TEAM Staffing Solutions named Small Business of the Year

TEAM Staffing Solutions was named Small Business of the Year by the Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber Alliance during a small-business luncheon at the Mt. Pleasant Country Club on Friday, May 3.

TEAM Staffings was one of five finalists for Small Business of the Year, beating out the competition with their dedicated efforts to connect workers in need of employment and companies in need of employees.

Blake Radel, owner of TEAM Staffing Solutions, said that their win reinforces their belief that they are doing something right in Mt. Pleasant.

'I just want to thank everybody,” Radel said as she accepted the award. 'I started this business in a recession. I billed 304 hours that first week. A few months in had a meltdown and called my mother, but I stuck it out and made Mt. Pleasant my home. I very much enjoy this community.”

Small Business of the Year is chosen by an anonymous out-of-state panel of professionals who understand what it means to run a small business, said Kristi Ray, executive vice president of the Chamber. Finalists then submit answers to three questions: Why did you decide to open your business?; Tell us about your community involvement; and What sets you apart from other businesses in your community?

The panel had never seen someone pour their heart and soul into their application like Radel did, Ray said. One judge asked how they could get up to 4,000 hours booked some weeks with all the office participating in 26 groups and charities combined.

'They don't just donate money, they put their feet on the ground and give their talents,” Ray said. 'Last week, Sen. Joni Ernst was in town and announced that there are 65,000 vacant jobs in Iowa. Team Staffing has one of the hardest jobs in our community right now - trying to fill our many available positions when we have a 2.4 percent unemployment rate.”

TEAM Staffing Solutions was founded in Muscatine in 1996 as an employment agency. A branch opened in Mt. Pleasant in 2005. Radel became branch manager in 2008, and shortly thereafter made the brave decision to purchase the branch and become a small-business owner in 2009 during a recession. Today, she remains the only branch manager in TEAM Staffing to have purchased a branch office.

Amanda Sanders, with TEAM Staffing Solutions, said that Mt. Pleasant does a really good job of supporting all the local businesses. Being a finalist and ultimately the Small Business of the Year was an exciting opportunity to be recognized and celebrate with other small businesses.

'It's a big affirmation of our efforts,” Sanders said.

Radel said that the most satisfying part of her job is helping people find employment and better their lives. In Radel's application, one of her clients, Scott Slater, with Innovairre, said that Radel's knowledge of available workforce and her relentless drive to exceed expectations has proved successful at his company.

TEAM Staffing also received the award of Best Happy Hour for serving jello shots during their ribbon cutting.

'They were the perfect ending to this week,” Ray said.

Other finalists for Small Business of the Year were Paul Revere's Pizza, Becker's Jewelery, Betty Mullen, an independent sales director with Mary Kay, and STAATS Awards. Ray awarded them each with awards based off what she learned about them during small business week.

Paul Revere's Pizza received the Best Food Award. 'Who doesn't love dessert pizza and beer at 3 o'clock in the afternoon?” Ray said about their ribbon cutting on April 29.

Paul Revere's has been in Mt. Pleasant for over 25 years. When Nathan Quint, owner, purchased the business, there were three employees, business was slow and sales were at an all-time low, Ray said.

'Nathan put in the time and energy to restore the staple that was once a driving force in our community and he has accomplished this goal,” Ray said. 'Nathan believes buying Paul Revere's was one of the best decisions of his life.”

Quint said it was an honor to be a finalist.

'Knowing you're giving back in the form of jobs and to be able to volunteer and donate and continue to do what we do so we're able to give back is what it's all about,” Quint said.

Betty Mullen received Best Support from Family and Friends Award. 'If the fire marshal had been (at her ribbon cutting), we would have been in big trouble. If you could have seen how many people she got into one building downtown,” Ray said.

Mullen searched for many years for a makeup product that would meet her needs before turning to Mary Kay. She not only loved the product, she loved the philosophy of the company of God first, family second and career third. Mullen has been with Mary Kay for 37 years.

Mullen said there was lots of excitement to be a part of small business week as the first home-base business to be nominated for small business of the year. The independent sales director with Mary Kay was nominated by one of her clients.

'It was such an honor to be nominated by one of my customers,” Mullen said. 'It's good for people in the community to see a home-base business as sustainable.”

Becker's received Best Sales Job award. Ray said that some Chamber Ambassadors who went to Becker's for their ribbon cutting came out with jewels.

'I even came out with a wish list for an engagement ring and I'm not even getting married,” Ray said with a laugh.

Bill Becker opened a small watch shop in 1946 and worked alongside his parents. Since then, he has turned it into the jewelry store people know today and is the oldest business in downtown Mt. Pleasant.

'It was a natural evolution for the love he had for his parents and his community,” Ray said.

STAATS received Best Show of Your Own Product. Their entire staff were models during their ribbon cutting, Ray said. 'They had STAATS everywhere you can imagine,” she said.

STAATS opened in 1898 as a manufacturing company and remains the oldest manufacturing company still active in downtown Mt. Pleasant. Today, the business is operated by all women.

'They are built on awarding and celebrating successes in life, making for a fun environment and workplace culture,” Ray said.

Krystal Bass, with STAATS, said their office has really enjoyed getting to fellowship with the other small businesses during small business week.

'It rejuvenates excitement about our community, and we have their support and we support them,” Bass said.