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
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by
tries.
what percentage of applicants there are getting
jobs, her gut feeling is that those who follow her
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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
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