Featured Member


Dana Mitchell, Director
Goodwill Staffing Solutions
Indianapolis, Indiana

Year program began: 2005
Program sponsor: Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana
Jobseekers placed last year: 343

Goodwill Staffing Solutions is a full-service staffing agency operating within Goodwill Industries of Central Indiana. Launched just three years ago, the business has rapidly established itself as a temporary staffing supplier in the Indianapolis market and plays a vital role in fulfilling Goodwill’s mission to help people “prepare for, get and keep a job.”

We spoke with director Dana Mitchell to learn more about Goodwill Staffing Solutions’ experience serving central Indiana employers and jobseekers.

 

How did you get into the alternative staffing business?

My staffing career began when I applied with a staffing company for a temporary position and they hired me as their receptionist. Later I was promoted to staffing specialist and eventually I left to work for Adecco, first as a recruiter and then branch manager. I joined Goodwill Staffing Solutions in December 2007 because I was attracted to its mission and welcomed the opportunity to do something different.

What population(s) does Goodwill Staffing Solutions mainly work with?

We help anyone who is job-ready to get and keep a job. Some of our employees come from programs within Goodwill that target seniors, youth (age 16-25) and people with disabilities, but our placement and retention services are not targeted to a specific population. In the past, our workforce has been predominantly male, low-skilled and often lacking a high school diploma. As the economy has worsened, we are seeing more applicants who have degrees and higher level work experience.

How are participants referred to your program?

Jobseekers are referred to us internally from other Goodwill programs, and by word-of-mouth from our workers and customers.

What types of support services have you found to be most critical to your employees’ success?

Transportation is a huge challenge and we assist workers with this, mainly by supplying bus passes. We also provide in-house GED classes to help our workers get this important credential. When needed, we can also supply appropriate clothing for interviews and job assignments. This year we’ve been able to extend Goodwill health insurance benefits to our staffing service workforce, although only about 10% have enrolled. The transitional nature of temporary employment (since our goal is to get people into permanent jobs) and the cost of premiums have limited our workers’ participation so far.

What types of employers do you serve?

We serve a variety of manufacturing and service firms, supplying them with warehouse, clerical, customer service, food service and janitorial service workers. Our customer base continues to evolve. Currently, our biggest customer is Republic Services, which provides trash collection and recycling services. During our first two years, the City’s Department of Public Works was a major customer, and we filled a range of entry-level positions for a local hospital group, but neither account is active at the moment.

What marketing methods or messages have you found to be most effective in attracting new customers?

“Goodwill” is a well-recognized brand with a very positive reputation, and that definitely opens doors for us. Currently, we are focusing on networking to develop new customers, identifying potential contacts through our Board members and internal corporate staff. This is a successful approach we want to use to its fullest potential. We also organize a quarterly Human Resource learning event at our site for professionals in our area. We provide a casual and hopefully entertaining atmosphere where HR people hear a speaker and then a panel discussion on cutting edge topics in the Human Resource field.  Participants also receive continuing education credit for these events. 

Can you share a memorable staffing request?

In this business, you do whatever is necessary. I recall a catering job order that required our crew of six to wear tuxedo shirts and ties. My associate and I rented the proper formalwear, dressed in uniform ourselves in case reinforcements were needed, and met our workers at the job site to outfit them and help them tie their bow ties. All of the workers showed up as scheduled so my associate and I went out to dinner during the event and returned when it was over to collect the rental clothes.

What are the biggest challenges of operating a staffing service program in your market?

One ongoing challenge is the lack of good public transportation services to areas where industrial customers are located. Another is the stiff competition from firms like Labor Ready and other conventional suppliers. That said, Goodwill Staffing Solutions was ranked 23 among Indianapolis’ 25 largest temporary staffing firms (based on hours billed) after just two years of operation, and last year we rose to number 18.

As a manager, what do you wish you had more time for?

There are never enough hours in the day, but mainly I would say planning, to develop and update our business plan in a thorough, deliberate way.

What about Goodwill Staffing Solutions are you most proud of?

I’m very proud of our mission focus. We’re the only staffing firm in town that does what we do.

What are your program’s main goals for the future?

Our goal is to be more innovative during the current economic downturn, by trying to better understand employers’ needs and provide solutions to meet them. Despite the outlook, we have high hopes for 2009!

Please, briefly share a success story about one of your workers.

One of our employees, Anthony, came to Goodwill Staffing in January 2007, when he was homeless and tired of staying at missions and with relatives. After working in various jobs we placed him in a full-time position as a parking garage attendant and in November of 2007, Central Parking garage hired him.  As a result, Anthony has an apartment and supports himself, and the last I heard he was saving money to buy a car.

What advice would you offer to someone considering alternative staffing as a strategy in their community?

In developing employer customers, tap into the resources you have through your Board and other contacts, and find like-minded companies and other organizations who understand your mission. Identify employer “partners” with whom you can build long-term relationships.

NOTE: Goodwill Staffing Solutions in Indianapolis ended its operations in summer of 2009.