We’re heading back to San Francisco to celebrate a decade of URx with the community that built it. Early Bird tickets for URx 2026 go on sale Dec 4 at 9 AM ET.
Ford Kirkmyer
Head of Customer Success at Abode & 10KC
Ford Kirkmyer is the Head of Customer Success at Abode & 10KC , where he leads a team of former program leaders dedicated to redefining the talent development lifecycle. Ford brings the ultimate "insider perspective" to his work, having previously led recruiting and intern programs at Capital One and Google. He knows exactly what it takes to ditch chaotic spreadsheets and build a world-class candidate and associate experience. Now in his third year at Abode, Ford and his team leverage their deep industry expertise to help clients bridge the gap between recruitment and the creation of deeply impactful, career-defining experiences for early talent.
The Campus Recruiting Experience: What Students Really Think
Campus recruiting is more competitive than ever, but most teams are operating without a clear view of what students actually experience and expect. Abode's 2026 Campus Recruiting Experience Report, based on a survey of 900 college students, uncovered a striking gap: 91% expect follow-up within 48 hours of meeting a recruiter, yet most employers take days. In this session, Abode shares the data behind the gap, joined by Spectrum's early-career team for a look at how they're putting the findings into practice. We'll cover what makes students stop at a booth, how to automate personalized follow-up at scale, and the nurture strategies that turn early conversations into accepted offers.