2026 RPOA Annual Conference |
2026 RPOA Annual Conference Highlights
Reading the Signals: How to Lead RPO Organizations into the Future
October 18–20, 2026 | LondonHouse Chicago
The 2026 RPOA Annual Conference brought together RPO executives, talent acquisition leaders, industry experts, and technology partners for two days of thought-provoking conversations, strategic insights, and meaningful connections in Chicago.
Under the theme Reading the Signals, industry leaders explored the forces shaping the future of recruitment process outsourcing—from evolving buyer expectations and AI-driven business transformation to labor market trends, talent strategies, hiring fraud, and the changing RPO M&A landscape.
Beyond the educational sessions, the conference reinforced the power of the RPO community. Attendees valued the opportunity to engage in candid conversations with executive peers, exchange perspectives on shared challenges, and build relationships in an open, collaborative environment.
The feedback speaks for itself: The conference earned an overall experience rating of 4.67 out of 5, and 100% of survey respondents said they would recommend the event to a peer.
Thank you to our speakers, sponsors, members, and attendees for making RPOACON 2026 a memorable gathering of the RPO community!
Explore Conference Insights & Resources
Conference Presentations — Members Only
RPOA members can access presentation slides and educational resources from the conference.
ACCESS CONFERENCE PRESENTATION
Featured Speakers
Ryan Henning Associate Vice President, Talent Acquisition OU Health |
Malvika Jethmalani HR Leader for PE-backed Orgs and 3x CHRO |
Jason Chad Chief Business Officer at Senseloaf |
 Kim Davis RPOA AI Taskforce Chair |
Tim Gates Director of RPO/BPO Enterprise Accounts at Indeed |
Ben Eubank Chief Research Officer at Lighthouse |
Joe Marino Chief Revenue Officer at Hueman |
Rob Navarrete Global Talent Acquisition and Transformation Leader at WTW |
Leigh Rodriguez Head of Direct Sourcing at AgileOne & Author of Strategic People Sourcing |
Matt Corbett President at ZRG Embedded |
Mike Brann Sr. Sr. Leader, RPO at Adecco |
Stacy Zapar Founder at Tenfold & Fraud Squad |
Ravi Subramanian President at Chicago Recruiting Forum |
Tom Cross Head of Threat Research at GetReal Security |
Nick Livingston Co-Founder and CEO at Honeit |
Michael McCarthy Director RPO Sales at Pontoon |
Kajal Jain AI Alchemy & Founder of Chirp |
Zach Chertok HCM Analyst at IDC and Adjunct Associate at Columbia Universtiy |
Jan Grohoske Sr. Director, Digital Strategy & Implementation at Advanced RPO |
Closing Keynote
Why Attendees Love the Conference | The RPOA Annual Conference brings together leaders from across the recruitment process outsourcing ecosystem. 100% of attendees recommend the event to their peers for the following reasons:
Attendees deeply valued the non-competitive, open-exchange atmosphere of executive peers discussing real market challenges."
If you’re involved in hiring strategy, workforce planning, or recruitment delivery—this is the one event you can’t miss. |
Peer Intimacy & Authentic Connection Why People Attend
Powerful Peer Connections Build meaningful relationships with decision-makers, delivery leaders, and tech partners during sessions, roundtables, and evening networking events. |
Fresh Market Intelligence Stay ahead of the curve with exclusive research, analyst updates, and tech partner spotlights on the latest trends in AI, automation, and RPO strategy. |  Real-World Insights Hear firsthand accounts of RPO success—from enterprise TA executives navigating hiring challenges to providers scaling next-generation solutions. |
Exceptional Event Experience Enjoy an elevated experience hosted in one of Chicago’s most vibrant hotels located just steps from the Loop, Windy City attractions, and live entertainment in the Chicago Theatre District. |  Actionable Takeaways Walk away with practical ideas, benchmarks, and inspiration you can apply immediately—whether you're building an RPO solution or investing in one.
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An Unmatched RPO Community There’s no other event like this. Join the only conference dedicated entirely to advancing the RPO industry. |
“The RPOA annual conference is an opportunity for the industry to come together, learn about the latest advances and changes, and reset their thinking for the year ahead. Filled with networking and insightful content, this is one event that RPO leaders can't afford to miss.”
Exceptional experience at A Legendary Venue
| The RPOA Annual Conference is more than an annual event, it’s the heartbeat of a growing, innovative talent acquisition community. This year’s theme, “ Reading the Signals,” brings together the voices of RPO providers, and industry innovators to discuss the trends shaping the future direction of talent and hiring. Our venue is LondonHouse Chicago. Nestled at the iconic corner of Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, it's where timeless elegance meets modern innovation. Once a legendary jazz club hosting the likes of Dinah Washington and Frank Sinatra Jr., it now offers over 25,000 square feet of striking event space, including ballrooms, rooftop lounges, and breathtaking city views. |
Help us spread the word about this event on social networks. Use #RPOACON2026 and tag @RPOAssociation when sharing. |
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The RPOA Annual Conference, hosted by the Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association, is the premier gathering of senior leaders from across the recruitment process outsourcing ecosystem. Designed for RPO executives, talent acquisition leaders, technology innovators, and industry partners, the conference delivers future-focused insights, evidence-based research, and meaningful peer collaboration. Through strategic discussions, thought-provoking presentations, and unparalleled networking opportunities, attendees gain the market intelligence, relationships, and ideas needed to lead future-ready organizations in an evolving talent landscape.
As THE PLACE TO GO FOR RPO™, RPOA convenes the conversations shaping the future of recruitment process outsourcing.