The HR Research Institute (HRRI) announced the formation of its 2026 State of Frontline and Volume Hiring Advisory Board, a panel of recruitment and talent experts tasked with guiding the institute's upcoming research study and virtual event. The board will help HR professionals navigate evolving talent acquisition trends, adopt best practices, and prepare for future workforce challenges.
The advisory board will focus on several key topics, including evaluating the effectiveness and maturity of large-scale recruitment strategies, addressing current challenges in frontline and volume hiring, leveraging technology, automation, and AI to boost hiring efficiency, enhancing frontline employee engagement and retention, identifying metrics that measure high-volume hiring outcomes, and planning for the future evolution of frontline and volume recruitment. The findings will be presented during a free online event scheduled for March 19, 2026, offering strategies and insights for HR professionals managing large workforces.
The newly appointed board includes Clair Bush, GTM, Growth & Marketing Advisor at AMP Strategies and Grayscale; Daniel Goyeneche, Director of Talent at Affiliated Monitoring; Orlando Haynes, NA Talent Acquisition Lead & Program Manager at The Mosaic Company; Martin Mathe, VP of Strategy & Partnerships at Narau; and Rhonda Merchant, Senior Director, Talent Acquisition & D&I at Invited. These industry thought leaders will collaborate to shape the research study and virtual event content.
“We’re excited to bring together leading experts to address these unique hiring challenges,” said Debbie McGrath, CEO of HR.com. “Their insights will equip HR professionals with strategies to meet today’s urgent workforce needs and plan for the talent demands of the future.”
The HR Research Institute releases annual “State of the Industry” reports across various HR topics, including its previous report, HR.com's State of Seasonal, Hourly and Volume Hiring 2025. This and other free research reports and infographics can be downloaded at hr.com/researchinstitute.
The formation of this advisory board highlights the growing importance of optimizing frontline and volume hiring processes. As organizations face labor shortages and high turnover in hourly roles, insights from this research will be critical for developing effective recruitment strategies. The board's focus on technology and automation reflects the industry's shift toward AI-driven hiring tools, which can streamline candidate screening and improve time-to-hire. Additionally, emphasizing employee engagement and retention addresses the need to reduce turnover costs and build a stable workforce.
HR.com’s free membership offers access to over 300 exclusive primary research reports and infographics, which are published based on surveys developed with assistance from a panel of thought leaders and industry experts on advisory boards. The upcoming virtual event will provide a platform for HR professionals to learn from these experts and network with peers.
