About Trumpeter Consulting
Leveraging over 20 years of industry expertise, Trumpeter Consulting L.L.C. is an innovative talent solutions consulting firm specializing in delivering top-notch contingent workforce management (CWM) strategies to corporate clients across various industries, as well as agencies who seek to deliver staffing and recruiting services within the CWM world. By leveraging our experience, knowledge, and relationships across the talent solutions ecosystem, we drive value creation and meaningful success for our clients by optimizing their talent solutions through an approach that is tailored to their business and cultural needs.
Who is behind Trumpeter Consulting? Steve Dern, a veteran in the talent solutions space spanning over two decades, is the Founder and Principal Consultant for Trumpeter Consulting. A respected thought leader and mentor in the space, his experience spans operations, implementation, sales, consulting, and executive leadership. Steve's experience stems from working with leading firms in the MSP and VMS space, which have allowed for opportunities to evaluate and implement solutions that combine multiple supplier engagement strategies, IC Compliance and Payrolling, Direct Sourcing. Steve has developed robust staffing agency networks with top firms across the United States. He is frequently found as a public speaker at conferences including ProcureCon, CWS, Club VMSA Beeline, World Staffing Summit. Steve is a graduate of Miami University, a father of two, and resides with his wife and dog in Cincinnati, Ohio. During his younger days, Steve was a respected jazz trumpet player in the Cincinnati area, thus the name of the firm today.
Why Trumpeter Consulting? Let's face it! Establishing a Gen 1 contingent workforce program is not necessarily a new concept for Fortune 1000 organizations, but the same cannot be said for smaller to mid-sized organizations. They face tighter budgets, fewer internal resources, and frequently lack the internal expertise who understands the entire talent solutions ecosystem. If they are lucky, they have one person who has managed a program once before. However that typically means that the same type of solution will be deployed, whether it is the right fit for the company's current needs or not. Trumpeter Consulting helps fill that gap! Small to mid-sized corporations want and need the same kind of solutions as some of the bigger firms, just maybe not at the same scale. They still seek innovation, strategy, the ability to scale for future growth, and most of all - value! Trumpeter Consulting takes the approach of crafting a tailored solution to our client's business and cultural needs, placing an emphasis on the user experience in everything we do. After all, a solution only delivers value if it is utilized by the stakeholders!
And it's not only the client end users who seek value. Agencies want to reduce their own costs and increase their own revenue streams via the managed solutions provided by MSP and VMS programs. But how do agencies break that barrier of an approved vendor list, to not only becoming an approved supplier, but a premier partner that can grow not only within one client account, but potentially across multiple clients, locations, and skillsets? We help staffing agencies by reviewing their marketing and sales strategies, the tools they use today, and how they operationally manage strategic relationships with the goal of becoming a trusted recruiting machine for their clients. After all, it's not sales that drives revenue in such programs. It is finding and engaging the right talent. . . at the right time. . . at the right price!
Consulting Services
Trumpeter Consulting provides consultation to clients via three unique offerings.
CWM Client Consultation
Ideal for small to mid-sized client organizations, or anyone looking to launch a first generation contingent workforce management program, Trumpeter Consulting provides visibility to your current state program operations, technology optimization opportunities, supplier engagement strategies, solutions sourcing, implementation management, and adherence ton best practices based on how you utilize contingent labor. We can engage either for a total solution scope, or for smaller projects.
Retained Consulting Support
Sometimes you need the perspective of an expert - but not all the time! We provide organizations - agencies and corporate buyers - our expertise on a retainer basis so that you can tap into our experience and market knowledge when you need it. Our retainer services can be applied to special projects as well.
Agency Consulting
The account management model that is utilized for retail accounts may not be the right fit as you seek to support a client with an internally managed VMS solution, or a third party MSP provider. Trumpeter Consulting helps provide a perspective from a CWM program office lens so that your own teams are structured for success, taking your firm from being on the outside looking in, to becoming a tier 1 supplier, to expanding your relationship strategically across multiple locations and accounts.
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Testimonials
Dave P.
SVP, Sales
VMS Technology Provider
Dennis K.
Former President
MSP and IC Compliance Providers
Kevin M.
Indirect Category Leader
Fortune 400 Energy Firm
Kevin G.
COO & President
MSP and Workforce Technology Solutions
Bradley B.
CVO & Equity Owner
Staffing and Payrolling/IC Compliance Solutions
Karen G.
