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Local owners say staffing remains biggest headache; Old Town Pizza pilot finds 'Landed' yields 500 applicants
Summary
Attendees and panelists agreed staff recruitment and retention are top challenges. Dawn of Old Town Pizza described piloting 'Landed,' an AI-driven hiring service that produced roughly 500 applicants in a short trial.
Staffing and retention emerged as the clearest pain point of the evening. Multiple audience members raised the challenge of finding punctual, reliable workers; Catherine Gonzalez of Dancing Dog Productions said her biggest problem is "finding staff, period."
Dawn, who runs operations at Old Town Pizza, described a recent technology trial aimed at addressing that gap. She said her team tried a vendor called Landed that uses AI text‑responses and automated prescreening, and that it drastically reduced manager screening time. "We launched this program last Friday ... and by Monday morning, I had 500 applicants," Dawn said, adding that the service set up interview appointments quickly and helped managers save hours of resume review.
Panelists also recommended nontechnical solutions: employee referral programs, hospitality training and clear handbooks. One panelist argued that companies with written policies and good onboarding often have lower turnover and better workers' compensation outcomes. The discussion highlighted a mix of technology and managerial practices as routes to reduce the time and cost of hiring.
