In this episode of the Mostly Middle Tennessee Business Podcast, Jim McCarthy sits down with HR and recruiting pro Ashley Pack, founder of Four Point People, to talk about how small and mid-sized businesses can finally fix their hiring, retention, and culture problems.
Ashley shares how she went from teaching to transportation to making 200 cold calls a day during the pandemic, then into payroll and now running a recruiting and fractional HR firm focused on blue collar and trades. She explains why so many owners struggle to keep good people, what they’re doing wrong in interviews and onboarding, and how a few simple systems can completely change the way your team performs.
If you’re a business owner tired of bad hires, high turnover, or culture drama, this conversation will hit home.
Timed highlights
01:01 Welcome back Ashley Pack and the origin of Four Point People
06:19 From teaching and transportation to recruiting bus drivers
10:47 Making 200 cold calls a day with Aflac during the pandemic
17:57 Growing up around a homebuilding business and payroll
21:25 What Four Point People actually does for business owners
21:55 The real hiring problem most owners don’t see
27:25 Catholic guilt, reading people, and in-person interviews
32:03 The questions candidates should always ask employers
43:21 Why owners can’t expect employees to care like they do
52:26 How to fire fairly: warnings, documentation, and communication
1:03:00 Why trades and blue collar businesses need HR help most
1:14:34 TikTok, BS detectors, and reading personalities
1:19:36 Affiliate program and where to find Four Point People online
Studio → https://www.itsyourshow.co/