As you've already no doubt noticed, Whitaker is moving into the "next generation" of technology available to bring this newsletter to you.  In addition to being a little more visually pleasing, this new format also will offer to you the added feature of being able to not only access but also to search our database of currently ongoing searches! With just a simple click on the link provided, you'll have entry into our database portal.  This will give you daily access to the most up-to-the-minute information available instead of having to wait for a monthly update.  Additionally, you won't have to sit and wait for a lengthy Word document to open as an attachment and then scan through things that may have no interest to you until you find what you're looking for.  Now of course as good as technology advancement is, sometimes newer isn't better and/or things don't always work the way you hope and plan.  We're optimistic that this new portal will work seamlessly but I'll have my fingers crossed through the next couple of months.  Also, some of you may prefer to look at the Word document and access the information that way rather than through the database portal.  I'm really anxious to get your thoughts and hear your comments (good and bad) about how you feel about this new system and how it's working for you!  If you have any questions of course you're always welcome to call me or, better yet, my much more technologically-savvy assistant Amber Jolley.

Some of you are aware that I was out of my office "on business" for a week this past month.  I'd like to take a minute to share with you the reason for the absence as I think you'll agree it was time well spent.  I had the honor of attending a meeting of the Pinnacle Society (www.pinnaclesociety.org) in Toronto Canada.  During this meeting I was inducted as one of the newest members of Pinnacle.  The Pinnacle Society is the nation's premier consortium of top recruiters within the permanent placement and search industry. For more than 15 years, the Pinnacle Society has provided the nation's top recruiters a forum in which to exchange the business principles and placement techniques that led them to achieve, and allows them to maintain their success.  There are some pretty strict qualifications for nomination to Pinnacle including a combination of a sustained very high level of performance, contributions to and leadership in our industry, and a desire to train and assist others for the betterment of our profession.   The cornerstone of Pinnacle's success is the highly successful member network that is always there to help a member "throw an idea around" when dealing with a particularly difficult business issue. Membership to Pinnacle is purposely limited to keep this network accessible - membership to Pinnacle is permanently limited to a maximum of only 75 members nationwide.  So you can see why I'm extremely proud of this new accolade! Rest assured that when you work with me and with Whitaker you're now officially working with "one of the nation's best."  I look forward to continuing to earn that distinction not only from Pinnacle but from all of you as well.

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