By Pete Ricci

Workforce development is economic development.

That is the mantra of Maria O’Connell, the owner of Express Employment Professionals, a staffing provider based in Malvern that is committed to positively impacting its community. The nationwide network of these franchises aims to put a million people to work each year, and the one here in Chester County is doing more than its part.

Express Employment Professionals is one of the top staffing partners in the U.S. and Canada. Every day, its helps people find positions – full-time, part-time, and temporary in a wide range of industries – and provides businesses with workforce solutions.

Four years ago, when O’Connell was looking to start a new business, she met a representative from Express Employment Professionals at a networking event and was instantly impressed with the company’s culture and its commitment to both the hiring companies and the candidates. After extensive research and discovering that her values and goals aligned with those of Express, O’Connell decided that she wanted to expand the franchise’s footprint into Chester County.

Fast-forward to today, and O’Connell’s company has been successfully pairing candidates and businesses for three-plus years. It specializes in placing technical, skilled trade, and industrial candidates, as well as office administration and business services professionals.

Express still takes the time to meet face to face with every candidate and hiring company, a personal service that is critical to ensuring both parties experience success.

Kelly (O’Connell) Clarke, the company’s Vice President of Business Development and Marketing, wants Express to be the place that people tell their friends about when they need work.

“Go talk to our team at Express Employment Professionals,” she said. “They can help you.”

An innate desire to help people is a large part of Express’s success and has been the energy behind its growth. O’Connell and Clarke truly believe that it is an honor to assist people in their quest for employment, and it shows. Their vision is “to help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people,” said O’Connell.

“When you help someone find a job, it is an incredible feeling,” said Clarke. “We help one business at a time and one candidate at a time.”

“The Express team helped me to reach my full potential,” said Thomas E. “They were competent and knowledgeable about placing me in a role that they knew I could excel. I would highly recommend them to anyone.”

This personal attention and thorough vetting trickles down into the community.

When people are working, there’s food on their table and clothes on their back. Retailers have more customers. And the wheels of the economy turn faster. It’s a win for communities, and businesses like Express Employment Professionals are a catalyst to it all.

The hiring process can be costly, in terms of both time and money. The average time an employer spends from an interview to offer is more than 22 days, which amounts to three weeks of lost productivity.

Turnover and recruitment can also be costly, so if you are an employer in charge of hiring, let Express Employment Professionals manage the hiring process for you. O’Connell and Clarke are powerful allies who provide the tools to help your workforce maintain its productivity.

If you are a job seeker, Express can help you explore a range of jobs and find the right fit. Your skills will be matched to positions that are available, and you can become eligible for a variety of benefits. Also, as an Express associate, you will have access to training resources to further your career.

“The job with Express helped me get my life back on track,” said Harold S. “I now have suitable and reliable work. Now, I am living a happier life just knowing I have a long-term position to wake up to everyday!”

Click here to learn more about Express Employment Professionals.

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