Express Employment Professionals

<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express Employment Professionals</a>, the full-service staffing franchise with nearly 900 units, is setting its sights on Virginia for its next wave of franchise expansion due to the state's robust business mix and thriving workforce.<h2>Virginia Is an Ideal Market</h2>Virginia had an increase of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pilotonline.com/2023/06/13/virginia-finance-secretary-assesses-state-economic-outlook-as-pretty-good-lawmakers-say-budget-talks-to-resume-soon/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">roughly 339,000</a> new jobs in May 2023 and the state’s population is currently growing by&nbsp;<a href="https://worldpopulationreview.com/states/virginia-population?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1.15%</a>. In 2022, the GDP of Virginia increased by roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/588157/virginia-gdp-growth/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450#:~:text=U.S.%20annual%20GDP%20growth%20in%20Virginia%202000%2D2022&amp;text=In%202022%2C%20the%20real%20gross,from%20the%20COVID%2D19%20pandemic." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">1.5%</a> compared to 2021, which had seen the largest growth since 2000 as the state’s economy began its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia was also recently ranked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/07/11/top-states-for-business-virginia.html?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">No. 2</a> on CNBC’s Top States for Business in 2023.&nbsp;“Virginia offers a tremendous business mix for industries where&nbsp;<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Express Employment Professionals</a> has traditionally found success, including logistics, warehousing, construction, health care, manufacturing and technology,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompsonbillf/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bill Thompson</a>, Senior Franchise Director at Express. “The state's strong workforce and business-friendly climate, coupled with investments in economic development, make Virginia ripe with opportunity for franchise owners.”One of the franchise owners who has experienced success in the region is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garry-norris-b1b33911?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Garry Norris</a>, for example, who owns two Express offices in Roanoke and New River Valley, VA. Prior to franchising, Norris had an illustrious corporate career, moving up through management and executive positions in companies like IBM and Kodak. After years in the corporate world, Norris decided to take control of his own future.&nbsp;"I was tired of having to move all over the world, and I decided I wanted to buy a business that was already operating, one that would already be profitable but not a start-up," Norris said. "Since I was already in the people business of managing and firing thousands of employees at the time, it was ironic I would end up in the recruiting industry. The bottom line is that Express outshined the competition through their support system and the business model they have.”Since taking over the franchise back in 2008, Norris has continued to scale, solidifying his business in the top 8% of the system.&nbsp;Overall, Norris's success story in Virginia underscores the potential of the Express franchise in the state. "The experience of owning this business in Virginia has been absolutely positive,” he said. “This is an area of the country where people buy from people they like and people they know and this is a relationship-based business, not a transactional business. As a result, we are able to establish long-term relationships with people here and continue to grow the business.”<h2>Plentiful Territory Availability</h2>Currently, there are 12 existing Express Employment Professionals locations within Virginia, including Danville-Martinsville, Lynchburg, Midlothian, Norfolk and Stafford. Each office, on average, places 600 job seekers a year in jobs with local businesses, contributing significantly to the local economy.&nbsp;Now, Express is looking to leverage the state's business-friendly environment and strong workforce to expand rapidly. The overall market capacity in Virginia consists of 17 total territories. The brand projects the potential to open 2-3 new locations within one year, 3-6 within three years and further expansion in the following years.The Express team has identified several specific markets primed for growth in Virginia, including Danville-Martinsville, Lynchburg, Midlothian and Stafford.