30-Year Global Recruitment Professional Transitions to Business Ownership With Patrice & Associates

Laura Moore has had an incredibly successful career in corporate recruiting, having overseen the placement of about 100,000 candidates during her time in the industry. Now, she is bringing her extensive knowledge of the oil and gas industry to her own Patrice & Associates franchise.

Serving the Houston area, Moore is working with clients in the restaurant industry — one of Patrice & Associates’ key focuses — as she also begins to build relationships with prospective clients in the oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries. While recruitment in an agency model is a new venture for her, Moore says she is excited to grow in the space as she works diligently to build a meaningful business and team.

Moore took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Moore: I have an interesting story. I started as a pharmaceutical chemist and worked in labs right out of college. I liked the people, but I didn’t love the lab environment, so I decided to continue my education with an MBA. I was hired at Pfizer as a human resources representative when the business was really booming, and I was really attracted to the recruiting side of things. 

I then went on to work with several big names in the oil and gas industry and a waste company. Recently, when my former company restructured my team , I decided it would be the perfect time to start something on my own. In my career, I’ve led the recruitment of an estimated 100,000 people, so Patrice & Associates seemed like the perfect fit for me to get into business.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Moore: I knew that a franchise would offer me more support than starting something on my own. I am in a phase of life where I want to manage my own day and invest in myself while also benefiting my community, and this was a great fit.

Agency recruitment is much different than in-house work, so I continue to try to develop myself and business relationships.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Moore: I love Patrice & Associates’ values, I’m confident in the business model and I know they have good advice for me. 

As technology advances, the recruiting industry is constantly changing, and I can see where the industry is going — and where Patrice & Associates is going — in my day-to-day work. In the late ‘90s, candidates were still using paper resumes and mailing them in. Now we have artificial intelligence. Some think AI will take over the industry, and I don’t think that’s true. You’ll always need human intervention to evaluate candidates and advise both hiring managers and candidates, but technology can help. It’s an exciting time for our industry right now.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Moore: I want to be a premier agency recruiting firm  and further familiarize myself with the restaurant industry. Once I have this foundation, I’d love to build a team of recruiters who place restaurant, pharmacy, waste management, and oil and gas employees. Having a small team and a diversified portfolio would set me up well to step back from the day-to-day operations of the business in the next few years and begin to think about what is next in my future. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Moore: My story of starting as a chemist and eventually growing to be a global director of recruiting before owning my own business is one that I think more people need to know. I found my way. A lot of young people in particular might not be starting where they want to be right now, but they will figure it out and find the next stage of their journeys, just as I have mine.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Moore: Make sure you talk to other franchise owners from different parts of the country. I did a good job of meeting with people throughout the U.S. , asking the tough questions and this equipped me to make a more informed decision.

ABOUT PATRICE & ASSOCIATES

Patrice & Associates is a recruiting franchise that helps thousands of managerial and executive level candidates every year find rewarding jobs in the hospitality industry and beyond. With strong brand recognition, a flexible business model and a growing footprint, Patrice & Associates has established itself as a leading franchise opportunity in the staffing industry.

Today, with over 175 units in the U.S. and Canada, Patrice & Associates is the largest hospitality executive search firm in the country.