—and what you need in place to scale safely.

🎯 You’ll Learn:

• What most staffing firms overlook in coverage
• Why brokers aren't asking the right questions
• Key insurance terms staffing owners must understand
• Risk management strategies to scale with confidence

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Andy Kohler | https://www.linkedin.com/in/andybkohler/

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on staffing, finance, and business growth!

#staffingindustry #salesstrategy #staffinggrowth #recruitingtips #staffingsuccess #leadgeneration #staffingleadership #businessgrowth #lightindustrialstaffing #croinsights

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
Website | ...

Jennie Dede, Head of Sales at LinkedIn, joins The Growth Game Podcast live from SIA Executive Forum in Miami to reveal exactly how staffing firms are scaling faster with the power of LinkedIn.

In this episode, Jennie shares:
✔️ The 3 key tools staffing companies should be using on LinkedIn
✔️ Why content posting is your #1 branding advantage
✔️ How change management drives tech adoption (and growth)
✔️ Why 10-year recruiters are getting left behind
✔️ What successful staffing leaders are doing with AI right now
✔️ How to build a talent strategy that evolves with the industry

Whether you’re running a local agency or managing 10,000+ clients, Jennie brings real strategies, straight from the source, to help you compete in 2025 and beyond.

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Jennie Dede | https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniedede/

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on staffing, finance, and business growth!

#staffing #LinkedIn #recruiting #staffingagency #growthstrategy #talentsolutions #changemanagement #AIinStaffing #TheGrowthGame #JennieDede

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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What’s the one growth move most staffing firms overlook? Legal strategy. Ben Ebbink, partner at Fisher Phillips and head of their staffing practice, joins The Growth Game Podcast live from the SIA Executive Forum in Miami.

In this episode, Ben shares critical insights on:
✔️ Why proactive compliance saves money and drives long-term growth
✔️ The top legal risks facing staffing firms in 2025
✔️ What AI, DEI, and data privacy laws mean for your business
✔️ California workers' comp reform and the future of regulatory clarity
✔️ How legal structure supports diversification and scaling

Whether you’re running a startup or a national firm, this conversation is packed with essential takeaways for protecting and scaling your staffing business.

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Guest | https://www.linkedin.com/in/benjaminebbink/

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on staffing, finance, and business growth!

#staffing #compliance #employmentlaw #legalstrategy #DEI #AIregulations #privacylaws #workerscomp #riskmanagement #TheGrowthGame #podcast

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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In this episode of The Growth Game Podcast, Kyle Cobb of Gallagher shares how staffing companies can scale faster—and safer—through smart risk management, laser-focused strategy, and industry-specific insurance planning.

Live from the SIA Executive Forum in Miami, Kyle discusses:
✔️ The current state of the staffing market heading into 2025
✔️ Workers comp challenges (and solutions) in California
✔️ Why vertical and geographic focus drives long-term growth
✔️ How staffing firms can avoid major insurance pitfalls
✔️ The wildest workers comp fraud story you’ll hear all year

Whether you're a staffing startup or a seasoned operator, this episode offers tactical insight into protecting and growing your firm in a shifting market.

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Guest | https://www.linkedin.com/in/kcobb-ajg/

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on staffing, finance, and business growth!

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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In this special Growth Game Podcast episode, Greg Moore and Larry Carnahan of Meritus Capital reflect on how real connections, the right tech stack, and trusted partnerships can make or break a staffing business. Recorded live at the SIA Executive Forum in Miami, this candid conversation dives into how conferences drive long-term brand awareness, the evolving role of technology, and why funding partners are critical for startups and scaling firms alike.

You’ll learn:
✔️ How to get real value from staffing conferences
✔️ The importance of consistency and presence in brand building
✔️ Why your tech stack and funding partner can make or break your business
✔️ What staffing startups need to survive and scale in 2025

Whether you’re launching a firm or leveling up your infrastructure, this episode delivers practical insights from two industry veterans who’ve seen it all.

Plus: Get personal with Larry and Greg as they reveal what they'd be doing if they weren't in the funding business and their unique conference "must-dos" (including beach souvenirs for family!).

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Greg Moore | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregmerituscapital/
Larry Carnahan | https://www.linkedin.com/in/larrycarnahan/

#staffing #conferences #businessgrowth #recruitment #staffingtech #startupfunding #networkingtips #TheGrowthGame #SIA2025 #podcast

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
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From launching her first staffing firm in the '90s to opening an international operation in Colombia, Gwen Gordon has done it all—and then some. In this episode of The Growth Game Podcast, live from the SIA Executive Forum in Miami, Gwen shares her journey from burnout to bold entrepreneurship, including how she's using offshore talent to grow smarter and stay lean.

Hosted by Paul DeLuca of Meritus Capital, this episode covers:
✔️ The mindset needed to launch and sustain a staffing business
✔️ How Gwen built a trusted offshore team in Medellín
✔️ The real value of boutique outsourcing for staffing firms
✔️ How offshore recruiters can support U.S. growth

Whether you’re looking to expand, outsource, or find inspiration from a true industry vet, Gwen’s story offers both strategy and heart.

🔗 Learn more about:

MERITUS
LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/meritus-capital-inc-/
Meritus Capital | https://www.merituscapital.com/

Paul DeLuca | https://www.linkedin.com/in/merituscapital/
Gwen Gordon | https://www.linkedin.com/in/gwen-gordon-292a30/

🔔 Subscribe for more expert insights on staffing, finance, and business growth!

#staffing #outsourcing #entrepreneurship #womeninbusiness #recruitment #offshorestaffing #businessgrowth #remotehiring #TheGrowthGame #podcast

Paul DeLuca
LinkedIn |   / merituscapital

Meritus Capital
LinkedIn |   / meritus-capital-inc-
Website | https://www.merituscapital.com

Rostyr, Powered by Meritus Capital
Website | ...