Talkin' Talent with Cherry Bekaert's Sam McCarthy

DMV Culture Clash: Different Backgrounds, Same Team In this episode of Talkin’ Talent, Host Sam McCarthy is joined by Sawyer Caruso, MPS, SHRM-SCP, Director of Human Resources at Nooks, for a conversation about what happens when professionals with vastly different backgrounds are asked to work toward the same goals. Drawing from experiences working with professionals across government, military, c...

On this episode of Talkin’ Talent, Kris Bashore, leader of Cherry Bekaert’s Human Resources Outsourcing and Consulting Service s, joins host Sam McCarthy to discuss what it takes to effectively manage people during an acquisition. Having both joined Cherry Bekaert through acquisitions, Sam and Kris share real stories and lessons learned about how communication, onboarding, and change management sh...

Host Sam McCarthy and Matt Antine, Executive Director of Cherry Bekaert’s Staffing and Recruiting Services , dive into Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert’s 2026 Salary Guides . With 15 years in accounting and finance recruiting and nearly 20 years in sales, Matt shares what the latest salary data means for employers and job seekers. The discussion covers retention challenges, salary gaps by compan...

In episode 24 of Talkin’ Talent , host Sam McCarthy sits down with Mallory Planck, a seasoned talent acquisition (TA) leader, to explore the often-overlooked return of investment (ROI) of strong TA leadership. Drawing from over a decade of experience scaling recruiting functions in high-growth startups, Mallory shares how TA leaders can deliver far more than just filled roles by driving strategic...

In Episode 23 of Talkin’ Talent, host Sam McCarthy explores the powerful dynamic between accounting/finance and human resources (HR) leadership with Nicole Peace, Chief People Officer at AIS, and Kristyn Reed, an experienced chief financial officer (CFO) at emerging and growth tech companies. Together, they unpack how collaboration between CFOs and chief human resources officer (CHROs) or chief pe...

In this episode of Talkin' Talent, host Sam McCarthy sits down with human resources (HR) leaders Julia Medvin and Chelsea Stearns to explore the evolving landscape of talent acquisition, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence (AI). They discuss how AI is reshaping the applicant experience and the challenges it presents in discerning genuine talent from embellished resumes. As...

The information technology (IT) job market is evolving fast — are you keeping up? In this episode of " Talkin’ Talent ," host Sam McCarthy sits down with IT recruiting experts Craig Savarick and Bryant Covelli to explore the key hiring trends shaping 2025. Whether you're looking to hire top tech talent, or advance your own IT career, this episode is packed with must-know insights. C...

In this episode of "Talkin' Talent," host Sam McCarthy is joined by industry professionals Kia Powell and Jay Zanone as they explore key trends shaping the accounting and finance workforce in 2025. They discuss strategies for compensation, the future of remote and hybrid work and how companies can remain competitive in the evolving landscape of talent acquisition and retention. Thei...

In this episode of Talkin' Talent, host Sam McCarthy interviews Elizabeth Mashakas, an experienced HR leader, to explore strategies for supporting new hires during the critical "affirm phase," or the transition from job offer to their first day. Elizabeth shares how her team achieved a remarkable 97% offer acceptance rate, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency and meanin...

In this episode of Talkin' Talent, host Sam McCarthy interviews Cynthia Daniel, the Diversity and Culture Leader at Cherry Bekaert. They discuss the evolution of diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace, particularly since Cynthia joined the Firm in 2021.  Cynthia shares her journey into HR, highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces through initiatives like E...

In episode seventeen of Talkin’ Talent, Susan Pittman , Managing Director and Leader of Human Capital Advisory at Cherry Bekaert, joins Sam McCarthy to discuss all things human resources (HR). Together, they discuss her fascinating career journey, which includes working as the only female in personnel management at the United States Steel Corporation, and how it led to her managing the Human Capit...

In episode 16 of Talkin’ Talent, Doug Smith and Evan Seward join Sam McCarthy to discuss when an organization should use an external search firm and the dynamics of temporary vs. permanent staffing solutions. They provide professional advice on understanding client needs, navigating recruitment challenges, and adapting to current staffing trends. Whether you’re optimizing your team or exploring ne...

In the latest episode of the Talkin’ Talent, Sam McCarthy, Director at Cordia Resources by Cherry Bekaert, is joined by Tori Mitchell, SHRM-CP, Talent Acquisition Leader at Juno Search Partners. They discuss how the HR recruiting landscape has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic and what the next 12 months have in store. They also delve into why working with an HR recruiter can be beneficial in th...

