Jake Durkee is Outsource’s National Sales Manager and celebrates his five-year anniversary with the company this month. A native of Phoenix, Jake initially moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film production where he worked on major productions, including Sean Penn’s Into The Wild, Greenberg (starring Ben Stiller), and J.J. Abrams’ Super 8.

“Working in film was great, but it wasn’t steady and I had to supplement my income working as a valet. After a couple of years, I wanted to focus on a more solid career.”

Jake landed a position working inside sales for an IT consulting firm where he worked for a year and a half before being referred to Outsource by a friend who was working in the Phoenix office. “I was interviewing for a position as a Recruiter, but when John (Lowell) heard that I had inside sales experience, he gave me the opportunity to be the first dedicated Inside Sales Representative in the company.”

Jake ran with the opportunity and was also exposed to the Recruiting side of Outsource. “Recruitment is such a big part of the company that John wanted me to get a feel for that side of the business.” With a more complete picture of Outsource in place, he was promoted and became the first pure Business Development Manager in the company, a position originally called a “Hunter.”

Jake focused his efforts in California while also spending six months in Austin growing the company’s business in Texas. In December 2014, he was promoted to National Sales Manager where he is responsible for overseeing Outsource account managers across the country, growing and developing underdeveloped markets, as well as maintaining and developing key clients nationwide.

During Jake’s tenure, the company’s market presence has grown at an annual rate of 30%. He says, “Outsource gave me the opportunity to grow within the company and dedicate my passion for building relationships and developing business. I’m fortunate to be able to do this every day I come to work.”

He adds, “The foundation of the company has grown and many people will be hitting the five–year milestone this year. They’ve developed into mid- and upper-level managers and helped the company become what it is today because we all believe in Outsource.”

Jake says he’s seen Outsource develop a reputation in the industry as a company known for providing a high level of service to its clients. “People recognize Outsource. They know they’re getting a service-based partner and that they’ll be treated well when they work with Outsource. It’s part of our identity.”

Outsource CEO John Lowell spoke about Jake’s role in the company: “Jake is one of the most important players on our team at Outsource. He is pretty much constantly on the road helping new teams bring in sales. The energy he brings into our offices across the country is invaluable and he always has a positive attitude, which makes him one of the most likable humans you could ever meet.”

When asked about the secret to his success, Jake says, “If you want to be successful at Outsource, you need a lot of energy and be driven to succeed. You need to care about your job, understand the potential of what Outsource can become, and believe in what we are trying to accomplish. If you’re driven, believe in the company, and have a high work ethic, you’re going to be successful at Outsource. It’s that simple.”

When he’s not in the office, Jake likes to spend time outdoors, playing golf, going to hear live music, hanging out with his girlfriend, his dog, and following professional sports.