Ozarks Profile: Vicki Smith

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What is your job?|ret||ret||tab|

Sales manager, WillStaff Worldwide Staffing, 210-H W. Sunshine.|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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Tell us about your organization.|ret||ret||tab|

WillStaff is a staffing services firm that was opened in Springfield in 1997 as a franchise of Snelling Personnel Services by Wayne Williamson. The firm offers executive searches, temporary-to-permanent staffing and temporary staffing. "Two-and-a-half months ago, Williamson took a buyout from the franchise and changed the name to WillStaff. We have 42 offices in 11 states and our corporate offices are in Monroe, La.," Smith said. Since the buyout from the franchise, Smith said the company has been able to offer more client-specific services and insurance benefits for temporary employees after 360 hours of service. "WillStaff is growing at the rate of 12 offices a year this makes us one of the fastest-growing staffing service companies in the nation."|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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What is your educational background?|ret||ret||tab|

Smith graduated from Southside High School in Fort Smith, Ark. |bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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What jobs led you to your current one?|ret||ret||tab|

Nearly all of Smith's work experience has revolved around employment service, with the exception of her first job out of high school as a customer service representative for a Fort Smith newspaper. Smith got her start in the employment industry at The Employment Company, a Fort Smith temp service. She then worked for Express Personnel Services in Fort Smith for several years before joining Sharp Personnel. Smith then joined WillStaff.|ret||ret||tab|

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What is the best part of your job?|ret||ret||tab|

"I like helping people we provide a service not only to our clients and the companies, but to the employees as well. Sometimes we can get people into a company who otherwise might not have been hired there. It changes people's lives."|bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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Give us some personal information.|ret||ret||tab|

Smith is 39 and has lived in Springfield since August. She has two grown children and one granddaughter, who will celebrate her first birthday in a few weeks, Smith said. Smith said she enjoys spending time with her family, in particular her parents and granddaughter, reading, playing tennis, riding horses and hiking. |bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

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What is your favorite business lunch spot?|ret||ret||tab|

Smith eats at St. Louis Bread Company quite regularly, she said, and since the WillStaff office moved to its new location, which is in the same retail center where a new McAlister's Deli recently opened, she said she plans to take advantage of its proximity. |bold_on||bold_on||ret||ret||tab|

by Melissa Wilson [[In-content Ad]]