By: Deborah Johnson Wood
In 2007, West Michigan-based EmploymentGroup opened offices in Indiana and Illinois, added nine employees, logged 13 percent growth in a down industry, and beat their projected $50 million sales revenue by $4 million.
But that's only part of the good news.
The really good news for West Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois workers is that EmploymentGroup placed 7,000 of them in temporary jobs last year and, of those, 965 landed permanent jobs—165 more than the company expected.
"Our sector of the commercial staffing industry had a decline of two percent last year," says Mark Lancaster, a partner in the business with CFO Linda Miller. "Employment Group's selection tools are getting more sophisticated and the technology we're using, web based SuccessCheck, helps us prescreen candidates before we even take their application."
Lancaster says the key to helping his client and the potential employee be successful is more than just determining the potential employee's aptitude; it's determining their attitude.
"A good attitude is the most important thing in the work place, period."
The company has 17 offices in three states and plans to add three more offices and more employees this year. Lancaster predicts revenue growth to $59 million, with even more temporary and permanent jobs placements.
"We continue to look at Michigan as a growth area," says Lancaster. "Although the economy's tough and the industry isn't growing, the bulk of our growth this year came from Michigan."
EmploymentGroup celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2008.
Source: Mark Lancaster, EmploymentGroup; Patrick Kane, Lambert Edwards and Associates
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Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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