History & Awards

Our History

For more than two decades, DirectEmployers has worked to establish itself as the Authority in OFCCP Compliance, but like many organizations, comes from humble beginnings. Take a look back through our timeline to see the full story from 2001 to now, filled with all our proudest accomplishments and milestones.

Awards & Recognition

It’s not a stretch when we call ourselves “award-winning”, and we’ve got the accolades to prove it! From customer service and corporate culture to creative and content, our brands are always putting in work to produce the very best in all that we do. See our awards and recognitions from the past two decades and counting!

Our History

November 1992

Online Career Center Created

  • Created by former Executive Director, Bill Warren, Online Career Center (OCC) is widely recognized as the first internet job board. Through this tool, job seekers could connect with employers and view job listings on their computer. This product, revolutionary in its time, paved the way for today’s online job boards.

October 2001

DirectEmployers Association Formed

  • Concerned about rapidly rising costs and the future of online recruitment, 14 leading employers formed DirectEmployers Association. The primary goals were to share best practices, create new industry standards, and develop Internet-based systems to increase efficiency and reduce recruiting costs.

October 2001

Warren Selected as Executive Director

  • As a highly respected industry veteran and former human resources executive for Rockwell International, Bill Warren is widely credited as being the “Founder of Online Recruiting.” As a visionary leader in this recruitment space, Bill was a natural selection to manage the Association as its Executive Director.

March 2007

NASWA Endorses DirectEmployers

  • DirectEmployers Association was selected by the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) to provide job seekers, employers, and states a cost-effective transition from America’s Job Bank (AJB), which the U.S. Department of Labor had discontinued. Read press release ›

April 2007

NLx Partnership Began

  • The National Labor Exchange (NLx), a sophisticated electronic labor exchange solution, was created to connect businesses and state workforce agencies with the mission to create a cost-effective system that improves labor market efficiency and reflects our nation’s diverse workforce. Learn more ›

June 2007

VetCentral Introduced

  • VetCentral became the full-time employment delivery service to participating state workforce agencies, listing federal contractor jobs with American Job Centers (AJC) in compliance with the Jobs for Veterans Act (JVA) and the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA). Learn more ›

October 2009

Partnership to Develop .JOBS

  • In alliance with Employ Media, DirectEmployers built a beta site of location, occupation, and other top-level domains to test functionality and receive feedback from job seekers and employers. The .JOBS Network was the first-ever interlinking and coordinated use of a TLD for the public good.

August 2010

DirectEmployers Hosts First Job Bank

  • The State of New York picked DirectEmployers to host the state’s job bank. With 84,217 jobs posted and a continuous flow of new opportunities available each day, the content was free to job seekers and companies providing easy-to-use job search and job posting tools. Read press release ›

January 2014

Debut of the OFCCP Week In Review

  • The DE OFCCP Week in Review (WIR) debuted as a simple, fast and direct summary of relevant happenings in the OFCCP regulatory environment. This blog series is authored by expert, Candee J. Chambers, and features other industry leaders. View recent WIR posts ›

March 2017

The NLx Partnership Turns 10

  • DirectEmployers and NASWA made the NLx vision a reality by pioneering new resources for employers, state workforce agencies, veterans representatives, and job seekers — establishing the NLx as a source of vetted and verified jobs by all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and Guam. Read press release ›

March 2017

Chambers Named Executive Director

  • Following Bill Warren’s retirement, Candee Chambers, a 30-year HR veteran, broke the glass ceiling to become the Association’s first female Executive Director. Candee’s success with compliance has aided in bridging the gap between recruitment and compliance. Read press release ›

june 2017

Job Provider Partnership with Google

  • To further connect employers and job seekers, DirectEmployers became a job content provider for Google’s new job search experience. As a result of the Association’s participation, jobs from Member companies are accessible directly by searching for jobs on Google. Read press release ›

June 2018

Recruit Rooster Launches

  • To create a better customer experience and expand recruitment solutions, Recruit Rooster launched as a full-service recruitment marketing and creative solution aimed at helping employers establish a prominent web presence to appeal to targeted and specialized job seekers. Read press release ›

August 2018

U.S. DOL Rolls Out Apprenticeship.gov

  • In collaboration with NASWA and DirectEmployers, the U.S. Department of Labor retrieves NLx job content to power an Apprenticeship Finder tool, allowing users to search by city, state, and occupation — connecting job seekers to high-skilled, high-paying careers. Visit Apprenticeship.gov ›

May 2019

DE Academy Launches

  • To provide additional education to Members, DirectEmployers launches a self-led learning platform, DE Academy. This platform offers OFCCP compliance, recruitment, and diversity training to HR professionals of all career levels at a pace that works for their busy schedules.

