Meet the Team: Gertrude Ikea

Meet Gertrude Ikea, Lucid’s Director of Branch Management!

A key member of Lucid's success, Gertrude "Gertie" Ikea since 2018 has helped to provide security, moral support, pivotal growth, and humor (we all know she has the best dad jokes, it's that dry Swedish sense of humor.) She's weathered many a storm (literal storms, she spends a lot of time outside), but never lost sight of her goals. Her drive and dedication are unmatched as Gertie is the only Lucid employee that works 24/7, 365. 

While she never stops working, she does have a few hobbies that include not being attacked by her cat roommates, drinking fresh spring water, and yearning for the days when she can smell fresh Swedish meatballs again. There is truly no one else on the Lucid team quite like Gertie (she's our only plant, the others haven't made it) and for that we are forever grateful. 

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Beverage: Water

Favorite Holiday: Earth Day

Favorite Travel Destination: Sweden

Gertrude’s Lucid Story:

· You’ve been Lucid’s Director of Branch Management for about 6.5 years. What are you most proud of since joining Lucid?

First of all, surviving. Six and a half years is a long time for any plant, let alone a plant that lived off of leftover coffee and little sunlight for the first two years of her life.

Secondly, growth is a pivotal part of my role and Lucid has grown so much in the past 6.5 years. We’ve really grown in every sense of the word, and it’s been so exciting and rewarding to be along for the ride. What’s even more exciting is that I think we are entering our biggest period of growth and change right now. The sky is the limit for Lucid (and for me if I’m given a big enough pot and more water) and I can’t wait to see where the next several years takes us.

· What three words would you use to describe the team at Lucid?

• Loyal (We won’t mention that I was originally abandoned at the start of Covid.)

• Driven

• Entertaining (Have you ever been to one of their parties? It’s a dang good time. I mean, I don’t know personally as I have never been invited, but I have heard things.)

· Do you have any phobias or strange fears?

Yes, returning to the office. That was a dark time for me. I’m in a much better place at my Castleton outpost. Marcy is by far my favorite co-worker.

· You are originally from Fishers, IN, but have Swedish heritage. Do you notice any similarities between Indiana and Sweden?

Cold. It’s cold in both places. I think that’s it, unless Indiana has any fjords that I am not aware of.

Meet the Team: Dave LeVine

Meet Dave LeVine, Lucid’s Chief Finance and Strategy Officer!

While he may be a newer Lucid employee, having joined the team in July of 2024, Dave is far from a novice when it comes to the world staffing and service offerings. His diverse background has allowed him to excel in several areas including finance, sales, and leadership. As you’ll read below, Dave’s never one to back down from a challenge and is consistently embracing change. This mindset has allowed him to drastically impact the future of many of his clients setting them up for a level success that they could have only dreamed of. It’s also taken him all around the world, in front of a wide range of folks, and led to some really amusing personal and professional stories.

Currently residing in Bloomington, Dave enjoys cheering on the Hoosiers with his son, checking out a new local spot with his wife, Sheri, or taking his beloved pups on a hike. If there’s an epic rock concert, Dave is probably there, even if it’s out of state as he’s often combining his love of music and travel.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Cuisine: Anything slow cooked, old world, and peasant like (i.e. Cassoulet)…oh and Red Curry…oh and pepperoni pizza…

Favorite Musician or Band: Led Zeppelin (although that is very tough to answer)

Favorite Vacation Spot: Anything with a good beach (The Exumas, Virgin Islands, Siesta Key…)

Dave’s Lucid Story:

· With your addition to the Lucid team, exciting things are in our future. What are you most looking forward to as you grow in your role at Lucid?

What I love most about what we do is the impact that our work has on our client’s end products and the consumers of those products. I am really looking forward to the accretive value we can add to our current and future client’s customers in their interactions with our client’s brands through our capabilities in Digital Transformation and specifically Strategic Data Management, Artificial Intelligence, and Organizational Change Management as we evolve and grow.

· If you were speaking with a potential client and could only share something quick about why they should work with Lucid, what would it be?

If you are interested in a proven delivery partner who is significantly faster from recognition of need to boots on the ground, the ability to bring you a better honed set of possibilities from a resourcing perspective, and can adapt our business to work the way you work then you should be giving Lucid a serious look.

· You have been in this industry for many years and have seen a lot of ups and downs. What keeps you motivated?

I am addicted to change and progress. I love to learn and solve problems/address opportunity. The space we operate in is so consistently progressing and the impact on our lives is so astounding, mostly good. I always planned to retire early and while I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to do that, now that I am here, I can’t imagine not being part of the future of the digital world as an influencer and creator. When I have a negative experience with a product/brand, I can see how to fix it and I want to!

· If you could instantly become an expert in something. What would it be and why?

Large Language Model AI – There is a lot of hype around different innovations and most of it ultimately disappoints on some appreciable level. LLMs, I think, are different and I know my fare share about the space. The reality is that it is moving so fast that I would have to be immersed 100% in the space to keep pace and even then it would be a challenge. I am fascinated by the way how we learn and educate people will be enhanced and accelerated by the platforms. There are many other aspects of LLMs that are interesting, but I think this aspect will ultimately have the biggest impact on our society

· You’ve traveled extensively both professionally and personally in your lifetime. If you could live anywhere, where would you choose?

I suppose to answer that let’s start with the statement that Sheri and I could live anywhere we want to but we choose Bloomington as our home. We love Bloomington for everything that is here mostly because of the university, but not entirely. The international food scene, the cultural/educational opportunities that come and live here, the sports teams (we have season tix to Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Football, and Baseball), the outdoor opportunities from the forests, hills, and Lake Monroe, and the stunning campus are all things we love. It is also very dog friendly! If you said, you have to pick a big city I would probably pick Cambridge (Boston), with Sarasota/Asheville-area/Greenville as seconds. Overseas would be Seville, Granada, Florence or Islay.

