Ozarks Profile

Area manager for eight Manpower offices in southwest Missouri. Manpower, the largest staffing and employment service in the world with more than 3,000 offices in 50 countries, has five locations in the Springfield area, including two offices in Springfield 1824 S. Lone Pine and 2715 N. Kansas Expwy. and offices in Marshfield, Nixa and Branson. Hobbs began her career with Manpower as a service assistant in the Lubbock, Texas, office and transferred to Springfield in 1993. She was promoted to branch manager, then district manager, and, in 1995, was promoted to area manager. She was then given the opportunity to expand the southwest Missouri territory. Hobbs is an active member of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, where she serves on the Red Carpet, Business After Hours and Membership Development committees. She is a past chair of the Red Carpet and Bull Roast committees and has been elected chair of the Business After Hours Committee for 2000. Hobbs also serves on the human resources committee for the Springfield Family Y.

Age: 30

No. of years in Springfield/area: Six

Education: Hobbs studied marketing at Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

Early career: Hobbs first worked as a bank teller in high school, then managed a tanning salon in college, where she got her first experience with human resources. She began working for Manpower as a service representative in Lubbock to gain more experience in human resources and marketing.

Current projects: "I'm continuing to develop all aspects of our business in the southwest Missouri area. Our business is no longer simply temporary staffing but now includes permanent placement, technical, call centers and training. We are becoming true business partners with our clients."

Management philosophy: "Working my way up through the company helped me develop my style of management. We have an open-door policy based on mutual respect. I strive to hire the best people, then allow them to use their talents. If they are growing and achieving, they are happy to come to work and are more productive."

Spare-time pursuits: Hobbs enjoys boating and scuba diving at Table Rock Lake, reading, exercising and spending time with family.

Family data: Hobbs has been married for seven years to Bart, an implementation engineer for MCI WorldCom.

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