In the 14th episode of Talkin’ Talent, Sam sits down with Tobey Wyatt, founder of Motherlode Consulting, as she shares how her unique career journey led her to offering “ops in a box” business operations services to support CEOs and leadership teams. Her trial-and-error approach, from starting a greeting card company as a child, to obtaining a degree as a high school math teacher, helped her uncov...

Welcome to the 13th episode of "Talkin' Talent" with Sam McCarthy, MBA! Our guest, Lindsey McCarty, Chief People Officer at Cherry Bekaert, shares insights on navigating HR leadership during acquisitions. We explore key strategies such as transparent communication, talent retention and cultural integration. Learn how Cherry Bekaert excels in a flexible work model, embracing advanced...

Welcome to the 12th episode of "Talkin' Talent" with Sam McCarthy, MBA ! In this episode, we're joined by Kathryn Gombos, MPA, SPHR founder of Gombos Group, and compensation expert. We'll explore the intricacies of compensation in the modern job market, delve into the importance of pay transparency, and learn how to communicate effectively about compensation matters. From...

Welcome to the 11th episode of Talkin' Talent! Join Sam as he sits down with Claire Kennedy , a seasoned HR and People professional who recently embarked on an exciting new job and career path. Together, they explore the lessons she's learned while seeking a fulfilling career. Claire generously shares her invaluable insights, offering practical strategies and innovative ideas for success...

In the 10th episode of Talkin' Talent, Sam interviews Jocelyn King, Founder and CEO of VirgilHR . Jocelyn, a versatile HR professional, discusses her journey through various industries and how it led her to establish VirgilHR—a company specializing in assisting businesses with employment and labor law compliance. Tune in to hear Jocelyn's entrepreneurial story and insights on supporting...

In this 9th episode of Talkin’ Talent, join Sam and Principle Executive Recruiter, Stephanie Titlow , at Zillow as they explore the dynamic and ever-changing job market, and gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by both corporate recruiters and job candidates.  They will dive into the latest developments and provide strategies and ideas for navigating this complex landscape. Don't...

Join Sam for a solo podcast as he digs into some hot topics; including the benefits of working with a recruiter and what it means to be effective at networking.    Stay tuned for another Q &A episode in March and future podcasts with guests. Don’t forget to subscribe on Spotify and share with your network!  View All Podcasts From This Series

Join us as Sam McCarthy and co-host, Julie Simmons, Managing Director from Human Capital Strategic share the audio from the live webinar, HR Leadership Series – Employee Engagement and Retention - What's the New Normal? that took place on Tuesday, 11/15. In this episode, panelists, Katie Phillips, Director of Human Resources at GCS-SIGAL and Julia Medvin, Senior Director HR Operations at Vent...

Welcome everyone, today’s episode, Temporary Staffing and Consulting: Hear from the Experts . In this episode, we convene with two temporary staffing experts, Doug Smith, Partner and Business Development leader and Sharronne Swann , Recruitment Manager and at Cordia Resources . Join us as they provide an insightful into the recruitment and temporary staffing today. View All Podcasts From This Seri...

In this 5th episode of Talkin’ Talent , Sam spoke with benefits experts, Samantha Rosenberg , Director of Human Resources with the American Association for Clinical Chemistry and Alli Gregory , Employee Health and Benefits Consultant with Marsh McLennan Agency. Together, they provide takeaways of the current benefits landscape, changing benefits, mental health, flexibility in the workplace, trends...

Welcome everyone to today’s episode, Getting Ahead: The Battle for Talent , with Stephanie Cramer, PMP, SHRM-CP, VP of People at MGAC, and Nat Jones, Partner at Cordia Resources. Together they bring over 40 years of collective recruiting and people experience. In this episode, we dive into the current HR landscape, recruitment marketing, employer value proposition, salaries, counter offers, and mo...

Welcome everyone, today’s episode, Leadership, Growth, and Organization Redesign – Views from the C-Suite , features two senior HR leaders, Dominique Taylor, Chief People Officer at Axios and Marguerite Eastwood, Chief Human Resources Officer at the US Chamber of Commerce as they discuss their path into the C-Suite, lessons learned along the way, and trends for the future.  I am sure their stories...