Page 55 - South Mississippi Living - August, 2018

MAKINGADIFFERENCEINLIVES
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Katherine Sowers and courtesy of Express Employment Professionals
Locally owned and operated, Express Employment Professionals is making
a difference in the lives of people of South Mississippi and Alabama. The company is growing and expanding rapidly by adding new service lines and physical locations to assist residents in finding employment.
President and CEO Jason Poole says the company’s mission
is to be the largest privately owned employer on the Coast. “The quality
of our team is our biggest differentiator,” he says, explaining Express Pro’s remarkable success. “We hire the best, We train the best, and we pay nearly double the industry standard.
We currently have 19 internal staff members and are looking to add two more to our sales team.” The local Biloxi/ Gulfport Express finished number 7 out of 815 franchises across the US and Canada.
“
being acquired to help expand our footprint.”
Poole stresses the importance of the team to the company’s operation. “No matter what business you are in, you’re in the People Business. I have seen a lot of businesses fail, not due to the product or process, but due to
the people. People have everything to do with the success of a business and we understand that,” he says. “We only look for
the best and brightest to
represent our company.” New team members are trained, coached, and led to be the best they can be.
“Then we get out of their way and let them do their job,” Poole added. “I have found that people will surprise you, if you let them. We know that we have the right people, product, and processes to sustain our current growth for many years to come.”
Good
things happen to
Express Pro’s newest
service line is their
Hospitality/Casino
division, and it’s the
division that has had the
most growth in the past
three years. Additionally,
the Skilled Trade and Professional divisions have had triple digit growth. “To meet these new demands we have gone out and hired experts in that particular field,” Poole said. “Physical offices have been added in Hattiesburg, and Auburn over the last three years and two South Louisiana offices are currently
ho
those w” hustle
-Jason Poole
Part of building the team includes group activities with
their families and giving back to the community by supporting a number of non-profit organizations. Those groups include the Make-A-Wish Foundation, My Belongings, Wounded Warriors of South Mississippi, Loaves and Fishes, and the American Heart Association. >>
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net August 2018 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 55
THE NUMBERS TELL
THE STORY:
• Work with an average of 152 BUSINESSES ON A WEEKLY BASIS to help find talent
• To date in 2018, WORKED WITH 385 BUSINESSES
• On average, 725 EMPLOYEES ARE PAID WEEKLY
• Total so far for 2018, 3,412 PEOPLE PLACED IN JOBS
• NEW SERVICE LINES ADDED include Hospitality/Casino and Skilled Trade and Professional
• Hospitality/Casino Division GREW 1400% over the past three years
• Skilled Trade and Professional Division had 186% GROWTH
• Currently have 19 TEAM MEMBERS; plan to hire two more
• HATTIESBURG AND AUBURN OFFICES added during the past three years
• EXPECTING TO ADD TWO OFFICES in South Louisiana