Chief Revenue Office
MSP and Direct Sourcing Technology Solutions
“Over nearly twenty years, I have had the privilege of collaborating with Steve Dern through various channel partner relationships. While his expertise has primarily focused on the MSP sector of talent solutions, Steve possesses comprehensive and strategic knowledge spanning MSP, VMS, Direct Sourcing, IC Compliance, and Payrolling Solutions. This expertise is a compelling reason why Trumpeter Consulting is an ideal partner for small to mid-size clients starting a Gen 1 CW program. His approach to engaging all stakeholders—including partners, clients, and staffing suppliers—is consistently balanced and professional. Steve demonstrates integrity and is dedicated to delivering effective value for his clients, regardless of their specific challenges. He provides clear guidance on industry realities—both positive and negative—and is adept at developing solutions that enhance engagement and compliance while ensuring an excellent user experience.”
“I have known and worked with Steve Dern for over 24 years. While President of Comensura (rebranded as Guidant Group in 2007), Steve was one of my executive leaders who helped build and develop the initial concepts and methodology for MSP/VMS programs managing corporate America’s contingent labor. Steve was responsible for all phases of these programs including sales, implementation and design, and on-going account management. From the early days Steve helped build the industry’s foundation which has become best practices for Vendor Neutral Supplier Management, Contingent Labor (Temp, SOW, Payrolling, etc.), Risk Mitigation, the effective utilization of evolving technologies, Stakeholder Relationship, Sourcing of Talent via both Direct and via Suppliers, etc. This is what he brings to Trumpeter Consulting. His knowledge and expertise, coupled with his integrity, professionalism, and passion, make him an ideal subject matter expert in assisting any organization to meet and exceed their contingent workforce objectives. Therefore, I highly recommend Steve.”
“Having deployed a leading VMS platform to internally manage our contingent workforce program, we quickly realized our program lacked visibility, compliance, and enterprise utilization. Steve Dern led a team of consultants that assessed our current state, including the VMS technology, sourcing processes and workflows, handling the supplier network, and the internal practices for engaging third-party labor . . . EVERYTHING! Furthermore, Steve’s firm won our MSP business and deployed a new and more robust VMS platform, and through rigorous process management, helped to address the voids we were experiencing. Steve collaborated with stakeholders to craft policies and practices that drove up engagement from the internal stakeholders and led the charge to identify and implement a new and more efficient payroll solution for managing our payrolled contingent workforce. While re-tooling was not an easy process, Steve guided us through to the other side - delivering a solution that achieved cost control, reduced co-employment risks, brought compliance to the forefront, enhanced the data collection process all while addressing data integrity and accountability, as well as offering a solution that was easy to utilize across the enterprise.”
“Having hired Steve into the MSP world in 2002, I have seen first-hand the consultative approach and industry expertise that he brings to his clients, employers, and now, Trumpeter Consulting. He was not only a key Program Director and Regional Executive over multiple MSP programs, but he led consulting teams as our organization assessed current states of contingent workforce programs for multiple projects. This included evaluating operation process flows, supplier engagement strategies, technology capabilities and automation, supplier contracts, performance metrics, risk mitigation strategies, and more. His ability to provide not only the current state profile and challenges but deliver a solution to an optimized path forward set the tone for a long career in the talent solutions industry, and a stellar reputation as a trusted partner.”
“I’ve had the privilege of knowing Steve Dern for more than 20 years as a client, industry partner, consultant, and had him on my team for nearly four of those years. In that time, I’ve come to rely on him as one of the most capable and knowledgeable operators in the Workforce Management space, including: MSP, direct sourcing, and staffing/EOR. His command of these programs, both strategically and operationally, is truly exceptional. During his time with my organization, he delivered high-value consulting analyses for clients evaluating MSP solutions, provided best-in-class recommendations for operating existing programs, helped us price and bid numerous opportunities, and played a key role in the client acquisition process. Steve also strengthened our ecosystem by making critical introductions to technology and network partners, and by developing meaningful partner relationships and go-to-market strategies. Beyond his expertise, Steve is a team player who brings thoughtfulness, hard work, and a balanced approach. He is equally comfortable crafting strategy or diving into the details when needed. I can say with confidence that he is someone you can trust, collaborate with, and count on to deliver. I recommend him without hesitation.”
“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Steve over the past 8 years, and he is someone I deeply respect—both professionally and personally. Steve has an incredible depth of experience in the workforce solutions industry, but what truly stands out to me is the way he shows up every day. He builds genuine, lasting relationships based on trust, honesty, and mutual respect. People want to work with Steve because he listens, follows through, and consistently puts the relationship first. He has a rare combination of integrity, industry knowledge, and dedication that makes him a valued partner and strategic collaborator. This is what serves as the foundation of Trumpeter Consulting, and his clients will be the beneficiary of working with someone who not only understands this industry, but leads with heart and accountability."
Contact Us!
1156 Golf Club Drive156
Trumpeter Consulting, L.L.C.
1156 Golf Club Drive
Lebanon, OH 45036
303-323-5179