Berks & Beyond Blog

Chamber of Commerce Holds Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania Staffing Firm

The Greater Carlisle Chamber of Commerce recently helped Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. to formally open their new branch in Carlisle’s Historic Business District by holding a ribbon cutting ceremony. Berks and Beyond was officially welcomed to Carlisle by Chamber President Michelle Crowley and Perry Heath, the Chamber’s Director of Business Development.

The new branch, located at 300 South Hanover Street, was a necessary move for Berks and Beyond. The staffing and placement firm, which currently serves much of Southern and Central Pennsylvania, needed a larger office to keep pace with the rapid growth they have experienced in the area. The Historic District, with its Colonial and Victorian era architecture and storied history, provides an attractive, exciting and central location from where they can expand their service area.

“It’s been great to see the support from the Carlisle community for our new office,” said Chris Garner, President and CEO of Berks and Beyond. ”From Careerlink, the Chamber of Commerce, our existing customers and our recruiting partners, there has been an overwhelming level of support for us to open this office. We are anxious to return the favor by bringing our top level customer service to the area.”

Mr. Garner, Ms. Crowley and Mr. Heath were joined at the ribbon-cutting by Ed Kauffman, the Carlisle branch manager, as well as the rest of the Carlisle office staff.

“I’m very excited about this opportunity to establish Berks & Beyond as an integral part of the Carlisle community,” said Mr. Kauffman. “At this new office, we’ll strive to achieve the same goals of service and quality that our president, Chris Garner, has established throughout our entire corporation.”

While Berks & Beyond currently provides staffing solutions to employers throughout much of Central and Southern Pennsylvania, the new location will further broaden the company’s service area to include the following towns and cities:  Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Middlesex, Mount Holly, Boiling Springs, Shippensburg and Newburg.

Diane McDonnell Promoted to Management Role in Well-Established York Market

Wyomissing, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to name Diane McDonnell as Branch Manager of their York office.   In her new role, McDonnell will manage sales, customer service and day-to-day activities for the branch.  Additionally, she will ensure that Berks and Beyond sends out only the highest quality employees with the experience, skills and work ethic to consistently exceed clients’ expectations.

While McDonnell is relatively new to the company, her determination and management skills propelled her to the top of Berks and Beyond’s candidate list.  “Diane has worked with Berks & Beyond for a short period, but in that time she has demonstrated a great desire to go the extra mile for each of our clients and employees,” says Chris Garner, President of Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc.  “We considered outside applicants for this position, but felt that there was nobody better qualified to represent our company than Diane.  I am looking forward to having her continue to build a strong team in one of our longest-standing markets.”

McDonnell is excited about the opportunity to manage and grow the York branch.  “I look forward to developing new client relationships and building on the existing ones,” she says.  “The staffing industry is fast paced and continually presents new challenges.  I am thrilled to begin working in my new role, meeting the dynamic needs of both our clients and employees.”

Outside of the office, McDonnell attends school full-time, working towards completing her B.S. in accounting.  She is actively involved in her children’s sports and can often be found at the local baseball fields during the spring and fall.  In her spare time, she enjoys reading, working on her home and caring for her family’s pets.

Allentown Office Beats Out Seven-Time Winner for Coveted Morning Call Award

Allentown, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that their Allentown, Pennsylvania branch was named a winner of the Morning Call’s annual Readers’ Choice contest.  The staffing and placement firm, which currently serves much of Southern and Central Pennsylvania, won in the Services/Employment Services category – and caused a bit of an uproar by beating the previous seven-time winner.

Katie Barker, Branch Manager for the Allentown office, says that both staff and customers are responsible for the victory.  “I would like to thank all of our customers who voted.  It really means a lot to be voted the best at what you do each and every day,” says Barker.  “All of our staff members here at Berks & Beyond are amazing.  Your team is only as strong as the weakest link, and I’m proud to say we do not have a weak link on our team.”

Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond, is overwhelmed by the level of enthusiasm his employees displayed to earn this award.  “Our staff at the Allentown branch went above and beyond all of our expectations in recruiting votes,” states Garner.  “We are extremely proud of what they’ve accomplished and are already looking forward to defending our title next year.”

Winners of the annual Readers’ Choice contest were chosen based on the number of community members’ votes they received from Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and surrounding areas.  Votes were cast through ballots in the Morning Call and on themorningcall.com in July and August of 2011.

Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. Relocates Carlisle Office to Accommodate Rapid Growth

Carlisle, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the relocation of their Carlisle, Pennsylvania branch.

The staffing and placement firm, which currently serves much of Southern and Central Pennsylvania, is moving its Carlisle office to keep pace with the rapid growth they have experienced since opening just eight months ago.  Located in the Historic District, the new Carlisle location will provide greater visibility and much-needed room to grow.

Although relocating so soon after opening was not Berks & Beyond’s original plan, President Chris Garner couldn’t be more pleased with the turn of events.  “The support that our clients in the Carlisle area have shown us has been tremendous,” states Garner.  “In return, we are renewing our commitment to this market by expanding our staff and office space.  The new Carlisle office will help us supply our valued customers with the quality of employees they have come to expect from Berks & Beyond.”

