Great Work

Zeal

Great Work is the podcast for the staffing industry that celebrates the innovation, leadership, and execution it takes to build a successful staffing company. Each episode features candid conversations with top professionals, thought leaders, and change-makers who are shaping the future of work. Join us as we explore the Great Work being done in the staffing industry.

Episodes

  1. Episode One: Gino Rooney on BlueCrew, Classet, and Reinventing Staffing Tech

    06/25/2025

    Episode One: Gino Rooney on BlueCrew, Classet, and Reinventing Staffing Tech

    In this episode, Gino Rooney shares his journey from co-founding BlueCrew, a trailblazing W-2 staffing platform, to launching Classet, an AI-powered recruiting assistant built for skilled trades and high-volume roles. Gino opens up about what it takes to build tech-first staffing infrastructure, why BlueCrew went all-in on W-2 employment early on, and how that decision helped land enterprise clients and ultimately an acquisition by EmployBridge. He and host Kirti Shenoy dive into the operational realities of staffing in light industrial sectors, what legacy firms can learn from tech-forward challengers, and why AI isn’t replacing recruiters—but augmenting them. Whether you’re leading a staffing firm, building a platform, or investing in the future of work, this episode is packed with frontline lessons and practical frameworks. ⏱ Episode Breakdown 00:00 – Introduction to Gino Rooney 03:01 – The Evolution of BlueCrew 05:57 – The W-2 Model vs. 1099: A Strategic Choice 09:11 – Navigating Supply and Demand in Staffing 12:01 – Challenges in Light Industrial Staffing 14:52 – Embracing Technology in Staffing 18:05 – Advice for Staffing Companies on Technology Adoption 20:50 – Scaling for Acquisition: Lessons from BlueCrew 22:52 – Building for the Future of Staffing 26:47 – Revolutionizing Recruitment with Classet 30:20 – Leveraging AI in Staffing 34:04 – Lessons Learned in the Staffing Industry 🛠️ Topics Covered How BlueCrew challenged the 1099 norm with a W-2 model Operational playbooks for staffing high-volume shifts Scaling a tech-first staffing platform without burning cash The role of AI in streamlining recruiting workflows Advice for staffing leaders experimenting with digital transformation Why great customer service is still a competitive edge in staffing 🔗 Resources Mentioned Classet – AI Recruiting for Skilled Trades Zeal – Modern Payroll for Staffing Companies — Great Work is the podcast about the people building the pipes and platforms that power the real economy. Subscribe and leave us a review if you’re enjoying the show.

    37 min

About

Great Work is the podcast for the staffing industry that celebrates the innovation, leadership, and execution it takes to build a successful staffing company. Each episode features candid conversations with top professionals, thought leaders, and change-makers who are shaping the future of work. Join us as we explore the Great Work being done in the staffing industry.