· You have a full week off work. How are you going to spend it?

Traveling someplace new and doing new things with Sheri and maybe our son and some friends.

Meet the Team: Tom Dunham

Meet Tom Dunham, Lucid’s Southeast Regional Director!

Since joining Lucid in early 2024, Tom has helped grow Lucid’s geographical footprint and staffing expertise as he possesses several years of previous IT sales and recruiting experience. His approach to working with clients is centered around making a positive and lasting impact, not just filling a need. When working with Tom, you will find that he’s focused on getting to know you beyond the requirement and ensuring that when you work with Lucid you’ll find a true partner, not just another vendor. He’ll also probably get you out on the golf course for a round or two, but don’t feel like you need to take it easy on him!

When not connecting with IT leaders or hitting the links, Tom is likely exploring Charlotte with his wife, Jackie, or hanging out with his two pups. Originally from Ohio, he reminds us often that he is a fan of The Ohio State University, the Guardians, and the Browns. (We try not to hold these things against him.)

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Pizza Topping: Pepperoni (black olives a close 2nd)

Favorite Outdoor Activity or Sport: Golf

Favorite TV Show or Movie: TV Show: Sons of Anarchy – Movie: Titanic – Don’t judge me

Tom’s Lucid Story:

· You are no stranger to the IT staffing world. What does Lucid offer a client that other firms may not?

We offer a truly unique value proposition - blending the best of both worlds: the expertise and resources of a larger firm with the transparent, personalized service you'd expect from a boutique agency. We're a tight-knit group that takes great pride not only in the work we do but also in the clients we serve. Our size allows us to be agile and adaptable, offering tailored solutions while maintaining open communication and a high level of accountability. We strive to build lasting relationships, ensuring that every engagement delivers value and aligns perfectly with our client’s business goals.

· What is the best piece of professional advice you have ever received?

I think the best piece of professional advice I’ve received is to focus on building relationships, not just transactions. In any industry, especially in IT Staffing, long-term success comes from investing in people – whether it’s your clients, colleagues, or candidates.

· Speaking of advice, do you have any advice or nuggets of information, perhaps regarding the current market, that you wish you could share with your clients?

Given the current market landscape, a key piece of advice I’d share is to remain adaptable and proactive in acquiring talent. You must be intentional with every action in today’s competitive market. (Also – hang in there, the light is at the end of the tunnel)

· You can have any job for one week. What would it be and why?

I’d love to caddy for Scottie Scheffler for the check at the end of the week OR caddy for John Daly for the fun.

· You’re originally from the Midwest but currently reside in Charlotte, NC. Share a couple of things that you love the most about your current city.

An obvious answer would be the weather or the proximity to the mountains and beaches make for an easy weekend trip, but I love the uniqueness of Charlotte. Uptown has tiny pockets of hidden gems throughout – and the art scene is severely underrated, too.

· What are three words those closest to you would use to describe you?

• Stubborn

• Kind

• Loyal

Meet the Team: Matt Kraft

Meet Matt Kraft, a Technical Recruiter at Lucid!

In his year and a half with Lucid, Matt has solidified himself as a top-notch Recruiter and valued team member. He brings a bit of humor, an abundance of positivity, and a “no challenge is too difficult” attitude to work each day, all of which are appreciated by his fellow Lucid employees and the candidates that he works with. If you are a candidate that is fortunate enough to connect with Matt, we can assure you that you will have an unmatched recruiting experience.

After a few years in Los Angeles, this born and raised Hoosier returned to Indiana and settled in on the north side with his loving pup, Bella. If not at work, Matt typically has something entertaining on the agenda, whether that be hanging at a local brewery, working on a play (he writes, he acts, he does it all!), or exploring a new local establishment or even a new city.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Karaoke Song: “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Graeter’s Double Chocolate Chip

Favorite Travel Destination: Hawaii

Matt’s Lucid Story:

· Why should a candidate work with Lucid?

At Lucid, we are not some massive agency that sees candidates as numbers on a sheet—we are a boutique agency that takes pride in getting to know exactly who you are as a candidate, and how your skillset fits with the current market.

· Share three things you wish today’s IT candidate knew. (Resume or interview tips, market trends, etc.)

1. Try to keep your resume under 5 pages. If you have had a long career, you can put several detailed bullet points on your recent jobs and limit the info on your older positions.

2. Make sure the dates and job titles on your resume match what is listed on your LinkedIn

3. Attitude matters. Clients not only want candidates who can do the job on a technical level, they want candidates who are easy to work with/will get along well with other employees

· In addition to being a Recruiter, you are also a very talented and successful actor. Are there any ways in which your theatre work has helped you in your recruiting career?

They say that the best actors are the best listeners and I think that goes for recruiting as well! I actively listen to candidates during our phone calls so that I can highlight specific details that will be of interest to our end clients.

· Speaking of acting, who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?

Topher Grace

· You’re stranded on a desert island and can only bring three things with you. What are they?

1. Portable DVD Player

2. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl” DVD

3. Jumbo bag of Sour Patch Kids

· Do you have any phobias or strange fears?

Spiders. Not an exciting answer but yeah, not a fan of spiders.

Meet the Team: Josh Smith

Meet Josh Smith, a Technical Recruiter at Lucid!

Josh Smith recently celebrated two years with Lucid, and in that time has grown into one of the best recruiters to ever be a part of our team. His ability to connect with candidates at all levels, truly understand the needs of our clients and ensure all parties are achieving their goals is just part of what has led to his success. Josh has also made embedded himself as an invaluable team member in other ways as he doesn’t mind the interesting nicknames we give him, keep us entertained with his latest camping antics, and doesn’t shy away from a shot of Malort.

