Headhunters For The Trades
Permanent
From Daycare to Residential Rehab
Feb 8th
Craig Kingsbury came to us back in June on a referral from our cleaning lady! He came in looking for a position in carpentry and was willing to start as a helper to prove himself.
He’s had a variety of positions the last two years including being a maintenance carpenter for a children’s home. He said they broke almost everything almost every day and he was the guy that had to fix it. His fun personality and eagerness to continue to work in his trade field made Kim want to hurry up and find this guy a position fast! We sent him to Enviro-Care for an interview, and he started almost immediately. They, too, fell in love with his charming personality and great work ethics.
Everyone who comes into contact with him just loves to take the time chat with him. Craig is fun, friendly, happy guy who has learned lots and proved himself.
From all of us here at CPGworks, congratulations on going perm!
Permanent Concrete Shoes
Feb 5th
Kim met John Weigand in June. He had been referred to us through a contact in Arcade. John came off as a shy, quiet young man but, eventually, his personality won Kim – and all of us – over.
He began in concrete and wanted to continued in that trade. In the meanwhile he started the paper work and took the physical for the Army National Guard and passed all the tests with flying colors: at the present time he is on their waiting list.
John’s experience in concrete – residential and commercial – in driveways and basements made Kim think he was the prefect fit for Jack Lawrence Concrete Company. After a while, what had started off as a summer position soon turned into all parties wanting to make it a full-time permanent placement. Jack and John both waiting patiently till his hours were up. Jack kept John working even while others were being laid off! That’s how good he is: a hard worker with a good work ethic, his eagerness to keep learning helped make this happen.
Good job, John! Best of luck from all of us at CPGworks!
Three years later..
Dec 14th
I placed a call to Jason T. He was one of the first guys who I referred to a company that ended up going permanent. A mutual friend referred Jason to CPGworks. Jason and I had a meeting wherein we decided what was important to him in a job. We talked about things he absolutely had to have and other things that were not quite so important. Classic Window & Doors was looking for someone who could do inventory, place orders, customer service, load, unload and work some weekends. I asked Jason to step in and give it a shot. He went in with the attitude of making this job his to grab. He impressed all those around him so much that after three years he is still there! He enjoys going to work every day, and they appreciate him so much that they are even keeping him busy during the off season.
Jason told me that he is getting married in May 2010 and feels he found a place where he feels good at the end of the day.
Are you someone who we worked with in the past? Please drop us a line. We’d love to hear how your doing.
Myeisha Wesson – A Success Story
Sep 1st
This short story is about Myeisha Wesson who was placed through CPGworks. It says it all and exemplifies the type of people that your company could employ and put to work…
From the moment I met Myeisha, I knew she was one tough cookie. Tiny as she is, I knew she was strong, both physically and mentally. She had made some bad decisions in the past and learned from them well. All she wants to do now is take care of her little baby and she is. I started her at Acquest as a laborer doing job site clean up. Once she got in there, immediately she was well liked. Her work ethic and willingness to do whatever was necessary became clear and instantly she became an asset that Acquest didn’t want to lose. When things got slow and other skilled workers were getting laid off, they were finding work for Myeisha just so they didn’t lose her. After demonstrating her abilities and willingness to do the tough jobs, Acquest recommended her to one of their tenant companies, and they are bringing her on perm. They are going to teach her how to be a welder and a pipe bender with a 50% pay increase and are paying for her to get a college degree from MCC. Keep kickin butt Myeisha…..
~Chris Kirchbaum, Rochester Recruiter
The Aussi Story…. Kangaroo Jack
Jul 3rd
This story just surfaced from our Rochester office. It bears witness to the fact that CPGworks places people from all over the world, even Aussi’s!
Being a native Chicagoan, when I met James McMahon, I had to say “Wow, Jim McMahon!”
I was quickly corrected. He is not from Chicago, but Australia, NOT an American football fan, and says a “Jim” is where you go to work out. James is the name.
I still try, and though James is a happy, always laughing Aussie, “Jim” is just not allowed.
He interviewed easily, great attitude, and started the next day at Acquest Rochester. He was instantly nicknamed, Kangaroo Jack.
He is a great drywall hanger, and an easy guy to move around…doesn’t mind filling in here and there…always happy.
