Hire Education: A Commitment to Talent, a C-Suite Conversation

In the Catapult Solutions Group podcast, “Hire Education,” host Daniel Litwin talked with the company’s CEO, Patrick Burke, and its CFO, Alex Anderson, about the creation of the company and how they’ve managed its successful growth, their leadership, and what’s in store for the future.

Catapult Solutions Group is a Dallas-based staffing agency founded by Burke, along with his brother and business partner in 2013. They help companies find talent in various industries such as healthcare, IT, skilled trades, engineering, and more. Burke had over a decade and a half of staffing experience when he started his company. Shortly after, he met Anderson, who was working in finance and enlisted him to be a part of his team in 2016. Today the two men are good friends who are running an efficient staffing agency.

The leadership of Catapult Solutions Group is a major key to their success. Burke and Anderson have different but complementary methods of leadership. Burke said his style is more fervent because he prioritizes the interpersonal aspect, particularly because he wants to see how people will branch out on their own.

“I’m pretty intense. I love to inspire and motivate people. I love to believe people and have people believe in themselves,” said Burke. “I think once you believe in yourself, you can do a lot of powerful things and I say give people autonomy and have them feel like they’re an entrepreneur.”

While close monitoring can have its pros, Burke stated that there’s a time and place to seize control in the workplace. He said he sees the benefit of it, but only employs it when necessary.
“I like to not micromanage, but there are times to micromanage and times not to,” he said.

He also said that he uses the opportunity to learn from every walk of life, including from his young daughter, and cited that he likes to learn from everybody.

Anderson said he admires Burke’s desire to learn from various aspects and discussed how that influences Burke’s leadership style. He said Burke is “learning constantly from people regardless of status, what industry they work in, and where you meet them,” said Anderson.

However, Anderson’s leadership style is different. As a former college athlete, he credits a lot of his leadership skills to the valuable things he learned while in school and playing college sports. In terms of leading, he said prefers clarity above everything and pinpointing areas that detail someone’s capabilities.

“The kind of leader I wanted to be was very much: set clear expectations, try to identify great talent, but understand that not everybody is going to be the MVP caliber athlete or professional,” he said.

He added that knowing how to recognize strengths and weakness is resourceful in understanding someone’s professional abilities and even their competition.

Burke stated that creating any company has its difficulties, especially when you’re reaching out and expecting help from somewhere, and that help doesn’t come.

Nevertheless, he managed to grow a lucrative business. When Anderson joined the company, he stated that Catapult Solutions Group had already been a $19 million business simply through Burke’s work ethic. In the last six years, he said the company has expanded internationally and continues to follow the growth of certain industries to specify where they could grow as well.

Since then, Catapult Solutions Group has grown to a $50 to $60 million dollar company. Burke said he constantly gets the question about how it was possible, and he said it was through dedication and building a good rapport with banks.

By doing that they didn’t have to seek loans or provide equity and managed to still grow as a company.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Image

Latest

Al Purves discusses RenewAire BACNet Fan Controller
BACNet Fan Controller Helps Simplify Ventilation for Building Management
March 18, 2024

The importance of efficient and reliable ventilation systems cannot be overstated as it pertains to smart building management. But as buildings become more intelligent, integrating various systems to work in harmony has become both a challenge and a necessity. This is particularly true for systems that directly impact air quality and energy use.  RenewAire’s […]

Read More
in-vehicle entertainment
Beyond Sound: MTX Audio’s Integration in Polaris Slingshot Pushes the Boundaries of In-Vehicle Entertainment
March 18, 2024

The MTX Audio-enhanced Polaris Slingshot features a groundbreaking audio system that includes two MTX 75 Series 12” subwoofers and MTX Signature Series 3-way component speakers, powered by robust MTX amplifiers. An Apple® iPad® mini, seamlessly integrated into the custom dashboard, acts as the source unit. This high-powered setup ensures an immersive audio experience that […]

Read More
sound system
Unleash the Power of Sound: MTX Audio’s Sound System Takes the Polaris RZR to New Heights
March 18, 2024

The Blue Thunder Edition Polaris RZR XP 4 Turbo, a masterpiece crafted by MTX Audio in collaboration with Polaris, showcases an exceptional blend of high-performance off-roading and state-of-the-art sound system integration. The RZR features an advanced MTX Audio system designed to deliver superior sound quality even in the most rugged environments. The Blue Thunder […]

Read More
Dr. Anthony Smith, Superintendent of Clayton County Public Schools
The Power of BoxLight Technologies Transforms Clayton County Public Schools
March 18, 2024

The landscape of education has seen much evolution and school districts like Clayton County Public Schools have emerged as a beacon of innovation and commitment to student achievement, thanks to the leadership of Dr. Anthony Smith, district staff, educators, and the BoxLight team. Recognizing the central role of technology in modern learning, the district […]

Read More