Founders' Biographies
President
Before starting PeopleWare Staffing in February 1993, Sheryl
entered into the recruiting business in 1985 working for XXCAL,
Inc., for 8 years. Prior to that, she worked for 5 years at
Northrop Aircraft as a Budget Analyst. Sheryl learned many of
her service skills from her training at Mary Kay Cosmetics while
she was a skin care consultant.
Most importantly, Mary Kay Ash said, "People don't care how much
you know, they only want to know how much you care." This is
something that Sheryl applies to helping managers find the right
candidates and helping candidates find the right job. She believes
that selling is really "listening" and if you listen well, managers
will tell you exactly what they want. Candidates want you to listen
to what they want and then present them with the opportunities that
make sense and meet their criteria.
Sheryl is active in professional associations as well as the
community. She has been a member of the Technology Council of
Southern California (AKA: Southern California Software Council)
since 1991, served on the Board of Directors as well as on other
events and Co-Chaired the 1st Annual Technology Awards dinner as
well as served on committees. Sheryl is a member of the Women
Presidents' Organization (WPO), El Segundo and Manhattan Beach
Chamber of Commerce and Society for Technical Communications
(STC). She is active in such organizations as the Manhattan
Beach Education Foundation (MBEF), serving on the Board of Advisors
of the Annual Manhattan Wine Auction to benefit Manhattan Beach
Schools and a member of the Mira Costa High School PTSA. She
served as the Director of Recruitment for the 2nd Annual Manhattan
Beach Youth Council in 2012/2013. Sheryl has been one of the
Commissioners for Boys Manhattan Beach Youth Basketball since 2003,
Co-Director of Fundraising Boosters and Vice President for Mira
Costa Girls Basketball. Sheryl has a passion for basketball
and held a fundraiser for ex-NBA player, Jeff Grayer's Non-Profit,
F.A.B.E.(Flint Athletes for a Better Education) to assist
inner-city boys in Flint, MI to participate in AAU level Basketball
to help achieve a higher education. In 2010, she co-founded a
small of group of Women Presidents in the South Bay.
Chief Operating and Financial Officer
Jeff Thaler started his career in 1983
as a Systems Analyst at Tandem Computers and then quickly entered
hardware sales as the youngest Account Manager in the company's
history. In his eight years with Tandem, he was responsible for the
sales of numerous multi-million dollar systems utilizing fiscal
analysis, benchmarks and multi-level marketing. After Tandem, Jeff
worked for Information Builders as one of their top sales people
selling multi-platform data integration and reporting software.
When Jeff co-founded PeopleWare in
February of 1993, he knew that they had a good foundation for a
successful business. Sheryl, with her years of experience in
recruiting for the software industry, and Jeff, with his financial,
sales and technology background, made a great team.
Today, Jeff focuses on overall
operations of the company and insuring it remains fiscally strong
and well positioned. According to Jeff, "We are in a new, evolving
economy where new industries and opportunities are being created
almost on a daily basis, and technology is the driving force behind
it all. PeopleWare® will continue to expand its services to
understand and meet the staffing needs of this new growth in
technology." Jeff also spearheads the "going green" efforts:
positioning the company to meet the needs of the Green Industry and
implementing various systems to reduce consumables while improving
operations.
Jeff believes that PeopleWare's
reputation is everything and takes pride in the service the company
offers. "The fact that for almost 20 years nearly 100% of our
clients have come from referrals speaks volumes for the high level
of ethics and service we provide."
Jeff graduated from Western State
College of Colorado with a double major in Business Accounting and
Business Finance, and with a minor in Computer Science. He has been
a member of the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation Board and ran
the Annual Manhattan Wine Auction that generated nearly $1.5M for
public schools during that time. He is a member of the PTSA for
Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, California and is an
active member of the Board of Advisors for the Annual Manhattan
Wine Auction.
