By Maureen Cholewka
Special Correspondent,
Innsbrook Today Magazine
Adams & Garth Staffing And Executive Search:
Making Job Search Puzzles Into Pieces Of Cake
There is a pulse that beats beneath the Richmond commute of the regular 9-to-5-ers, the tapping of computer keys and the chatter of longtime staffers around the water coolers at Innsbrook — it’s the sound of the parallel world of temporary employee tracks rolling along with a constant feed of people, skill-sets and possibilities, courtesy of Adams & Garth Staffing And Executive Search.
According to Lee Witherow, Adams & Garth president, the people his firm finds, selects and grooms for open job slots are not rough cogs in the wheels. Instead, they click into place like perfectly beveled puzzle pieces to improve companies’ performance — for an hour, a week, a year, and in whatever capacity they serve. This matchmaking finesse makes job seekers and hiring companies continue using Adams & Garth because of the seamless and positive results.
"We are putting together a puzzle. We want to go to the businesses and understand the culture of the business and what’s important to them. If you can send someone who adds value the first day, understands the task and helps the company move forward quickly, this is someone who you could use again, or permanently. We compete on a national basis with all of the other temp agencies, it’s important to do it right," Witherow nods.
The Richmond branch of Adams & Garth has been open on Forest Avenue since 2009, but the staffing company was started 20 years ago in Charlottesville by a group of businesspeople after recognizing their own staffing needs."We handle a wide variety of employees," says Witherow. "In over 20 years, there’s very little we haven’t done." With offices in Charlottesville, Staunton, Harrisonburg, and Lynchburg, in addition to Richmond, Adams & Garth manages about 500-700 temporary employees a week across the Commonwealth. Witherow says, "Richmond has been in our sights for expansion because it has a very healthy business environment." Witherow further explains that although there are over 200 staffing companies in the Richmond area, he is not really worried about finding Adams & Garth’s niche. "Our niche remains the same as it has been for 20 years: A higher level of service, a thorough understanding of our clients’ needs and cultures, and a very strong effort to find the right employee who can add value upon their arrival at the client’s office."
"The current job market is good for our business, because there are a lot of people looking for jobs, and companies are not ready to hire full-time positions just yet," Witherow says. He explains they do three things on the staffing side: "Temporary employees, temp-to-hire, meaning, if a company likes the person we send they probably will hire them, and direct-hire." On the executive search side, specially trained Adams & Garth staff help businesses searching to fill positions over the $40,000 salary level.
"Our method is quality. We spend a lot more time understanding the people that we place. Right now, when people apply to Adams & Garth, they have to complete two personality profiles," Lee says. The personality has to match the business need. Adams & Garth does a lot of assessment tests up front to make sure people are qualified. Background checks for criminal history, DMV, and credit history, plus drug tests are conducted on potential applicants. Also, over 1,000 different tests are available to test a candidate’s skills. There is no fee for all this screening and preening. The hiring company pays Adams & Garth a flat fee per employee working. Adams & Garth pays the employee directly and covers all the taxes and benefits including payroll taxes, unemployment taxes and workers’ compensation. That’s one of the financial benefits companies gain by using temporary staff.
Each Adams & Garth branch office becomes an important part of the local business community. For example, in addition to providing excellent staffing services to Feed More, the corporate parent of Meals on Wheels, Adams & Garth employees volunteer monthly for Richmond Meals on Wheels delivery. Plus, Adams & Garth is a Corporate Sponsor of Feed More’s annual "Zest Fest," an annual black-tie fundraising event. Adams & Garth is also a member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce.
The user-friendly Adams & Garth website is a vibrant community site for job-seekers and hiring companies alike, including an inspiring and relevant active Blog. On the website, a person can search current job openings, or get help with their resume. Adams & Garth is on the cutting edge of staffing services, offering video resume profiles through a video application on their website.
"Adams & Garth is known for three R’s," Witherow says: "Being respectful, resourceful and responsive. We’re also known for providing superior employees for premiere companies."
Adams & Garth Staffing and Executive Search is located at 7229 Forest Ave., Suite 103, in Richmond and can be contacted at (804) 282-5627 or e-mail lgregory@adamsandgarth.com
Business Success Landmarks is a special advertising section of Innsbrook Today Magazine. To see you company featured here, please call Cindi Graesser, publisher, 804-418-7395 or via e-mail: cindi.innsbrook@gmail.com
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