Episode 58: Marc Bourne on Adaptability, Accreditation, and Giving Back

In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Marc Bourne, a true industry veteran who has been part of background screening since 1999 and is still deeply engaged in shaping its future. Our conversation explores what it really means to build a long, meaningful career in background screening, from courthouse research and private investigations to executive leadership and service on the PBSA Board of Directors.

Marc shares why adaptability is not optional in this industry, how accreditation and professional standards elevate everyone, and why mentoring the next generation matters just as much as compliance and technology. We also step outside of screening to talk about his volunteer work solving cold cases, his passion for animal rescue, and a fun fact that no one sees coming.

At its core, this episode is about people. The people we work with, the people we screen, and the responsibility we all carry to treat them with care, integrity, and respect.

In this episode, you will learn:

• Why background screening is fundamentally a people driven industry
• How Marc’s early work in courthouse research shaped his perspective as a CRA
• The importance of adaptability and constant learning in a rapidly changing industry
• What PBSA accreditation really means and why it matters for CRAs of all sizes
• How volunteering and mentorship strengthen both careers and the industry as a whole
• Why being present, curious, and engaged opens doors throughout your career
• How Marc balances executive leadership with volunteer work on cold case investigations
• A surprising fun fact from Marc’s early life that you probably did not expect

This episode is for you if:

• You work in background screening and want to build a long, sustainable career
• You are new to the industry and looking for guidance on how to grow and stand out
• You want to better understand the value of PBSA involvement and accreditation
• You care about ethics, professionalism, and the human impact of screening decisions
• You believe mentorship, kindness, and integrity still matter in business
• You enjoy hearing real stories from people who have helped shape the industry

If you are looking for perspective, encouragement, and a reminder of why the work we do matters, this is an episode you will want to hear from start to finish.

Connect with US:

• Les Rosen- https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesterrosen/
• Subscribe to our YouTube Channel- https://www.youtube.com/@BehindtheSCreens200

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

the background screening industry is all about is it's about the people whether it's you know about the people that you work with the people that you do business with your clients but also the candidates that you know that you're screening because you also have to remember you know there's decisions affecting them too so it's definitely a people industry and you know you just you just gotta remember that we're all people and you know it it's whatever decisions that that you're making could affect someone else so treat everybody right that's that's all be kind be kind to behind the screens conversations with background screening pros I'm Les Rosen your host and I'm excited to have you here on this podcast we chat with the people who know the background screening world inside and out executives, industry experts, legal pros, and more.

SPEAKER_00 1:07

We dive into their personal stories and insights to give you a real look at what's happening behind the scenes. Whether you work in the screen industry or are just curious behind the screens bring you the real unfiltered conversations from the people who make it all happen. Stick around for stories you won't hear anywhere else. Hey ladies and gentlemen welcome back to another episode of Behind the screens conversations with background pros. And today we have a really interesting background pro who is both a member I love the term OG the old guard been in the background screen world since 1999 but is also in many ways still somewhat mid-career I mean still going at it and doing lots of interesting things heavily involved in PBSA and I think probably everyone knows him. My pleasure to introduce to the program Mr.

SPEAKER_03 2:04

Mark Bourne Mark welcome hey thanks thanks Les appreciate you having me on it it's interesting we've been in this industry for so long and I know we've had conversations over the years but it's nice to just get down and sit down and uh just chat one-on-one here uh about all things other than background scripture that's right right and for those who follow the program we strenuously try to avoid any substantive issues we have by we we don't talk about products or compliance or all the things that you can learn about through PBSA and so forth.

SPEAKER_00 2:39

But we talk about the people so let's talk about Mark Bourne Mark first of all we always start with this where are you talking to us from today? Where in the world are you located?

SPEAKER_03 2:48

Yeah so I am right outside of Philadelphia Pennsylvania about 20 minutes north in a town called Ben Salem. It's part of Bucks County Pennsylvania and it's freezing cold right now so I'd rather be out there in California where you are well you see for me freezing cold is like in the 60s above. Yeah exactly to me that's freezing cold oh my god turn on the heat of jacket and so yeah we're we're dealing with six inches of snow right now and goes down into the teens so not a free I can't even imagine.

SPEAKER_00 3:21

Tell us what your current role is what are you currently doing what do you like about it?

