PROTEMPS Staffing Solutions in Easton recently celebrated its 30th Anniversary. The company, which was originally known as Professional Temporaries, has grown from three employees in 1979 to nine employees, plus a fleet of four drivers, today. Owners Judy and Norman Noel have seen dramatic changes in the temporary staffing industry since they began the business 30 years ago, noting that today staffing agencies are the “jobs people,” filling an important niche in the economy.

Owner Judy Noel originally worked as a typist for the company before becoming a partner with Connie Loveland in 1985. She purchased the company herself in late 1985. Norm Noel began working with the company in 1987 doing marketing and finance. The Noels attribute the success of PROTEMPS over the last 30 years with the effort they have made to build relationships with both businesses and employees on the Mid-Shore.

PROTEMPS utilizes employees and employers in all five Mid-Shore counties, with 75 percent of its employees coming from Talbot County. The company hires close to 500 employees a year, handling approximately 150 paychecks a week. Over the last 30 years, the company has seen the increase in using temporary staffing in the area of light industrial and manufacturing. In addition, instead of hiring secretaries, PROTEMPS now finds the demand is for administrative assistants, receptionists, and executive administrative associates.

According to Cheryl Tubman, Staffing Coordinator for PROTEMPS, who has been with the company 11 years, “We are seeing a demand for temporary clerical staff in medical and law offices, financial institutions, and in real estate. Computer skills are a very important requirement in each of these industries.”

Owner Norm Noel comments, “Temporary is no longer a negative term. Hiring the right person for any job can be a challenge. The temporary industry coined the phrase, ‘try before you buy,’ for businesses wanting to try an employee out first before hiring them. The temp to hire practice is especially important in a recession business cycle.”

In addition to temp to hire services and interviewing, screening, and hiring employees for companies, PROTEMPS offers businesses a wide range of human resources services, including testing and background checks for employees, payroll, and scheduling. For the last 10 years, Pro Temps has provided transportation services for laborers to their job sites and is the only staffing agency on the Mid Shore to offer this service.

Jack Meintzer, Fleet Manager, who is also being recognized this year for 11 years of service, began as a temporary employee, then became a driver for PROTEMPS, and serves as the company’s fleet manager today.

Judy Noel comments, “We are proud of the consistent role we have been able to play in the Mid-Shore’s workforce development over the last 30 years. We put integrity and the Golden Rule at the forefront of every business transaction, including our relationships with our employees. Because we are in the people business, we treat our employees like family.”

Judy Noel adds, “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated group of employees with our company, many of whom, like Cheryl and Jack, have been with us long term.”

PROTEMPS Staffing Solutions has been recognized over the years for several awards. In 1988, Judy Noel was named Business Woman of the Year by the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce and in 2000 the company was named as the Outstanding Business of the Year by the Talbot County Chamber of Commerce. In 1996, Pat Bridges from Trappe who had been with PROTEMPS for 14 years was selected as the Maryland State and National Temp of the Year by the American Staffing Association. In 2002, the Business and Professional Women (BPW) of the United States named PROTEMPS the Employer of the Year as did the BPW of Caroline County.

For further information about PROTEMPS Staffing Solutions, call 410-822-4648 or visit www.protempsstaffing.com.