He has told me several times how much he loves going to work. “It’s like a family…a big, messy family of guys”, he says.
He’s planning a big summer barbecue at his house just for his “family”.
Nicknames are a big part of this family, and with a flattering invite to the barbecue, I even got one.
Carin Ash
Rochester District Manager
CPGworks
Uhhh … a pig and a cell phone.. what’s that got to do with placing people?
Jun 23rd
A short anecdote from our Rochester Office:
Jimmy Crespo came in to my office to re-interview. He had already interviewed with one of our staff some months ago, but I was looking to put together a crew of metal-stud framers for Acquest.
He was friendly and funny, and apologetic that his cellphone was almost continually ringing. He got 11 calls, and answered none during the interview. After about the
3rd, he explained that he was selling his daughter’s pig, and a ton of people were obviously interested.
“So, you live on a farm?”
“Oh, no”, he said, “in the city.”
“Um…then what’s with the pig?”
“Yeah…well, she’s a teenager, you know, and she was saving up her money to get some really expensive cellphone. I told her it was crazy, and she was wasting her money. So the next day she comes to me and says that I was right, she didn’t need any $300 phone. But she wanted a pig. She’d seen that they’re smart and this one kind stays really really tiny.”
“So, you bought her a pig?”
“No, SHE bought the pig, but after 3 months, she’s over it, and that’s why my cell phone won’t stop ringing.”
“People want the pig?”
“Everyone wants the pig.”
He started working that week at Acquest. I didn’t hear too much about Jimmy -whose nickname I will not mention- until a few months later. Kirt (From Acquest) called and said that they want him to stay on permanently. Jimmy is steady, reliable, a great framer, and gets along easily with everyone. I think he’ll make a great crew leader for them before too long…
Blain Lay Goes Permanent at Empire Building Diagnostics
Jun 9th
The following article is written by kim Tatoian, CPGworks Recruiter from the Springville office…
Funny story about Blain Lay. I met him by accident at the end of October 2008. He showed up with his friend whom I was going to re-interview in our Springville office. As I was chatting with our guy,I turned to Blain and said, “hey, what are you up too?”. Very shy and quietly he said, “nothing-looking for a job, but I have to work local until I get my car on the road”. I gave him an application and told him, “I may have a local spot in Gowanda coming up in Mid November”. Blain stayed and filled out the application and we got to know each other a bit.
Blain is a very shy, very quiet, very reserved guy, but also very concerned that his past mistakes would lead him nowhere. I let him know that I was into giving everyone second chances and let’s see what we could do. He started on the Gowanda project with Empire Building Diagnostics in November. Right away, the foreman Norb said, “he works really hard and is doing a great job, not a slacker!”. When he would come to pick up his check, he started to open up more and more. You started to see the pride in his eyes about working and putting in his time. By early February Norb called and said, “I want to give Blain a $.50 increase due to the great work.” He was very impressed with his work ethics- doing great wants to keep him on his team. He wanted to take him to buffalo. Blain came in beaming – very happy and even took the 10 hour OSHA Course here in Buffalo.
Blain is now Permanent with Empire, even though he is still payrolled with us until the season breaks back open. Keep up the great work!
Chris Caros go PERMANENT!
May 22nd
Chris Caros & Empire Building Diagnostics
Chris came to CPGworks as a referral from a friend of a friend- funny how that works…. anyway… he was looking to make a clean break and fresh start- “Just give me the opportunity and I will prove to you I am someone to take a chance on” he said to me. I met Chris back in November 2008. After the interview we ended up just chatting about. He is someone who came in with your basic carpentry skills and odd jobs behind him. He learned some hard lessons along the path of life but was making the effort to change those things. I asked him about doing demo work and he was all for giving it a shot. This was his chance to show me. If you don’t show up with your basic tools and are not prepared, then don’t show up all I told him.
I sent Chris to Norb for the Empire Building Diagnostics Gowanda project. Norb, who is the foreman and a man of few words said to me, “Good worker, shows up and just works, no telling him to work, he just does.” Whenever I would speak to Norb about Chris, it is always positive feed back.
