MOMENT WITH A MANAGER: Matching workers and employers
York Daily Record, March 29, 2004

Name: Ann Gdovin-Hake
Age: 44
Education: Extensive corporate training through personnel agency Adia; numerous management seminars; Presidents' Club seminars through Sandler Training Institute
Title: President and CEO
Company: Gdovin Personnel
What do you do? I manage operations for a staffing company that matches job seekers with temporary or permanent positions in York and Central Pennsylvania. A big part of my job is ensuring that the job seeker ends up in the right position and the employer gets the right applicant. We do that by using a highly personalized approach and by keeping our business tightly focused on a few sectors: medical, clerical and light industrial.
What do you think are the keys to success? In my business, three keys come to mind. First, you've got to understand people not only an applicant's skills, but also his or her distinct personality and how they may perform in a particular position. The second key is honesty. We've managed to develop long-term relationships in the business community because we take a direct, honest approach with both job seekers and with employers. The third key: Always look ahead. We work hard to understand the area labor market and business community.
Name some of your key successes: One key success resulted from looking ahead and reacting decisively to changes in the market. In 2000, Gdovin established a program to serve to the area's health-care employers. This wasn't easy; it took a complete reorientation and a rigorous new process for reviewing applicants to ensure that they were not only qualified, but also suited to the particular demands of the field. We've grown this segment of our business from zero in 2000 to more than half of revenue for 2003. A more recent success was the overhaul of our Web site, www.gdovin.com, which now offers far more information and online service to our clients and job seekers.
Who were your mentors? Ed Staub of Staub & Associates was instrumental in helping me clearly define my business and establish my philosophy for doing business. He reinforced my belief that you don't have to follow the crowd; in fact, it's better for business if you don't.
Can you name a turning point in your career? First, in the early 1990s, I was fortunate enough to manage a metropolitan personnel agency owned by Adia, a large, multinational corporation. This forward-thinking organization taught me how to grow a business by focusing personally on individual job seekers. Adia's quality-oriented philosophy helped me succeed after my second major turning point, establishing Gdovin Personnel Inc. in 1996.
Who are your family members? My husband, Kevin; three sons James, JJ and Jonathan; and stepdaughter, Kelly.
What management books would you recommend? And why those? "High Five" by Ken Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles explains the importance of building a team environment. "The E-Myth" series by Michael Gerber focuses on small business and how to establish and maintain a variety of systems required for success.
Do you read any national business publications? I read Entrepreneur for Women and numerous trade publications.
Is there anything else you would like to add? Everyone in the business community should realize that the job market will continue to operate in a state of upheaval for the next several years. Technology, major generational shifts and a host of other forces dictate that job seekers must continually upgrade their skills, and employers must seek new ways to find and retain qualified workers.