&nbsp;<h2>Appealing Franchise Owner Incentives</h2>To attract new owners in these areas, while also celebrating the brand’s 40th anniversary, Express Employment Professionals is&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/express-employment-professionals-completely-eliminates-franchise-fee-for-qualified-candidates-in-target-markets-rapidly-closing-out-in-demand-available-territories-across-the-us-on-its-path-to-900-units-2721296#stories">completely waiving its $40,000 franchise fee</a> in select markets.“We feel that Express should really be in these areas,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-gunderson-17323618/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=5-reasons-to-invest-in-an-express-employment-professionals-franchise-in-virginia-2723450" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Gunderson</a>, Senior Franchising Director. “We've identified these open territories as a real opportunity for us, so we’ve created these very appealing incentive programs to help us reach our goal of 900 offices systemwide.”&nbsp;Outside of those territories, Express also has what it calls a cashback incentive for any other new territory. The franchise owner has an opportunity to receive back $25,000 of their $40,000 franchise fee as a cash back incentive if they reach a benchmark level of success within six months, something the brand refers to as Fast Track.&nbsp;The total investment necessary to begin the operation of an Express Employment Professionals franchise in Virginia will vary, but the absence of a franchise fee in several territories makes it an attractive opportunity.<h2>In-Depth Franchise Owner Support</h2>Prospective Express franchise owners in Virginia can be confident they will have&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/how-express-employment-professionals-established-itself-as-one-of-the-most-sought-after-franchise-opportunities-in-the-recession-resistant-staffing-industry-2721292#featured">everything they need</a> to be successful. One unique support feature is that Express handles payroll funding for franchise owners. Essentially working as a back-office administrator, processing invoices and other important paperwork for clients, the brand allows franchise owners to spend their time building relationships with local businesses in their community and doing what they do best.Additionally, the brand offers a franchise support center from its Oklahoma City based International Headquarters, as well as a wealth of leadership training programs and conferences such as the Express Leadership Academy and regional owner meetings. Franchise owners also benefit from marketing strategy support and the Express Franchise Owner community.With this support, Express franchise owners&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/how-franchise-owners-with-no-industry-experience-see-financial-success-with-express-employment-professionals-2722675#featured">do not need a background in staffing</a>. About 95% of current owners have no previous staffing experience. Franchise owners at Express can be successful if they are ready to lead a team, willing to make sales calls and have a strong passion for helping others find success. Owners should also have strong leadership skills, clear communication, motivation, extroverted personalities and be comfortable making cold calls and building relationships.&nbsp;<h2>A Meaningful Franchise Opportunity</h2>The ideal Express Employment Professionals franchise owner could be a single-unit or multi-unit owner, as long as they understand the importance of the brand's community-driven culture. Whether they’re helping a small business owner who doesn’t know how to move forward with finding employees, or someone who just got laid off and doesn’t know where to turn, Express franchise owners are there to serve.“We look for people who want to make a difference in their community,” said Gunderson. “We want to help people find jobs and help companies find people. We're looking for owners who are going to be involved and not be distracted by other businesses — we're looking for a fully involved owner, not a semi-absentee.”Looking ahead, Express Employment Professionals remains focused on delivering exceptional service, expanding its reach and solidifying its position as a leading staffing franchise with the aim of reaching the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/express-employment-professionals-sees-remarkable-growth-hits-8-consecutive-quarters-of-1-billion-revenue-2722977#trending">900-unit mark</a> by the end of the year.The initial investment ranges from $100,000 to $220,000 to open an Express single traditional model, with a franchise fee of $40,000. For territories open more than 24 months, average sales in 2022 were $6,497,275. For territories open more than 60 months, average sales in 2022 were $7,7194,784. First-year offices averaged $1,080,407 annual sales according to Item 19 in the Franchise Disclosure Document. This statement is for information purposes only and is not intended as an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to buy, a franchise.To find out more information on the costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info</a>&nbsp;

