When Ryan Festerling began his position as president and CEO at QPS Employment Group, it was important to him to learn all facets of the business. For the first 90 days, he visited each branch office and learned how to process the paperwork, perform drug screens and background checks and other administrative tasks. He also met with employees on every level to learn their roles.
“Those actions helped him immediately build trust and a rapport with the internal staff,” said his colleagues. “Because Ryan learned and understood employees’ job duties, he has been able to make informed decisions that impact both the team and the organization as a whole.”
Festerling was also instrumental in the growth of the firm by creating a board of directors to bring diverse leadership perspectives together and transforming the company to be 100 percent employee owned.
QPS Employment Group is a full-service employment firm specializing in industrial, skilled trades, office/clerical and professional settings. The mission is to help companies find the talent they need and pair job seekers with their perfect positions.
In his role as CEO, it’s evident that Festerling has a passion for storytelling and using real-life examples to help clients understand the labor market. “By providing real-time employment data, we can help our customers make better hiring decisions, which in turn can lead to cost savings for their companies,” he said. “Now, more than ever, our focus is on enhancing the experience of our job seekers, clients and internal employees.”
When he joined the firm, Festerling was faced with navigating the business through the economic shutdown. He had to navigate supply chain disruptions, remote work transitions and economic uncertainties. “During this time, Ryan’s leadership was instrumental in steering the company through the crisis,” said his staff. “His message was clear: Our company was going to use the time to improve processes, refine and focus on our goals, take care of each other and really foster a culture of collaboration.”
Former CEO Dan McNulty said that it’s Festerling’s drive that has pivoted the company to continuing success. “Ryan has a drive for building cohesive teams and empowering passionate individuals, which he balances with a track record of utilizing technology to enhance the candidate experience and improve overall efficiency,” said McNulty.
Under his leadership, the company has made a state goal to double the company in the next five years through acquisitions and organic growth. “While the labor market is in arguably one of the most challenging times in history, Ryan continues to lead the QPS team forward,” said his staff.
For embracing challenges and fostering cultural change, Festerling has been named a Titan 100.
