Article written by Resident Writer, Susan Reed
Emily V. Biscardi is the founder and CEO of Xelerate, LLC, an outsourced recruitment service provider. She founded the company nine years ago when she saw a need for better service in the recruiting market. Companies come to Xelerate for a variety of reasons; for example, they are too small for an in-house recruitment department; they are spending too much of their budget on recruiting; they are overburdened by the recruitment process; or they are experiencing excessive turnover.
“We build and implement methodologies and processes that fill the gaps in our clients’ recruiting programs,” says Biscardi. Xelerate can offer help with all or portions of the process, depending on the clients’ needs. “Services are customized as each company presents its own unique challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining talent.”
Biscardi and her team work many industries, including healthcare, technology, professional services, and non-profit, to name a few. Clients range in size from emerging growth to Fortune 500 companies and include long-standing relationships with companies such as Main Line Health, IMS Health, The John Templeton Foundation, and Maxwell Systems. “Our business follows the economy. When the technology industry was in the forefront, we were there. When talent in the mortgage and finance industry was in demand, we were there. Lately, the greatest need has been in the healthcare, as well as the pharmaceutical service industries.”
Biscardi states the Xelerate’s success comes from the combination of its unique service delivery model and its team of skilled recruiting consultants. Under the leadership of Kelly Jensen, Vice President of Operations, focus is placed on value and customer services. While most of the recruiting consultants work on sire at the client offices, the team meets weekly in their office to exchange ideas, stay connected, and maintain the professional, yet very friendly, atmosphere of the office.
With the onset of the economic downturn in late 2008, Biscardi was challenged when many companies were downsizing. She launched the new service called Ready Access Recruiting that provided clients with an alternative solution to support new budgets without sacrificing quality of service.
Emily explained, “A bad economy does not guarantee that there is a lot of talent available. Good people are hesitant to leave a current position to take a chance on the unknown. This can make recruitment a challenge.” But it is a challenge she takes seriously. “As long as you make good decisions, things generally fall into place.” She must be making some very good decisions – as of July 2013, Emily was awarded the Brava! Award, which recognizes greater Philadelphia’s outstanding women business leaders.
Emily is married and is a working mother, so she understands the balance that may be difficult to maintain for the other working parents in her office. “We have built a culture that emphasizes work/life balance in combination with teamwork and service excellence.