ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN STAFFING SUCCESS MAGAZINE (Jan–Feb 2007)
By Jennifer Butsch
“Terry Adderley grew up in this industry, and over the past 50 years has played a key role in growing our association and industry. It’s been his life. It’s been his passion. And we have all been the beneficiaries.”
With those words, Jeff Burnett, president and chief executive officer of Labor Finders International, introduced Terence E. Adderley, recipient of the 2006 staffing industry Leadership Hall of Fame Award. The award was presented to Adderley, chairman of the board of directors of Kelly Services Inc., during the opening ceremony of Staffing World 2006 in Las Vegas in November.
The award was created in 1985 to recognize outstanding individual contributions made through dedicated service to ASA and the staffing industry. Since that time, 33 distinguished leaders have received the honor.
“The award was intended to help build and document the history of the staffing industry by recognizing the individuals who helped shape that history. It is a testament to their contributions and provides context and inspiration to future generations of men and women who might choose a career in the staffing industry,” says ASA president and chief executive officer Richard Wahlquist.
At the Forefront
Adderley’s tenure at Kelly began in 1958 when he joined the company as manager of the Louisville, KY, office. Holding nearly every position in the company, he worked his way to the top and became chairman in 1998. With Adderley at the helm, Kelly has received many awards for its commitment to providing work force opportunities for women, minorities, and the disabled. In 2005, the company was named an AARP Best Employer for Workers Over 50.
“Terry Adderley has been one of the most influential forces in the staffing industry for more than 40 years. As a founder of the Institute of Temporary Services, ASA’s forerunner, and member of the ASA board of directors from 1970 to 2005, Terry helped build and shape this association, and has consistently been at the forefront of efforts to protect and advance industry interests,” says Wahlquist.
In introducing Adderley at the convention, Burnett, an ASA past chairman, remarked, “As you might imagine, he had a lot on his plate. But as was the case with others who have won this very prestigious award, he was never too busy to get involved and support his industry.”
Receiving the award, Adderley said, “It is still exciting, and gratifying, for me to wake up every morning and go to work in the staffing business. This is an industry that we can be proud of.”
History Lesson
“Every day, America’s staffing companies employ three million people. We help thousands of our customers work more efficiently. And our employees gain valuable skills and work experience on their assignments. It is hard to believe, therefore, that the staffing industry was almost stopped dead in its tracks 40 years ago,” Adderley said. He then told the convention audience the story of how the American Staffing Association came to be.
In the early years of staffing—the 1940s and 1950s—federal and state governments were still trying to figure out how to best regulate the industry. Reacting to abuses caused by a few unethical operators in the business, state governments began to classify temporary service companies as employment agencies—businesses that were heavily regulated because widespread abuse was prevalent in that industry.
Concerned that this approach could put staffing companies out of business or significantly limit their growth, Kelly Services, Manpower, and other staffing firms worked to eliminate these laws and regulations throughout the 1950s and into the mid-1960s.
Creating Community
As the industry grew and legislative burdens continued, the staffing companies decided that creating and working through a national association would be more effective than working on their own. “So representatives from Kelly, Manpower, Olsten, and nine smaller companies met and formed the Institute of Temporary Services,” recalled Adderley.
This small group of volunteer leaders established a community committed to creating jobs and opportunities for the people it places and enhancing productivity and efficiency for the clients it serves.
Said Adderley, “Working through the association, we were able to eliminate state laws and regulations” that had improperly classified staffing companies as employment agencies.
The association also established a code of ethics and created training programs to educate staffing professionals on the basics of the business and on the ethical conduct that was expected from member companies.
In 1970, ITS changed its name to the National Association of Temporary Services. In 1994, the name was changed to the National Association of Temporary and Staffing Services to better reflect the full scope of services offered by member companies. In 1999, the association changed its name to the American Staffing Association.
Keep Up the Good Fight
Adderley noted that the specific issues the industry faces will continue to change over time. Current issues include affordable health care and the hiring of undocumented workers by some employers.
Just as in the past when the unlawful actions of a few caused the staffing industry to be misclassified and threatened its growth, he emphasized, so too can today’s intentional disregard of immigration laws by a few have serious repercussions for the many ethical staffing companies that strive to comply with the law.
Adderley warned, “Each of our companies will need to look carefully at current hiring practices to ensure that we comply faithfully with the law.”
He continued, “There are also a number of governmental policy areas whose broad impact on the economy, and on staffing companies, will require our attention as well. We need to encourage our elected officials to design government programs and policies that meet the needs of today’s and tomorrow’s work force.”
A Good Year
Noting that 2006 marks both the 40th anniversary of the American Staffing Association and the 60th anniversary of Kelly Services, Adderley declared that “2006 has been a good year, a challenging year.”
He continued, “As some of you know, early in 2006, I experienced a medical emergency. However, with good luck, good medical care, and frankly, by the grace of God, I have made a full and complete recovery. So with great gratitude, on behalf of my family, and everyone at Kelly Services, I am delighted to receive the 2006 industry leader award.”
To a man who cannot be held back, the staffing industry salutes Terence E. Adderley.
Leadership Hall of Fame
The staffing industry Leadership Hall of Fame Award was created in 1985 to recognize outstanding individual contributions made through dedicated service to ASA and the staffing industry. Since that time, the honor has been bestowed on 33 distinguished. The Pioneer Award is given to individuals who contributed to the industry prior to the establishment of ASA in 1966. Awards have been presented to the following recipients.
1985
Peter D. Durham, Durham Staffing Inc.
Richard P. Essey, the TemPositions Group of Cos.
The late William Olsten, Olsten Corp.
The late Cedric Richner, Kelly Services
James D. Scheinfeld, Manpower Inc.
Helga Tarver, TeleSec Staffing Services
1986
The late Ted K. Cobb, TOPS* Total Personnel Services
John J. Husic Jr., Olsten of Hartford
William R. Kelly, Kelly Services
The late Aaron Scheinfeld, Manpower Inc.
Elmer L. Winter, Manpower Inc.
1987
John W. Nugent, Flexi-Force Temporary Services
The late David J. Nugent, D.J. Nugent Co.
1988
The late Willis C. Bullard Sr., Kelly Services
1989
Charles J. Sigrist, Stivers Staffing Services
1990
Sharon N. Bredeson, Staff-Plus Inc.
The late Samuel L. Workman, Workman Services
1991
Barry B. Wright, AVTek Staffing Services
1992
Allan C. Sorensen, Interim Services Inc.
1993
Howard W. Scott Jr., parTime Inc.
1994
Lawrence E. Derito, Office Specialists
1995
Margo Berk-Levine, Temporarily Yours Staffing Services
1996
Frank Ligouri, Olsten Corp.
1997
Jaci Carroll, Jaci Carroll Staffing Services Inc.
1998
Salvatore A. Balsamo, TAC Worldwide Cos.
1999
Richard Reinhold, SOS Staffing Services
2000
JoAnn Wagner, SOS Staffing Services
2001
Mitchell Fromstein, Manpower Inc.
2002
John Smith, Spherion Corp.
2003
Karla Hertzog, Innovative Employee Solutions
2004
Eileen Lesberg, World Wide Facilities Inc.
2005
Joel Biller, Manpower Inc.
2006
Terence E. Adderley, Kelly Services Inc.
