Talent Wins Chris Mursau

Eric Berger is the Owner and General Manager of Choice Electric, a full-service electrical contractor based in Denver with about 40 team members specializing in high-end residential and commercial projects. With over 20 years of experience managing people and projects in the construction industry, Eric brings valuable perspectives on talent acquisition and management. A creative and strategic project management professional, he has overseen over $200 million in design, development, improvement, and investment in real estate. Through strategic leadership and a focus on cultivating talent, Eric actively propels Choice Electric's business growth and ensures the development of a thriving organizational culture.
In this episode… As a company expands, so do the intricacies of assembling a team that possesses the necessary skills and aligns seamlessly with the organization's culture and vision. From navigating diverse personalities to fostering collaboration amidst rapid growth, how can leaders master the art of talent management for organizational success?
After acquiring Choice Electric, project manager Eric Berger contended with talent gaps and misfires, leading to overworked and overstressed team members. These experiences prompted Eric to adopt the Topgrading hiring methodology and prioritize cultural fit in the recruitment process. He emphasizes the importance of clear communication and a steadfast commitment to cultivating a thriving environment. Additionally, Eric highlights the significance of a strong leadership team and the value of building talent at all levels of the organization. By investing in entry-level employees and offering growth opportunities, Choice Electric fosters a culture of continuous development and excellence.
In this episode of Talent Wins, Chris Mursau chats with Eric Berger, the Owner and General Manager of Choice Electric, to discuss the intricacies of hiring and retaining top talent. Eric delves into strengthening company culture and vision through proper hiring processes and the critical role of communication and continuous improvement in organizational success. 
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Eric Berger on LinkedIn Choice Electric Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy Foolproof Hiring: Powerful, Proven Keys to Hiring HIGH Performers by Brad Smart and Chris Mursau Topgrading, 3rd Edition: The Proven Hiring and Promoting Method That Turbocharges Company Performance by Bradford D. Smart Ph.D. Onboarded: How to bring new hires to the point where they are effective, faster by Brad Giles

Jason Mandel is the Founder and CEO of Mandel Family Office, a firm dedicated to providing comprehensive financial services to high-net-worth individuals and families. He is a Wall Street insider and a private financial adviser and has held senior positions at the LeFrak Organization, D.E. Shaw, and Cantor Fitzgerald. Jason has over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in financial services and risk management. Additionally, he is the President of Caretrust Financial and the author of DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Stop Wall Street Greed and Rising Taxes From Destroying Your Wealth.
In this episode… Talent is a cornerstone of success in business leadership, entrepreneurship, and advisory roles. How does talent influence the course of various business ventures?
From founding and growing enterprises, talent has played a pivotal role in driving Jason Mandel’s organizational growth and innovation. Jason empowers his teams to excel and achieve their goals by fostering an environment that encourages continuous learning and development. Additionally, he aligns team members' goals with organizational objectives through effective incentive structures. Through strategic talent acquisition and management, Jason believes businesses can enhance their competitive edge, drive innovation, and foster long-term growth.
In the latest episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau hosts Jason Mandel, Founder and CEO of The Mandel Family Office, to highlight the profound influence of talent on business success. Jason emphasizes the importance of nurturing talent, shares insights on aligning employees' goals through incentives, and provides a deep dive into his specialized expertise.
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Jason Mandel on LinkedIn Contact Jason Mandel: cell phone 917-603-2365 The Mandel Family Office Caretrust Financial DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Stop Wall Street Greed and Rising Taxes From Destroying Your Wealth by Jason Mandel

Hannah Smolinski, a Certified Public Accountant, is the Founder and CEO of Clara CFO Group. This agency, operating on a virtual CFO model, is dedicated to offering small businesses financial clarity and strategies for profit maximization. Hannah's experience at one of the world's largest accounting firms led her to create this service. She wanted to make sure small businesses could benefit from top-level financial advice.
In addition to running Clara CFO Group, Hannah has a YouTube channel with over 55,000 subscribers. She shares practical finance advice and provides valuable business resources on her channel. Her goal is to help organizations understand their financial situation better and work toward commercial success.
In this episode… In the journey of small businesses to build exceptional teams, numerous trials and tribulations emerge, but so do remarkable successes. Despite the successes achieved in hiring and team-building endeavors, what are some prevalent struggles companies may face in talent acquisition?
Navigating the talent ecosystem presents businesses with myriad challenges, from fierce competition for top talent to the intricacies of remote hiring. Drawing from experiences, business leader Hannah Smolinski underscores the significance of aligning hiring strategies with company values and culture. Values such as integrity, collaboration, and innovation guide her hiring decisions and team-building efforts. By adopting a strategic approach and remaining steadfast in their commitment to company values, businesses can surmount these obstacles and cultivate teams that propel success and foster growth.
In the latest episode of the Talent Wins podcast with Chris Mursau, Hannah Smolinski, Founder and CEO of the Clara CFO Group, shares candid insights into the challenges companies often face when acquiring talent. From financial barriers to the significance of anticipating hiring needs and asking the right interview questions, Hannah provides valuable advice for navigating the hiring landscape.
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn  Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Hannah Smolinski: LinkedIn | Email Clara CFO Group: Website | YouTube EOS

