Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | January 7, 2019 | Worcester Business Journal 13 P e o p l e T o K n o w F O C U S BEST STAFFING AGENCY The DAVIS Cos.* Marlborough, www.daviscos.com Top executive: President Brendon Davis Founded: 1985 Employees: 90 Notable runner-up: Robert Half International DAVIS Cos. provides the right staffing for clients T he Massachusetts unemployment rate was 3.5 percent in October. That's good news for most, but it can be a problem for employers who are looking harder lately for the right matches for their job openings. The staffing agency DAVIS Cos. has grown as its customers' needs have, both at its Marlborough headquarters with roughly 65 employees, and as it has added offices far outside the area. Less than two years ago, it added a Memphis office to go with others in New Jersey, New Hampshire, Minneapolis and Atlanta, where it decided to open offices once its cus- tomer needs in those areas justified the expansion. Texas, Florida and the Carolinas are on the horizon in 2019 for new out- posts, President Brendon Davis said. DAVIS Cos. has lasted more than BEST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Worcester, www.worcesterchamber.org Top executive: President & CEO Timothy P. Murray Founded: 1875 Employees: 13 The Worcester chamber includes five affiliate chambers to represent more than 2,200 businesses in the region, providing public policy advocacy, economic development, marketing and more than 200 events annually, including industry- specific roundtables like financial services and diverse professionals. Notable runners-up: Corridor Nine Chamber of Commerce, North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce BEST NONPROFIT FUNDRAISER EVENT March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction* Westborough, www.marchofdimes.org Top executive: Stephen Sycks, senior development manager for Central and Western Mass. Founded: 1938 Employees: 10 in Massachusetts Amount raised: $125,000 March of Dimes fights for the health of moms and babies. Last year in America, nearly 700 moms died from complications related to childbirth and 10 percent of babies were born premature. In 2019, March of Dimes will launch Supportive Pregnancy Care in Central Massachusetts. Notable runners-up: YOU Inc. Gala for Worcester Chamber President & CEO Timothy Murray and Chairwoman Kate Sharry at its annual meeting. The Davis Cos. team gears up for a Spartan Races obstacle course. (Below) The company's book club gets excited about its latest assignment. BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor three decades by focusing on the right industry fits, Davis said. Initially, it was predominantly manufacturing. It wasn't until after 2000 and especially after the Great Recession the company shifted heavily into more recession-proof industries like life sciences, engineering and biotechnology, he said, which have taken it to offices where those indus- tries have grown. That specialization has served the company well, said Davis, whose father started the business out of his basement in 1985. A representative for engineer- ing companies, for example, will more easily know the right fit between employer and prospective employee because they work more closely with companies in that field and get to know their company cultures, he said. "We have people hired into our com- pany, and we build them out into a skill set," Davis said. DAVIS Cos. prioritizes professional development courses for its employees and supports charitable causes import- ant to them, Davis said. DAVIS Cos. has kept busy and has grown – it has roughly 100 employees on staff and another nearly 3,000 when contractors are included – because even though fewer people are unemployed these days, that doesn't mean there isn't still movement between companies as workers seek better opportunities, Davis said. Kids, Worcester County Walk to End Alzheimer's, 15-40 Connection Gala The March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction was held at Mechanics Hall in Worcester last year. W

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