SPEAKER_03 3:25

Give us the lowdown yeah so I am currently the vice president of background screening training and compliance services for Workforce QA. They are a consumer reporting agency out of Salt Lake City Utah and I was brought on about been with them now almost three years. It'll be three years in April and they had brought me on to stand up their background screening side of things. So they've always been primarily a drug testing company and wanted to expand their services.

SPEAKER_00 3:56

Oh that's great. And what was your career path? You started in the screening industry as I mentioned the introduction in 1999 what was your career path from then to now how did that all transpire?

SPEAKER_03 4:09

You know it it's interesting because I think like a lot of your guests that come on here, you know, people don't expect to get into the background screening industry. They just kind of happen into it and and I was kind of similar the same way I always wanted to be a police officer but as I was you know starting out in jobs I was in loss prevention and security I realized that there was a a whole industry out there that was checking backgrounds. So started out in public records research actually going to the courthouses I went to Philadelphia courthouse Bucks County went into Delaware and was actually doing the actual court searches and from there we decided to become a CRA and also have the wholesale business. And then I'm also a uh still currently a licensed private investigator here in Pennsylvania. So had basically three facets of the company and it was a family run company that my mom and I operated for 19 years. We grew that into a a national CRA and it was a good run. So after that you know my mom had uh stepped out of the business she had passed in 2021 but in 2019 wound up selling off parts of the business and I went to work for another drug testing company to stand up their background screening line of business. It was formerly known as FS Solutions which was then bought by Vault which is just recently purchased by Sterling a couple years ago so once made that exit I'm now here at uh workforce QA oh that's fantastic so in your career what's interesting you've not only actually you know been the court but you've been involved in drug tree hoc health I assume and then the the the CRA side you know working you supply CRAs and now now you you now you be a CRA. Exactly exactly and I think you know it's an it's an interesting aspect to really understand you know from a CRA standpoint you know a lot of times you're like well where's that record or why can't we get that you know that information but to really understand the nuances of what court researchers go through day in and day out when they're actually at the courthouse and having to deal with the court clerks and and all of those nuances I think it gives a a different perspective on those records and and what information is actually coming back to the CRA. Well I mean that's great you can see as as journey mitchell says through both sides now so that that makes it interesting you have all these qualifications um that you could apply to any industry what's your passion about staying in the screen industry you started off wanting to do one thing then you do you you developed and you stayed it it's interesting because I'm actually late late diagnosed ADHD in attentive type so I'm neurodivergent and it really uh explains a lot of things so I have my hands in you know everything but I think the reason why I stick in the background screening industry is because it is always changing. Yeah you know whether it's the regulations or the technology or the access it's there's always something new happening. So it keeps my interest it keeps me hyper focused and it definitely feeds my ADHD.

SPEAKER_00 7:43

Well you know ADHD is not always a bad thing it keeps you going it keeps your fingers a lot eyes superpower.

SPEAKER_03 7:51

Yeah exactly so along the career path obviously you worked with lots of people just quickly who are a couple of of your mentors or influencers in your early career that to stand out that you want to give a shout out to so I think one of the influencers and this is probably going to be a surprise is you les you know it when you talk about pioneers in the industry and kind of having that forethought of where the industry was going you know you have to mention Lester Rosen you know from your books and it's just you had your finger on the pulse and I think it has definitely made the industry better because of your forethought. So yeah you're definitely one of my influencers in the career well I appreciate that but let's get to some real people right and you can give me the $20 after after the podcast to say that but I would also have to say Scott Maloney from Omni Data Retrieval. I've known Scott for a really long time I did court research for Omni when we were doing public records research you know they've been a client they've been a vendor they're still a vendor of ours and Scott and I have gotten really close over the years and he has always been very you know open and and available for support and you know just mentorship about you know gaining traction in the industry personal things so yeah Scott Maloney is definitely one of the good guys in the industry.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

That's great and so I had the chance to have Scott on along with two other chairs or past chairs too because that was really interesting as well.