Getting to know Chris, you feel safe and comfortable. There was one time when I had a walk-in show up in my Springville office, soon after speaking with this guy, i knew something was not right, like maybe he is on something, anyway, the guy made me feel uncomfortable- yeah. Chris shows up at that instant to get his check and I ask him in private if he would stick around till the guy leaves. Well, Chris just stood there and stared this other guy down until he got up and left. Chris is someone who is always there with a smile.
By early February Norb wanted to give a .50 increase due to the great work – very impressed with his work ethics-
Chris is now Perm with Empire Building Diagnostics and will be put on their books as soon as the season opens back up. Still working on the Gowanda project and will follow them to Buffalo once that is over.
GOOD FOR YOU CHRIS- You showed everyone you meant business!
Kim Tatoian
CPGworks Recruiter
Springville NY
Ken Paul goes Permanent with…
May 12th
Ken found CPGworks through a Financial firm that he was using who knew of our services and recommended us to assist him to find a new job. In fact, when Ken walked through our doors, it was only an hour after A.F. Wholesale Insulation had called us for someone for a driver/warehouse position.
Ken really likes being a driver and working in the warehouse field, so with that being said… he let me know where he see’s himself going and what he was willing to do to get there. He knew he might have to start at the bottom but as long as he could see a future he didn’t mind starting there. This shy quiet fellow really opened up and let me know what his expectations were and his willingness to get there. He struck me as your all round, hard working, eager to get started type of guy. You just knew that he would show up, work hard and feel good at the end of day.
I arranged an interview for that afternoon. I told Russ, “Look, if this interview doesn’t pan-out, I will find you someone else, but,I am very confident you will love this guy.” He said, “Ok, let’s give it a shot.” Russ met Ken, and as soon as Ken left the building, Russ called and said,”Stop the search” we have our guy in Ken. He is starting on Monday.” Ken gave his final notice to the company he was with (which was closing down that operation within days) and he started several days later. Every time I call on Ken or Russ to see how its going, they all sound happy and content. Working between 45-50 hours a week with more to come in overtime come summer.
As of this week, he surpassed his hours and is officially going to start permanent at A.F.Wholesale on Monday. He will get his raise, health benefits, vacation & holiday pay. As Russ said about Ken, ” He is a keeper.” Great job Ken!
Russ said to me regarding the placement, “I will definitely be back and lets keep in touch, you did great with Ken and I will use you again.” YEA everyone is HAPPY!
I want to make a side comment to all this….. we work as a team…. its nice that we can do that and not be so cut throat….. Real referred Ken to me and I was able to place him at Jeremy’s client company…. this was real team work!!!!!!!
Kim Tatoian
Springville Office
Chris Baker goes Permanent!
Apr 17th
I met Chris when he first came to CPGworks back in May 2008. He came in with a smile and very well prepared. At first glance, you would think he is in sales…. and you know what…. that was his career before he decided to switch trades. With having have some experience with drywall hanging and finishing, trim, tape, paint, wallpaper and doing ceilings. He had also done landscaping for a few companies on the books. But he wanted to do more construction, and because he had decided that since he was relocating to WNY- why not give it a shot. His relocation was due to wanting to be a full time dad to his young son.
Within the short time frame of getting to know Chris, I knew he was a rare find. Proud, reliable, dependable, and willing to show that he is more than just your “Sales Guy”. He loved working with his hands and seeing the end product. Because I believed that he would make a great employee for anyone of our clients, I set him up right away with Mark at Affordable Drainage. Within two (2) weeks Mark had this to say about Chris.
“Chris has become his right hand leader- hard working, dependable, reliable, eager. He really knows what he is doing” He started there in early June and stayed till the end of October when the season ended for Mark. Not letting the grass grow under his feet, I placed Chris with Frank at Enviro-Care. They clicked instantly. Frank said that he really liked Chris’ work ethics & great personality, along with being a great team player, and asked if he could he would buy him out early and put on his books, and that he was a good catch, worth having on his team. ”
Well, Chris completed his hours and he his now going on the books as PERMANENT with Enviro-Care. Not only is Enviro-Care happy, but so is Chris. He feels like he found his new “home”.
You cant always judge a book by its cover…. Salesman turned into a Remodeling career…. WAY TO GO CHRIS!
Kim Tatoian
Recruiter CPGworks – Springville Office
