I was very excited when Joe Carfagno of CLEAR Employer Services agreed to be our executive for this month’s profile. An industry veteran, being part of PEO and payroll for the totality of his professional career, he is the proud founder of CLEAR Employer Services. It’s a company he describes as being finely-tuned to provide small businesses with speed and quality.
Carfagno has a passion for the industry and truly believes it is the best tool a small business can leverage to take them to the next level. Clear Employer Services has a customer centric model offering a full suite of services and a partnership approach based on the needs of their clients. Carfagno may be most passionate when speaking about his family and two daughters or his beloved Cowboys, but it is a close second when he speaks about PEO and the team at CLEAR.
Mr. Carfagno walks the walk of a leader and provides his employees with a company culture that allows them to deliver and exceed the expectations of their clients.
It was a lot of fun getting to know Mr. Carfagno better.
Whyman:
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview.
Carfagno:
You are welcome, I am happy to do it.
Whyman:
I am interested to hear what your thoughts are on the current state of the industry?
Carfagno:
I think there’s tremendous potential, particularly in certain areas of the country. The south is fairly well saturated and out west is getting there, but it’s wide open in the Northeast, which is our stronghold. There is a ton of opportunity to keep growing PEO—we’re about 10 years from saturation in the Northeast. I feel as though there is a lot of upside.
Whyman:
Interesting, yes and in the South we are almost at the point that you don’t have to explain what a PEO is anymore. Can you talk to me a little more about the corporate culture at CLEAR.
Carfagno:
We call it a “California Culture with a New York intensity.” Every successful entrepreneur knows that success depends on creating an environment where your team wants to come to work every day. That’s because happy employees take great care of clients. It involves doing the little things, like having motivational quotes on the walls and team activities and keeping a fully-stocked kitchen. It means maintaining a positive approach and keeping it loose. It also involves doing the bigger things, like offering unlimited PTO, profit sharing and tuition reimbursement. Everyone at CLEAR works hard; it’s important that they know I appreciate each of them. At the same time, everyone is accountable for staying in their lane and doing a great job, and the team holds each other accountable.
Whyman:
There is so much I love about that. PEO is hard work, I know, I did it, and to work for a company and CEO that recognizes that to the extent of providing the foundation for a culture like that is huge. Congrats to you.
I saw in the PEO Insider how you were recognized for your work with Make a Wish. That is amazing.
Diving down to the human piece of human capital, which position at your organization is the most important, and why?
Carfagno:
There’s no one position, but it’s important to have a really solid nucleus. We have a strong leadership team and core staff; they help build and maintain the culture. Some members of my team have been with me for almost a decade; they know what we’re about and they make sure new employees understand. When you have this foundation of terrific people and there’s change, the company can still stay ahead of the curve.
Whyman:
I saw on Linkedin how you have posted Articles/Interviews introducing various team members at various levels of the organization. I really like that. It sounds like you really enjoy your position?
Carfagno:
You know what, I really do. It is a passion for me.
Whyman:
Tell me more, what are say, three things that you like about your current position?
Carfagno:
(1) I love having a vision for the company and being able to take all of my staff with me for the ride. Sometimes I stop and think: I’m paying my folks salary and benefits and it’s impacting their families so someday they can put their kids through college, or retire. That’s pretty cool. (2) I like being able to take the company in the direction I want and surround myself with people to advise me. I like the responsibility—I have pretty big shoulders. (3) When a prospect says “I’ve heard it all before, show me what you can do differently” and we do, it’s really gratifying, especially when that person who is now a client turns around and says, “you were right!”
Whyman:
I heard that you did some boxing when you were younger, so I guess the big shoulder thing makes sense. So, let me see, if I were to ask you about music, what are you listening to these days?
Carfagno:
Two of my favorites: The Beatles and the Foo Fighters. I admire The Beatles because you had four guys and each was so talented in his own right. What they accomplished, to this day, is baffling. The Foo Fighters? Their front man Dave Grohl is amazing. I admire his constant reinvention. He pushes himself and works in his music and ON his music.
Whyman:
I love the Beatles and you are so right about them, I never thought about it, but staying a group was pretty impressive. Before you take off, how about some advice for new managers stepping into the role?
Carfagno:
Go shoulder to shoulder with your employees. Don’t ask them to do anything you wouldn’t do. Lead by example — show vs. tell. And remember, you’re there for them. Flip it around and ask if you’re doing everything possible.
Whyman:
I am not sure I have heard it put better. Thank you so very much for your time.
Carfagno:
You are very welcome.