A fairly new Floridian, Josh and his wife, Brooke, can often be found enjoying their pool with a margarita in hand, at the beach, or exploring the areas around their new town. You won’t catch them in one place for too long though as they like to pack up their RV and hit the roads with their dogs to explore new destinations across the US, including a recent multiweek trip that took them to the West Coast. We have loved getting to know Josh these past two years and think that you will too, so make sure to check out the “Meet the Team” page to read more on his background.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Beverage: A crispy fountain Coke or an Old Fashioned

Favorite Sports Team: St Louis Cardinals

Favorite US State to Visit: Colorado

Josh’s Lucid Story:

· If you could change one thing about the IT staffing world, what would it be?

The IT staffing world is a fun one to work in. There is not much I would change. If I had to pick something, I would say the consistency of it. It’s a very up and down industry and it’s constantly changing as technology is evolving, but it keeps me on my toes, and I really enjoy it.

· About a year ago you relocated to Florida from Indiana. What advice would you give others about staying connected to their team while working fully remote?

I just try to communicate consistently and check in with my team throughout the day. We have a great team, and we are all great at supporting one another. This is where tools like Slack or Teams are great! We can stay in constant communication and give each other advice, shoutouts, or just chat. I also try to get back to Indy when I can for meetings and team events. I feel like I’m just as much of a member of the team even though I’m many states away.

· Other than your move, what has been the biggest change you have noticed about Lucid or IT staffing in general over the last two years?

There has been a major shift to remote work in the last several years, but we have also been seeing a surprising number of people wanting to get back to an office environment for collaborative reasons. When I first started nearly everyone wanted to work fully remote. It often seemed like their top priority when job searching. Now it’s a little more split and it’s often more of a secondary consideration for candidates in their job search.

· If you could instantly become an expert in something, what would it be and why?

Software Engineering and coding. I help developers every day to find jobs and I think I could be even more helpful to them if I was an expert in all the languages they work with.

· Tell us a hidden talent, a unique trait, or something special that others may not know about you.

I’m pretty good at memorizing movie quotes and other useless movie or music facts. I like to quote some of my favorite movies almost daily and I’ve been known to do some impressions. I can hold my own in some trivia too.

· You and your wife really enjoy camping. What is a place that is on your camping bucket list?

It’s hard to narrow it down to just one place. But our goal is to eventually visit all of the National Parks and all 50 states!

Meet the Team: Erika Ocampo

Meet Erika Ocampo, a Senior Technical Recruiter at Lucid!

Joining us just a few short weeks before Covid-19 shut down most of the World, Erika Ocampo has been making a positive and lasting impact ever since. In her role as a Sr. Technical Recruiter, she utilizes her signature positive attitude and incredible technical knowledge to ensure that she not only finds our clients the best candidate for the job but that everyone that works with her and Lucid has an amazing experience along the way. We can assure you that you won’t meet another recruiter quite like Erika, and for that we are so grateful.

ENO, as we lovingly refer to her, is always down to try out a new restaurant, bonus points if it’s got some unique dessert choices, do a little shopping, or explore a local park with her toddler, Eloise, and her two lively pups. If you want to know the latest about the Indy food scene or hear a good dad joke, then ENO is your gal.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Cuisine: Korean

Favorite Flower: Chocolate Cosmos

Favorite Holiday: Christmas

Erika’s Lucid Story:

· You’ve been with Lucid for just under 5 years and have recruited on a lot of different roles. What is your favorite type of role to work on?

I’d say it’s hard to choose one! I love working on the “unicorn or hard to fill” roles. I am always determined to try to find the unicorn candidate(s) for our clients.

· If you could give advice to an IT professional looking for a new role, what would you say?

• List all your technical skills, software and systems you use on a weekly/daily basis

• Use action verbs such as developed, managed, led, designed, grew, created, and architected.

• Resumes can be longer than one page if you are not an entry level candidate

· Lucid is your first role in the IT staffing world. What is your favorite and least favorite part about working in this field?

One of the things that motivates me to work hard every day and one of my favorite things is knowing each day will be different. I have the opportunity to talk to different candidates and learn about new technologies, companies, and roles. There’s never a dull moment in staffing!

As far as least favorite, you can’t always control timelines and the processes which can be frustrating at times. At the end of the day, you “control what you can control.” It can take a lot of patience and flexibility to be successful.

· If you could be an Olympic athlete in any sport, which would it be?

Gymnast – I briefly did gymnastics when I was younger and loved it!

· If you could (safely, of course) have any animal in the world as a pet, what would it be?

A panda of course! My toddler and I love watching videos of pandas playing together.

· Share three fun facts about yourself.

1. I played the violin for seven years.

2. I have a velociraptor (Belgian Malinois).

3. My favorite desserts are tiramisu and ube.

Meet the Team: Elizabeth Pike

Meet Elizabeth Pike, Lucid’s Operations Specialist!

No stranger to the staffing world, Elizabeth Pike has been using her expertise to help ensure Lucid is always operating at peak capacity. She’s become a trusted resource for internal team members, clients, and consultants assisting with a variety of needs and often unique requests on a regular basis. Now, we are all just patiently waiting for her to host a Lucid dance night at her studio. (We really just want to see what kind of moves John Galligan has.) To learn more about Miss Pike, like the fact she owns her own dance studio, head to the Our Team page of our website.

When not working for Lucid or at her studio in Westfield, Elizabeth is likely cuddling with her pup, Francis and two daughters, Eliot and Austen, enjoying a fresh cup of coffee at a local shop, reading a very long book, or trying to convince her husband, Trevor, it’s time they go on another adventurous trip.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Local Restaurant: 9th Street Bistro

Favorite Play or Musical: Chicago

Favorite Frozen Treat: Raspberry Sorbet

Elizabeth’s Lucid Story:

· This is not the first time that you have worked in the staffing world. What do you find the most enjoyable about this industry?

The staffing industry is great because we are faced with new and exciting challenges every day, but honestly the thing I love most about this industry is the simplicity of our core mission. At the end of the day, it’s about matching the right candidates with the right opportunity. Both hiring and job hunting can be such stressful processes, and I love helping make that process easier for our candidates and clients.

· In your role, you view many, many resumes each week. Any advice you could share on what makes a resume better or worse than another?

• Proofread, and when you think you’re good, have a friend proofread for you! I find myself correcting a lot of “mange” to “manage.”

• Avoid passive words like “helped.” Write your resume the way your biggest hype person would describe you doing your job. You didn’t “help achieve 50% cost reduction,” you did the dang thing!

• After each bullet point on your resume, ask yourself “so what?” Clearly articulate the importance and value of your work.

· Fun fact! You also own and teach at a dance studio. Any similarities between the work you do at Lucid and your dance studio work?

In addition to teaching, I manage all the back-office operations at the studio, so there is ton of crossover! The work I do for Lucid has helped me streamline a lot of our financial and HR processes at the studio, and some of the tools and strategies we use for marketing, communications, and project management at the studio have made their way to Lucid to help our team be more efficient.

· Speaking of dance, which of your Lucid coworkers do you think would make the best dancer?

Definitely Rumneet. I’d love to tag along to one of the week-long Indian weddings she gets invited to so she can teach me some moves.

· You’re a big reader. If you could turn any book into a movie, which one would it be and why?

My absolute favorite books have already been turned into movies (to varying degrees of success), but one I’ve read recently that I’d love to see a film adaptation of would be Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi. It was a really powerful story set in pre-colonial West Africa that was full of action, mythology, and politics, and I think the setting would be incredible to see on the big screen.

· If you could live in anywhere in the United States besides Indiana, where would it be?

Maine! I’m not a huge fan of hot weather but I love being near the ocean. (And my family is all from the east coast, so visiting New England always feels like going home.)

Meet the Team: Kyle McCarty

Meet Kyle McCarty, Lucid’s Director of Client Delivery!

Since joining Lucid in early fall of 2019, Kyle McCarty has worked diligently to help bridge the gap between top technical talent and leading enterprise teams.  Having an impressive background in both sales and recruiting, Kyle has proven himself to be an exceptional resource for our internal team, clients and consultants. He’s also got a wealth of music, movies, baseball knowledge and dad jokes, making him a truly well-rounded employee. Learn even more about Kyle by visiting the “Meet the Team” page of our website.

A true girl dad, Kyle spends much of his time outside of Lucid with his three daughters or wife, Rhi. If he’s not at the Zionsville ball diamonds helping to coach one of his daughter’s softball teams, he’s probably at home watching his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, grilling, or whipping up a coveted Kyle McCarty margarita.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Pizza Topping: Supreme

Favorite Musician or Band: Pearl Jam

Favorite State You’ve Visited: Montana

Kyle’s Lucid Story:

· You currently manage Lucid’s Recruiting team, so in three short bullet points, tell us why a candidate should work with a Lucid recruiter.

• Communication, our team prides itself in always being thorough and following up with candidates, whether you got the job or gathering feedback on how we can help you get the next opportunity

• Trusted clients, we’ve built a personal relationship with all of our clients, these are people we visit onsite, have lunches with, know their families. We are going to make sure if Lucid is representing you, you are going to have high visibility

• People are our priority, at Lucid you are not just another number, if there’s ever any issue, candidates can rest assured at Lucid that we will always make things right in a timely manner

 · You’ve been with Lucid almost five years which is an impressive tenure. If you could go back and tell yourself something on day one, what would it be?

Not volunteer that I can make world class margaritas, because then everyone always wants a margarita

· Do you have a favorite memory from your time thus far at Lucid?

Our trip to Jackson Hole was a special time, and I think really validated a lot of the work that Lucid had done to that point

· You have an impressive sales, recruiting and leadership background, but when you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

General manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers (I would’ve never traded Mike Piazza) 

· What are three words those closest to you would use to describe you?

Loyal, Fiery, Fair

· You’re a big movie fan. If you could go back in time and visit the set of any movie, which one would it be and why?

Captain Ron. I think it would be awesome to sail the Caribbean with Martin Short and Kurt Russell.

Meet the Team: Lori Hanni

Meet Lori Hanni, Lucid’s Director of Finance and Operations!

Lori Hanni has been reshaping the operations and finance department for Lucid for over five years now. Our rapid growth has been possible largely due to her processes and improvements that have made us more efficient and able to better serve the varied needs of our customers. To learn more about Lori’s experience beyond Lucid, head on over to the “Our Team” page of our website.

A current Broad Ripple resident by way of Monticello and Brooklyn, you can often find her on a walk with her miniature Goldendoodle, Winnie, and an ube latte. A lover of a good book and an even bigger fan of a really good bookstore, Lori spends a lot of her free time reading, exploring new areas, catching up on pop-culture references, or trying a new cuisine.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Dessert: Black & White Cookie from William Greenberg

Favorite Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid

Favorite Sports Team: Gotham FC

Lori’s Lucid Story:

· This is the first time that you have worked for a staffing agency or in the recruiting world. What has been the most interesting part about working in this industry?

I came to Lucid after 10 years of Operations in the medical industry, so it was a complete shift! The most interesting part for me is how unique each placement is. I’d only ever known the one-size-fits-all hiring model previously. At Lucid, we know no two of our customers are the same, so we truly get to know their needs (however evolving they are), find the areas we can help, and tailor an onboarding package and process just for them. With the increase in remote opportunities, we’re also increasing the number of states we’re finding candidates in – and ensuring compliance with each of them. When you combine the two, it’s almost like we’re fitting puzzle pieces together (except sometimes the puzzle pieces suddenly change shape), so it makes every day interesting!

