#USA #Holmdel #Talent Acquisition #AI Adoption #iCIMS STAR Awards

iCIMS Celebrates Talent Acquisition Excellence

On January 29, 2026, iCIMS, a prominent player in talent acquisition technology, announced the winners of its inaugural STAR Awards. The event, geared towards recognizing exemplary efforts in recruiting and hiring, drew nominations from nearly 100 global organizations demonstrating significant advancements in talent acquisition outcomes.

The STAR Awards showcased organizations that not only utilize iCIMS to streamline their hiring processes but also enhance overall efficiency and create memorable candidate experiences. The winners were selected based on their innovative approaches, depth in adopting the iCIMS platform, and measurable outcomes in both business performance and talent acquisition.

Honoring Leaders in Talent Acquisition

Among the distinguished winners, Danny Rojas of The Container Store was named the iCIMS STAR of the Year. Rojas played a pivotal role in enabling remarkable growth in headcount, achieving a 30% year-over-year increase through centralized and automated talent acquisition. He emphasized how iCIMS acted as the backbone of their hiring ecosystem, facilitating a rapid and consistent hiring process while ensuring a candidate-centric experience.

Nikki Grigsby, iCIMS's chief customer officer, highlighted the importance of turning efficiency and AI technology into tangible business results, stating, “The most exceptional talent acquisition leaders are shaping what's next by embedding AI and designing candidate-focused hiring experiences.”

Category Winners of the STAR Awards

The awards are divided into several categories, each targeting specific aspects of talent acquisition:
1. AI Pioneer Award: ATCC (American Type Culture Collection) was recognized for their strategic use of iCIMS AI technology, which streamlined their recruitment process and reduced reliance on external agencies.
2. Candidate Experience Champion Award: Expleo Group was honored for delivering real-time insights and nurturing their employer brand across 25 countries, thereby enhancing candidate communication.
3. Hospitality Industry STAR Award: Delaware North received accolades for securing a seven-point lead in high-quality candidates over industry benchmarks.
4. Healthcare Industry STAR Award: St. Luke's was recognized for achieving outstanding candidate engagement rates, with their application completion rates hitting 22% and interviews at 50%.
5. Manufacturing & Construction Industry STAR Award: TDIndustries won for dramatically cutting their time-to-fill by 50%, prompting a hiring rate nine days faster than the average within their sector.

Rising STARs

Additional recognition was given to emerging talent acquisition leaders, referred to as “Rising STARs.” Finalists such as HR Block and Smile Brands demonstrated significant improvements in recruiting processes, including cutting candidate response times by over 50% and reducing the application completion time to under five minutes.

Angela Biehl from ATCC remarked on the impact of their AI adoption, noting the importance of incorporating AI responsibly within regulated environments while ensuring a positive candidate experience.

Conclusion

The iCIMS STAR Awards serve as a powerful testament to the significant strides organizations are making in the realm of talent acquisition. By leveraging iCIMS’s technology, these organizations have not only transformed their hiring practices but have also enhanced the experiences of candidates. Companies interested in similar transformations can explore iCIMS’s offerings and request a demo to learn more about how iCIMS can elevate their talent acquisition strategies.

For more information on the winners and their success stories, visit the iCIMS website.