2011 Game Changer: D. Zachary Misko

In early September, D. Zachary Misko was packing his bags for Shanghai and Singapore while also looking ahead to a trip to London. Misko, 39, is in demand as a speaker, having built a global reputation as an expert in human resources and recruitment. In Shanghai he was to address the American Chamber of Commerce about his annual research report on global recruitment trends.

Misko credits the leadership of Kelly Services’ Outsourcing & Consulting Group for allowing him to become a globe-trotter, attending conferences, delivering speeches, writing reports, and generally getting the KellyOCG name out there, along with information about its services.

Misko calls himself the company’s “brand differentiator,” and to him it makes sense that an expert in the field would be asked to spread the word about his company’s services, rather than a marketing manager who may not know as much about the ins and outs of the business.

As a board member of the Best Practice Institute, chair of the HR Outsourcing Association and a recognized expert in Lean methodologies, he stays on top of trends and enjoys opportunities to exchange ideas with other industry leaders.

“I think it’s a smart thing for a company to say, ‘Hey, you know your stuff. So let’s invest in the expert to help educate people and drive that brand messaging,’ ” Misko says.

Rhonda Adams, marketing specialist for KellyOCG, who nominated Misko as a Game Changer, thinks he’s perfect for the role of brand ambassador. “He goes above and beyond,” she says. For example, in spite of a hectic schedule of travel, presentations and writing, Misko also finds time to keep up a video blog on the group’s website so he can share other people’s knowledge with his colleagues.

“At all these different conferences that he goes to, he’ll be on the conference floor taping a video with people that he meets there,” Adams says.