July 2019

Recruit Rooster Adds Career Site Accessibility Services

  • To help employers improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities and work towards full ADA compliance, the recruitment marketing solution provider adds career site audits and consultation services based on Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Visit Recruit Rooster ›

September 2019

Affirmative Action Solutions Introduced

  • To become a full-service, one-stop-shop for compliance, DirectEmployers launches Affirmative Action solutions under a new brand, Taapestry. This includes affirmative action planning, plan management, consulting, and more from a team of dedicated experts.

February 2020

VocRehab+ Launches

  • Looking for a solution to improve the employment outlook for individuals with disabilities, DirectEmployers launches VocRehab+. This tool combines technology and automation to support daily job delivery to vocational rehabilitation counselors for participating employers. Learn more ›

February 2020

DirectEmployers, NASWA & OFCCP Sign MOU

  • The OFCCP, DirectEmployers, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) sign a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set mutual goals supporting OFCCP’s contractor and compliance officer education and training related to specific aspects of VEVRAA. Read press release ›

April 2020

NLx Launches Resource for Pandemic Workers

  • To support displaced workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, DirectEmployers and NASWA launch NeedAJobNow.USNLx.com, a job site providing dedicated access to employment opportunities from U.S. corporations with immediate hiring needs. View Press Release ›

April 2020

Recruit Rooster Acquires RocketBuild

  • In an effort to expand its portfolio of development offerings, Recruit Rooster acquires custom software developer, RocketBuild. With this acquisition, they broaden the scope of development services provided to its customers and expand its menu of technology solutions. View Press Release ›

June 2020

NLx Forms Data Trust for Labor Market Info

  • To increase access to real-time labor market information, DirectEmployers and NASWA sign a Data Trust Agreement to develop interactive tools for job seekers, employers, and states, with governance framework for accessing millions of job postings collected through the NLx. View Press Release ›

October 2020

DE Lite Scalable Solutions Launch

  • Recognizing a need to accommodate federal contractors with fewer jobs, DirectEmployers launches DE Lite, the same superior VEVRAA compliance, reporting, and job syndication associated with DirectEmployers membership, available in job packs of 70 or less.

December 2020

DE Acquires The Management Advantage, Inc.

  • To continue the growth and expansion of its Taapestry affirmative action development services, DirectEmployers acquires the clients of The Management Advantage, Inc., a California-based affirmative action business. View Press Release ›

August 2021

NLx Job Openings Jump to Over 3 Million

  • After several efforts to extend its reach, the National Labor Exchange (NLx), the only nonprofit, national online labor exchange system in the United States, reaches 3 million annual job postings for the first time since its inception in 2007. View Press Release ›

September 2021

Labor Market Information Available Through NLx

  • As a result of an earlier Data Trust Agreement between DirectEmployers and NASWA, The National Labor Exchange Research Hub is launched to give labor market researchers a trusted and transparent source of job vacancy data collected via the NLx. View Press Release ›

October 2021

DirectEmployers Celebrates 20th Anniversary

  • Two decades after its inception, DirectEmployers marks the special occasion with a Virtual Annual Meeting & Conference (DEAMcon), celebratory swag, and an extended Member Appreciation Week, “20 Days of Thanks.”

May 2022

NLx Daily Job Openings Jump to Over 4M

  • The National Labor Exchange (NLx), an employer-driven tool established through a public-private partnership between DirectEmployers and NASWA, reports the highest number of daily job listings since its creation in 2007. View Press Release ›

June 2022

  • OutSolve Acquires Taapestry
    • To remain focused on its core mission of providing superior federal contractor job listing solutions while also ensuring its customers remain in good hands, DirectEmployers completes the sale of Taapestry by DirectEmployers to leading affirmative action consulting firm OutSolve. View Press Release ›

December 2022

DirectEmployers Reaches 1,000 Members

  • Shortly following the celebration of its 21st anniversary, DirectEmployers announces it has crossed a new milestone of 1,000 Members. Beginning with humble roots of 14 founding Members in 2001, the Association now proudly represents top employers from around the globe. View Press Release ›

January 2023

Internal ERG Program Launches

  • With an expanded family of brands and a growing staff, DirectEmployers launches an all-staff employee resource group (ERG) to build a sense of community and inclusion. In its first year, the group achieves a 38% participation rate and a meeting participation rate of over 60%.

