On May 13, 2026, IPMI hosted a Webinar session titled Winning Teams Start with Winning People: Culture, Retention & Results.

 

Presenters:
Allison Duncan, Senior Human Resources Manager, Greater Orlando Airport Authority

David Perry, Senior Human Resources Manager of Pittsburgh Parking Authority

Collin Robertson, Human Resources Director, Tech Painting Company

Summary:
The presenters discussed strategies for improving recruiting pipelines and employee retention through stronger engagement, training, and leadership practices. Allison emphasized using employee surveys and idea-sharing platforms to strengthen both recruitment and retention. Colin highlighted Tech Painting Company’s approach, including structured training, safety programs, and multilingual communication to support workforce growth. David focused on leadership buy-in, data-driven management, and building a strong workplace culture to support long-term retention and development. They also addressed balancing employee input with decision-making speed, along with broader challenges such as AI adoption and workforce time management. Overall, the discussion centered on creating environments that attract, develop, and retain employees for long-term organizational success.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar Session:

Building Recruiting Pipelines Through Voice
Allison Duncan presented on building recruiting pipelines, emphasizing the importance of employee voice as a key building block alongside workforce planning, employer brand, sourcing, and candidate experience. She shared a personal story about being given a voice in a business decision early in her career and explained how employee feedback through engagement surveys can help strengthen employer branding and improve recruitment processes. Allison noted that when employees feel their ideas are valued, it leads to increased commitment, productivity, and better decision-making that benefits both recruitment and retention efforts.

Tech Painting Company’s HR Strategies
Collin presented Tech Painting Company’s HR strategies and recruitment efforts, highlighting their focus on breaking down communication barriers with their diverse workforce of over 100 employees from 22 different countries. He discussed their approach to year-round stability, improved website for recruitment, and implementation of the H-2B visa program for temporary workers. The presentation covered their emphasis on safety training, standard operating procedures, and benefits enhancement based on employee feedback, particularly noting their efforts to communicate with Spanish-speaking employees in their native language.

Workforce Retention Strategies Meeting
The meeting focused on workforce retention strategies, presented by David, Allison, and Colin. They discussed key drivers of retention including competitive compensation, career development opportunities, leadership investment in people, and creating a positive workplace culture. The presenters addressed questions about balancing employee input with decision-making speed, industry challenges like recruiting and AI usage, and the importance of executive buy-in for cultural change. When asked about the difference between hiring talent versus retaining and growing winning teams, the group consensus was that both hiring the right people and creating the right environment are essential, with culture being particularly crucial for long-term success.

Access the full Webinar in IPMI’s On-Demand Education Library.

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Click here to view the 2026 Leadership Webinar Series Bundle.