208: Talent Whisperer - How Cameron Smith brought the best and brightest to NWA

 Hey everyone! Welcome back to another episode of the Startup Junkies Podcast. This week, Caleb Talley has a special chat with Cameron Smith of Cameron Smith & Associates. Cameron Smith & Associates is one of the nation's leading recruiting firms that is devoted to finding and placing the best talent. In this episode, you will get to hear about the impact Cameron Smith & Associates has made in Northwest Arkansas, the game-changing moment for Mr. Smith, and the transformation of fastpitch softball in Arkansas. Check out this fun, insightful episode!   Shownotes (00:34) Intro (2:21) Cameron Smith and Associates origin story (7:39) Cameron shares game changing moments from his career (10:21) Cameron and his wife Monica’s meeting story (15:32) How Cameron changed the Arkansas sports landscape (21:41) COVID’s effects on Cameron Smith and Associates (23:14) What’s next for the company? (24:40) Best advice Cameron has received  Links Caleb Talley Cameron Smith Cameron Smith and Associates Quotes “I was busier than all get out, and I really couldn’t hire recruiters quick enough to manage the business.  So fast forward 25 years later.  There are 1,600 plus Walmart vendors here.  And I believe we are responsible for bringing more than 500 of those teams here, and help facilitating close to 5,000 jobs.  It’s been a great run, and we’re very grateful” (5:13) “When you’re first starting out, you have this vision for this business.  You’ve got to ask a lot of questions.  You have to do your due diligence.  You’ve got to run the numbers and make a plan.”  (25:31)