5 Reasons to Invest in an Express Employment Professionals Franchise in Virginia

1851 Franchise

The industry-leading staffing franchise has identified room to add 17 new territories in cities like Danville-Martinsville, Lynchburg, Midlothian and Stafford.

This brand page has been paid for by EXPRESS EMPLOYMENT PROFESSIONALS. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

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Fast Track Incentive Lets Franchisees Earn Back Fees Fast

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Express Employment Professionals Adds 38 New Owners in Growth Year

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Betting on His Community: How Zak Kraehmer Built a Thriving Express Employment Professionals Franchise in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

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Express Employment Professionals Targets Kentucky for Franchise Development, With Demand From Production and Logistics Boom

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As employers continue to navigate a tight labor market and growing workforce uncertainty,&nbsp;<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/">Express Employment Professionals</a> is targeting St. Cloud, Minnesota, as a market with the right mix of business demand, community connectivity and long-term staffing needs.For&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express</a>, the opportunity in St. Cloud is rooted in more than the area’s labor needs. The market gives a franchise owner access to a connected business community where employers are already thinking carefully about how to recruit, retain and manage talent.“St. Cloud is an attractive market for staffing companies,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/thompsonbillf/">Bill Thompson</a>, Senior Director of Franchising for Express. “It contains a good mix of health care, manufacturing, trades, transportation, education and logistics. This creates recurring hiring needs across office services, light industrial and skilled roles, which is what we focus on a great deal. It also serves as a hub for central Minnesota, giving employers access to local talent. From an Express perspective, that aligns well with our staffing model because we can support businesses with flexible workforce solutions while helping job seekers connect to stable, in-demand opportunities.”That combination makes St. Cloud especially compelling at a time when employers are trying to hire in a more cautious and competitive environment. Companies still need talent, but many are also looking for ways to stay flexible as they evaluate payroll, demand and economic conditions.<h2>A Business Community Built for Relationship-Driven Staffing</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/glennstarfield/">Glenn Starfield</a>, an Express franchise owner and Vice President of the company’s Central Zone, the St. Cloud opportunity is personal. He attended St. Cloud State University, began his professional career in the market and still sees many of the same business relationships that shaped the area decades ago.“I’ve got a real soft spot in my heart for that market,” Starfield said. “It’s where I started my professional career. I was a student at St. Cloud State and got an opportunity back in 1996 in an internship with Northwestern Mutual. That was a great internship experience, and it led to a full-time career.”That history gives Starfield a clear view of how the market works. St. Cloud is large enough to support a broad employer base, but connected enough that a franchise owner can become visible in the business community quickly. For a staffing business, that matters.“St. Cloud has such a thriving business community,” Starfield said. “I had an opportunity to attend one of their chamber events a few years back, and I still recognized people who owned businesses from when I worked there in the late ’90s. There had to be over 200 people attending a luncheon. For anybody thinking about owning a franchise where there are business-to-business sales, employment is certainly right up there among the things that keep business owners up at night. What we do is in pretty high demand, and you have this thriving business community where there is such a need.”The local nature of the market also creates an advantage for an owner willing to be active in the community. In Starfield’s view, St. Cloud gives a franchise owner the chance to build visibility in because of the connectedness of the market.“What I love about that market is that people live and work in that surrounding area,” Starfield said. “When you’re out in the community or you go to a chamber event, you’re seeing the customers you’re serving. There is one Greater St. Cloud chamber. There are probably two Rotary clubs, one morning club and one noon club. You can get very visible and really be a big fish in a little pond, even though it’s not that little of a pond. It’s a big community, but that’s what I think would be really appealing if I were looking at getting into the St. Cloud market.”<h2>The Right Owner Does Not Need a Staffing Background</h2>While staffing is a specialized business, Express is not looking only for candidates who already know the industry. The company’s ideal franchise owner is a strong business leader who can sell, build relationships, grow a team and care deeply about both employers and job seekers.Thompson said the staffing industry rewards franchise owners who are comfortable with business development and team leadership, especially in a competitive market where both clients and talent have to be recruited consistently.“We are looking for a strong business leader who is not averse to selling,” Thompson said. “It is a competitive industry, so it’s important for our franchise owners to continue to aggressively grow their client count while also aggressively recruiting quality talent. They need to be able to grow and inspire a team. Someone who has strong sales management experience is definitely a plus. However, it’s important for people to know that you do not have to have a staffing background to do this. We are totally equipped and designed to take someone with zero staffing experience and give them every tool they need to be successful.”That balance is familiar to Starfield, who first entered the system as a franchisee and later expanded into a leadership role supporting other owners. For him, the appeal of Express has always been that it gives owners a structured model while still requiring them to stay close to the people they serve.