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Well with with everything you've been through I do like to ask or I will ask you what's a lesson that has you know something that you learned early in your career that has stuck with you that you like to chair I I think the most important lesson that you know that I learned early on is that you always have to be growing you always have to be adapting otherwise you're gonna be on the outside looking in. And I think a good example of that especially you know kind of where I started in public records research is when I started out we were you know going to the courthouse looking at Docker books looking at terminals and then next thing you know Pennsylvania's going online and when most researchers were like oh crap we're gonna be out of a job it was you know a few of us that got together and said okay how how do we pivot and how do we utilize this to our advantage and I think that goes pretty much with anything whether it's your personal life or your professional life is that you always have to be ready to pivot because you you can't nothing stays constant everything changes and it's how you adapt to that change is really how how you're going to survive or how you're gonna be successful or you know how how you can even just you know stay sane. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:08

Such a great point there's been so many times in the screening industry where it felt like the carpet was being pulled out from underneath us and boom we we turned it into an advantage. So you know when the EOC came out in two 2012 with the new guidance a lot of people were going oh my God I said no this is great. You know this this made you invaluable now people need you for compliance. This is a good thing.

SPEAKER_03 11:30

Exactly it's all about the spin it's all about adapting and even when we look at AI now you know you hear so many people saying AI is going to replace jobs AI is going to do this. No you just have to adapt and and learn how are you going to utilize AI to your advantage and just keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_00 11:50

Yep exactly so and that's a great point you know always always grow you know personally your personal life your professional life you know always reading and so forth. So as you look back on the the career and we'll go through more of your you know some more more things that you've done you know your role at PBSA is there anything that stands out with you that stands out in your mind rather as a we call it a proud moment something that an achievement or an accomplishment that brings a smile to your face and where you get to say yeah I did that that that was cool.

SPEAKER_03 12:23

Yeah you know I think for me I think the proud moments or you know achievements that I have I think is as being a leader is seeing someone that you know I've either you know supervised or I've mentored and seeing them grow and being able to you know grow professionally and achieve and see that that I think is you know is is my proud moments because I'm very much you know whether it's in my personal life or my professional life it's about giving back and you know creating change creating people that you know we're less you and I are not going to be around you know in this industry forever. So we need you know those people to be able to rise up you know and I think you know I just had one of my managers she's my background screening manager Elizabeth she got to attend her first PBSA conference this last annual conference and she's been in the industry almost 10 years. So being able to you know have people like that be able to get that professional development take part in the networking and be able to see them grow I think is it that's what it's all about for me.

SPEAKER_00 13:48

Oh that oh that's great. You know I as I hear that the thing that occurs to me is that they're not exactly newbies anymore they've been in this over 10 years. They're not a newbie. But you know with with consolidation some firms are sending less people to PBSA which is just absolutely the wrong thing to do if you're trying to develop staff and expertise and depth yeah you got you got to be sending more people because that's where you you make contacts you get together you you learn things and and I urge people that even if your employer won't send you you know go on your own dime. A couple PTO days and then but just eat it and go.

SPEAKER_03 14:25

It's beneficial I mean I think you need that deep bench you need that growth and you know the things that and and I know we'll we'll be touching on it but the educational offerings and the networking that PBSA offers is just invaluable. It's priceless.

SPEAKER_00 14:45

Well talking about PBSA let's spend a few minutes with that you know at kind of a high level let's start start off by describing your your involvement PBSA then we'll drill down into a few things I think are particularly interesting.

SPEAKER_03 14:57

Yeah yeah PBSA has been has been the the organization I mean you know we we were around prior to PBSA and and you know part of that formation and and I think it's such a great organization. I I've been on the provider committee I most recently I've been the chair of the BSCC which is the accreditation arm of PBSA and now I'm on the board of directors for PBSA.

SPEAKER_00 15:27

So let's break that down a little bit. I mean you know people don't realize I mean a lot of people do but you know how much although there's now a lot more staff than PBS at the beginning there's still a lot of volunteer time so tell us about the background screening accreditation council and and you know how many you know your your time when you first joined it and then you were chair now your past chair describe that to us. I think that's pretty interesting.