· What is something the average person may not know about Lucid?

That we have the best group of people. Every one of my coworkers brings a unique skillset and a diverse background, and I learn from each of them every day. We celebrate each other’s wins, support each other in our losses, and keep coming up with the weirdest juju enhancers to increase the wins. Above all, we love putting people to work and have a lot of fun doing it.

· What is a current professional goal of yours?

The same goal I’ve had since Day 1, and that’s helping set every one of my coworkers up for success and improving Lucid’s internal processes to equip us for continued growth. I really care that I am doing all that I can to make everyone else’s jobs easier, providing the best possible experience to all our candidates and customers, and staying one step ahead of any changes or needs. It’s been rewarding to look back at how far we’ve come, and it motivates me every day to improve even more!

· Do you have any unique or interesting hobbies?

This always surprises people but as much as I love my data and spreadsheets, my degree was in Studio Art, so I really enjoy being creative in my free time. I just finished a hand building pottery course and am planning on enrolling in a stained-glass class next. At home, I enjoy watercolor painting and macrame.

· What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?

• My dog, Winnie

• Kindle

• Bug spray

· You can have dinner with any famous person, dead or alive. Who is it going to be and why?

Stefon, City Correspondent. He knows all of New York City’s hottest restaurants.

Meet the Team: Marcy Mattice

Meet Marcy Mattice, Lucid’s Principal Account Manager!

Since the fall of 2018, Marcy Mattice has been making a huge impact for Lucid and our customers. One of the most knowledgeable and dedicated account executives in the market, she prides herself on getting to know her clients and their needs far beyond the job description. Let’s put it this way: after just a short time of working with Marcy you’ll feel like you have known her forever and will be wondering how your team functioned before you found her. If you’re curious about the background that has led Marcy here, make sure to check out the “Our Team” on our website.

You’ll often find Marcy at home in Indianapolis cuddling with her cats, playing with her dog, Bentley, or working out in the yard. When not at home, she’s likely ventured out to enjoy some delicious local cuisine and drinks with friends or family, is checking out an antique store, or is perusing the farmer’s market.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Beverage: Margarita

Favorite Movie or TV Show: NCIS

Favorite Flower: Roses

Marcy’s Lucid Story:

· You have an impressive professional background that has largely been focused on sales. What do you enjoy most about working in sales at Lucid?

So many things! Lucid is designed for everyone’s success (truly) while having fun (and we throw a heck of a party). We have a great team of experienced and talented individuals — Recruiting, Sales and Ops — that not only provides the professional structure to deliver well for our clients but the daily comic relief, camaraderie, and support when the going gets tough.

· From the perspective of one of your clients, what do you think makes Lucid stand out from other IT staffing firms?

We are great at what we do. We take the time to build relationships and understand our clients, we know the tech landscape and market challenges/trends, and in return, we will deliver excellent results every time. They know they can put their trust in us.

· How do you stay motivated during the more challenging times?

By remembering the hard times do not last. Build/nurture relationships in the meantime, put in the efforts, and opportunities will come back. Then there’s always the power of $$.

· Other than working at Lucid, of course 😉, what is your dream job?

Having an equine therapy center and farm for veterans that incorporates various holistic modalities and service dogs for PTSD/healing. The horses and dogs would be rescues, of course.

· You are given an unlimited budget to travel anywhere in the world. Where are you going?

Easy answer…everywhere. How much time do I have? Scotland and Ireland. French and Italian countryside. Croatia and Greece. Turkey. African safari. New Zealand. Argentina, Brazil, and Peru. The rainforest and beaches of Central America. Some extended time relaxing in the Caribbean. And for good measure, I’d throw in some domestic travel as well.

· What’s your favorite way to spend a rainy day?

Being lazy. Hanging out on the screened-in porch reading or comfy on the sofa binge watching my latest show

Meet the Team: Tom Rusnak

Meet Tom Rusnak, Lucid’s Technical Recruitment Manager!

After relocating from his native Chicago to Indianapolis, Tom became a part of the Lucid team in August of 2018. In addition to his love of Chicago sports teams, he brought several years of previous recruiting experience to his new role at Lucid. Known around Lucid as the man with many nicknames (Bats, Batsbushka, Tommy, just to name a few), his 6 years on the recruiting team have made him an invaluable resource within our organization. Learn more about Tom, like the fact that he started his professional career as a teacher, on the “Our Team” page of the website.

When not spending time at his home in Fishers with his son, Ben, and wife, Rachel, he’s probably enjoying a beer and hot dog while watching the Bears lose (sorry, we had to make the jab, Tom), on the golf course, or hanging with extended family around Indy or Chicago.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Movie: Tommy Boy

Favorite Sport to Watch: Football (American)

Favorite Pizza Topping: Sausage, also tavern style

Tom’s Lucid Story:

· What’s your favorite thing about being a recruiter at Lucid?

The people. We all care and try our best to provide a great, professional experience on the client and candidate side of things. Everyone roots for one another, and they are outstanding people outside the office too. It’s a special group that I am proud to be a part of.

· What are three words you would use to describe Lucid’s company culture?

Creative, Humorous, and Caring

· You were a teacher before becoming a recruiter. Are there any lessons or skills from your teaching career that utilize as a recruiter?

Developing and creating prep materials for a candidate’s interview is a little like creating a lesson plan. I try to include all the right information in an organized and detailed email. I also talk with candidates on the phone about different strategies and stories to share. The entire prep process is like a five to ten minute lesson plan for adults.

· What is your favorite way to unwind after a stressful day at work?

Playing zoo or safari with my son, Ben, or just enjoying some great takeout food and watching a cooking/food network show with my wife, Rachel. After a stressful week, I’ll have some scotch and enjoy the backyard.

