This panel session will clarify the key differences between consultancies, staffing firms, contract-for-hire agencies, and talent placement firms, helping students and early-career professionals navigate the employment landscape. Panelists will explain how consultancies provide expert solutions to business challenges, staffing firms connect employers with temporary or permanent workers, contract-for-hire agencies offer flexible roles with the potential for permanent placement, and talent placement firms specialize in sourcing top talent for long-term positions. Attendees will gain insights into the unique roles of each organization and how they contribute to the hiring process. Each of these options offers early-career professionals different pathways to gaining experience, whether through full-time employment or flexible work opportunities.

Panelists

• Cody Brown, Principal of Client Solutions at Eliassen: Cody Brown is the Principal of Client Solutions at Eliassen Group, based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over eight years of experience in the technology solutions industry, Cody plays a key role in connecting clients with innovative technology talent to drive business success. Throughout his tenure at Eliassen, he has consistently earned recognition, including multiple President's Club awards for outstanding performance. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where he was a member of the inaugural football team and involved in FCA.

• John Nalley, Managing Director at Optomi Professional Services: John Nalley is the Managing Director at Optomi Professional Services (OPS), based in Charlotte, North Carolina. With over 13 years of experience in connecting technology leaders with top talent, John specializes in building strong, dynamic teams in fields such as data science, software engineering, and analytics. He currently leads OPS's sales organization in the Carolinas, focusing on talent acquisition and professional services across technology sectors. Prior to his role at OPS, John held leadership positions at Red Ventures and The Select Group. He earned his degree from Sewanee: The University of the South, where he was a standout NCAA Division III soccer player and team captain.

• Keith Neus - Managing Director at Sherpa: Keith Neus is a Managing Director at Sherpa. He spent 13 years in public accounting and then moved into the recruiting and staffing industry joining Sherpa in 2007. He was instrumental in building its Business Transformation and Financial Consulting practices. He left Sherpa in 2013 and held technology sales leadership roles with national firms, Randstad and Tatum. Keith returned to Sherpa in July 2023 as an owner and managing director. He’s a graduate of Elon University and grew up in Maryland. Keith is married to his wife Loren. His son is a graduate of NC State and now works in finance for Silicon Valley Bank. His daughter is a senior at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Organizations

• Eliassen Group is a leading provider of strategic consulting, talent solutions, and managed services. With nearly 30 years of experience, the company connects businesses with top technology talent to drive innovation and achieve business goals. Specializing in IT consulting, Agile solutions, creative services, and life sciences, Eliassen Group partners with clients to help them scale and execute their strategies effectively. With a national reach and local presence across the U.S., Eliassen is known for delivering high-quality services that address both short-term project needs and long-term organizational growth.


• Optomi Professional Services (OPS) is a technology consulting and staffing firm that provides talent solutions to help businesses achieve their technology goals. Specializing in areas such as IT, data science, software engineering, and business intelligence, OPS connects organizations with top-tier professionals to support both short-term projects and long-term strategic initiatives. OPS offers services in talent acquisition, professional services, and managed services, focusing on building strong, skilled teams for clients across various industries. With a commitment to giving back to communities and positively impacting consultants and clients, OPS has earned a reputation for delivering exceptional service and talent.


• Sherpa is a staffing, recruiting, and consulting firm based in Charlotte, NC. It specializes in providing tailored staffing solutions and recruitment services in Accounting & Finance, Data Analytics, Project/Change Management, Technology, Human Resources, Marketing, and Administrative Support. Sherpa helps employers find top talent while assisting job seekers in finding their ideal roles. The company aims to guide both job seekers and employers through the hiring process, making it easier to navigate today’s competitive employment market.

Questions? Contact Josh Hertel in the School of Data Science at jhertel@charlotte.edu