Chris Mursau is the President of Topgrading, a proven system that helps organizations build and maintain high-performing teams through hiring, development, and promotion strategies. Since 2001, Chris has been consulting and teaching organizations and individual managers how to pack their teams with A Players.
Chris has conducted over 2,500 in-depth Topgrading assessments for internal and external candidates, helped hundreds of people achieve their A potential, and trained thousands in the guaranteed methods for improving their success. His client list is broad and diverse, including Fortune 500 companies, small to medium-sized businesses, and nonprofit organizations. In April, Chris co-authored his first book, Foolproof Hiring, along with Brad Smart. The book reveals an easy-to-follow instruction course in Topgrading, a time-tested hiring methodology for recruiting A Players.
In this episode… Topgrading is a well-established technique for recruiting and retaining high-performing teams. However, the three available editions of the book are quite comprehensive, making it challenging to absorb all of the information thoroughly. As a result, hiring teams may wonder how they can effectively use the methodology without fully implementing the system.
Over the years, Chris Mursau, a seasoned executive at Topgrading, has conducted several feedback sessions with the system’s users. During his evaluations, he determined that many users were not referencing the appropriate components of the process. Moreover, many smaller companies could not onboard needed resources, such as a human resources department or hiring program. To mitigate the improper use of Topgrading procedures, Chris conceived the idea of writing Foolproof Hiring, an abbreviated manual version. Foolproof Hiring guides readers through the process by providing a starting point and assisting them in executing Topgrading best practices.
In this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Rise25’s Chad Franzen once again interviews Chris Mursau to discuss Foolproof Hiring, a book he co-authored with Brad Smart. Chris reveals the inspiration for writing the book, shares five typical hiring challenges, and identifies the hiring habits that acquisition teams should avoid.
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Chad Franzen on LinkedIn Rise25 Foolproof Hiring: Powerful, Proven Keys to Hiring High Performers by Brad Smart and Chris Mursau

Lee Prosenjak is the Managing Director at Valentines Resort & Marina, a luxury all-suite hotel on Harbour Island, The Bahamas. He is also a Senior Partner at Hesse Partners, a forum facilitating learning and growth opportunities for executives, corporations, universities, and membership organizations. For over 20 years, Lee operated a dance studio in Denver, Colorado. He is a tenured Entrepreneurs’ Organization member and a former Master Forum Trainer.
In this episode… Populous cities have an easier time filling positions because there is a larger pool of talent to recruit from. However, hiring managers in smaller communities may need help to attract top talent. What strategies can they implement to spearhead the process?
Business leader Lee Prosenjak shares that he continuously networks with clients, customers, and work associates in addition to sourcing talent in neighboring communities. He explains that this helps build a Rolodex of potential hires and allows him to plan out at least six months in advance to ensure all job positions are filled. Although finding talent in smaller communities can be more challenging, Lee thinks that companies should still follow a rigorous hiring process. He recommends hiring managers conduct reference checks, verify past employers, and vet work gaps. Additionally, Lee asserts that companies with reputable brands can entice candidates to apply for employment.
In this episode of the Talent Wins Podcast, Chris Mursau welcomes Lee Prosenjak to discuss recruiting top talent in small communities. Lee discusses sourcing talent as the largest employer in a small community, talent acquisition processes, and strategies for building a solid team.
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Lee Prosenjak on LinkedIn Valentines Resort & Marina Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz Creative Quest by Questlove Questlove Supreme

Zach Wilcox is the Founder and CEO of Fide Freight, a family-owned domestic transportation company specializing in supply chain technology, logistics, and transportation solutions. In Zach’s role, he oversees all operations aspects, including sales, people development and training, and marketing. Before founding Fide Freight, Zach held project management, operations, and manufacturing roles across different companies. He has a business degree from Grand Valley State University.
In this episode… To attract great talent, a company must have systems to discuss the candidates in-depth. 
To streamline the hiring process, Zach Wilcox advocates for implementing processes for documenting the hiring process, tracking applicants, and a system for exchanging data and information. Adopting structured and comprehensive hiring practices allows the acquisitions team to streamline quality candidates. Create interview sheets to document special notes about each candidate's qualifications and resumes, which hiring managers can upload into a tracking system. Zach affirms that Monday.com is reliable software to manage all applicants, giving all interviewers access to all interviews, notes, and scorecards.
In this episode of the Talent Wins podcast, Chris Mursau welcomes Zach Wilcox, Founder and CEO of Fide Freight, for an informational conversation about hiring and interviewing processes. Zach discusses Fide Freight, how to amass new customers, leveraging core values to attract job candidates, and hiring strategies for acquiring top talent.
Resources Mentioned in this episode Chris Mursau on LinkedIn Topgrading on LinkedIn Topgrading Zach Wilcox on LinkedIn Fide Freight The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don’t by Jim Collins Who by Geoff Smart The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea by Bob Burg and John David Mann Monday