About Ross Blake and Retention Associates
I've always been interested in how I can help managers, teams, departments, and companies improve their working relationships so they create better products and services, longer customer relationships, more job satisfaction, and become above average organizations. It's what my training and consulting career has been about.
Today, I see lost opportunities and potential for both employers and employees when good people leave jobs for reasons which are correctable. Most of the time, good employees leave because a company either isn't up to date on what it needs to be, or management isn't working with people in ways it should be.
Unnecessary job changes cost employers plenty in replacement costs, expertise, customers, and morale. Employees leave without achieving what they hoped to, and take on the risks of a new job.
We want to help our clients avoid these problems and get a higher ROI from their employees by helping them keep them longer and helping them work more productively. It makes sense to do this because you invest large amounts of money in your employees in salaries and wages, retirement plans, health insurance, workmen's comp, and other benefits and expenses.
Turnover happens for a reason: we offer knowledge about retention and turnover, and the skills to resolve the causes behind turnover. Since 1982 when our firm began as Ross Blake Associates, Inc., we've conducted training and consulting projects in conflict resolution, team building, supervisory skills, interpersonal communication skills, and executive coaching. These are the skills most needed to resolve turnover and improve retention; we continue to improve and expand our services to meet our clients' needs.
If we can't make a worthwhile difference for you, we won't take your project. Our intention is to only work on projects where we can make a substantial improvement for you. If we're not a good fit, we're smart enough and honest enough to tell you. If we don't have the expertise you need, we'll refer you to someone who does. When needed, we use a team approach with other qualified consultants and businesses to achieve results for clients.
I am a graduate of Ohio University, where I majored in communications, and also did graduate work. In addition, I'm certified to use the DISC instrument, and have completed a number of training courses over the years to improve my own skills, including The Inner Game of Work, Employee Retention Training, Creative Training Techniques, and seminars through other professional organizations.
In addition, I've served as Vice President of Programs and Director of Membership for local chapters of the American Society for Training and Development and the Association for Quality and Participation and am an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management. I've spoken to various professional and community groups.
With two offices, one in Central New York (Syracuse) and one in Western New York (Jamestown), we serve a wide area and travel often.
When I'm not serving clients, you'll find me cross country skiing, sailing, enjoying the performing arts programs at Chautauqua, and planning another international trip. I've learned that people are much more alike than they are different no matter where they're from.
You can access several free resources by going to our Free Retention Resources page.
