History of Express Employment Professionals
Since our beginnings, Express
Employment Professionals has been guided by a simple vision: help as many
people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find
good people.
The journey to become an international
franchised staffing giant was decades in the making, an evolution forged from
humble beginnings, marked by perseverance, and an undying passion to help
people build better lives for themselves and their families and help
communities grow and prosper.
Shortly after the end of World War II,
an accountant, David L. Reiff, and his wife Doris moved from Chicago, IL, to
Spokane, WA, in search of a more hospitable climate in which to open his
bookkeeping business. He found an office located in the same building shared by
a small employment agency that was struggling to stay afloat. As he operated
his fledgling bookkeeping business, he took the opportunity to learn about the
staffing industry by observing the staffing employees at work.
In 1951, Mr. Reiff sold his accounting
firm and bought the staffing company, renaming it Acme Personnel Services. His
son, Bill, joined the business as it began to flourish. Throughout the early
1960s, Acme expanded to include offices throughout the state of Washington.
In 1965, Robert A. Funk joined Acme in
the Seattle office as a Staffing Consultant, helping match job applicants with
job orders. In less than a year, due to dogged determination and his knack for
building personal relationships, Mr. Funk was promoted to Office Manager.
In 1969, Acme acquired a staffing
office in Oklahoma City. Mr. Funk was offered the opportunity to manage the new
territory and accepted the position. In a short time, he opened four new
successful Acme offices in Oklahoma and was soon promoted to Vice President
overseeing offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Colorado.
In 1973, William H. Stoller, a college
basketball player at Pacific University near Portland, OR, joined the Acme team
as a part-time Staffing Consultant. In little time, his competitive spirit and
determined work ethic led him to out-produce all other offices in the Portland
area. In less than two years Mr. Stoller was promoted to District Manager.
A recession in the early 1980s
exacerbated Acme’s financial woes at the corporate level as cracks began to
form in the foundation of the Acme business structure. Acme president Bill
Reiff took drastic measures to keep Acme solvent, but the damage was too far
gone.
In 1983, Acme declared bankruptcy.
Offices closed abruptly, leaving employees to ponder their futures. Mr. Funk,
determined to keep his offices operational, contacted Mr. Stoller to ask if he
was interested in forming a new temporary employment services company. Together,
they contacted Acme Franchisee Jim Gray, inviting him to join them due to his
extensive back office operations experience. Mr. Gray agreed and together the
three men became the Founders of Express Temporary Services with eight offices
in Oklahoma, Oregon, and Colorado. Though struggling in its infancy during a
national economic downturn, Express managed to generate gross revenues of $2
million, despite the depressed economy.
In 1985, Express employed 35,000 people
and set their sights on bringing hope through employment to many more. The
Founders determined that the best way to grow was through franchising,
introducing a new era in Express’ history. Along with the new business model
came a fresh new name: Express Personnel Services.
1986 ushered in an era of exponential
growth as the Express Founders acquired the franchise rights to 30 Acme offices
across the United States. Sales grew 105% generating over $38 million.
1988 saw Express open their 100th
office and top $82 million dollars in sales.
In 1990, co-founder Mr. Gray decided to
sell his stock in Express. Founders Mr. Funk and Mr. Stoller purchased Mr.
Gray’s shares, and the present-day ownership structure was cemented.
In 1999, Express introduced rare black
and white Clydesdales as corporate ambassadors. Since then they have toured and
competed across North America. These gentle giants, each weighing between 1,800
and 2,300 pounds, help raise money for causes like Children’s Miracle Network
Hospitals and other charitable organizations.
Also in 1999, Express achieved a major
milestone by reaching $1 billion in sales.
In 2002, Express began franchising in
South Africa with a desire to help people prosper through employment
opportunities.
In 2005, Express awarded their 500th
franchise, and helped a record 300,000 associates find employment.
In 2008, Express celebrated 25 years of
success and took advantage of the occasion to update their corporate identity
to better reflect their wide array of employment services, changing their name
to Express Employment Professionals.
In October 2011, Express reached
another major milestone by recording 3 million hours worked in a single week.
In 2014, Express was recognized as the No.
1 industrial staffing provider as well as the fastest growing major staffing
company.
The accolades continued in 2016 as
Express was named one of Forbes’ best franchises to buy. 2016 also saw an
all-time high of 510,000 associates employed and record sales of $3.05 billion.
Express reached another milestone in
October 2017 by reaching 4 million hours worked in a single week.
Lifetime achievement accolades were
bestowed upon both Express Founders in 2017. In June, Mr. Stoller was inducted
into the Lower Columbia College Athletics Hall of Fame as a two-sport inductee
for his contributions as a player on the college’s basketball and baseball
teams in the 1970s. Later that year in November, Mr. Funk received his state’s
highest honor as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
In 2019, Express employed 552,000
associates in more than 800 franchise locations, and generated more than $3.53
billion in sales.
Express acquired Frontline Recruitment
Group, a recruitment and staffing company, in February 2020. This international
expansion included 31 locations in Australia and three in New Zealand..
Also in 2020, the Specialized
Recruiting Group, an Express Employment Professionals company, takes an
individual approach to professional placement. More than 100 locations offer
support to local business communities and professionals seeking new career
opportunities.
In 2021, Entrepreneur Magazine named
Express the No. 1 staffing franchise for the 10th consecutive year
on their annual Franchise 500. In the same year, Express also received
Inavero’s Best of Staffing Talent Award for the fifth consecutive year. Express
earned Inavero’s Best of Staffing Client award as well, both designations
claimed by fewer than 2% of staffing firms in North America.
Currently Express franchise ownership
opportunities are available in the United States, Canada, South Africa,
Australia and New Zealand. Through diversification in Light Industrial, Skilled
Trades, Office Services, and Professional staffing, Express intends to reach
$5.5 billion in sales by 2025.
Today,
and every day, Express Employment Professionals remains dedicated to bringing
hope through employment and to fulfill the mission to put a million people to
work annually.
(Sources: Helping People Succeed, the History of Express Personnel Services, written by Lu Hollander, 2017 Express Media Kit)