· Do you have any unknown, interesting or useless talents?

I used to have a great jump shot, but I think my son would say making different animal sounds and racing. I am undefeated against him.

· If you could only eat one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be?

For versatility purposes, Italian food. I love pizza and pasta, so I’d be happy.

Meet the Team: Jon Paquette

Meet Jon Paquette, a Sr. Account Executive at Lucid!

Jon joined the Lucid team back in 2018 as a recruiter and spent a couple of years in that role before transitioning to his current position of Sr. Account Executive. Internally most know him as PZ, but to our clients he’s known as Jon, their Lucid rep that will ensure they have the best experience possible when looking to make some staffing changes with their team. Jon has a unique background that you can learn more about on the “Our Team” page of our website.

A Bloomington resident for most of his life, Jon now lives in Indianapolis where you can usually find him enjoying a nice glass of whiskey or cigar, checking out the newest restaurant, or bowling a perfect game. (That’s right, he’s bowled around thirty perfect games in his life.)

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Holiday: Groundhog Day

Favorite Dessert: New York-style cheesecake

Favorite Outdoor Activity or Sport: Car Spotting and Disc Golf

Jon’s Lucid Story:

· You have one minute (approximately 100 words) to tell someone about Lucid. What are you saying?

Lucid Services Group is the best Technology Staffing & Project Delivery Partner in the game! We’re a locally owned and operated WBE that works extensively with companies across the US helping them identify skill gaps, assess IT project delivery needs and workload capacities, as well as create and deliver a talent delivery strategies customized for each client and their unique needs.

· When looking back at your six years at Lucid, what are you most proud of?

I’m incredibly proud of the team that Lucid has built over the years. We’ve put together a highly talented and knowledgeable group of people who possess an unmatched desire and dedication to helping clients deliver on their most challenging projects, helping candidates find better opportunities to provide for their families, and we do it all with an unmatched level of customer service.

· You started at Lucid as a technical recruiter but didn’t have a recruiting or IT background. What have you found to be the most interesting part of the IT staffing industry?

It’s always interesting learning about the latest in enterprise and emerging tech and hearing what technical leaders are excited (and worried) about regarding those new technologies and the impacts they can have. The fun really starts when I get to dig in with a customer about their new tech implementation or upgrade goals and help them to develop a talent delivery program, ensuring they have quick access to the expertise they need, ensuring smooth and timely project delivery.

· If you could have any job in the world (other than your current one, of course) for one week, what would it be?

I’d love to be an Automotive Journalist and co-host joining Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May in their wild and hilarious antics on their Amazon Prime series, The Grand Tour.

· You have a full week off work. How are you going to spend it?

On a road trip! Putting together a list of 5 or 6 cities or towns and mapping out 2-3 hours of scenic drive time between each destination, making sure to leave enough time to check out some of the local amenities and attractions along the way.

· Do you have any phobias (spiders, snakes, heights, etc.)?

Birds! When I was 8 or 9 years old, I was ferociously attacked by someone’s pet Parakeet. This led to a life-long distrust of all feathered creatures that haven’t been plucked and prepared for supper.

Meet the Team: Alyssa Dodds

Meet Alyssa Dodds, Lucid’s Chief of Staff!

Alyssa was one of Lucid’s first employees joining the team back in June of 2017. Over the years she has worn many hats, from Recruiter to Interim President, and has been instrumental in Lucid’s growth. Fondly nicknamed Skip, in addition to her Chief of Staff role, she is also Lucid’s internal meteorologist and cheese connoisseur. (We told you she wears many hats.) To learn even more about Alyssa and her background prior to joining Lucid, make sure to check out the “Our Team” page of our website.

Alyssa currently resides in Brownsburg with her husband, David; daughters, Josephine and Lucy; and Pomeranian, Peyton Manning. An avid sports fan, board game lover, and devotee of true crime documentaries, her time is most often spent chasing her kids around and forcing Peyton Manning (the Pomeranian) to cuddle with her.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Sports Team: Indianapolis Colts

Favorite Travel Destination: Greece

Favorite Restaurant: Traders Point Creamery

Alyssa’s Lucid Story:

· In what ways has Lucid changed the most since you started?

We have changed in almost every single way, except one, and that’s our people. Yes, we have added new folks along the way and have had a couple come and go, but since the beginning Lucid has been focused on our team. We have ensured that we hire the best and treat them the best. It is amazing to see John and Bethany not lose sight of this, even while everything else has changed.

I have been a part of five offices in three locations, including our first tiny closet of an office in Zionsville. Watched us grow from an internal team of four to one of fourteen (and counting!) Of course, we have increased our revenue, our contractor count, and our customer base all significantly as well. We’ve added dad jokes, riddles, frog memes, and juju enhancers, but Lucid’s mission has stayed the same, and I think that’s a huge part of why we have been so successful in not a very long amount of time.

· You wear many hats at Lucid but started as a recruiter. What makes Lucid’s recruiting team better than others in this field?

Authenticity. Unfortunately, I have talked to many candidates that have had bad experiences with recruiters because they were misled, not given all the important information, ignored – the list goes on. Those things are not a part of the Lucid playbook.

If we reach out about a role, we are going to share every bit of information we can. We will be up front about onsite or hybrid expectations, salary ranges, what benefits may be

offered, what the team is like, the environment, opportunities for growth. If we don’t know something, we will try to hunt down the correct answer for you but won’t provide false information. We won’t force you into a role that is clearly not a great fit just so we can have the win. It is important to us that everyone wins. We strive to be authentic and provide a five-star experience, always.

· Do you have a favorite Lucid memory?

