Ken R. Taunton

When Ken Taunton (he/him) sees a need, he does not wait for others to tackle it but rather jumps in to take on the challenge himself.

Taunton’s journey as a DE&I influencer began as a regional HR recruiting manager for a large pharmaceutical company, where he was tasked with increasing diversity in his region — and accomplished that goal, earning the Vice President Club Award. Taunton’s work ignited a passion in his heart that led him to eventually develop his own firm, The Royster Group, which is known for recruiting high-performing, diverse talent in the healthcare, professional services and administrative sectors. Dedication to diversity is a vital component of success, he notes. “Look at your team. Diversity is key to growth,” he explains. “Don’t necessarily hire people you’re comfortable with because people are comfortable with people who look like them.”

Don’t necessarily hire people you’re comfortable with because people are comfortable with people who look like them.

As The Royster Group grew to have a presence in 20 states, Taunton’s DE&I influence became more prevalent on a national level. His involvement in the American Staffing Association exposed a need for more diverse representation in the organization. He stepped in to support ASA leadership in establishing the Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Advocacy Group (Idea Group) Council, which aims to develop a mission and strategy focused on promoting inclusion, diversity and equality within the organization. Taunton’s efforts contributed towards this goal during his chairmanship, and his success with the Idea Group led to his appointment as the first African American on the national board of the ASA. His contributions to the ASA have resulted in the development of resources for its member firms with DE&I initiatives, including educational panels, workshops, networking opportunities and mentorship programs. Through Taunton’s work, the ASA has raised awareness of these resources and their potential for promoting DE&I in the industry.

In addition to his work as the president and CEO of The Royster Group, Taunton is actively involved in his local community, serving on several boards and leadership cohorts. He recently won Georgia’s Small Business Association Person of the Year award. Taunton is passionate about early childhood education and works closely with Sheltering Arms, an Atlanta-based organization that provides early childhood programming for parents who cannot afford daycare or childcare.