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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2002)
October o». 2002___________________________ ^ 'Jlortlau b (Dhscrucr M E D W e e k ______________________ Pagc3S Despite High Unemployment, Temp Agency Delivers by S ean P. N elson T he P ortland O bserver What advice can the head of a well known temporary agency give on finding a good job a year after the World Trade Center bombings last year led to Oregon having the nation’s highest unemployment rate? “Keep on it, all recessions end,” said M arga ret Brooks, Executive Vice President of Em ployment Services for Sam Brooks and Associ ates, Inc. She and her husband Sam founded the full service staffing firm in 1981. Since then, it has developed an award winning team of professionals who provide Recruitment, Executive Searches, Temporary Services and Consulting for local industries to implement pro grams in employment and workforce develop ment. “Be prepared to go to work. Have a resume, have proper identification and treat searching for a job as an 8 to 5 job. Sign up with several Temporary Services and keep in touch with those services. It’s not easy in these times, but people do get work,” Brooks said. M argaret’s husband and business partner Sam Brooks, the organization’s President, spent over 10 years with the State Employment Depart ment being everything from an entry level Aide to a Program Executive. He then used his PERS money to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning his own business and led Sam Brooks and Associ ates, Inc. for over 19 years. Mr. Brooks is also active in the community as the Founder and Chairman of the Board of the Oregon Associa tion of Minority Entrepreneurs, OAME. Margaret spent 15 years in corporate sales and accounting and over 13 years in general management for their temporary agency. She is also active in the community as the Chair of the North Portland Oregon Employment Council, an advisory body to the Oregon Employment De partment. Despite outside activities, both Margaret and Sam strive to make their staffing service benefi cial for employers and employees alike. “We strive to be the friendliest temporary service or staffing company. We treat all em ployees and customers with great respect,” Brooks said. Interested readers may call the agency at 1-800-540-7930 to pre-screen to determ ine their work history and skills. If not qualified for the agency, they are referred to other community agencies and organizations it part ners with. “If we know where there’s part-time jobs or where there’s training they could get if they don’t have skills that we need, we refer them to the Community Colleges and other resources,” Brooks said. One recent success involved placing an ac counting person with PCRI, the Portland Com- Margaret Brooks (right) o f Sam Brooks and Associates, Inc. in northeast Portland works to successfully place manyjoo seekers in various maus People who are coming in on a regular basis, following up and doing what they need to do are getting work. — Margaret Brooks, Executive Vice President of Employment Services for Sam Brooks and Associates, Inc. munity Reinvestment Initiative, a local commu nity housing organization in northeast Portland. The agency also placed the Housing Director for the Portland Development Commission. Other large companies the agency has placed employ ees with include NIKE, Pacificorp, Xerox, North west Natural Gas, and the City of Portland. The organization also works as an 8(a) Contractor with the Federal Government for minority busi nesses. In the current economic climate, most of the jobs the agency now have are entry level to high level clerical. Light industrial manufacturing and assembly jobs are currently being had by some, but for the most part are few and far between. Brooks said. While she doesn’t have any statistics to show Steppin’ Out in Style Retailer offers high fashion for men and women by J oy >.. M A.< ark > photo ■ by tries. what percentage of applicants there are getting jobs, her gut feeling is that those who follow her A l'tD ni * vn O O bserver 'L 'M W ashington ■ TT he P m ortland MM,' > k advice are successful. “People who are coming in on a regular basis, following up and doing what they need to do are getting work,” Brooks said. Additional advice she gives prospective job seekers is not to bum any bridges behind you. “If you find something better, then you can leave, but otherwise don’t just quit.” For more information, call or visit the agency’s website at w w w .sb ro o k s.co m . or send an em ail to sbrooks @ sbrooks.com. Bring your next (Heeling To Portland, Oregon ^ Rov Jay, President/CEO FREE ASSISTANCE: (503) 244-5794 EXT 45 R amos /T hf . P ortland O bserver www.minorityconventions.com www.oregoncvb.com Right along the new Interstate MAX light rail line is a one o f a kind clothing store for men and women. Owned by Bryan Grant, Steppin’ Out Menswear specializes in high fashion that’s more N. Y. to L. A. in style. G rant w anted to be his own boss after serving four years as a Sales C onsultant for Q w est. U nsure about w hat to venture into, he received his answ er through m uch prayer. His higher calling, accord R oy J ay E nterprises I nc . O regon C onvention and V isitor S ervices N etwork ing to him , was to sell suits. M ore specifically, to offer a unique line o f clothing for men and w om en th a t’s not easily found in V ancouver or the P ort land area. Having little business experience, Grant followed the learn as you go approach. A lesson learned that he likes to impart to budding entrepreneurs is to “have capital and a good sense of direction o f what you’re to do. From there, put it in action." Since opening his retail store two years ago at 7618 N. Interstate, Steppin’Out M enswear has attracted a wide clientele who really want to make a good fashion statement. “It’s the average working-class man or woman that Bryan Grant sells a variety o f high styled men's suits that are unique to the area. flashier, 3-piece or 2-piece, long dress suits with fashion buttons - all kinds that can be worn year round. Also offered is the popular Stacy Adams line of shoes and accessories. New to his business is a line of women’s wear. They are mostly 3-piece and 4-piece outfits with lots of embellishments. The brands offered are by Donna wants to look and feel good in a nice quality suit without paying the price of a high end retail or specialty store like M ario’s or Saks Fifth Avenue," Grant explained. The majority of his customers are African Americans and those between the ages of 28 V incci, Benmark and Lisa Renee. Acting as a fashion consultant for this new line of w om en’s clothing is to 38-years-old. The clothes sold to men are characteristically because after its completion, he expects more walk-in G rant's wife Nai. Since the MAX line construction began, business has slowed down. This hasn’t gotten Grant down traffic to his store. dl (In Dartnership with POVA) We Support Minority Business Ask about our connection referral program.
