Regional Voices: Bob Memmer – SmartRecruiters
Bob Memmer is senior vice president/commercial sales for software maker SmartRecruiters, a San Francisco-based company with offices in Spokane and other cities around the world. SmartRecruiters has more than 700 clients, include Visa and Skechers. “Companies love us,” says Memmer, “because we help them grow by achieving hiring success. Our buyers believe you are who you hire.”
What brought him to Spokane: I grew up in the flatlands of the Midwest, and fell in love with this area during a visit in 1994. My wife and I moved here two years later.
Workplace changes: SmartRecruiters recently moved into an historic downtown building, and expect to grow this branch from 10 people to about 25 over the next couple of years. We anticipate opportunities in software sales, pre-sale engineering, renewals and marketing.
Why Spokane: We have great talent, great universities, and an affordable cost of living.
Spokane’s other asset: People make a community, and the people here are amazing. They focus on maintaining a great work/life balance and healthy lifestyle.
Room for improvement: We need to do better promoting the area’s strengths in areas of technology. I’d also like us to do more to attract ethnic diversity. This is an amazing place to live. Let’s share it with the world!
New businesses that would be a good fit: The hot topic in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene is robotics. We already have great infrastructure in place, and the right people to make it happen.
What Bob likes most about living here: The summers are incredible. But I love winter even more, since I’m a skier.
What he shows out-of-town visitors: My home ski mountain – Schweitzer – in the winter, and Lake Coeur d’Alene in the summer.
How he relaxes: My brain gets a break when I’m skiing, boating or playing golf with my family and friends.