About Josh Schiering
As an innovative business driver and serial entrepreneur, Josh Schiering has over two-decades of experience successfully helping businesses thrive. His expertise in developing and launching strategic plans, operational teams and the infrastructures needed to support large-scale growth, have defined his successful career. With a passion for start-ups and rapid growth companies, in heavily regulated industries, Schiering has focused on taking companies from surviving to thriving. Let's take a deeper dive into some reflections from this motivational leader and uniter.
Schiering - proud father of six.
50 YEAR OLD CULTURE CURED
In the early years, as a teen and throughout the college summers, Schiering served as a camp counselor and aquatics director in upstate New York. He credits those years for igniting the spark of his lifelong passion and dedication to team building and mentorship. In 2000, Schiering ended his role leading a non-profit in New York to kick-off his career in the private sector in business development and human resources. Moving outside of Boston to help a fifty-year-old company advance from good to great, Schiering stepped in and managed the talent acquisition, staff development and business development for a third-generation, privately held company that served the youth of some of the wealthiest families of Boston (2000-2007). Referred to as “The Glue,” for successfully uniting ownership, managers and front-line workers alike, he fine-tuned his effective same-team-culture-building methodology. During his tenure, staff retention rose by 25% while he maintained a 95% retention rate among key position holders throughout his seven years of leadership. All this led to a sustained 33% increase in revenue. During this time Schiering’s writings on building inclusive teams received national recognition when published in the American Camp Magazine (ACA, 2004).
INNOVATIVE AND BOLD
In 2007 a repeat customer of Schiering’s program invited him to serve as an advisory board member for what Schiering would ultimately lead to becoming the fastest growing, largest and most award winning youth program and innovative summer camp in New England (2012-2019). Schiering joined LINX, LLC, a privately held start-up located just outside of Boston as the Vice President of Business Development and Human Resources. As some startups can have bumpy beginnings, Schiering recalls, “About a year in, the owner told me he wasn’t sure if we [the company] would make it.” Schiering came in the very next day with a proposal that redefined the company and led to their becoming the dominating force in the market for the decade he served as their leader and Executive Director. “We launched in 2009, the summer after the great recession when this industry was crippled by the economy and sustaining losses between 15-65%.” Schiering, known for innovation, developed a new service that attracted thousands from across the globe. In charge of talent acquisition, Schiering partnered with global recruiting teams and was named Top International Recruiter after developing a unique J1-Visa program for over 100 seasonal staff. Schiering’s cutting edge approach to talent selection, staff development and system efficiencies led to 4x growth in a down economy, year after year.
Positive ImpactS
Thousands Trained Nationwide
In 2012 Schiering was invited to present at the New York State DASA (Dignity for All Students Act) Workshops held in New York. His articles on empowering victims and educating aggressors continue to be used to train and educate thousands of teachers, managers and administrators. “I’ve joined the program as a guest speaker over Zoom a few times in recent years,” shared Schiering. “Creating a space in which others can be comfortable and confident has defined my approach to uniting teams for nearly twenty years.” Schiering’s writings are featured in 2 collegiate textbooks, a workbook and have been presented worldwide.
Highly Regulated and Always A++
Youth programs, especially those that include swimming, meals and housing, are among the most highly regulated and monitored programs in the U.S. The standards for housing, health, safety, swim and sanitary conditions for minors are regulated by the Department of Public Health Regulation 105 CMR 430.00 and enforced by the local Board of Health. Schiering expanded to multiple municipalities and consistently earned top marks for compliance. “I view the regulators as partners. They have the public’s and staff’s best interest at heart and so do we. I always welcome their insight and knowledge and this approach has always helped our programs grow,” said Schiering about regulators in the industry. Schiering was approached by the Board of Health and asked to serve as an advisor on licensure preparations and also asked to provide tours of his facilities to help train others within the industry how to develop best in class systems. Schiering shared, “...due to non-compete reasons this wasn’t possible.” His exemplary attention to detail earned him accolades from many certifying entities including local, state and national licensing and accrediting agencies.
MAKING SURE DIVERSITY MATTERS
Schiering’s work to unite teams expanded in 2018 when he led a proactive effort to increase diversity within his own company. He teamed up with the career services departments at HBCUs Morehouse and Spelman to provide new internship opportunities while building a stronger and more diversified and united team. Schiering also partnered with METCO, Inc and awarded over $100,000 of in-kind services so children from within Boston could benefit from the programs provided. Schiering’s commitment to the intentionally ignored and intentionally persecuted continued when he joined Sanctuary Medicinals, a multi-state operator in the pharmaceutical industry (medical cannabis) as the HR, Corp Director. Partnering with global anti-racism experiential-educators Evolvolution Initiative (EI) and the culture building heavy hitters, Supernatural INC. Schiering is actively working to bridge the gap between school and cannabis by serving as angel sponsors and hoping once again to partner with METCO, Inc. to bring the award winning EI programs into the area schools. “This is a tremendous effort and creative way to help teens learn the power of acceptance and unity. As a cannabis company we need to be mindful of our role in the developing minds of teens, so we maintain an angel sponsor status so we can maintain integrity within the community and still do our part to help.”