Summary
Inside the Leader's Mind host David Suson sits down with Bill Kasko, President and CEO of Frontline Source Group, to unpack how he's built an award-winning staffing firm over 22 years in a constantly shifting talent market. Bill shares how hiring for character over resumes, listening deeply, and "doing the opposite" of industry norms led to a five-year placement warranty, long-tenured teams, and loyal clients. He reflects on his upbringing with a single mom in a male-dominated corporate world, the work ethic that shaped him, and why appreciation, honesty, and human connection matter more than ever in recruiting and leadership.
Takeaways
• Hire for character and potential, not just resumes and past titles.
• Great leaders surround themselves with people who are better than they are.
• Listening deeply is the real superpower for spotting hidden skills and passions.
• Careers and hiring tools evolve, but the core "resume" and human story still matter.
• Turn negatives into positives: use promotions and long tenure as proof of your value.
• Appreciation and integrity are declining in business, so leaders must model both.
Soundbites
• "All hires are good hires. They just sometimes go bad."
• "A flat piece of paper doesn't tell me who you are."
• "If you were raised by a single mom, your work ethic is going to blow people away."
• "We built our company on the Costanza Theory—do the exact opposite."
• "If you just shut your mouth and listen, people will tell you everything you need to know."
Timestamps
00:02 – Meet Bill Kasko and the story behind Frontline Source Group
03:30 – The "good hire gone wrong" who became COO 20 years later
10:30 – Why Bill hires for people, not resumes or pedigree
19:30 – The "Costanza Theory" and building a different kind of staffing firm
24:30 – Creating a five-year placement warranty in a 90-day world
29:00 – How resumes, LinkedIn, and job search have evolved
37:00 – Bill's true superpower: listening for hidden skills
39:40 – Lessons from being raised by a single mom in a male-dominated world
46:40 – What's changed (and broken) in appreciation and honesty at work
Contact links for the guest
• Website: frontlinesourcegroup.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/frontline-source-group
• LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkasko/ and mention you heard him on Inside the Leader's Mind with David Suson
Keyword tags
Bill Kasko, Frontline Source Group, staffing, recruiting, talent acquisition, leadership, listening, work ethic, single mom story, Costanza Theory, five-year placement warranty, LinkedIn, hiring trends, employee retention, company culture, appreciation at work
