Claim OwnershipBehind the Screens: Conversations with Background Screening Pros hosted by Les Rosen
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© 2026 Behind the Screens: Conversations with Background Screening Pros hosted by Les Rosen
Description
"Behind the Screens" is a podcast that brings you up close and personal with the people in the background screening industry. Hosted by Les Rosen, each episode features in-depth, human-interest interviews with a diverse range of guests—including business executives, employees with extensive screening experience, vendors who serve the industry, and legal and compliance experts.
These conversations dive into the personal stories and insights of those who know the industry best, offering a fresh perspective on the people driving background screening. Whether you are part of the industry or just curious, "Behind the Screens" delivers authentic, non-marketing-focused stories from the world of background checks.
Your host: Les Rosen is an Attorney, former owner of a screening firm, the chair of the steering committee that founded PBSA and the first co-chair of PBSA, as well as author of the "Safe Hiring Manual," and frequent presenter nationwide.
According to attorney and industry veteran Vince Pascarella, "For those of you who don't know, Les Rosen was the chief architect of the PBSA predecessor NAPBS, and its first Chair and unofficial Executive Director. Simply put, no Les Rosen then, no PBSA today."
For more information, see: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesterrosen/
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61 Episodes
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Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I speak with Jennifer Daimon, VP of Compliance and In-House Counsel at AccuSourceHR. Jennifer’s journey into the background screening industry started in a way many professionals can relate to. What began as a job researching public records while she attended law school eventually turned into a long-term career built around compliance, investigation, and leadership. Jennifer shares how working in the industry while studying law shaped her per...
Send a text Dan Shoemaker did not start in background screening. He began his career in politics and public policy, working on campaigns, serving in Virginia state government, and lobbying at the federal level. After 9/11, an unexpected opportunity led him into the screening industry. What he thought would be a short detour became a long and distinguished career. Along the way, Dan: Earned his MBA while working full time and raising young childrenLed business units with hundreds of employeesB...
Send a text In this international edition of Behind the Screens, I’m joined by the leadership team of the PBSA Europe & Africa Council: Martin Hardy, Will Hogarth, and Sally Ott-Lacoste. We explore how each of them entered the background screening industry, what keeps them passionate about it, and how the industry continues to evolve across Europe and Africa. We also preview the upcoming PBSA Europe & Africa Summit in London and discuss why this event is becoming essential for profess...
Send a text 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,...
Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with someone I’ve long admired—Nick Fishman, co-founder of Employee Screen IQ and now a partner at iCubed Advisors. Nick is one of those rare people who brings equal parts insight, creativity, and humanity to everything he does in this industry. We talk about how he built and sold Employee Screen IQ, his early marketing innovations like Employee Screen University, and why background screening remains more than just a career for him...
Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I speak with Kym Kurey, Chief Revenue Officer at True Corpus and a powerful voice in the fight against human trafficking. Kim brings a compelling blend of industry expertise, advocacy, and creativity to the conversation—from her leadership in background screening to founding A New Life International, a nonprofit supporting trafficking survivors. We explore how Kim’s professional journey intersected with her passion for justice, including her ...
Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Mike Coffey, founder of Imperative, host of the Good Morning HR podcast, and a familiar force in the background screening world. If you think you know Mike—think again. From his early days managing chinchillas and tearing up carpet with P90X, to founding one of the industry’s most meticulous and high-touch screening firms, Mike’s story is as entertaining as it is inspiring. We cover his HR roots, the philosophy behind his scre...
Send a text "If you're going to call yourself an expert, make sure you are one." In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Mary Poquette, a pioneer in the background screening industry, co-chair of PBSA in its earliest years, and recipient of the Mike Sankey Lifetime Achievement Award. What follows is a rich, funny, and deeply insightful conversation that traces Mary’s journey from a high school teacher and word processor trainer to one of the most respected compliance leaders in...
Send a text She sold beepers from a car trunk—and now she shapes the future of background screening law. This is Kellie O’Shea’s journey. In this unforgettable episode, I sit down with Kellie O’Shea, General Counsel at Creative Services, Inc. (CSI) and PBSA Board Member, to talk about hustle, heart, and the “it depends” moments that make up life as a background screening pro. We talk grit, growth, and the unique path Kellie carved—balancing law school, a full-time job, and an unwavering beli...