SPEAKER_03 15:51

Yeah you know I feel like the background screening credentialing council is you know a very important part of the organization because that's the council that sets the accreditation standard. You know that's the standard that that shows the best practices for our global organization. So you know our committee meets once a month goes over all of the audits for the initial the reaccreds and determines you know whether or not an organization should be accredited or not based on auditor findings. One thing to note that I I always hear from people is you know what does that look like you know do you know the companies that are coming before you and you know we don't it's a completely blind process. You know all we see is a random number and the auditor goes over the report gives their findings and and then we determine whether or not they get their accreditation. And if they yeah I mean I don't exactly recall all this works now but if there's some deficiency I mean because we want people to become accredited but if there's a deficiency there they they obviously have a chance to say oh okay we missed that and now here's how we're going to address it right yeah absolutely yeah during the audit process there's multiple avenues for correcting nonconformities and then you know even if it gets to the board with some nonconformities then there's a a remediation time and that's all set set in the accreditation standard and the P and Ps that you know that any member can can take a look at but yeah there are you know multiple times for someone to be able to you know to to correct that. Yeah. And how many firms are accredited now approximately I mean just you know grabbing a number out of error I know there's an exact number someplace but geez I should know that I should know that and I don't I don't know what the two surprise question I mean I can't remember but it's a pretty substantial number that they have done it is it is but you know the interesting thing is is that even though it is a substantial number it still isn't the majority of background screening companies which you know I think for and this is you know not just a plug for the accreditation but you know for any background screening company out there that is not accredited that's something you should really put on your you know put on your radar for 2026 because it really is a testament to your professionalism to your adherence to best practices and I really think it's another valuable tool for CRAs to have is that accreditation.

SPEAKER_00 18:47

I mean I recall even though I'm re you know retired now that the first question any employer would ask are you accredited? And if you're not accredited they you know you're out of the running. I mean I suppose for smaller employers it it it may not be an issue but I I think most CRAs would would rather have a little would like to have you know increasingly larger clients.

SPEAKER_03 19:08

Right exactly and and even on on RFPs you're seeing it more and more about the accreditation status and you know what I always like to say is you know getting accredited doesn't mean that you know people are going to be beating down your door you know looking to buy your products but what it does is it it levels the playing field you have a seat at the table and you can show how you have consistent screening practices that are in line with the accreditation standard.

SPEAKER_00 19:37

Yeah. And it's interesting with accreditation where I mean we're off on a tangent now but I mean you know accredited firms may do something incorrect non-accredited firms may do things perfectly I mean so it doesn't necessarily right translate but still if you're accredited I mean it tells an employer that you have studied and and uh considered and done things to comply with best standards and that you know you're thoughtful about it. You're you're being professional. Exactly exactly and you know I remember from the being you know our my my old firm was in the first group of accredited firms and it was kind of like you know in Mountain Earling you talk about you know a long slog in thin air kind of like a class one walk. It's not technically hard but it's just a lot of things you've got to pay attention to I mean there's no there's no really difficult thing that you can't do. It's just a lot of stuff. Right?

SPEAKER_03 20:27

Right, exactly it takes a lot of prep it you know you have to you know make sure that you're going clause by clause you know to ensure that you have you have all your ducks in a row. It's just the tedious process that takes time but it definitely is achievable as long as you know you're you're doing things right. Yeah as long as you want to do it yeah and then and then there's a third party zoom I don't know this isn't proper I could mention CRA zoom is the one I I know of oh yeah yeah Derek good old Derek yeah yeah so so that gives you a big helping hand so you're you're not just looking at a you're starting with a blank page all right although you still have to do the work right but exactly it gives you the roadmap yeah yeah companies like Derek with CRA CRA zoom they you know they're they're like any other consultant they you know help you guide you through the process and and tell you what you need and and get you ready for that that accreditation process and and now since you're a glutton for punishment you not only have served as chair of the accreditation but and you were on the committee before that for what a couple years or yeah I've been on there for I believe four years yeah yeah so as if four years wasn't enough your your newest gig with BBSA is as a board member. Yes yes it just became a board member in November uh just had our second board meeting so yeah I don't I don't know what I'm getting into but yeah I'm excited for it like I said it's a great Organization, and you know, it's all about giving back to an industry that is, you know, that has given me so much.

SPEAKER_00 22:09

Well, no good e goes unpunished, so you're you now have a three-year board term, right? If I if I recall. Yes. Yes. Yes. And and and and I don't think people appreciate that. It's a fair amount of work, you know, be on the board.

SPEAKER_03 22:24

It is. It is. There's a lot of work that is involved. It's not all uh pump and circumstance and you know figureheads. It's we're we're getting getting down to the nitty-gritty there.

SPEAKER_00 22:36

So as you have your at least your monthly meetings, right? There's a there's probably a lot of a lot on the agenda, and then you're also uh board liaison to some to a committee.

SPEAKER_03 22:46

Yes, and and I was lucky enough to be put back onto the BSCC as the uh board liaison. So no no getting out of out of that council.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

Oh boy. And now with the international councils, does that increase your work or how does that work out?

SPEAKER_03 23:04

It's made it more diverse, which is great. And yeah, it definitely is a lot more work because I haven't been on the board prior, you know, prior to having the international councils, but now that we're a global organization, you know, we have to be mindful of our partners, you know, across the globe. So yeah, it definitely is I think it's it's we're in exciting times there, you know, to be that that leader globally for background screening and tenant screening companies.

SPEAKER_00 23:38

Were you were you on the green committee? Were you involved in the the the new, if we've already called this, right, the new international accreditation?

SPEAKER_03 23:45

Yes, yes, yeah, yeah. And that again was, you know, an interesting process. And uh, you know, I think again to be able to have a an accreditation process not only for the US but for you know global agencies really, really shows that you know we we really want to be that you know best practices that that organization that you can go to to really have you know a good screening procedures, policies, you know, education, networking. I mean, really think about you know the industry that we're in to be able to network globally. If I need you know a criminal researcher, I need you know a verification in India, I can just go onto the PBSA website and be able to find a member in India. It's thinking about where the organization came from and you know our our conversations in you know in in Long Beach and and you know seeing where it is now, it's it's crazy. It's crazy. I would have never believed we would be at this point.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Well that's great. You were at the Long Beach Conference, right? Yes, yeah, yeah, and then Brownstein Florida conferences and uh absolutely a couple different locations, yeah, exactly. Yeah, that's uh that goes down memory line a little bit, yeah. Oh yeah, yeah. So what's your when you go to a PBSA conference, what's your your favorite thing to do? Mine is to go around all the tables and look this at the swag, but but hey, that's just me.

SPEAKER_03 25:27

I know you need it, you need another suitcase just for the swag, right?

SPEAKER_00 25:30

Yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 25:32

But no, my my favorite thing at at them, I you know, for I and I think it this is for a lot of the members, is it's kind of like old home week, you know, you get to interact with people that you know that you've known for years that you don't usually get to see often. So a lot of it is being able to reconnect, but it, you know, it's also interesting, especially in the last few years, and I guess this is probably showing my age, but you're also seeing that that turnover in the generational changes of you have the new generation starting to come up the ranks in the background screening world. So you're starting to see, you know, different individuals participating and and you know leading. So it's it's interesting to see the changes. But I think you know, for me, outside of the educational pieces that PBSA puts on, I just love the networking and being able to get all that FaceTime in the exhibitor halls and and just connecting and you know, getting that face-to-face discussions.

SPEAKER_00 26:44

And you know, it's interesting when we're talking about seeing the new people or people that may be new to you, but some of them you're working for five or ten years, so they're pros. Right. Well, what is your your advice to them to get them into roles of leadership and the ability to affect change and uh in the direction of the industry?

SPEAKER_03 27:02

Yeah, I think if I had to say I think it's you know, be present. Try and learn as much as you can about the industry. You alluded to this earlier. It's you know, if your company isn't paying for, you know, continuing ed or paying for you to go to PBSA, find other ways to learn about the industry, you know, even if it's getting on LinkedIn and networking with other folks in the industry, just trying to learn all you can, develop those networks. Because I think the one thing about our industry, and I we we were just discussing this earlier today, is that you know, we're in such a large multi-billion dollar industry, right? But yet our circle is so small. Right. And I think that really is important. Networking is really important because you never know, you know, where you're gonna be tomorrow and who you're gonna have to lean on in that circle of colleagues.

SPEAKER_00 28:09

Exactly. And and the other thing too that came to mind, I I think you you implicitly said the same thing, is to join a committee. I mean, just find finger. Yeah. I mean, I mean, even you know, you you might meet by phone once a month or whatever it is, but you'll you'll make connections and meet people and maybe be on a subcommittee and help write something. Who knows? I mean, but uh it's it's all about connecting those synapses, you know, basically. Yeah, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 28:36

And to your point, that that's a really good way. If your company isn't paying for you to go to PBSA and you can't afford PBSA to go to a conference, join a committee so that way at least you're involved. You know, you can meet by Zoom and all of that, and it's a really good way of getting that continuing education and being able to stay involved in the organization. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 29:01

Oh, that's great. Have you had the chance to go to the mid-years in Washington?

SPEAKER_03 29:05

Yeah, oh yeah, yeah, I love the mid-years, yeah. That the more compliance focused, but yeah, mid-years, uh, I attend generally attend both the mid-year and the end. That's right. And are you able to get up to Capitol Hill or some of the agencies and do the uh Advocacy Day and again Advocacy Day, that's another opportunity to just learn from your peers and be involved in the change, you know, at the legislative level, you know, really getting in there and and being able to see what is going on at at that government level.

SPEAKER_00 29:40

It's all I mean, it's so much funny. You you suit up. I don't want to suit anymore, but you suit up and you uh right you talk to uh you know you don't typically talk to a congressperson, although I have on a couple occasions on on video day, but yeah, a few. Yeah, you talk to the staff and you're in their offices, and you know, they they take notes and you know you gotta be there. You know, you gotta you know who would I think Tommy's mother is always that half of life is just or or many grouse shows just showing up. Right? Exactly. Well, this has been a lot of fun uh to go over uh a lot of these things you're involved in. Now you now you're involved in the future over now with your you're being on the board for three years. You're full of it.

unknown 30:26

Right.

SPEAKER_03 30:26

Exactly, right? Yeah, and see see where it takes us. You know, a lot of a lot of things with AI happening, and yeah, I think it's gonna be uh gonna be a few interesting years.

SPEAKER_00 30:38

Well, you mentioned one of my favorite words earlier. You said pivot. So we're gonna pivot right now. Let's pivot away from background screening. When you're not doing your professional career, I assume you're equally energetic about non-background screening things. So tell us about that. What do you what do you do beyond screening? Your hobbies and so forth that you want to share.

SPEAKER_03 30:57

Yeah, it's it's it's interesting because my my wife and I have this conversation all the time about what are my hobbies? So I'm very uh very interested and very uh passionate about rescue animals. So my wife and I volunteer for two different English bulldog rescue organizations in our area. So that's one of my passions, but somewhat similar to background screening, I'm also uh volunteer with the V Doc Society. So I'm a member of the V Doc Society, and what the V Doc Society is, is it's an organization made up of crime scene experts, whether they are DNA profilers or genetic genealogists, FBI profilers, investigators like me, FBI, all of these different law enforcement professionals. And we meet once a month and we give pro bono support to law enforcement agencies in trying to solve their most complex cold case crimes. So every month we fly in a different law enforcement agency that is applied to present their case and they come to Philadelphia. While we're based in Philadelphia, we're an international organization. So yeah, that's one of the ways that I give back as well. That's kind of a a hobby of mine as as well.

SPEAKER_00 32:27

Well, that's fascinating. So here's I mean, it it's like that uh series on uh Amazon Prime, uh Ballard, she's head of the cold case unit. Right, exactly. Exactly, yes. In the Bosch you know, universe of detectives. So you're you guys are well, men and women, yeah, you folks, with all these different expertise. What do you do? I mean, someone flies in from a local agency with a case file, and they they do a presentation, and then what happens?

SPEAKER_03 32:54

Yeah, so what'll happen is it's generally over lunch, so you know, cutting chicken off a bone, looking at, you know, some autopsy photos and things like that.

SPEAKER_00 33:04

So it sounds really you're losing your lines, but right?

SPEAKER_03 33:07

Yeah, it's not it's definitely not for everybody, but no, the uh law enforcement agencies will present their case during lunch, we'll kind of ask questions, and then what'll happen after that is our team will get together and decide what resources are needed to help that law enforcement agency, and then we'll put together a smaller group of those resources to you know kind of go over the case intimately with that agency and just kind of offer help. So, for example, it might be a small, you know, law enforcement agency that might not have resources to you know DNA, you know, capability. So we have you know professionals that you know do genetic genealogy or that did that do DNA, they'll offer their services or you know, there may be something that needs to be reviewed on a polygraph. So we have polygraph experts that'll take another look at the polygraph results. So it's it's all about connecting the right resources to the agency to try and you know garner some additional new leads.

SPEAKER_00 34:15

And it's fantastic. And I I generally being an old criminal lawyer, don't ask questions where I don't know the answer, but but any particular moment that you can or able to share where you you felt, wow, this this is really working.

SPEAKER_03 34:29

Yeah, so one of the you know kind of the different differentiators between our organization and some of the other organizations out there. There's other organizations out there that are a little bit more public. We're very private, we're very, you know, we keep everything very confidential. We generally don't, you know, seek publicity or anything unless the agency allows us to. But, you know, one case that we are allowed to talk about is the boy in the box. That was a case out of Philadelphia back in 1957 where a five-year-old boy was found dead in a box, and for years and years they couldn't put a name to him, and he became known as the America's Unknown Child. And we had, you know, people that had donated headstones and a burial plot, and you know, it was our mission to find put a name to this boy's legacy, and and luckily, about three years ago, we were able to, through our resources, our genetic genealogists were able to identify that boy and have some closure there. It is still an open homicide investigation, but at least we you know we now have a name for for that boy. Oh, congratulations.

SPEAKER_00 35:54

That's that's fantastic word. Wow. So that's pretty time consuming, uh in addition to everything you'll do. And then tell us about the English Bulldog. What what kind of bulldog does an English? How does the English Bulldog different than an American Bulldog or a French Bulldog?

SPEAKER_03 36:08

Oh you you know the English Bulldogs. They're they're the the wrinkly faces, and you know, the the American Bulldogs don't have the wrinkles, but the English Bulldogs, they're the you know, they're the mascot for the Marines. And yeah, we've had two English Bulldogs over the years. We had one for 13 years. We had her as a puppy. She passed away in 2019, and then during COVID, we rescued another English Bulldog, Dora, and uh, she was a little older when we got her, so she just passed away in 2023, and then you know, they they just have the best personalities, so yeah, that's just kind of they're our dogs, so that's we love their little wrinkly faces and roly-poly snorts and all of that stuff.

SPEAKER_00 36:53

Because they're low center of gravity and exactly. I was thinking of Winston. I didn't know that they were the Marine Mask, I forgot that. I I was associated with them with Winston Churchill, but uh yes, Winston Churchill, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 37:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:06

Oh, that's great. Well, all right. We're gonna play fun facts. Share something about you that people may not know or suspect. Keeping in mind that anyone who listens and sees you at the next conference will uh harass you about it unmercifully. But uh give us a fun fact from your senior life.

SPEAKER_03 37:25

I don't even know where to begin. Fun facts. Fun fact here's one. Fun fact is when I was a going into my teens, I actually was a ventriloquist. And uh learned ventriloquism. I I I performed at birthday parties and performed at the library and school talent shows and all of that. So that uh that's one little one thing. And who's the dummy? Exactly, right? Yeah, yeah. I'm still trying to figure that one out.

SPEAKER_00 37:59

Do you still have your dummy someplace? Oh yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 38:05

Are you allowed to take it out and display it in the house or or does it have to stay?

SPEAKER_03 38:09

Oh no, I I haven't done it in years. So my brother is a magician, and my nephew started learning ventriloquism. So I was just able a few months ago to pass down one of my dummies to him. So that was nice.

SPEAKER_00 38:24

And and and for the record, you said dummy, not gummy. I think we made sure we we were right. Yes, this sound was clearer. Exactly. Well, well, you're on the PBSA board. It sounds to me, I've heard so many fun facts and people with hobbies, and there there really should be a PBSA talent show at the next meeting. That would be really fun.

unknown 38:45

All right.

SPEAKER_03 38:46

I I I couldn't imagine all the different different talents that we want to see and that we don't want to see.

SPEAKER_00 38:54

That could almost almost get me onto an airplane if I thought there was gonna be a be a PBSA talent show where people would sign up and display whatever their their particular talent is. That would be fun. So yeah, there you go. You can bring that to uh your proposal to the next board meeting. Um just don't mention I mentioned it's the other answer. Yeah, right, exactly.

SPEAKER_03 39:15

I'll definitely say that you you mentioned it.

