In her own words: Emily Ellison of Hire Dynamics

Northern Nevada Business Weekly: Tell us about your company.

Emily Ellison: Hire Dynamics has been in business since 2001. Founded by college roommates Dan Campbell and Jon Neff, Hire Dynamics specializes in contract, contract to hire and direct placement staffing for positions in the call center, clerical/administrative, light industrial, finance and accounting and pharmacy industries. Company-wide there are 75 internal employees; the Nevada team is comprised of 16 people.

NNBW: What role do you play in the company?

Ellison: As regional manager I am responsible for all of the business in Nevada, Arizona and nationwide for one of our largest master service provider accounts. I am focused on ensuring we help our customers meet their business objectives, assisting our account managers in development of new business and supporting and developing our internal team members.

NNBW: How did you get into this profession?

Ellison: I was referred to Hire Dynamics by a colleague at a previous position when I wanted to make a change in industry. I figured they would place me with one of their clients but they liked my background and created a new position in the company for me as a retention specialist.

NNBW: What is something no one knows about your job?

Ellison: To be successful at Hire Dynamics and in staffing you've got to be ready to do whatever it takes I've painted faces at a customer's summer picnic, my team and I have recruited in the middle of the night and I've made nachos for a small army of employees at a customer's worksite. After six years I'm ready for anything.

NNBW: If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?

Ellison: I would have liked to have been a lawyer and still may become one some day. For now, family and my current profession are my focus.

NNBW: How do you spend your time away from the office?

Ellison: Spending time with family and friends and my 7-month-old son is my favorite pastime.

NNBW: Do you have a favorite vacation memory?

Ellison: The first night of our honeymoon in Hawaii we sat down for dinner at one of the restaurants at the hotel and when the keyboardist played his first song it was "our song." It was a wonderful coincidence and a great start to a memorable trip.

NNBW: Of all the things you learned from your parents, which do you feel was the most valuable?

Ellison: That the right decisions are usually the hardest; if they were easy everyone would make them.

NNBW: What is the quirkiest or oddest job you've ever had?

Ellison: I was a ticket runner for a travel agency back when everyone still got printed boarding passes prior to their trip.

NNBW: What person, living or dead, would you most like to have dinner with, and why?

Ellison: I'd love the opportunity to have one more dinner with my dad. He passed away in 2001 and I'd love to catch up with him on everything that's happened in the world and in my life since then.

NNBW: What's the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Ellison: If you want other people to take you seriously you have to take yourself seriously.

NNBW: What do you like most about your job? What do you like least?

Ellison: The best part of my job is when I can help someone else be successful, whether a customer, one of my employees or a field associate. My least favorite part is when we don't have a job for everyone that needs one.

NNBW: What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?

Ellison: I want people to know that "my door is always open." If I can ever be a resource for anyone, I'm glad to help.

The basics:

Name: Emily Ellison, Hire Dynamics, regional manager

How long have you been in this job? Six years

How long in the profession? Six years

Education: B.A. in communication from UNR

Best book you've read? "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee. It is a simple yet powerful story about important lessons like justice, morality and tolerance that has stuck with me since I first read it in the fifth grade.

What's on your iPod? A little bit of everything. People are always surprised by the variety of music I like, from "oldies" to the greats of the 80s, to hip hop mixes and alternative.

The best movie ever? "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." No matter how many times I watch it I always find myself laughing.

Do you have a nickname? If no, have you ever? Lots of nicknames. It seems like everyone important in my life calls me something different.