Developing relationships and rapport with candidates on outplacement is a priority at The Ayers Group, and physical surroundings play an important role in that effort.  "The key is to get candidates to use our offices to facilitate their job searches and maximize their success," says Senior Vice President Bob Scumaci, who heads the firm's Parsippany office.  "The more space and amenities we have, the more likely they are to do that.  Our staff works to create a warm atmosphere and make them feel at home.  As Bill Ayers says, once you're part of The Ayers Group process, you're part of a family." 
 
The fact that the Ayers offices in Connecticut and New Jersey have all expanded in recent months, moving to new facilities that offer outplacement candidates a variety of benefits, is an indication of the firm's commitment. 
 
"We listened to what the marketplace was asking for," says Senior Vice President Joan Learn, who manages the Norwalk office. "Our orientation is toward candidate and customer service," adds the manager of the Princeton office, Senior Vice President Walter O'Neill.  "Our offices are designed to make candidates feel comfortable and welcome."  Each of the new facilities features well-appointed private offices for senior-executive candidates and fully-equipped modular workstations for other candidates, along with a research library, kitchen, and a large conference room equipped for conducting training sessions, workshops, and seminars. 
 
The Norwalk operation has relocated to a larger space within the same complex, which offers such amenities as a cafeteria, fitness center, and free parking.  A key feature of the new space is a separate wing of offices for senior-executive candidates.  "We also upped the number of workstations and staff offices," says Learn.  "The new conference room enables us to hold seminars and workshops for larger groups.  Joan Caruso's OEC group has been using it to conduct training programs and brainstorming sessions for clients who prefer to go off site—something we couldn't offer before.  Getting away from their pressured environments helps clients focus on their OD projects."
 
The Parsippany satellite has remained in the same building but effectively doubled its size while consolidating all its offices, formerly on several floors, in one space.  New amenities include an Internet resource room and a training room equipped for videotaping interview role-playing sessions.  "The expansion allows us to provide better candidate support," says Scumaci.  "We can handle more candidates at the same time and, with a dedicated training room plus a conference room, we can put on workshops and seminars simultaneously."
 
The last of the three satellites to move was Princeton, which relocated at year-end to offices a short distance from its former location.  According to O'Neill, amenities include candidate workstations double the size of standard modules, generously-sized offices for senior-executive candidates, and consultants' offices large enough to hold seminars for five or six people.  "All are extremely well appointed," he notes.
 
Following is the contact information for the Ayers satellite offices: