Recruiting with Heart and Building Trust at Progress

We shine a spotlight on Stacy Cataldo, who has been recognized for her embodiment of Progress Collaboratively, a ProgressPROUD core value. Known for her authenticity, vibrant spirit and dedication to teamwork, Stacy lives by the motto, “Always be yourself and never let anyone ever dull your sparkle!” Her collaborative nature and positive energy make her a valued partner across teams, always ready to support and uplift those around her. Outside of work, Stacy dreams of mastering playing the guitar—a passion sparked in childhood when her teacher called her a natural. While she aspired to play, like Richie Sambora from Bon Jovi, her mom had Eric Clapton in mind. Learn more about Stacy’s journey and how she continues to bring sparkle and synergy to Progress every day.

Tell us about your journey into the tech field?

My post-college career started in a very different area, Human Services. I got a chance to work with people with disabilities (which is also what my college degree is related to). My job in Human Services included working in residential group homes, helping folks get jobs in the community and job coaching. I was promoted to Director of Residential Services, a position in which I was responsible for six group homes and had 15-20 direct reports. One day, I made the decision to pivot into the staffing world which would give me a bit more work life balance. Additionally, because I had experience in staffing my residences, I understood recruiting on a smaller scale. So, I began my second career via the agency staffing world, where I spent 12 years. It’s funny that Progress was one of the companies I had unsuccessfully tried getting on as a client years back. I made the agency-to-corporate transition in July 2016, with Progress taking a chance on me in a temporary capacity. What started as a three-month maternity coverage has turned into nine years with over 800 hires and multiple promotions. It sure feels amazing!

What do you enjoy the most in your daily work life?

What I enjoy most about my daily work life is that no day is ever the same.  Due to the diversity of my workload, I get the opportunity to talk to different groups of people throughout my day. I love that I’m not niched into certain parts of the business or just certain types of open roles.  I love being able to pivot in focus/topic areas from one call to the next. I know that not all recruiters love to do that, but I thrive in it. Additionally, the joy of having someone accept my offer to join Progress, even after 21 years in the staffing world, is an immensely happy feeling that I still love to dance to every time.

What’s your approach to building trust with colleagues across different departments?

In my nine years at Progress, I’ve tried my best to be consistent, authentic and transparent. What you see is what you get with me and people have responded well to that. I’ve been told that I’m easy to talk to. Most people tend to get comfortable with me quickly and my 21 years of experience helps them to see me as an SME (Subject Matter Expert). In my early agency staffing days, I was taught the mantra: always under promise, then over-deliver. It’s something I still live by. I treat all my hiring teams, internal partners and candidates like they’re my valued customers. If I say that I will do something, it gets done.

When you’re not working, what do you like to do?

I have a morning gym group that I love being a part of. It’s not only been good for my fitness but, more importantly, for my mind. This morning routine gives me a lot of energy and mental clarity for my workday, which is quite helpful. I also love spending time with my wonderful husband Joe, my two awesome dogs, Sox and Olivia, and my family and friends. I’m blessed with a great support system. I love music, movies, good TV shows, going out to restaurants, etc. So, nothing out of the ordinary (yes, I am boring ha-ha)!  And now that I have turned 50 this year, I’m starting to put more focus on self-care, which means getting more “me” time.

What are you most excited about for the future of Progress?

When I joined Progress, we were valued at around $350 million. To see us now achieve close to a billion dollars in valuation is exciting. I know that it’s only onwards and upwards from here. I’m excited to see our continued growth, how our products continue to evolve with our AI initiatives and the folks I helped bring to Progress over the years to evolve in their careers. That has been the best part of transitioning from agency life to corporate talent acquisition for me. In agency life, usually I just helped someone get a job and, with that, my engagement was over. But at Progress, I get to not only experience the joy of them joining the company but also watch their evolution. It always makes me proud!