In this episode, Gino Rooney shares his journey from co-founding BlueCrew, a trailblazing W-2 staffing platform, to launching Classet, an AI-powered recruiting assistant built for skilled trades and high-volume roles. Gino opens up about what it takes to build tech-first staffing infrastructure, why BlueCrew went all-in on W-2 employment early on, and how that decision helped land enterprise clients and ultimately an acquisition by EmployBridge.
He and host Kirti Shenoy dive into the operational realities of staffing in light industrial sectors, what legacy firms can learn from tech-forward challengers, and why AI isn’t replacing recruiters—but augmenting them. Whether you’re leading a staffing firm, building a platform, or investing in the future of work, this episode is packed with frontline lessons and practical frameworks.
⏱ Episode Breakdown
00:00 – Introduction to Gino Rooney
03:01 – The Evolution of BlueCrew
05:57 – The W-2 Model vs. 1099: A Strategic Choice
09:11 – Navigating Supply and Demand in Staffing
12:01 – Challenges in Light Industrial Staffing
14:52 – Embracing Technology in Staffing
18:05 – Advice for Staffing Companies on Technology Adoption
20:50 – Scaling for Acquisition: Lessons from BlueCrew
22:52 – Building for the Future of Staffing
26:47 – Revolutionizing Recruitment with Classet
30:20 – Leveraging AI in Staffing
34:04 – Lessons Learned in the Staffing Industry
🛠️ Topics Covered
How BlueCrew challenged the 1099 norm with a W-2 model
Operational playbooks for staffing high-volume shifts
Scaling a tech-first staffing platform without burning cash
The role of AI in streamlining recruiting workflows
Advice for staffing leaders experimenting with digital transformation
Why great customer service is still a competitive edge in staffing
🔗 Resources Mentioned
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