Turning Candidate Care Into a Competitive Edge: The TA Shift with Stef Nikitas of Ace Hardware Corporation

Episode notes

The journey into talent acquisition is rarely linear, and this episode brings that to life as host Ryan Dull sits down with Stef Nikitas , Director of TA at Ace Hardware Corporation , to explore her global career path and the transformation of TA at one of the most recognized brands in retail. They discuss the unique recruiting challenges created by Ace Hardware’s cooperative store model, the evolution of TA operations over the past decade and how Stef has driven major initiatives in process design, technology, data and candidate experience. She also reflects on how COVID accelerated change, why quality must replace quantity in hiring and how AI and automation continue to reshape the TA landscape. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction. 02:34 Stef fell into TA after a three-year HR apprenticeship in Germany. 07:01 Ace Hardware stores are independently owned and operated. 09:53 Hiring was siloed, driving the need to centralize TA. 11:56 Peak season becomes “speed dating” to hit staffing levels fast. 15:16 Grace, their chatbot, automates candidate care and keeps applicants engaged. 18:17 TA shifted from volume metrics to a deeper focus on quality of hire.