By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Having been open for almost 30 years, Williamson Employment Services, Inc., has been helping to fill staffing needs for area residents. A member of the Wyoming Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce, the organization continues to build on its reputation for building endearing relationships with its client companies and its employees in order to find the perfect match.
Name of business: Williamson Employment Services, Inc., 3940 Broadmoor Ave. SE.
What is your business? Full service staffing, recruiting, and human resources.
How long has your business been operating? 29 Years
How did your business get started? Peg Williamson started Williamson in 1992 when she saw a need for a business that assisted people in finding the right job. Since opening the corporate office in St Joseph, Michigan, she opened our office in Kentwood in 1998, and another office in Niles, Michigan, which is now located in Mishawaka, Indiana. Her daughter and son-in-law, Judee and Jeff Hopwood, have owned and operated the company since 2012.
Why did you decide to locate your business in the Wyoming/Kentwood area? The previous owner, Peg, opened an office in Kentwood because she felt it had a good market for employment agencies.
What has been the greatest challenge for your business? In the most recent year, it has been finding candidates for our open positions. The pandemic has definitely played a huge part in that challenge.
What is the most popular product/item at your business/restaurant? Since we don’t offer an actual product, but instead a service, I would say entry level positions are the most sought out position that we assist with.
What is a Wyoming/Kentwood business you like to visit during your free time? Our staff frequently visit local businesses! A few worth mentioning would be The Candied Yam, Shanghai Ichiban, Woodland Mall, and Craig’s Cruisers. I’m sure there are many more worth listing as both cities are full of great businesses!
Hopes for 2021: Our hope for 2021 would be a shift in the candidate market. I know we are not the only business that is experiencing a serious need to fill vacancies, so our hope is that more candidates become available for work and seek employment assistance with our office.
