Out of Need Comes a New Outplacement Firm

January, 2009 - Crains Cleveland Business

Given the constant news of layoffs from all corners of the economy, Solon neighbors SS&G Financial Services and staffing firm Torch Group Inc. have put parts of their disparate businesses together to form an outplacement company named SS&G/ TorchGroup Career Transition Services.

Executives from both companies call it a melding of resources and distinct client bases.

"In past recessions, our interim staffing has been kind of the counterbalance to a downturn in recruiting," said Torch Group CEO Ronald Torch. "(This recession) is so deep and so broad that even though we are doing well in interim staffing, it isn't enough. What we started to hear from our clients was a need for outplacement services."

SS&G managing director Gary Shamis said given the upheavals in the financial industry, he saw a need among clients, even though outplacement hasn't been part of SS&G's offerings. "A lot of them have never used outplacement," he said. "Consequently, they're not sure what to do, and with us approaching them through a service like this it provides them with an outlet with somebody they know."