“What attracted me to the model that Express offers is that you have to have the heart of a social worker and the mind of an economist,” Starfield said. “You have to care for people, and not just the candidates you’re serving or the clients you’re trying to find that match for. You have to care about those two audiences, but also the people in your office and the idea of growing a team. That was appealing to me. You also have to work hard. This business can provide a great lifestyle long term, and there are opportunities to develop a team.”For franchise owners entering a market like St. Cloud, that mix of relationship-building and operational discipline is especially important. Employers are not just buying a service; they are trusting a local owner to understand their hiring needs, represent their business well and help them respond when workforce challenges shift.<h2>Support That Lets Franchise Owners Focus on the Front Office</h2>Express supports franchise owners with training, field leadership and back-office infrastructure designed to let owners spend more time building client relationships and less time managing administrative complexity.“We have a nationally recognized training program,” Thompson said. “Franchise owners receive weeks of training and six months of hand-holding, if you will, to assist them in getting acclimated. Our goal is to take care of most of the back-office functions of the business so franchise owners can focus on expanding their front office.”That includes support for areas such as workers’ compensation, unemployment, garnishments, receivables, payroll, Social Security, insurance, 401(k), legal, technology, risk management and marketing.“Whether it’s legal, technology, risk management, marketing or something else, if it is a back-office function, we want to assist in taking care of it so franchise owners can focus on selling and strengthening their teams,” Thompson said.Starfield saw the value of that support early in his own ownership journey. As a new franchise owner, he leaned on Express’ training tools, marketing resources and field support to establish credibility in the employment business.“In the early days, I was new to the employment business, so I had to think about how I was going to position myself as an expert in employment when everybody in town knew I was the new person,” Starfield said. “I used all of the tools Express offered. We have an amazing marketing department, and one of the things I leveraged that Express still offers is what we call knowledge-based campaigns.”Those resources helped Starfield get in front of local employers with information they could use, from leadership and onboarding to generational differences in the workplace. Over time, that helped him become a resource for the business community, not just a staffing provider.“I could come in and offer something almost like a training session, with video and workbooks on leadership, generations in the workplace, understanding personalities in the workplace and onboarding successfully,” Starfield said. “These were things where you could go to school and get a master’s degree in, and I was using 40 years of Express’ history to come in and be valuable. I was learning with them, but it was really insightful and helpful.”<h2>A Model That Benefits From Economic Friction</h2>Staffing demand often grows when employers face uncertainty. In strong labor markets, businesses need help finding qualified workers. During uncertain periods, they may rely more on temporary or contract staffing because they are cautious about adding full-time employees.“I think it’s the tight labor market,” Thompson said. “Also, when an economy is trying to recover, employers don’t necessarily want to hire full-time employees. They would rather have a flexible workforce model because they don’t know how to forecast payroll. There are a lot of uncertainties with everything going on in the world. It’s causing employers to hold back a little and be more cautious. When that happens, they rely more on a flexible workforce than on full-time hiring, and that plays to our advantage.”Starfield has seen the same dynamic from the franchise owner side. For him, staffing is a business that can remain relevant across different economic cycles because every period of change creates a workforce problem employers need help solving.“A lot of times, people think about a down economy, an up economy, unemployment going up or unemployment coming down,” Starfield said. “All of those periods of friction provide opportunity. It’s just how we’re selling our solution along the way.”That flexibility is part of what makes St. Cloud attractive. The market has a diverse employment base and enough local business activity to support ongoing demand, while still giving a franchise owner the chance to become deeply embedded in the community.<h2>Why Express Sees Long-Term Potential in St. Cloud</h2>Express sees St. Cloud as a market where the right owner can build a durable business by becoming a trusted workforce partner for local employers. The city’s mix of industries, regional importance and community-driven business culture align with a franchise model built around relationships, local visibility and recurring hiring needs.For Thompson, the opportunity is clear: staffing is a service businesses already need, and Express gives franchise owners the tools to serve that demand without requiring previous staffing experience.For Starfield, the appeal of St. Cloud comes from knowing the market firsthand and understanding how a local owner can build credibility there.“It’s a wonderful business that, if you work it properly, can be generational for you and your family,” Starfield said. “Being an entrepreneur isn’t easy, but if you put in the effort and you find that this is a business that fuels some level of passion, it can be generational.”As Express continues looking for the right franchise owner in St. Cloud, the company is focused on finding an owner who can combine business development, team leadership and community engagement. In a market where employers continue looking for reliable talent and workers continue searching for stable opportunities, that combination could give the next Express office a strong foundation for long-term growth.For more information on buying an Express Employment Professionals franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info</a>.

