| Laurie Kahn is Founder and President of Media Staffing Network, Inc. ™ the first staffing company to cater exclusively to media sales and associated departments for both temporary and permanent placement for the Agency, Broadcast, Cable, Internet, New Media and Print industries. Successfully placing people since 1993, Kahn has expanded her practice, lending her staffing and sales management expertise to the general market. She is currently CEO and Co/Founder of All About Careers, a start up business which is a comprehensive resource for job hunters and corporations.
Kahn began her career as an office assistant with a small, full-service advertising agency in Kansas City, where she was quickly promoted to media director and account executive. Shortly thereafter, Kahn chose to join the selling side and sold her way into an entry-level sales position in radio. To advance her radio career, she relocated to Chicago in 1981. Prior to opening Media Staffing Network (previously called Rep Temps, Inc.), Kahn held sales management positions with both WNUA-FM and WPNT-FM in Chicago.
After leaving WPNT, she received a temporary assignment at WBBM-FM to cover a maternity leave. This temporary assignment ignited her idea to assist a network of contacts within the industry to find permanent and temporary placements in media and associated areas.
Kahn’s more than 20 years experience in media includes local and national sales positions in both large and small markets; turn around expertise with new formats; and local and national management positions.
Kahn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and a minor in television, radio and film from Stephens College. She is a Certified Placement Specialist through the American Staffing Association and has completed numerous Employment Law courses.
Kahn is currently involved with various industry associations and participates at career fairs and colleges to educate individuals about media career opportunities. Kahn conducts seminars targeting recruiting and hiring; as well as careers in media and has published an entry-level training manual, “What Is A Spot.” In addition, Kahn has authored articles appearing in the Chicago Tribune, Sales and Marketing Magazine, Radio Ink, Continental Airlines Magazine and Inside the Minds “Staffing Leadership Strategies” to name a few. Kahn has been featured in Crains/Chicago and quoted in the Wall Street Journal.
Kahn has received a 2008 Top 50 Outstanding Women in Radio, 1997 Recognition Award from the Center for Urban Business, Outstanding Salesperson of the Year Award from Torbet Radio, Outstanding Radio Salesperson from American Women in Radio & TV and First Place Marketing Company from the National Association of Staffing Services. Kahn regularly presents workplace topics to associations nationwide, including Broadcast Education Association, Chicago Advertising Federation, National Association of Broadcasters, Broadcast & Financial Managers Assn. and the Radio Advertising Bureau. Media professionals often call upon her for her staffing insights. Board work includes American Women in Radio and Television, Broadcast Advertisers of Chicago and Park Lane Townhome Association, advisory board for Columbia College, Chicagoland Alliance Against Leukemia & Lymphoma and was a Governing Board Member of the Anti Cruelty Society. Kahn is currently a member of Women’s President Organization, Broadcast Advertisers of Chicago and the American Staffing Association. |
