PSG invests in hypergrowth HR platform to extend the BirdDogHR leadership position in talent management. BirdDogHR serves as a cornerstone company for Arcoro.

DES MOINES, Iowa – August 15, 2018 – BirdDogHR™, the leader in talent management solutions for the construction, engineering and skilled trades industries, has received investment by Providence Strategic Growth Capital Partners L.L.C. (PSG), an affiliate of Providence Equity Partners L.L.C. Todd Skokan remains the President and CEO of BirdDogHR. He, the BirdDogHR leadership team and all BirdDogHR employees will continue to grow the business, serve customers and deliver BirdDogHR integrated talent management software and services.

As a part of the overall platform strategy, PSG has created Arcoro. Arcoro is the proven human capital management (HCM) software and services provider for high consequence industries and features cornerstone companies BirdDogHR and sister company, ExakTime. ExakTime is a mobile, cloud-based solution for time and attendance tracking known for its ease and seamless integration with payroll. Both companies will maintain their company names and brands but will now be known as part of the Arcoro family of human capital management solutions.

The market is vehement for easy-to-use, cloud-based software. Both BirdDogHR and ExakTime are growing quickly and are leaders in their focus areas of integrated talent management and time and attendance respectively. With over 8,000 customers in high consequence industries, such as construction, energy, home health care and manufacturing, both companies understand and have established solutions to help companies maximize workforce performance and efficiencies, build ROI and limit the risk associated with human capital management. PSG, BirdDogHR and ExakTime company leaders see synergies in joining forces as Arcoro because customers from both companies can leverage new capabilities.

McGill Restoration, a building restoration business based in Omaha, Nebraska, utilizes both ExakTime’s and BirdDogHR’s services for their human capital management. “We’re happy that ExakTime and BirdDogHR are now part of the Arcoro group, because they work really well together,” says Blake Berke, CFO at McGill Restoration. “We rely heavily on both solutions to streamline our recruiting, hiring, employee tracking and payroll processes.” Manager of Human Resources Kim Roberts adds, “When I hire someone through BirdDogHR I immediately onboard them into ExakTime. They go hand in hand. It’s a smooth process. Having the web-based reporting and custom reports from both systems at my fingertips is also invaluable.”

“This growth equity investment is a great testament to the strength of our team and the success of our customers. We are excited to join forces with PSG to expedite product innovation and ensure customer satisfaction. With this new investment in the company, the future is exciting at BirdDogHR and strong momentum will continue,” said Todd Skokan, President and CEO of BirdDogHR.

“BirdDogHR has had impressive success bringing enterprise grade talent management and compliance solutions to the high consequence industries where they matter most. The Company’s product suite helps its customers effectively nurture their workforces using industry-specific best practices. We, at PSG, are thrilled to partner with Todd and his team, and welcome them to the Arcoro family,” said Gopi Vaddi, PSG Managing Director.

The BirdDogHR Talent Management System automates, simplifies and streamlines human capital management processes including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, learning and succession planning. Recruiting top talent is easy with a simple apply process and enhanced job distribution. Onboarding automates manual paperwork and gets employees on the job faster. Performance management, supported by learning opportunities, improves employee engagement. Finally, succession planning prepares employees for growth opportunities that keep them invested in the company. From start to finish the system is integrated, full featured and mobile-friendly. To see the system in action, schedule a demo online.

About BirdDogHR

BirdDogHR offers comprehensive talent management software and managed services — everything you need to guide the entire employee lifecycle. The cloud-based talent management system is straightforward and easy to use, so you can safely focus on implementing strategy — not learning new software or worrying it won’t keep up with changing regulations. Managed services operate as an extension of your HR department and deliver the expertise and focus you need. Organizations can see ROI in effective growth management, bottom line results and compliance peace of mind. BirdDogHR specializes in high-consequence and government contracting industries because they have unique needs. Companies from other industries can use the BirdDogHR talent management solution — and they do — but the solution is built with the most rigorous compliance needs in mind. To learn more, visit www.birddoghr.com and follow the company on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

About ExakTime

Founded in 1999, ExakTime is the 20-year leader in time and attendance tracking for construction and field services and the #1-selling system in North America. ExakTime’s cloud-based wireless, mobile, and rugged timekeeping solutions are easy to implement and use for any size company. Accurate digital time tracking and convenient payroll syncing streamlines operations, saving businesses time and money and ensuring they remain compliant. Easy access from any location and powerful reporting provide the insights businesses need to effectively manage their growing workforces. ExakTime is used daily by more than a quarter million workers from dozens of industries in more than 20 countries. For more information, visit www.exaktime.com.