This company has grown and evolved so much over the past seven years, and we have made a lot of memories along the way. I can’t say that one memory in particular stands out above the rest, but some highlights include our kickoff party, Loco lunches, Jackson Hole trip, shots of malort, ping pong matches, the abundance of nicknames, and of course, Cinco de Mayo parties (but Oktoberfest is going to be even better.)

· You’ve been at Lucid for seven years. What is a professional goal and personal goal you have for the next seven years?

Professionally: I want to help take Lucid to the next level. We are really good at what we do, but I want to see us take that up a notch. Over the next seven years, I would love to help foster internal growth across the team, expand our community presence, really define the Lucid brand, and make us a household name in the IT and staffing communities nationwide.

Personally: I want to work on creating strong traditions for our family. Whether that be holiday traditions, vacations, birthdays, I want to provide my family with loving memories and family traditions that my kids can pass down to their kids and so on. Reading and traveling more would also be great. 😉

· What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I am a sucker for a good brunch, so on most weekends you’ll probably find me enjoying a good meal and mimosa. It might be surprising to some, but Indy has a great brunch scene. We love to travel, whether that’s regionally, nationally or internationally. Of course, spending time with family and friends is also very important to us. If we are at home, you’ll likely find me chasing my kids around, attempting to read a book, or watching a reality TV show.

· What are three random facts about you?

• I hate pizza.

• My husband and I have traveled to 14 countries together.

• I have completed the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. (Side note: not a huge fan of bourbon.)

Support Services

Lucid Services Group has a long history of supporting multi-location, large (5,000+ employees) organizations on their Support Services needs. We’ve helped clients nationwide augment their existing teams with Lucid resources to support workload surges, created teams to handle new technology rollouts and desktop refreshes, and provided oversight of entire support environments. No matter the technology or scale, we have an option that will help your internal clients succeed.

Clients love working with Lucid because

• We’re a certified Women’s Business Enterprise, and we make it easy to help you reach your diversity spend goals

• Our candidate pool is large, well vetted, and highly qualified

• Our placements stick — our average contractor duration is 364 days

• We cut the red tape — we make hiring easy with efficient onboarding practices and fast turnaround itme

Where Lucid Can Help

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from a staffing partner in order to successfully support their internal teams. Lucid has extensive experience in in various support services environments. Our recruiters can deliver top talent for even the most challenging positions and know exactly how to vet the right talent. Some of our areas of expertise include:

• Tier 1, 2, and 3 help desk resources who can provide, efficient, friendly support.

• Build and field deployment teams

• IT Support Management (ISTM), including ServiceNow and Cherwell

• Mobile device management and provisioning

• Network operations and monitoring

• Access control and IAM

• Corporate print operations

• Custom or COTS software support

What our clients have to say:

“Lucid and their team has proven invaluable to us as a partner in our Support Services and Field Technology groups. We can always count on them to rapidly deploy resources for any surges we face, or anytime we need to deploy new technologies. We also view their contract-to-hire model as our preferred form of long-term hiring to ensure that candidates can interact with our end-users with the level of professionalism we demand, while also validating their technical abilities”

- Vice President Business Systems Support and Operations, F500 Client

Meet the Team: John Galligan

Meet John Galligan, Lucid’s COO and Co-Founder!

John joined forces with our CEO, Bethany Robinson, and started Lucid back in 2016. He plays a pivotal role in ensuring Lucid stands out amongst other IT staffing firms as we pride ourselves on not being one of the many. John is the second team member we are excited to highlight in our new “Meet the Team” series. Check out his questions and answers below, and learn more about John, or JG as many of us call him, on the “Our Team” page of our website.

A long-time Bloomington resident and graduate of IU, John lives on his “ranch” with his wife, Bethany; son, Will; daughter, Maggie; and pup, Jimmy Taco. If not working for Lucid or around his property, you can probably find John at the Uptown, skiing down a mountain, or sipping a margarita on a beach. No matter where he is or what he’s doing he’s usually surrounded by friends and family listening to the many stories about the adventures of John Galligan.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Musician or Band: Grateful Dead

Favorite Beverage: Bourbon

Favorite Outdoor Activity: Skiing!

John’s Lucid Story:

· You meet someone that knows nothing about Lucid. What are you going to tell them?

That we are the best technology services around, and that I have the privilege helping people find great jobs and play a large role in our customer’s success.

· If you could use a single word or short phrase to describe Lucid, what would it be?

Rad.

· What is some of the best professional advice you have ever received?

Two parts “you’re only as strong as your network” and “jump of the cliff.”

· Lucid was a big professional dream come true. What’s a personal dream you hope to make a reality?

Life long goal has been to have a ski house in the mountains. I’m working hard each and every day to make it happen!

· If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Bucket list is to ski the mountains in Japan, then travel Thailand and throughout Southeast Asia.

· What’s something surprising that not many people know about you?

That I am a carpenter and hope to own a cabinet shop when I retire from technology.

Meet the Team: Bethany Robinson

Meet Bethany Robinson, Lucid’s CEO and Co-Founder!

Bethany has been with Lucid since the very beginning as she helped to start Lucid alongside our current COO, John Galligan. We recently asked Bethany a few questions to help others get to know her and Lucid a little better. You can also learn more about Bethany, our Bette as her friends call her, and her entrepreneurial spirit on the “Our Team” page of our website.

Bethany currently lives just outside of Bloomington, IN on a beautiful property with her husband, John; son, Will; daughter, Maggie; and beloved pup, Jimmy Taco. She enjoys traveling to new places, spending time exploring and working on their land, and hanging with friends and family over a good meal or by the pool.

Rapid Fire Questions:

Favorite Food: Chicken Marsala

Favorite TV Show: The Office

Favorite Vacation Spot: Saint Lucia

Bethany’s Lucid Story:

· What do you think sets Lucid apart in the IT staffing field?

Relationships. Our team has built, and continues to build, meaningful relationships with everyone they work with.