Berks & Beyond’s new Carlisle branch will open after the Labor Day weekend at 300 South Hanover Street, Carlisle, Pennsylvania 17013.  The larger facility will create two new full-time positions and will continue to provide clerical, industrial, managerial and technical staff for temporary, temp-to-perm and direct placement.

While Berks & Beyond currently provides staffing solutions to employers throughout much of Central and Southern Pennsylvania, the new location will further broaden the company’s service area to include the following towns and cities:  Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, Middlesex, Mount Holly, Boiling Springs, Shippensburg and Newburg.

Edwin Kauffman Promoted to Management Role in Expansion Location

Wyomissing, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to name Edwin Kauffman as Branch Manager of their Carlisle office.   In his new role, Kauffman will manage sales, customer service and day-to-day activities for the recently opened expansion branch.  Additionally, he will ensure that Berks and Beyond sends out only the highest quality employees with the experience, skills and work ethic to consistently exceed clients’ expectations.

“Ed has proven to be a great asset to our team, rising very quickly through the ranks at Berks and Beyond,” says Chris Garner, President of Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc.  “His passion for staffing and strong work ethic will help our newest branch grow to become the leading staffing service in our newest market.”

The Carlisle branch, which opened earlier this year, is the seventh location for the leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania staffing firm.  Located at 1 Alexandra Court, Carlisle, PA 17015, the branch is part of Berks and Beyond’s strategic plan to open offices where their clients are located – to recruit the best candidates locally and deliver superior customer service.

When interviewed, Kauffman humbly stated, “I’d like to thank Chris Garner and Berks and Beyond Inc. for giving me the opportunity to prove myself as an asset to a company that values and rewards hard work and dedication.”

Outside of the office, Kauffman plays bass guitar in a band, listens to music and enjoys going to see shows.  He spends most of his free time kayaking, camping, fishing, hunting and participating in other outdoor activities.

At Berks & Beyond, we prefer not to boast about ourselves – we like our clients to do it for us!

We were recently named to Inavero’s 2011 Best of Staffing™ Client List for the second straight year, due in large part to the positive ratings our valued clients gave us.  Today, I’d like to share a few of their comments:

“Berks and Beyond has always provided top notch personnel to help me when I needed them.  They follow-up on their people to be sure that I am satisfied with their performance.  In short, they care!”

–Janet Weiss, Barta

“Your organization provided Boscov’s with exceptional service.  Most importantly, your company and anyone we had contact with provided above average communication, outstanding service and exceptional follow through on any questions or concerns we may have had.  The caliber of individuals provided was better than previous years and as already stated, customer service was what I would consider well above the industry norm.”

–Bob Goonan, Corporate Director of Logistics, Boscov’s Department Store, LLC

“Experience with Berks & Beyond Onsite Coordinator Penny has been very positive.  Recruitment of Quality Employees as well as execution of training contribute to lower than typical turnover (even during low unemployment times).”

–Noel Haeckler, Godiva Chocolatier Inc.

“All the employees that I have used from Berks have been great.  They are knowledgeable, prescreened, and ready to work.  Thank you.  I will continue to use them on a daily basis!  From a cost perspective, I don’t have to worry about budgeting for insurance or work comp issues.  Berks takes care of it all.”

“B & B has consistently provided us with the type of employee that we are looking for.  They are able to fill our orders promptly and with good quality people.  They are always willing to go the extra mile.”

It’s true.  The Best Employers in Berks County (and beyond) Use Berks & Beyond!

Please contact us with your upcoming staffing needs and put us to the test.

Leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania Staffing Firm Number Five on Greater Reading Top Businesses List

Wyomissing, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that they were ranked fifth on this year’s Greater Reading Top Businesses list.  This latest honor comes on the heels of several other recent marks of distinction for the leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania staffing service, including being named to Inavero’s 2011 Best of Staffing™ Client List, as well as the 2010 Berks Top Employers list.

Making the top five, let alone the Top 50, is a source of great pride for Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond.  “It’s an honor to be recognized as one of Reading’s top businesses.  We don’t get a lot of ‘thank yous’ in this business, but we go to bed at night knowing that we make a difference in our community.”

The success of this year’s Top 50 is great news for the local economy, proving that businesses of all sizes, and across all industries, have been able to sustain themselves throughout years of tremendous economic upheaval.  Garner spoke to this point when interviewed.  “Berks and Beyond’s success reflects a strong local economy, because we do business primarily with local companies,” stated Garner.  “If they’re doing well, we do well.”

To make the Greater Reading Top Businesses list, companies had to nominate themselves or be nominated, and agree to supply revenue figures, which had to be at least $1 million yearly, for 2008 through 2010.  They had to have headquarters in the Greater Reading area, and those not based in Berks County had to be members of the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry.  To create the list, co-sponsor KPMG used a formula that took into account actual dollar increases and percentage increases during the three-year period, giving the most recent years more weight.  For more information on the Greater Reading Top Business Awards, contact Kristin Boyd at the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry, at 610.376.6776.

Leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania Staffing Firm Now Offers Health Care, Direct Deposit and More to Field Employees

Wyomissing, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that they now offer benefits, including health insurance, to their temporary employees.  The leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania staffing service is holding open enrollment now through June 2, 2011, for their comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Special low group rates
• Single and family coverage
• Dental and Vision options
• Coverage for doctors’ visits
• Inpatient benefits
• No pre-existing condition limitations (no health questions asked)
• No waiting period

Interested employees should contact their Branch Managers.

But that’s only part of the story.  Many of Berks & Beyond’s employees work shifts that make banking difficult.  To simplify things, Berks & Beyond is now also providing Direct Deposit service.  This will help ensure field employees are paid in a timely manner and allow them to access their earnings before most major holidays.

So why is Berks & Beyond going beyond the call of duty for their employees?  “Simply put, it’s a win-win for everyone involved,” said Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond Staffing Services, Inc.  “A large part of today’s temporary workforce is comprised of former full-time employees who lost jobs during the recession.  Offering benefits to these people affords them peace of mind during what can be a difficult transitional period.  On the flip side, benefits are a perk that helps Berks & Beyond attract the best and brightest talent for our clients.”

Leading Central and Southern Pennsylvania Staffing Firm Makes Inavero’s 2011 Best of Staffing™ List Again

Wyomissing, PA –Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce that they’ve been named to Inavero’s 2011 Best of Staffing™ Client List for the second straight year.  Best of Staffing™, presented in partnership with CareerBuilder, is the nation’s only satisfaction award that recognizes exceptional client service within the staffing industry.  Throughout North America, more than 26,000 staffing firm clients rated their satisfaction with their provider relationships.  When the dust settled, less than 1% of staffing firms were named to the 2011 Best of Staffing Client List.

Once again, Berks and Beyond made the cut.

“We take a lot of pride in knowing that our hard work is appreciated by our clients,” said Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond Staffing Services, Inc.  “Being recognized by our customers as one of the best staffing companies in the country, two years in a row, is one of the biggest honors we can ask for.”  Never content to rest on his laurels, Garner added, “Every year, we strive to improve our procedures to increase our level of service and hope that we continue to exceed our customers’ expectations.”

Staffing firms competing to make the Best of Staffing List underwent a rigorous client survey process followed by careful analysis of responses to determine satisfaction levels.  Berks and Beyond received satisfaction ratings of 9 or 10 (out of 10) from 63.1% of their clients – nearly double the staffing industry average of 33%.

“These are exciting times as the staffing industry is helping lead the way to renewed economic vitality,” said Eric Gregg, Inavero’s Founder and CEO.  “It has been estimated that staffing firms have helped to fill at least one quarter of the 93,000 new jobs opening up each month in North America over the past year. Along with the increase in demand for talented job candidates, companies engaging with staffing firms expect impeccable service more than they ever have.  It is our hope that businesses searching for a staffing partner use the Best of Staffing List as a guide to firms that have truly outperformed the industry for the service that they provide.”

Inavero’s complete Best of Staffing list can be viewed at www.bestofstaffing.com.  For more information about Inavero, visit www.inavero.com.   To learn more about Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc., visit www.berksandbeyond.com.

Carlisle, PA – Berks and Beyond Employment Services, Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of their seventh office in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

As one of the largest locally-owned employment services in the area, Berks & Beyond is no stranger to growth.  In addition to opening a hugely successful Harrisburg office last year, the leading Central and Eastern Pennsylvania staffing firm was also named to the 2010 Top 25 Berks Employers list for the first time, coming in at number 16.

Opening an office in Carlisle, a rapidly growing area, was their next logical step.  “This expansion fits our business model of opening offices where our clients are located,” states Chris Garner, President of Berks & Beyond.  “Being close to our customers, and being able to continually recruit candidates from the surrounding area, helps us fuel success for everyone involved – our clients, our candidates and ourselves.

“At Berks & Beyond, we partner with clients and become extensions of their HR departments by dedicating staff and resources to their individual needs.  The new Carlisle office allows us to keep within our scope of serving Central and Eastern Pennsylvania, while delivering more responsive service to companies in the new territory.”

Berks & Beyond’s seventh location is located at 1 Alexandra Court, Carlisle, PA 17015; phone 717.243.4431.  The Carlisle office has already created two new full-time positions and, like the existing offices, provides clerical, industrial, managerial and technical staff for temporary, temp-to-perm and direct placement.

While Berks & Beyond currently provides staffing solutions to employers throughout much of Central and Southern Pennsylvania, the Carlisle office will broaden the company’s service area to include the following towns and cities:  Carlisle, Chambersburg, Mechanicsburg, Mount Holly Springs, Newville and Shippensburg.