From a young age, Domenic Calcara grew up in an entrepreneurial family and saw the power of a “human-first” approach to business. His mother successfully ran her company and developed loyal customers through connection and communication. Her capacity to build confidence in the people around her inspired Domenic, who saw empathy’s essential role in her professional success.
Domenic did not originally intend to follow a career in the recruiting industry, but after building his experience in management and staffing, he joined Recruit Action as a partner in 2011. Domenic realized early at Recruit Action that he loved helping other people take the next step in their careers to achieve the same happiness he found in his job. “When you focus on creating an authentic connection first with the person, you learn what drives the person before even thinking about what company is the right fit,” says Domenic.
Domenic met Jessie met in high school. As fate would have it, they both worked at Randstad, where they met at a conference while working in Montreal. At the time, Jessie worked as the Director of Business Development for Strategic Accounts at Randstad Canada. Domenic and Jessie were fast friends because of their shared passion for supporting others and their methodology of leading with empowerment. When Jessie started Défis RH eight years ago, Domenic became her go-to confidant for discussing business and strategy. The friendship developed into strategic collaboration as Domenic valued Jessie’s insight. Quickly, the two companies were helping each other fill positions and saw the partnership grow both of their businesses.
Domenic believes the partnership is complementary because he and Jessie began their professional lives in similar places. “Jessie and I built our careers the same way. She started work at McDonald’s and became a manager. I was working across the street at Cineplex and became a manager. We both went into staffing and, in time, became business owners, but we started our life with a nickel,” says Domenic.
Domenic values Défis RH’s unique dedication to making a difference and surpassing expectations. The firm’s ability to truly listen, create authentic relationships, and have fun differentiates it from other recruiting companies. Jessie’s character is at the core of what makes Défis RH such a valuable partnership for Domenic: “She is caring and humble. These characteristics are vital for healthy relationships with candidates, clients, and co-workers. No matter who you are, everyone loves to be in the presence of Jessie.”
While Domenic and Jessie are at similar points in their career as middle-aged business owners, Domenic says there is no competition or contention. “It is actually the opposite. I have this amazing trust to open my books and ask her for support. She does the same,” says Domenic. This ethos of integrity and trust was the foundation of their friendship long before Domenic and Jessie became business collaborators. Domenic looks forward to growing this enriching partnership for many years and continuing to champion ‘human-first’ recruitment together. Please contact us if you want to learn more about our valuable collaborators.