· Looking back on the last 8 years of Lucid Services Group, what are you most proud of?

The internal team we have built. We have the BEST people and the best time! I’m also very proud of the next generation of leaders that we have coming through the ranks.

· You have had an interesting career path from teacher to entrepreneur to CEO. How do you think your previous roles have helped you be the successful female leader you are today?

My career path has certainly taken some turns. I like to keep things exciting! I view teaching as leading, just with younger people! I loved teaching elementary school, but especially loved leading other educators. I received my master’s degree in leadership to become a principal and genuinely enjoyed that journey. I learned a great deal about leadership that easily translated into my future business ventures.

When I did make a change and join my family business, I quickly realized that my entrepreneurial blood was strong! I loved everything about it and learned how to use my skills in new and creative ways. I believe that the interpersonal skills that I gained from my education career have helped me a great deal in my more current roles.

· Lucid was founded in Bloomington, IN where you currently live. What’s your favorite thing about Bloomington?

The fact that it has a small town feel, but still so many lovely restaurants, concerts, etc. I love Lake Monroe also!

· What would your perfect weekend look like?

This could go one of two ways for me-

1. Being at home snuggling with my family, eating outside, taking naps, hikes, and watching movies. OR

2. Traveling to a fun place with John and no kids!

· What are three words that those closest to you would use to describe you?

• Loving

• Patient

• Deliberate

Cybersecurity Capabilities

In today's global landscape, our lives and our businesses are more digital, more online, more interconnected, and more vulnerable than ever. With bad actors on the rise and constantly finding new ways to infiltrate our best defenses, both businesses and individuals must be wary. A rise in cyber crime coupled with challenges filling important information security positions puts us all at greater risk.

Let’s Talk Numbers

61%: The number of cybersecurity professionals who believe their team is understaffed. And we all know what an understaffed team means:

• Important projects slip through the cracks

• Your team gets burned out — fast

• You’re left vulnerable to cyberattacks

Filling these roles should be a top priority for businesses — but that’s far easier said than done.

3.5 Million: The number of cybersecurity jobs that went unfilled in 2023. The need for qualified, experienced security professionals is much higher than the number of these professionals that are active in the job market. Lucid’s account executives can help you make your positions the most attractive on the market, and our seasoned team of recruiters can find the top talent to fill them.

$10.5 Trillion: The amount that cyber crime is predicted to cost the world by 2025. The cost to your business’s reputation though? Too high to count.

300%: The amount cyber crime has risen since 2020. If it feel like things are more dangerous than ever before, that’s because they are.

Where Lucid Can Help

Businesses of all sizes can benefit from a staffing partner in order to successfully protect themselves with the right people. Lucid has extensive experience in encryption, network security, identity and access management, and security policy. Our recruiters can deliver top talent for even the most challenging positions and know exactly how to vet the right talent. Some of our areas of expertise include:

Identity and Access Management: Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), User and Identity Management, and Authorization are all important tools to keep your employees safe and your data secure. Lucid project delivery teams can help implement and strengthen your IAM to meet and exceed industry standards.

Security Policy: Your security policies should be in place well before you need them. Lucid can help you with change management, disaster recovery plans, incident response teams, and access control so you’re constantly prepared.

Encryption: Protect your data with encryption technology, including Ciphers, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), Data at Rest, Data In Motion, and Open SSL.

Network Security: Protect your people and your systems with Network Security teams, including Intrusion Prevention Systems, Firewall Governance and Configuration, Network Behavior Anomaly Detection, Cloud Access Security Brokers and Vulnerability Management.

Cybersecurity has never been more challenging, but it’s also never been more important. An experienced staffing partner is the smartest way you can protect your company from threats and ensure future success. Our team can help you staff, grow, and modernize your information security to protect what matters most.

The role of the CDAO in your journey to AI/ML

The leadership at Lucid Services Group recently attended SIA’s annual Executive Forum in Las Vegas. These conferences are always incredibly powerful and information on industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices all flow freely.

A consistent theme across several keynotes and many breakout sessions was AI. Like all the different customer personas that the staffing industry supports, we are all also looking internally at how we can leverage AI and ML for efficiency gains, separation and diversification, and better delivery.

The standout for Lucid, who supports Technology and Digital Transformation leaders, was the role that the CDAO (Chief Data & Analytics Officer) function can, and must, play in the successful adoption of AI/ML.

Lucid currently supports approximately 50 customers across 25 states—we aren’t huge, but we like to think we have a large enough footprint to keep our finger on the pulse of things—and we are absolutely seeing the CDAO function/organization:

• Becoming better defined in all sizes of accounts

• Gaining funding and headcount steadily

• Wielding more power and gaining their “seat at the table”

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As you implement the CDAO office on your journey to AI/ML, there are three important points to prioritize:

• You will only succeed, and see return on investment, with AI if this function is involved early and often on any technical decisions and investments being made.

• Your AI will only be as good as your data allows it to be—invest heavily in Master Data Management leaders and embed data-minded advocates directly into lines of business where the AI use-case is present

• Start small, become internal experts, and model and massage your data to scale as your AI becomes more mature

Lucid already has many success stories to tell in our efforts supporting enterprises to grow and staff their Data Organizations. We are excited to play a critical role in the continued evolution in this space. The early work in these groups is typically require higher numbers of resources, but often finds a steady state with lower headcount than the initial efforts: a perfect use-case for flexible staffing/services. Please contact us here if you would like to learn more of our capabilities

SIA is the Staffing Industry Analysts, a world leader in our space. Not only do the offer powerful conferences for leaders of staffing companies, but they also provide powerful sessions for buyers of our services, contingent workforce leaders, and procurement experts.  More information can be found here.  

Looking for more info? We especially loved this webinar from Gartner and encourage you to take a listen!