Release Number: 11-07 Contact: David Ramp (205) 290-7101 ext. 247 Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/al
Express Employment Professionals
"Women's Business Center Helps Employment Service Access Capital"
BIRMINGHAM, AL - Angela and Chris Ashcraft moved to Mobile, Alabama in 2006 and opened an Express Personnel staffing company. The franchise, now known as Express Employment Professionals, offers temporary, evaluation, contract and direct staffing as well as human resource services and online payroll processing.
In January of 2007, Angela and Chris contacted the Women's Business Center of Southern Alabama (WBCSAL) for assistance with procuring a business loan to fuel their company's expansion. Angela stated recently that 'the Women's Business Center really helped us out with cash flow with a SBA Microloan so we could add additional staff...not only has the loan helped us increase our internal staff to 11 people, but we have also helped over 4,000 people find employment in Mobile and Baldwin Counties since 2006.' Express Employment Professionals was recently added to Careerbuilder and Inavero's 2011 Best of Staffing Client List. The office had already reached the Circle of Excellence for 2011 (an award given to Express offices that have reached a gross margin of over $800,000). In addition, they received the Worldwide 2nd Place Fab Five Award and the Southern Region's 1st Place Increase in Weekly Average Clients Billed Award at the 2008 Sales Summit.
Angela emphasizes that 'we could not be where we are today without the assistance of the SBA loan that we got through the Women's Business Center. We outgrew our old office and have relocated, and our internal staff has almost quadrupled since opening. The WBC really took the pain out of the whole SBA loan process. They knew exactly what information we needed to provide and helped walk us through the process. They also provided continuous support and marketing opportunities such as networking and continued business consulting and advice.'
In addition to running a successful business, Angela and Chris Ashcraft are dedicated to serving their community through volunteer work. Their Express office gives an annual scholarship to a local student interested in the Human Resources field and does fundraising for the Children's Miracle Network.
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Express Employment Professionals 3662 Dauphin Street, Suite B Mobile, AL 36608 Phone: (251) 476-8210 Fax: (251) 476-8237 www.mobileexpresspros.com |