The Growth Game Podcast Returns for Live Recording at Staffing World 2026

Meritus Capital is heading to Denver, CO for ASA Staffing World 2026. From October 12–14 at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center, The Growth Game Podcast, the staffing-themed show hosted by Meritus Capital CEO, Paul DeLuca, will record its fifth season at booth 829. 

This marks the podcast’s third live recording at an industry event. Across its two prior seasons, the objective has remained consistent: reconnect with the staffing community in person, and capture conversations where the industry already gathers.

Driven by People, Powered by Tech

Staffing World’s theme for 2026 echoes a conversation DeLuca frequently has with his guests. Technology, specifically AI, surfaces in nearly every episode, often as the precedent to how staffing firms are adapting in a rapidly changing market.

The American Staffing Association's own research supports this:  

In the 2025 Staffing Industry Playbook, ASA's research team, led by Chief Economist Noah Yosif, reports that occupations most exposed to AI are projected to see greater employment growth between 2023 and 2033 than sectors with comparable AI exposure, evidence that the technology is reshaping staffing work rather than replacing it. The firms adjusting fastest, per ASA's analysis, are the ones investing in the AI-related skills their clients are asking for.

The Story Behind The Growth Game Podcast 

In its earlier seasons, The Growth Game Podcast was recorded remotely. In more recent years, the format moved on-site, the industry’s leading tradeshows, with multiple conversations recorded throughout the event.  

This shift quickly changed the energy of the conversations. Guests arrive straight from a session, sometimes still mid-thought, and the episodes strike a balance of sharing stories and comparing notes. With DeLuca having devoted much of his career to helping staffing firms grow, the podcast has become a forum on what actually moves a staffing business forward, with guests sharing seasoned advice that owners can put into action today.

The full library of episodes is available on the Meritus Capital YouTube channel.

"What stands out to me most on the show is how consistently our guests circle back to people, culture, and human oversight," says DeLuca. "Relationships are what make the industry worth showing up for, and I can't wait to pick that thread back up in Denver."

The Conversations Behind The Growth Game Season 5

Seasons 3 and 4 brought a range of voices to the booth, surfacing niche topics from across the industry.

‍Patrick Morin, Managing Partner at Transact Capital, used his episode to unpack a question most staffing owners eventually face: when, and how, to prepare to sell – whether they plan to or not. His answer centered on culture as the differentiator that buyers actually pay for.

ASA's research backs this: health care and STEM sectors are accounting for a growing share of staffing mergers and acquisitions, with consolidation driving efficiency across the industry.

Pat Peri, founder and CEO of 33 North Group, and more recently, co-founder of Allshore AI-enabled professional services platform, came to staffing from construction and manufacturing, and spent his episode on a simple idea: take care of your people first, and the business performance will mirror this level of care.

ASA's data gives that philosophy a number: staffing turnover and tenure have held largely steady since 2018, and lower turnover means lower cost per payroll. 

"Paul doesn't just talk about growth in the staffing industry, he gets into the operational realities that actually move the needle," says Peri. "The conversations on The Growth Game cut through the noise and get straight to what's working and what isn't. If you're building or scaling a staffing business, it's a must-listen."

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Brigid Isenmann, Chief Revenue Officer at Avionté, joined by former CEO, Mike Metzger, used her episode to talk through how the company is adopting AI internally before asking customers to do the same, living out this year's theme: “Driven by People, Powered by Tech”.

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‍Thomas Kosnik, president of Visus Group, and the podcast’s most-watched episode, addressed the question underneath most AI conversations in staffing directly: will there always be a need for the human element?

His answer: yes, without a doubt.

New roles will replace old ones, but human oversight does not disappear. AI-exposed occupations have so far seen employment hold up, evidence that the technology is transforming staffing roles rather than eliminating them. Kosnik touches on several data points to back his perspective.

“Paul brings in several thought leaders to unpack key issues facing all the sectors of the staffing industry, says Kosnik.”  He does not shy away from asking the hard questions to disclose the truth of what is happening in our industry. [The Growth Game Podcast] is well worth the listen.”

The Staffing Industry's Largest Gathering

Staffing World is the American Staffing Association's main annual event, drawing the largest annual gathering of staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions under a single roof. ASA has represented the industry since 1966, empowering and advocating for firms across the U.S. and connecting owners from all walks of life to new opportunities. 

The staffing industry is also where Meritus Capital has built its expertise, with more than 20 years in the space, over 800 staffing clients funded, and more than $3 billion in capital deployed annually. That track record shaped their philosophy: accessible working capital can make or break a staffing firm's growth. 

Staffing agencies pay their workers weekly. Clients pay on net terms – often 30, 60, or sometimes more than 90 days later. Meritus Capital closes that gap by funding against staffing companies’ outstanding invoices, so payroll runs on time and barriers to growth are removed.  

Historically offering payroll funding to agencies across North America, Meritus recently added revolving lines of credit to their lending portfolio to support the trajectories of larger firms in need of greater borrowing capacity. 

Will We See You in Denver? 

Staffing World attendees can find Meritus Capital at booth 829 throughout the three-day show, recording live, reconnecting with familiar faces, and meeting new ones. 

Interested in meeting the Meritus Capital team at ASA Staffing World? Reach out today.

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