Power Hour: Help Wanted (and Kept!): The Real Talk on Hiring and Retention

When: Mon, Feb 23, 2026, 12:00 PM

Location: Zoom (and streamed live on Facebook).

Format

An informal, interview-style conversation with one of our WISE Small Business Counselors, where small business owners hear directly from experts on topics relevant to their current challenges and interests.

Topic

Struggling to find qualified candidates? Finding it even harder to keep good employees once you hire them? You’re not alone. This is one of the most common challenges we’re hearing from small business owners across Central New York.

Join WISE Business Counselor Barb Stone for a conversation with Lisa Martin-Garlic, Founder of M&L Recruiting and Director of Operations at Rover.com. We’ll address the questions that keep you up at night:

• Where do you find qualified candidates in today’s tight labor market?
• How can small businesses compete with larger employers on compensation and benefits?
• What actually makes employees stay versus leave?
• How do you build a workplace culture that attracts talent on a limited budget?
• What are practical, cost-effective retention strategies that work?

This is a conversation, not a presentation. We’ll tackle real challenges with practical insights you can apply in your business.

About the WISE Power Hour

The WISE Power Hour is a monthly virtual roundtable designed specifically for entrepreneurs. Each session focuses on a unique, timely topic led by an expert in the field, with moderation provided by a WISE advisor or counselor. This interactive format encourages questions and discussion, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment.

We understand the demanding schedules of entrepreneurs, so sessions are conveniently held during the lunch hour, and recordings are available afterward on our Facebook page. Topics are carefully selected to align with current business trends and the needs of our WISE clients.

Whether you’re looking to stay informed, find solutions, or connect with other people in business, the WISE Power Hour offers insights and inspiration in a format that works for you.

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The Zoom link is emailed before the event by wisecenter@syr.edu.

Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact Carolyn Tucker at wisecenter@syr.edu to make arrangements.

About Lisa Martin-Garlic:

Lisa has over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition and operations. As Founder of M&L Recruiting and Director of Operations at Rover.com (following the acquisition of GoodPup, where she served as Co-Founder and COO), Lisa has built and scaled teams across startup and established companies. Her expertise in full-cycle recruiting, retention strategies, and building strong workplace cultures makes her an ideal resource for small business owners navigating today’s hiring challenges.