By Brett Milam
Editor
BelFlex, a staffing firm and network, opened up its 25th branch, this one in the village of Amelia on May 3 to offer another option from their Milford location.
“This is going to be helpful for us,” Jay Clawson, the marketing manager, said. “The Milford location is one of the top in the county. Instead of driving from Adams County to Milford, you can split it with Amelia.”
Clawson said the company is trying to make a difference by getting people in the door and by putting “their heart into the community.”
Candace McCaw, the owner, was on hand for the grand opening and ribbon cutting as well.
Belflex has been a family-owned business since 1958 when her father started it.
“It’s exciting,” McCaw said. “This should be a very good area.”
Their clients, primarily within the factory and warehouse business where applicants would be placed in positions such as forklift operator, skilled machine operator, quality inspectors, packers and other positions, trust BelFlex to get good people, McCaw added.
Bob Baer, vice president, said a lot of people use the word “partner” loosely, but he said it’s true here, as BelFlex can be a good resource for them.
Those “good people” are started young: Baer and Chamber of Commerce President and CEO, Matt Van Sant, both talked about how they try to talk to and mentor students throughout the region, with mock interviews and work programs.
“You guys could spend the capital in many locations, but you’re spending it here in Clermont County; we’re grateful,” Van Sant said.
Van Sant said it’s about workforce development and long-term strategies, which started in earnest after thousands of jobs were lost in the recession during 2008 and 2009.
Baer said they also have some clients who will work with those with a felony in their background.
“We don’t have a blanket no,” he said, adding that their job is to bring people to the client.
Sam Foster, a recruiter at the new Amelia location, said it’s untapped out here.
“Every day is different,” Foster said. “This is the first job I’ve had that I enjoy. I really look hard to find that person’s that’s going to stick.”
Foster said she works with mothers to get them jobs closer to home as well, saying there is a better chance of them staying if it works out that way.
The temps, as they are called, that come to be placed in a job, can do their resumes on computers stationed in the lobby, and as Foster said, they went fully mobile earlier in the year to streamline the process.
“There’s a lot of opportunities, but it’s about finding good candidates,” Foster said.