Because of her remarkable success in the Chicago market, Smita Abraham is the latest high achieving and exceptionally dedicated member of the Outsource team to be profiled in our Employee Spotlight.

Smita attended Grand Valley State University where she held the position of President of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and graduated with a degree in Occupational Safety and Health Management. She joined Outsource in November 2012, working as a Recruiter. By utilizing the communication, leadership, and management skills she developed in college, Smita quickly advanced into her current role as National Account and Branch Operations Manager.

Smita says she accepted the position because “Outsource is a growing company. I knew it was a good opportunity and that I would have a chance to make an impact.” Since joining the Chicago office, she has led the growth of the integration business, helped establish Outsource as a player in the Midwest, and now handles some of the company’s most important national accounts.

When asked about working at Outsource, Smita says, “The people you work with make all the difference. I’m very fortunate to work with amazing people in Chicago and to have such strong support from corporate and upper management. Shawn (Dale) and Steve (Ebenhack) have been excellent mentors and they guide me in the right direction.” She added, “The people at Outsource try to recognize your strengths so that you can best utilize your talents. They put the best people in the right position to succeed.”

According to Smita, the primary keys to success at Outsource are “Hard work, a competitive spirit, and the ability to multitask. Priorities are constantly changing so you have to stay on top of things. You have to be accountable to your clients and be available to them, no matter what, and always remember that you are the face of the company. It’s very rewarding when you work hard to line things up and everything comes together perfectly for a client.”

She adds, “I think the biggest win for me personally, has been creating an amazingly talented team that is both hardworking and resilient. They are capable of making such an impact in this market and I can’t wait to see what they will accomplish. We have a rather difficult market with some unique challenges, but they have been able to stay competitive and provide our clients with the best service possible.”

Outside of the office, Smita enjoys living on Lake Michigan, where she likes to spend time at the beach, kayaking, and playing with her new puppy.

Outsource continues to thrive as the leading staffing company dedicated exclusively to the wired services industry. We are seeing record sales, tremendous growth, and some of the largest training classes in the history of the company. As a result, Outsource is pleased to announce the expansion and relocation of three of our largest offices: Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and our Corporate Headquarters in Los Angeles.

The Washington D.C. office is now located in Tyson’s Corner, VA, one of the areas leading commercial centers and headquarters to major corporations. We are 30 minutes closer to D.C. and more centrally located to our customers in the region.

It features a conference room, kitchen, two private offices, and a separate fax/printing area, with recruiting and account management each having a unique section dedicated to its business. The office is newly renovated and there is a café, restaurant, and gym located in the building. It is also conveniently located near a variety of restaurants, prime shopping, and the Metro subway line.

The Atlanta office is tripling in size. It is located in the Concourse Corporate Center, one of Atlanta’s iconic business landmarks, directly in the heart of Central Perimeter at I-285 and GA-400. The Concourse campus includes essential and luxurious amenities like a Westin Hotel, Concourse Athletic Club, KinderCare, concierge services, an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, and easy access to restaurants, banking, and shopping.

It is directly accessible from anywhere in the region and also offers a dedicated shuttle to the nearby Perimeter MARTA station for easy access to Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.

The Outsource Corporate office, located in Los Angeles, will occupy a suite on the 11th floor of the award winning, twelve story, Grand Avenue Courtyard building. The office design features open workstations, glass walls, polished concrete floors, glass doors, and sidelights. It will incorporate Outsource’s distinctive blue and green color palette, modern furniture, paintings by Los Angeles-based artist Ryan Graeff, and a contemporary aesthetic that will extend to all Outsource offices as we continue to expand.

COO Lance Shiring says, “It’s easy to overlook how one’s work environment impacts attitude and productivity. Typically, it doesn’t resonate until the décor is changed, furniture is updated, or an actual office move occurs. I can say without a doubt that we needed such a change for the Corporate office and we’re very excited to be able to move everyone into a beautiful new space. The design, just like that of the new D.C. and Atlanta offices, results in bright workspaces that are clean, uncluttered, and modern. We look forward to incorporating this modern style into our other branches and establishing a unique Outsource aesthetic that everyone recognizes, no matter which office you visit.”

Outsource continues our monthly Employee Spotlight series by profiling a high achieving and exceptionally dedicated member of the Outsource team. Because of his remarkable success in the Houston and Los Angeles markets, we are proud to select Blaine Monteau for our May profile.