Express Employment Professionals Franchise - St. Cloud, Minnesota, Target Market - 1851 Franchise

For Express, the appeal of St. Cloud comes from more than workforce demand. The company sees an opportunity for a Franchise Owner to establish themselves as valuable resources for local employers.

Why Express Employment Professionals Is Targeting St. Cloud, Minnesota, for Growth

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<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/">Express Employment Professionals</a> is targeting Kentucky for franchise development, giving entrepreneurs the opportunity to bring staffing solutions to their local market. Leading the charge is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-winnenberg-msm-b3a5796a/">Nick Winnenberg,</a> an&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express</a> developer who sees plenty of room for growth in the state.“Kentucky is very manufacturing driven with some good logistics support depending on where you are in the area,” said Winnenberg, who also represents 22 offices in southern Ohio. “It's a good mixture of urban metros mixed with rural manufacturing and distribution hubs. My favorite thing about Kentucky is that they're very automotive adjacent. Luckily, right now it looks like we’re in a good era in that industry. I expect a lot of potential upside in the next five to 10 years from that.”Kentucky is home to&nbsp;<a href="https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/Newsroom/NewsPage/20231003_Manufacturing_Month">3,000-plus</a> manufacturing companies, and manufacturing makes up&nbsp;<a href="https://kam.us.com/10406/kentucky-ranks-fifth-in-manufacturing-as-percentage-of-gdp/">13.4% of the state’s GDP</a>. It is also the&nbsp;<a href="https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/existing_industries/Automotive?utm_source=chatgpt.com">number one producer</a> of cars, light trucks and SUVs per capita, with around&nbsp;<a href="https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/all-employees-durable-goods-motor-vehicle-manufacturing-in-kentucky-fed-data.html">24,000 workers</a> being directly employed in motor vehicle manufacturing alone. New businesses are entering the market, and pre-existing businesses that were slower in 2024 and 2025 due to automotive shutdowns are quickly picking back up.In general, Kentucky consistently ranks among the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.areadevelopment.com/Top-States-for-Doing-Business/q3-2025/2025s-top-states-for-business.shtml">top states for business</a>, reinforcing it as a great place to open an Express franchise. And the state is wide open with plenty of opportunity to be successful, no matter where you are.“All the territories that are currently open have the ability to be very good territories, reach the goals, and can be built into some very major operations,” Winnenberg said. “There are some offices that will be better for the owner who is looking for more office services, and there are others that are more manufacturing or logistics heavy, depending on what the owner wants out of that market. Regardless, we see a lot of success with people who want to be involved with their community and create a legacy long term.”<h2>Supporting New Owners in Kentucky</h2>Like all Express franchise owners, Kentucky owners can expect a lot of support from the corporate office. Starting with discovery day, franchise owners will learn a wealth of information about staffing before experiencing a two-week training on how to open their office, operate a P&amp;L and how to train and engage staff members.“As the developer, I will be on site with you for a couple of weeks just to make sure that if any emergencies arise, you have someone who's done it before and can walk you through it,” Winnenberg said. “And then it's going to be regular development through a<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/express-fast-track-incentive-franchise-owners-2731847"> Fast Track</a> program that includes weekly coaching, and that typically lasts anywhere between six months and two years.”Express is looking for owners who are actively engaged in their local markets or willing to become so. This is not a passive opportunity and franchise owners should be involved in the day-to-day operations, especially in the early days. They should want to make a positive impact on their Kentucky community.“I can train you how to staff, but I can’t train you to want success,” Winnenberg said.<h2>Why Express in Kentucky, Why Now</h2>Express is in a unique situation where the market is shifting to an employer market, versus the employee market we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic. Demand for employees is starting to shift.“There is a lot of opportunity for both the right number of job seekers and the right number of jobs,” Winnenberg said. “For the first time in over a decade, there's a balance there, and with that balance, we typically win. It doesn't feel like we have too many associates. It doesn't feel like we have too many jobs or vice versa. It's a good, healthy balance, and I see that continuing for at least the next five to 10 years.”In addition to the major production and logistics boom, these factors make now an ideal time to own an Express franchise in the Bluegrass State. With plenty of room for development, prospective owners in Kentucky should feel confident making the leap into franchise ownership with Express Employment Professionals.&nbsp;For more information on buying an Express Employment Professionals franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info.</a>&nbsp;

Express Employment Professionals Targets Kentucky for Franchise Development

The franchise sees major opportunity in the Bluegrass State due to a combination of white space, demand from manufacturing and automotive companies, and an employer-driven market.