About Arcoro

Arcoro combines proven human capital management (HCM) software solutions designed to help high compliance and high consequence companies improve efficiencies, limit risk and build high-performing teams. With over 8000 customers and 360,000 daily users in 20 countries around the world, the easy-to-use, cloud-based HCM software and services are designed to give organizations the competitive edge needed to scale and grow effectively and efficiently. Visit us online at www.arcoro.com.

About Providence Strategic Growth

Providence Strategic Growth Capital Partners L.L.C. (“PSG”) is an affiliate of Providence Equity Partners L.L.C (“Providence”). Established in 2014, PSG focuses on growth equity investments in lower middle market software and technology-enabled service companies, primarily in North America. Providence is a premier, global asset management firm with $50 billion in capital under management across complementary private equity and credit businesses. Providence pioneered a sector-focused approach to private equity investing with the vision that a dedicated team of industry experts could build exceptional companies of enduring value. Since the firm’s inception in 1989, Providence has invested in more than 150 companies and is the leading equity investment firm focused on the media, communications, education and information industries. Providence is headquartered in Providence, R.I., and has offices in New York, London, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Delhi. For more information on PSG, visit www.provequity.com/private-equity/psg and for more information on Providence Equity, please visit www.provequity.com.

Next Level Ventures was honored by LWBJ (lwbj.com) at the 13th Annual Prometheus Awards with the “LWBJ Impact Award”.

The LWBJ Impact Award recognizes outstanding individuals or organizations who have made a significant impact to the growth, success and sustainability of Iowa’s technology culture and industry.

LWBJ Senior Partner JD Geneser presented Next Level Ventures with the award. He said: “Since launching in 2014, Next Level has raised $40 million to invest exclusively in Iowa technology companies. To date, Next Level has invested $26 million in 11 Iowabased companies. Following these initial investments, Next Level portfolio companies have attracted more than $50 million in additional co-investments, produced annual revenues exceeding $54 million, and generated more than 100 new Iowa jobs paying twice the median wage.”

The Technology Association of Iowa Prometheus Awards celebrate Iowa’s brightest technology innovators and entrepreneurs. The 2018 awards were presented before an audience of nearly 1,000 Iowa business and technology leaders at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines.

What used to be a booklet has become an app.

In her first press conference of the 2018 legislative session, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Transportation unveiled a mobile app for commercial driver’s license prep. The app is available for free to anyone with an Iowa driver’s license or ID card and is available for IOS, Android and desktops. It features 72 practice tests and the official CDL Manual.

The Iowa CDL Test Prep guide is the federal CDL manual converted to an app.

“I continuously challenge state agencies to find ways to modernize our government products and services,” Reynolds said. “In doing so, we increase access to our citizens by offering those products and services in ways that make it easier for people to use them.”

Iowa-City based Higher Learning Technologies developed the app.

“The Iowa DOT has accepted that challenge,” Reynolds said. “By developing the CDL test app, the Iowa DOT recognizes how Iowa people learn and that their lifestyles have changed. Studying from a written manual didn’t really meet peoples needs, so they adjusted.”

The app will hopefully address an issue finding and attracting certified truck drivers. Don Egli—the Director of Safety for the Iowa Motor Truck Association—said the driver shortage issue is a, “Very serious problem.”

He said there are a number of factors for the shortage, mainly drivers must be 21 to drive on the interstate and insurance companies won’t cover drivers until they are 23.

“The people we see coming into the industry are in the mid-40’s and have been displaced from another industry,” Egli said. “We need to get that message out there and this app will really help that.”

And because Higher Learning Technologies has developed apps for other industries such as retail, education and dentists, Reynolds said it is, “Limitless” as to what can be converted from paper to app.

“It’s really about finding ways to meet people where they’re at,” Reynolds said. “The Iowa Department of Transportation has really done a great job of trying to meet those needs. They’re an example that other agencies—who do a good job too—can follow.”