Career Development Partners, Inc.

When a leading fitness equipment manufacturer closed its Oklahoma plant, 140 employees suddenly needed to find new roles.

That’s not just a workforce change. That’s 140 families, 140 households, and 140 people navigating an unexpected transition.

Their organization partnered with Career Development Partners to make sure no one went through it alone.

Through outplacement support, coaching, resume development, and interview preparation, the outcome was clear:

139 out of 140 employees secured new positions within 90 days.

Behind that number are real conversations, steady guidance, and a commitment to helping people move forward with confidence.

When workforce decisions are difficult, how you support people on the way out matters just as much as how you lead on the way in.

How you support people in transition becomes part of your culture story.

Outplacement isn’t a line item. It’s a message.

When a company provides quality career coaching during a layoff, they’re telling every employee - both those leaving and those staying - “we take care of people here.”

The employees who are let go remember exactly how they were treated.

They talk. They stay in the same industries. They shape your reputation more than most leaders realize.

In close-knit talent markets, how you handle transitions doesn’t stay internal for long.

Outplacement done right isn’t charity. It’s strategy.

What has your experience been, as an HR leader or as someone who’s been through a transition? We’d love to hear it.

Not all outplacement programs are the same.

Many organizations provide career transition support because it's the right thing to do. The question is whether that support truly helps people move forward with confidence.

Here's what one HR leader had to say about her experience with Career Development Partners:

"I have experience with several large outplacement firms, and none compared to the comprehensive and compassionate career transition support provided by CDP." ~ Jenni Stevens

What makes the difference?

Individualized coaching. Practical resources. Genuine care for the people navigating change.

Jenni experienced CDP from both sides, as an HR leader supporting employees through transition and as a professional navigating her own career change. Her perspective reinforces what we've believed for more than 35 years:

People deserve more than a resume review and a job board login. They deserve a partner who will invest in their success.

If your organization is facing workforce changes, make sure your people have the support they need to move forward with confidence.

Most people know us as an outplacement firm.

That's true. But it's only part of the story.

Career Development Partners has been working with organizations across Oklahoma and Arkansas since 1988 - at every stage of the employee lifecycle, not just when someone needs to leave.

We develop leaders. We help managers have the hard conversations. We prepare interns to launch careers. We support employees planning for retirement. And yes, when a transition has to happen, we make sure it happens with dignity.

Based in Tulsa and serving clients across Oklahoma and Arkansas for more than 35 years. And one conviction that hasn't changed:

People are worth the investment, at every stage.

We're here for the moments that shape your people and your culture, not just the moments that test them.

Strong communities are built on strong conversations.

Recently, Bri Hines facilitated an interactive Crucial Conversations workshop with members of the The Parent Child Center of Tulsa. Throughout the discussion, participants shared perspectives, explored communication strategies, and engaged in meaningful dialogue around listening, trust, and understanding.

What made this session especially impactful was the level of participation in the room. These weren’t just attendees listening to a presentation — they were actively contributing, reflecting, and learning from one another.

Organizations like Parent Child Center of Tulsa are doing important work to support children and families in our community, and investing in communication and leadership development helps strengthen that impact even further.

We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with organizations committed to both their mission and their people. Special thanks to Kimberly Parker and Jan Ferlin for helping create meaningful opportunities for growth and conversation within the community.

If you’re looking for ways to make a difference in our community, we encourage you to learn more about and support the important work being done by Parent Child Center of Tulsa.

And if your team could benefit from interactive leadership and communication training, we’d love to connect.

When interns feel invested in, they engage differently.

Career-Ready creates an experience that supports interns as people — while equipping employers with motivated, better-prepared contributors.

That’s where real impact begins.

It's not to late to ask us about Career-Ready for your interns:
https://careerdevelopmentpartners.com/development/career-ready/

Managers shouldn’t have to choose between developing interns and getting work done.

Career-Ready shortens the learning curve by equipping interns with the professional foundation they need before projects pile up.

That means less time explaining the basics—and more time leveraging motivated, capable talent.

Confidence changes how people show up.

Career-Ready invests in interns as people first - building skills, self-belief, and clarity so they can contribute meaningfully from the very start.

That’s how you create instant impact and long-term loyalty.

Interns are arriving soon.
Your opportunity to prepare them is now.

Career-Ready availability is limited, and early planning makes all the difference in engagement, contribution, and retention.

👉 Learn more about Career-Ready and how to bring it to your interns.
https://careerdevelopmentpartners.com/development/career-ready/