For Beth Walker McBride, following in her mother’s footsteps and running her family’s staffing company, WorkForce Walker Personnel, as Vice President and co-owner (with her mom) has brought many rewards. But her favorite part of what she does is connecting with people and contributing to their success.
When was WorkForce Walker Personnel founded?
My family started this business in April 1957. It was called Job Center then and was located on Dexter Avenue. We moved to our location on Arba Street in 1995. We’ve been in business now for 61 years.
How long have you been with the company?
I feel like I’ve been in this business my entire life, but I’ve been in my current position for 21 years.
What is WorkForce Walker Personnel’s primary service?
We help people find their career path and go through career changes, and we work closely with our employer clients to find solutions to their everyday staffing needs. We have two divisions: Walker is our clerical and professional division, and Workforce is our industrial division. We offer a wide variety of placement options to our clients including direct hire placements as well as temporary-to-permanent placement and temporary placement. And we staff positions from professional and management to administration and industrial across a very wide variety of industries and sectors.
Approximately how many people does the company place in jobs in a year?
The number varies from year to year, but we have placed as many as 4,000 in a year. On average it is around 2,500 or greater.
What are the advantages of using a staffing agency for employers?
We save our clients valuable time and money by utilizing our many resources and our expertise gained over six decades of doing this. And we customize our service around each client’s needs.
What are the advantages for job seekers?
We can get them in front of the right people. We often have job positions available that have not been posted. And we’re experienced at matching qualifications with the right opening.
Any recent milestones or honors?
The biggest thing is that we are celebrating 61 years, and that we are a woman-owned business. We have consistently been voted the best staffing agency here in The Montgomery Advertiser’s Readers’ Choice awards.
What factors have led to the company’s longevity?
I attribute our 61 years of success to my mom and her success. She has been a true role model for me, and I feel so very blessed to have an opportunity to partner with her in this business. The main thing she taught me was her strong work ethic. She raised five kids while working full time and she never missed a beat.
What do you love most about your job?
Everything. This is a people business, and I love having opportunities to work with people from all walks of life. It is a very rewarding business too. I get to help people with their career paths. I love walking into a business and having someone stop me and say, “Your company got me my job and I’m so happy here.” That is why I do what I do.
What are your impressions of the business climate in Montgomery?
I think Montgomery is going in the right direction. As a member of The Chairman’s Circle, I have had the opportunity to watch our leaders at work, and I am pleased with their efforts to foster current businesses and bring new ones here. I think the continued revitalization of downtown is really exciting.
What are your interests outside of work?
My family. My husband and I are blessed with three children and eight wonderful grandchildren, and I love spending time with them. I love anything outdoors, and I love football season. We are a big football family, Roll Tide. We are actually a divided family; there are a few Auburn fans among us. But we all get along fine, even in the fall.