SPEAKER_00 39:17

No God, don't do that. All right, all right. So so well, Mark, you've been around a while, which I say as a good thing, and you're gonna be around for a lot longer. So you have uh a lot of miles left and a long way to go with just starting your three-year board. But what's your you know, we talk about this a little bit, but you know, what's your advice to uh newcomers to the profession? I mean, we kind of covered this a little bit before, but I'm not sure we've exhausted it. You know, someone who is either thinking of getting into screening or they may be in it and just starting off as a you know, maybe they're a verifier or a criminal record clerk, and or maybe they've been in for a few years. What would be your advice if they wanted to you know enhance and advance their career?

SPEAKER_03 40:02

Yeah, I think you know, one of the things too is, you know, embrace it. Embrace it. There are so many different specialties and niches within background screening. If you start out, you know, let's just say you're starting out as a verifier and you're you're tired of you know picking up that phone or trying to verify employment, you know, ask to learn something else. You know, something else might you know pique your interest. You know, learn crimps, see what see what criminal is all about. Or if you're very analytical, do you like compliance or you know, QA? There's so many specialties that I I think if you like the industry, but you know, you you really want to learn, you really need to, you know, try and learn each one of those things throughout even public records research. I mean, there's so many opportunities within the industry that you just gotta find what you like and just you know go for it. But try and learn all there is to know. There's so much, there's so many opportunities.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

Right, and there's there's products and retention and marketing. I mean, and and each product is a specialty. Yeah, yeah. Oh, absolutely. And partnerships, and yeah, I mean, just so much to it's just mind-boggling.

SPEAKER_03 41:33

It is, and it's you know, there's definitely something for everyone. It's just learning, you know, what is your strength? What do you like to do, and you know, kind of following that path.

SPEAKER_00 41:44

Well, Mark, I appreciate your time. We we we kept you here longer than we normally do with people, but we just didn't want to cut anything off.

SPEAKER_03 41:51

So before this has been great, Les. I appreciate it.

SPEAKER_00 41:55

Well, before we we conclude, let me give you the last word. Any closing thoughts or comments or anything you want to share or anything you left out? Mark, the floor is yours.

SPEAKER_03 42:07

Listen, I I think we covered it all. This has been great. I really do love your podcast. I've I've you know watched a lot of these interviews, and it's great. It's all about connecting with the people, and I think that also goes back to what the background screening industry is all about, is it's about the people, whether it's you know, about the people that you work with, the people that you do business with, your clients, but also the candidates that you know that you're screening, because you also have to remember, you know, there's decisions affecting them too. So it's definitely a people industry, and you know, you just you just gotta remember that we're all people, and you know, it it's whatever decisions that that you're making could affect someone else. So treat everybody right. That's that's all. Be kind, be kind.

SPEAKER_00 43:08

Well, that's great. View and right and be kind. And I really appreciate your comments about uh you know the the people we're screening, because a lot of times you know people don't really stop and think, well, they do, but we have to keep in mind that our our clients under the FCRA are actually the consumers we're screening. Absolutely. We you know we obviously the employers who pay CREs are clients, but but the real clients or co-clients are are our applicants and consumers.

unknown 43:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 43:37

They're entitled to every consideration and and anything we can do for them. So I think it's a great reminder. Absolutely. So this has been great, Mark. I appreciate it. It's been a pleasure spending the time with you. Ladies and gentlemen, it's been another episode of Behind the Screens a day featuring our good friend Mark Bourne, longtime industry veteran, now newly minted board member. Program, of course, is brought to you. If I didn't mention this before, by pre-employment directory from put out by Barry Nixon. So we certainly appreciate Barry and his publications acting as a platinum sponsor. So thanks again to the Pre-Eployment Directory. And from the podcast behind the screens, thanks to Mark Bourne. Thanks to everyone for listening, and we'll see you next time. Thanks. All right, that was yet another wonderful conversation with a background screening pro. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss an update. And hey, if you got a moment, we'd love for you to leave us a review. It really helps get the word out. For more info or to catch up on past episodes, or to make suggestions, or to suggest possible future guests, head over to our website. Once again, this is your host, Les Rosen, and it's been a pleasure to bring you another episode. See you on the next episode. Thanks.