January 2023

Strategic Partnership with OutSolve

  • Six months after the Taapestry acquisition, it is announced that OutSolve is the preferred partner for AA development, pay equity, EEO-1/VETS, and DEI solutions, and DirectEmployers will be their exclusive partner for VEVRAA job listing and recruitment marketing services. View Press Release ›

December 2023

Internal ERG Program Grows

  • After a successful first year for the all-staff ERG, groups focused on mental health, women, veterans, disability, faith, and caregiver support are added. As a result, the DE Family of Brands achieve a 51% participation rate, program-wide.

January 2024

Equality Magazines Suite of Sites Purchased

  • To further expand the Association’s diversity, equity, and inclusion network, DirectEmployers purchases a series of DEI domains from known job board Equality Magazines. These sites include those geared toward Hispanic, Black, women, veteran, and aging job seekers.

February 2024

DE Client Launches

  • To recognize small to medium-sized businesses with OFCCP compliance needs, DirectEmployers launches DE Client for federal contractors with 50 or fewer jobs per year. This includes VEVRAA mandatory job listing, job syndication, and job view analytics.

Awards & Recognition

MUSE Creative Awards 2024 Gold Winner

2024 Muse Creative Awards

Video – Event
Gold Winner for DEAMcon24 Highlight Reel

Top Workplaces 2024 award

Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2024

Small Business Category
7th place

Bronze 2024 Stevie Award Winner

2024 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service

Customer Service Department of the Year – All Other Industries
Bronze Stevie® Winner

JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author 2024

JD Supra 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards

Government Contracting
#1 – Candee Chambers
#2 – John C. Fox

Top Workplaces 2023 award

Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2023

Small Business Category
15th place

MUSE Creative Awards 2020 Gold Winner

2023 Muse Creative Awards

Video – Recruitment
Silver Winner for Bechtel – Who Wear Are, Jensen Precast – About Us, & Bernhard – Welcome

Marketing & Promotional – Media Kit / Sales Kit / Folder
Silver Winner for In Control Brand Kit

Bronze 2023 Stevie Award Winner

2023 Stevie® Awards for Sales & Customer Service

Customer Service Department of the Year – All Other Industries
Bronze Stevie® Winner

JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author 2023

JD Supra 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards

Government Contracting
#1 – John C. Fox
#2 – Candee Chambers

Top Workplaces 2022 award

Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2022

Small Business Category
42nd place

JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author 2022

JD Supra 2022 Readers’ Choice Awards

Government Contracting
#1 – John C. Fox
#2 – Candee Chambers

Ragan's PR Daily Awards

PR Daily’s 2021 Content Marketing Awards

Branded Blog
Honorable Mention for OFCCP Week In Review

Top Workplaces 2021 award

Central Indiana Top Workplaces 2021

Small Business Category
16th place

JD Supra Readers' Choice Top Author 2022

JD Supra 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards

Government Contracting
#1 – John C. Fox

MUSE Creative Awards 2020 Gold Winner

2020 Muse Creative Awards

Experiential & Immersive
Gold Winner for Frontdoor – First Day on the Job

NASWA

2017 NASWA Veterans Conference Award

Exemplary Commitment to Supporting Veteran Employment Programs
DirectEmployers Association

Web Marketing Association WebAward 2016

Web Marketing Association WebAward 2016

Outstanding Website
Providence Health & Services Recruitment Website

Ragan's PR Daily Awards

PR Daily’s 2016 Content Marketing Awards

Branding or Re-Branding Campaign Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention for Better Reach. Better Experience. Total Control.

The Communicator Awards

22nd Annual Communicator Awards presented by AIVA

Online Video – Animation
Award of Distinction for Are you Satisfied with Your Career Site?

NASWA

NASWA’s Salute to the Leadership 2012

2012 President’s Award
Bill Warren
Executive Director, DirectEmployers Association

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