Blaine is a native of Texas who grew up in Houston and San Antonio. In August of 2011, he started as a Recruiter in the Houston office immediately following graduation from Texas A&M University, where he obtained a degree in Leadership and Human Development. After 14 months, he was promoted to Inside Sales before moving into Business Development. Blaine moved to the Los Angeles office two months ago as an Account Manager and brings a competitive fire and winning attitude, proving to be an integral part of a dynamic team that works together toward a common goal of market dominance.

Blaine says, “Working at Outsource is a great opportunity for anyone. The service we provide really sells itself, but with excellent communication and extra effort, one can really succeed in the business. The key is to make yourself available to clients 24-7.”

He also recognizes the importance of the support provide by a tight network of colleagues: “Teamwork is ingrained in the culture at Outsource. No one is able to achieve successful all on his or her own. You are only as good as the people around you. Everyone here works extremely hard and we get along really well as a team. It’s a combination that breeds success.”

When Blaine isn’t covering the Los Angeles market, he likes following Houston’s professional sports teams like the Astros, Texans, and Rockets. He is quickly picking up the game of golf and spends a lot of time exploring his new home. He says, “I like to socialize, so it’s been easy to meet new people in L.A. Everyone here is outgoing, active, and there are so many things to do. I love it.”

When asked what it takes to have a successful career at Outsource, Blaine recommends that you ”make yourself available to clients and really commit to the industry. Whether you are in recruiting or sales, build a network. This will help you move up in the company.”

Like Google, AIG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and many of the world’s leading companies, Outsource understands the benefit of rewarding its top performers. Each year, the company holds its annual rewards trip. This year the trip was in Cancun, Mexico at the exclusive Hyatt Zilara, which serves as a stunning backdrop for everyone to relax, unwind, and reflect on their accomplishments.

The company recently completed this year’s trip and it proved, yet again, to be a blast. Some of the special highlights included a private dinner on the beach for the entire Outsource group and even a marriage proposal from one of our Seattle team members.

New hires to Outsource have to meet a certain criteria to qualify for the trip, but for the high performing team members who do, it’s a great chance to meet mentors, corporate leaders, and learn what the company and the culture are all about.

Jenny Zhao, who is Dallas’ Regional Director of Operations, has been on the trip many times and looks forward to it every year. She says, “You’re in a place where everyone there cares about their job and what they do. You know you’re going to see the same, top people every year. It’s like the annual Outsource family reunion.”

There are plenty of things to do while you’re in Cancun: you can go on excursions to the ancient ruins of Tulum, explore the town of Cancun, or you can just relax at the resort and enjoy the beach, pool, and other amenities. However, if you really want to step up your game, take a page out of Michael Lippert’s playbook.

Michael is an Account Manager and the pioneer who started the Seattle office. This was his third trip to Cancun and each year he brings his girlfriend, Beth, as his guest. This year, he took full advantage of the beautiful, romantic setting by proposing to her. It was a surprise to everyone and we wish Michael and Beth a wonderful future together!

Another Outsource ‘first’ was a private dinner on the beach for all those who attended which included over 100 people. 2014 proved to be a banner year for the company, and CEO John Lowell took the opportunity to mark the occasion by hosting the special event.

“I love the yearly trip to Cancun,” John said. “It gives me a chance to see everyone in a very relaxing setting where I can truly thank them for all that they do for the company. I’m very proud of these people and honored that they have chosen to pursue their career with Outsource.”

The Cancun trip is not only a way to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous year, but, with the leading team members of Outsource in a relaxed environment exchanging ideas and planning for the upcoming year, it also helps to ensure the company will continue to prosper. Lance Shiring, Chief Operating Officer, perhaps best sums up the entire experience:

“On the surface, our Cancun trip is meant to recognize our highest performing sales and recruiting associates for their contribution in Outsource’s continued success.  But I also like to think of it as a great way to get our top performers across the U.S. all in one place that is far from the hustle and bustle, so they can bond with old friends or build new relationships with peers from other markets.  The best part for me was being able to spend quality time with people who lead by example in a setting that doesn’t involve a pressed suit (unless you have a waterproof one) or conference calls.”

Congratulations to all of those who qualified for this year’s trip and we look forward to seeing old friends and new faces when we do it again next year!