Send a text In this engaging episode of Behind the Screens: Conversations with Background Screening Pros, I sit down with Carl Cogdill—longtime industry veteran, founder of Astute Public Records, and one of the sharpest minds in the business. From his beginnings with dreams of becoming a Maryland State Trooper to his unexpected journey into the background screening world, Carl shares how every twist and turn led to building a company focused on accuracy, efficiency, and trust. We dive into hi...
Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Bianca Lager, a respected strategic growth consultant, former CEO, and longtime thought leader in social media screening. Bianca takes us through her fascinating career—from building one of the first social media background screening companies to becoming a LinkedIn Learning instructor and trusted advisor for companies navigating change. We dig into the real-world challenges of executive leadership, strategic planning, and tea...
Send a text In this milestone 50th episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Melissa Sorenson, Executive Director of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), for a candid conversation about the past, present, and future of our industry. Melissa opens up about her journey from law school to leading PBSA through some of its biggest transformations—like going from a U.S.-focused group (NAPBS) to a truly global organization. We talk about what it takes to grow an internation...
Send a text Before databases were a click away, Steve Brownstein was already connecting the dots. In this episode of Behind the Screens, I’m joined by Steve Brownstein—a true pioneer whose work helped shape the background screening industry as we know it. From manual county searches to international screening strategies, Steve’s story is one of relentless innovation, curiosity, and community-building. We talk about how he launched county search networks, expanded background checks globally, a...
Send a text In this episode of Behind the Screens, I sit down with Alice Quinones, a dual-qualified attorney in France and the U.S., who’s helping shape the future of privacy and compliance in the background screening world. We discuss Alice’s cross-continental legal education, her journey from Deloitte to building her own firm, and how she views the screening industry as both a legal playground and a space to protect people. From leading PBSA Europe to building practical compliance framework...
Send a text What do background screening, the Indian Army, and vinyl records have in common? On the surface, nothing—until you meet Chetan Desai. From serving in the military and as a mountaineer to founding one of India’s first background screening firms, Chetan’s story is proof that discipline, curiosity, and just a little obsession (with both compliance and perfect sound systems) can take you far. Today, he’s not only building SecureSearch but also shaping the global industry through PBSA...
Send a text Think carrying the PBSA gavel is all formality and boardrooms? Think again. When three Chairs sit down together, you get a mix of wisdom, war stories, and a few moments that prove even industry leaders don’t take themselves too seriously. In this episode, I bring together Tim Gordon, Chad Ascar, and Scott Maloney—the current chair, the immediate past chair, and the chair before the past chair—for a candid conversation about leadership, resilience, and the future of background scre...
Send a text What if the very foundations of background screening—the databases, the processes, the standards—were shaped by someone who once started out answering phones as a young mom just trying to make it work? That’s the story of Catherine Aldrich Brame. From building the first national criminal databases at CDB Infotech, to scaling Accurate and HireRight, to co-founding Five Diamond Screening, Cath has been at the heart of every major leap in our industry. She’s also one of the original ...
Send a text What does leadership look like when it’s built on resilience, curiosity, and an unwavering belief in people? For Susie Thomson, it looks like a career that has taken her from the ground floor of her family business to the top ranks of global background screening. She helped create Security Watchdog, guided its growth through acquisition, and today leads as COO of Matrix while shaping the global future of screening through PBSA. Now on track to become the first European Chair of PB...
Send a text What happens when you take four professionals from different corners of the background screening industry—each with unique expertise, bold ideas, and a willingness to shake things up—and put them together on one stage? You get disruption. In this special episode, I sit down with Andrew Cashman, Tressa Fullard, Kevin Horval, and Oakley Smith—four innovators who came together at PBSA Mid-Year to challenge the status quo and reimagine the future of screening. From rethinking applican...
Send a text What if the path you thought would be temporary turned out to be the foundation of a lifelong calling? That’s the story of Bobby Shank. With a degree in finance and even a chapter of life spent in Costa Rica, Bobby never expected that joining his family’s business, Roundstone, would anchor him in the background screening industry for good. What started as “just a job” became a career marked by resilience, vision, and leadership. Along the way, joining PBSA turned out to be the sou...
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