In our latest “All-In at Acara” Employee Spotlight, we’re featuring Chris Boardman, Acara’s National Program Manager. Chris’ career began in healthcare staffing and recruiting, eventually leading him to a role with Acara. His consistent ability to deliver a high-quality experience to our clients and candidates and work in a fast-paced, always changing environment have made him a valued member of our team. 

Life Before Acara 

I grew up Lawrence, Massachusetts, currently live in North Andover, Massachusetts, and am moving to Marietta, Georgia in May 2024. I studied Hospital & Health Care Administration Management at Northern Essex Community College. 

Once I finished school, I was working as a scheduler for an assisted living community, then quickly assumed the responsibility of overseeing day-to-day operations of their care departments and caretakers. 

After two years in assisted living, I started working in home care. As a Recruiting and Staffing Supervisor, I was responsible for recruiting caretakers and nurses for in-home care, creating their schedules, and overseeing a team of scheduling coordinators. 

During this time, there was never much of a work/life balance as you’re on call 24/7 for callouts and emergencies. After 4.5 years, I realized I needed a change. Someone from Acara called me regarding an Onsite Staffing Coordinator role for one of their customers in New Hampshire. The position seemed to align with what I was seeking at the time. After a few interviews and learning more about the industry, culture, and growth opportunities, I was excited to join the team. 

Life At Acara 

As National Program Manager, I am the primary line of communication between our clients and candidates. I release new jobs to our recruiters and/or sub-vendors and work closely with hiring managers to ensure we’re receiving timely feedback for our candidates and quickly filling their open requestions. I facilitate interviews, offers, onboarding, and offboarding. I also maintain positive business relationships with our clients, keeping them satisfied and expanding on our long-term partnership. 

My previous experience definitely helped prepare me for my role at Acara. In healthcare staffing, you need to master multitasking in a fast-paced environment. There are constant fire drills, and all clients and their needs are top priority. You also work with such a diverse group of people. Working in that industry for 5+ years really set me up for success in that I’m able to manage a large workload and wear many hats—all while still staying organized and providing an A+ experience to our contractors and clients. 

Being in the business of people comes with many variables. There are always sudden changes with our candidates and clients that we must adapt to. 

Why Acara? 

Acara has a positive, collaborative work environment where employees feel valued, supported, and heard. We’re empowered to use our voices to be creative and make a difference. But what truly makes the company great is the people! We have amazing, supportive teams across the U.S., Canada, and India—from recruiters who specialize in certain fields to operations and HR colleagues who offer new ideas and technologies to streamline our workflows. I’m constantly learning, and no two days are the same. 

My colleagues and I all work so closely with one another, and I look forward to signing on each day and working with an incredible group of individuals who bring their own unique talents and ideas to the table. I also like that I’m able to make a difference. Whether it’s assisting a colleague with something or getting a contract employee back in the workforce, knowing I can come to work and positively impact someone each day makes me excited to start a new day and do it all over again. 

Life Outside of Acara  

I have a 2.5-year-old, four-legged fur baby who never leaves my side and is always full of energy, so when I’m not working, I’m always spending time with him. I enjoy local weekend trips, spending time with my friends, and trying new cuisines and restaurants. I also enjoy watching new series and documentaries. 

Someday, I would love to travel to South America and Europe—specifically Brazil and Portugal. I’ve been to Spain once but would love to explore other provinces.