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Express Employment Professionals' Fast Track Incentive Gives New Franchisees the Chance to Earn Back Their Franchise Fee

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Express Employment Professionals - End of Year Wrap 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Express Employment Professionals Celebrates a Year of Growth, Adding 38 New Owners to Its System 

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<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-sulentic-300187171">Greg</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-sulentic-rn-bsn-151728176/">Laura Sulentic</a> of Lincoln, Nebraska, were named as&nbsp;<a href="https://expressfranchising.com/">Express Employment Professionals’</a> 2026 Franchisees of the Year. The husband‑and‑wife team purchased their franchise in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but their history with the franchise and staffing goes back even further.&nbsp;“I've been with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment/info">Express</a> for 20 years and I’ve been in the industry for over 30 years,” Greg said. “When I came into Express, I came in as a regional developer working in what is our Rocky Mountain region from Edmonton, Canada down to New Mexico, helping franchises to get open and supporting existing franchises to grow their business.”Greg held that same role when he and Laura moved to the central United States to support offices in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa. He still holds that developer role today. During that time frame, the opportunity to purchase a franchise of their own came about.&nbsp;“It was an interesting time to place our bets and get into the franchise full-time,” Greg said.&nbsp;Although the pandemic posed unique challenges, the couple still found success. Their “go together” philosophy not only fuels their own accomplishment, but those of the franchisees they mentor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Overcoming Challenges by Focusing on People</h2>One of the biggest obstacles the Sulentics faced was not being able to bring anyone into their or their clients’ offices during the pandemic.“On top of that, I was a person who was used to going out to companies, to clients, meeting with people in person,” Greg said. “That was how we always drove business and suddenly that stopped, you couldn't do that anymore.”However, they turned that around as the pandemic eased and the franchisees saw a huge opportunity to grow their staffing business. With offices reopening, they saw that creating a more welcoming environment for candidates would be key to attracting talent, especially in an industry that often had a reputation for treating workers like part of a system rather than individuals. The Sulentics moved quickly to transform their spaces, replacing the cold, plexiglass-filled setup with a warmer, more inviting office where people would want to spend time.“That's really when we started to take off in this office,” Greg said. “There was that dark point where you thought ‘we’re going to lose all our business, we're going to lose all our candidates.’ But after that period, we very quickly hit a boom phase because companies had to come back. And they needed staff to do it.”The franchisees’ connection to the Lincoln community also plays a huge role in their success. The Sulentics live in Lincoln, and their team is made up of local Lincoln residents. They want to create an environment where everyone they work with feels like a part of their team, not just their internal team.&nbsp;“We’re very connected to this community,” Greg said. “We’re all Husker fans. We have a bunch of season tickets and we bring our clients to that, and that's a big part of the local community. We get involved with charities and nonprofits that we feel will be connected to our associate pool, as well.”<h2>Support From Express Corporate</h2>The Sulentics credit support from the team at Express Employment International&nbsp; as a champion of their success. Areas like legal, human resources, marketing and recruiting became much easier with the support of the team, especially in the early days with so much uncertainty during the pandemic.&nbsp;“We couldn't have functioned in that environment without Express headquarters,” Greg said. “They always kept us updated on navigating the unique laws at the time. They really helped us stay focused on what was important with our business and they took care of all that. They were communicating that back to us in this really great way. You didn't feel like you were alone.”&nbsp;<h2>Why the Sulentics Stood Out as Franchisees of the Year</h2>Greg believes their success and recent recognition came from continuing to focus on creating a strong, people-first experience for their associates and building meaningful relationships with them. Those associates ultimately become the brand’s best salespeople.“Our clients look at those folks and they ask them questions about us,” he said. “They see how good our people are. They compare us to our competitors and all that gives them this very favorable understanding of who Express is in the Lincoln market, who our team is. That helps us grow.”He also noted that his internal team has very little turnover. Something Greg says has to do with the fact that they feel tied to the mission of creating a great experience for the associates and getting them to work.&nbsp;“We have hundreds and hundreds of associates&nbsp;working for us right now, and our internal team that's responsible for putting those people to work really feels connected to that group and that group then feels connected to them,” he said. “That creates less turnover in our office and allows us to provide this really special service all around, and our clients and our associates love it.”For more information on buying an Express Employment Professionals franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment">https://1851franchise.com/expressemployment</a>.

Creating a welcoming environment for employees and clients even during challenging times like the pandemic is what sets Greg and Laura Sulentic apart, earning them the recognition they deserve.

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