PrideStaff Fresno Field Associate Larry Padgett Named National Temporary Employee of the Year

February 22, 2021

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As a testament to his hard work, kindness and indomitable spirit, PrideStaff, a national, franchised staffing organization, is pleased to name Larry Padgett as their National Temporary Employee of the Year. Presented at PrideStaff’s Annual Conference, which was conducted virtually this year, the award was given to the most outstanding field associate working on assignment through the PrideStaff Fresno office between August 1, 2019 and July 31, 2020.

Larry faced more challenges than most in his job search. His leg was amputated due to extensive radiation therapy after a fight with bone cancer, and he also lost a finger in a previous work-related accident. Although he was motivated and eager to work, he struggled to find an employer willing to take a chance on him. After applying with PrideStaff, however, Larry’s recruiter learned about his abilities and put him to work in several warehouse and assembly assignments. Larry quickly developed a great reputation as an upbeat, reliable field associate who always performed to the best of his abilities. Ultimately, Larry’s job performance and personal qualities helped him secure a full-time, direct role with one of PrideStaff’s clients.

“When I met Larry, he was just weeks away from being evicted and homeless; as a double amputee, he faced multiple barriers to employment in an intensely competitive job market,” said Sean Akin, Owner/Strategic-Partner of PrideStaff Fresno. “We recognized Larry’s untapped potential and saw him for what he really was: A hard-working individual with solid job skills and a great attitude. All he needed was a chance.”

“During my 10 years in staffing, I have never met someone as kind and positive as Larry,” continued Akin. “He never missed a single day of work while on assignment with our clients, and we were thrilled when one offered him a full-time, direct role in their warehouse. His manager told me, ‘Never have I been around someone so positive and uplifting as Larry. After working for just a few weeks with us, I knew this was someone we had to have, and never has he let me down since. He makes the others around him better and never has any excuses. I look forward to working with Larry for years to come’.”

When interviewed, Larry expressed his gratitude for the team at PrideStaff. “I feel very fortunate to have found PrideStaff, and my treatment from them has been, in my opinion, princely,” he said. “You know, one of the reasons I apply myself as I do is to make sure that PrideStaff never has cause to regret recommending me to client companies…they’ve made me feel good and found work for me when I really needed it.” On the job and off, Larry never lets his physical impairments hold him back. He pursues his passion for being a competitive distance runner, runs a small arrow-making business and has authored a book called Day of the Drifter, which is a copyrighted novel in the Library of Congress.

“Larry often mentions how grateful he is for the Fresno team and how they ‘saved his life,’ but he’s changed ours for the better, too,” said PrideStaff Co-CEO, Tammi Heaton. “By maintaining a positive outlook, giving his best effort on each assignment and embodying PrideStaff’s values while on the job, Larry has proven to be a real asset whose attitude and work ethic have yielded great results for our client. It’s my honor to present such a remarkable individual with this award; he’s a true inspiration and a shining example of how hard work, a winning attitude and the right staffing partner create lasting success for all parties in the employment equation.”

By investing in client and talent experience, PrideStaff has become the only staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing® Client and Talent Diamond Awards for eight consecutive years. This is an achievement earned by fewer than .1% of all staffing firms, placing PrideStaff in a truly elite group of companies that lead the industry in satisfaction.

For more information about PrideStaff Fresno, please contact Sean Akin at 559.432.2022.

About PrideStaff
PrideStaff was founded in the 1970s as 100% company-owned units and began staffing franchising in 1995. They operate over 80 offices in North America to serve over 5,000 clients and are headquartered in Fresno, CA. With over 40 years in the staffing business, PrideStaff offers the resources and expertise of a national firm with the spirit, dedication and personal service of smaller, entrepreneurial firms. PrideStaff is the only nationwide, commercial staffing firm in the U.S. and Canada with over $100 million in annual revenue to earn ClearlyRated’s prestigious Best of Staffing Diamond Award eight years in a row highlighting exceptional client and talent service quality.

For more information on our services or for staffing franchise information, visit our website.