When organizations receive recognition, it’s tempting to focus on the award itself. But the award is rarely the story.

This month, Staffing Solutions Enterprises was honored in two very different ways. 

We were recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business as one of the Best Places to Work in Ohio, ranking #10 among 67 organizations recognized statewide. Crain’s notes that the companies on this list share a commitment to employees that drive productivity, loyalty, innovation, and better customer experiences. The rankings are heavily influenced by employee feedback, which represents 75% of the overall scoring methodology.

At the same time, we were recognized by Smart Business Network as a 2026 AI Implementer at the inaugural AI Impact Forum. The award celebrates organizations successfully using AI to drive operational efficiency and measurable business results. Staffing Solutions Enterprises was named among a select group of Northeast Ohio organizations recognized in the AI Implementer category.

At first glance, these awards might appear unrelated. One recognizes culture. The other recognizes technology. But I would argue they are recognizing the same thing.

For years, I’ve written and spoken about a simple belief: Culture isn’t a perk. It’s a leadership choice. It is not the free lunch, the office celebration, or the slogan on the wall. Culture is what leaders reward, tolerate, reinforce, and repeat every day. The organizations that achieve sustained success create environments where employees feel valued, trusted, heard, challenged, and connected to a larger purpose.

At SSE, our culture has been intentionally built around helping people grow. Whether that means developing our own employees, helping job seekers find meaningful work, or helping clients build stronger teams, people remain at the center of every decision we make. AI didn’t replace that strategy. It strengthened it. As AI began transforming industries, we saw an opportunity. Not to reduce the importance of people. But to amplify their impact.

Our AI journey started with a recruiting AI assistant designed to improve candidate engagement and accelerate recruiting outcomes. The results exceeded expectations and led us to expand AI across the organization. We established a company-wide AI strategy, formed an AI Council, implemented responsible-use policies, invested heavily in ongoing education, and committed to continuous improvement. Most importantly, we never viewed AI as a replacement for relationships. We viewed it as a tool that allows our people to spend more time doing what humans do best: listening, coaching, advising, building trust, and creating opportunities. As I have said often, recruiting is fundamentally a human business. Technology can accelerate the process, but relationships remain the heartbeat of what we do.

Many organizations view culture and technology as competing priorities. I believe the future belongs to organizations that understand they are inseparable. A strong culture creates the trust needed to embrace change. Technology creates the capacity that allows people to do more meaningful work. Culture without innovation eventually stalls.

Innovation without culture eventually fails. The organizations that thrive in the future will excel at both.

I am incredibly proud of our team for earning these two recognitions. But what makes me proudest is not the awards themselves. It’s knowing that both recognitions reflect the same commitment we’ve had for years: Invest in people. Give them the tools to succeed. Create an environment where they can grow. And never lose sight of the human impact behind the work we do every day. The awards may recognize two different achievements. But they reinforce one belief: when people thrive, organizations thrive.