Welcome to Champion!

History: The company was founded in Downtown Cleveland in 1964 by Ralph A. Schepens, CPC (Certified Personnel Consultant) as a full-service permanent placement “agency”. Ralph and family came from Chicago where he had been the Vice President of General Employment Enterprises, a publicly traded organization.

Champion began on a very large scale having 40-50 placement specialists under one roof, making thousands of matches every year.

The early success of Champion allowed Ralph to have the time and fueled his passion for becoming intimately involved in the industry’s professional trade associations. To that end he served as president of the Cleveland, State of Ohio, and National Professional Trade Associations of Personnel Services, was a lifetime board member and as the years passed the most awarded and recognized contributor to the Personnel Profession… ever.

In the late 60’s Ralph wrote the first “Code of Ethics” for the National Association of Personnel Services that was also adopted by most state trade associations, one that is still in use today and is the basis for every action at Champion.

In 1995 the company was purchased by his son Robert A. Schepens, CPC. Robert had over 20 years of experience in Executive Search, Corporate Outplacement, Corporate Human Resources, Retainer Search and Corporate Sales and Marketing outside of the staffing profession. He had also been the president of the Cleveland and State of Ohio staffing services trade associations.

1995 began the transition of an industry leader into an industry trend setting company.

In 1995 Champion’s business was 95% permanent placement in office services and 5% temporary office services. The company had one office.

Champion was the first service (1995) to establish a true website, with online employment application, career advice, hiring advice and salary guides.

Today, Champion is 95% Flexible Staffing (Interim to Direct, Interim, Hybrid, bundled and unbundled) and 5% specialty Direct Hire in all areas of employment.

Our market is 60% “traditional blue collar” (not day-labor), skilled technical services, warehousing and pink or “no-collar” positions and 40% white collar/skilled/ professional level/ administrative hiring.

The company has 5 offices and is planning our expansion to 10 in NE Ohio.

During this award-winning metamorphosis the company achieved or has been recognized/awarded for the following:

ISO 9001:2000 Certification for all our offices. (Less than 5% of all staffing firms in the world have achieved this)
The Weatherhead 100 Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies in NE Ohio. Multiple Year Winner.
Level II Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Certified by Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation. We are the only Level II Staffing Service in Ohio. Level II involves education and random drug testing.
Celebrating Success NE Ohio Business Award.
A rich in-house safety, OSHA and WC claims program.
A true in-house training system, live and in-house produced DVD’s.
True 24/7 Customer Service.
A complete “Menu” of staffing services unequalled in the area.
Unique internal communications tools.
Award-Nominated Interior Design for our Corporate Offices.
An unmatched and ever-expanding Employee Benefits Program, including health and wellness and hybrid programs.
An unmatched Inter-Office Teamwork Process.
A lofty employee retention and length of service track record.

In 2006 we moved our corporate headquarters from downtown Cleveland to a stunning 11,000 square foot facility in Garfield Heights just off I-480 at Granger Road. This allowed Champion to add needed professionals to our corporate accounting and administration staff, open an in-house fitness facility, a corporate training and conference center and to make room for a “cousin” company/Internet start up company (not owned by Champion).

After many years of planned internal rebirth, the company is now firmly staged for increased creative and solid growth, continued fine-tuning of service delivery mechanisms and market expansion. Much of our change has been the result of pre-determining market changes, proactive process improvements and jettisoning areas of business that did not lend to a solid core business portfolio.

The company has grown and achieved dramatic, award-winning change. But some things will never change: Our absolute commitment to ethical staffing and customer satisfaction as the result, our drive to continually seek ways to enhance the careers and lives of our staff and their families and to devise new and more effective delivery methods for our clients.

In our history, we have worked with over 6,000 NE Ohio hiring companies, filled over 2,500,000 interim assignments, filled over 60,000 direct hire assignments and have placed more than 4 generations of NE Ohioans. No other staffing service located in NE Ohio has that depth of track record. No One.

Our Markets:

Champion provides screened, interested and drug-tested qualified personnel above “day labor” and below Mid Executive level in 13 counties of “North East Ohio”, to all sizes of companies from the Fortune 500 to one-person operations.

The most common types of positions filled are Office Personnel, Machine Operations, Skilled Factory Technicians, Electronics, Technical, Warehouse, Supervisory Personnel, White Collar, Service Technicians, Administration, Accounting/ Financial, Administrative/Office Support, Call Center, Customer Service, and General Labor. Our Direct Hire and Contract Hire specialty services provide qualified candidates in literally any discipline for positions ranging in the $40K to $120K areas We are known specialists in the Financial, Engineering, Technical and Management arenas.

Our profession is known as “Staffing”. And although we are in the “employment” business, we are not “headhunters” (executive search), nor are we just a “temporary staffing” service. We are a Hybrid of most Talent Delivery systems with which you may be familiar.

In 2007, Champion implemented an in-house research study on “Future Markets” for NE Ohio/ Champion where we are studying the change in job markets for our region in concert with Keep The Brains Here-Keep The Jobs Here and North East Ohio Yes! media channels of A Job Near Home Inc. The result of this research will tell Champion what markets and what delivery systems we will focus on in the coming years.

Our Processes:

Having deep experience (over 300 combined years of experience) in the human capital and consulting disciplines and in the high-level retained executive search practice areas, it is no surprise that we have taken the best of those challenging processes and melded them into our staffing practice. Essentially this means that accuracy and an in-depth approach are built into everything we do.

Knowing that the majority of staffing services are oriented toward a “commodity approach” to personnel selection (in some cases dictated by their choice of hiring clients) Champion has consciously veered away from that approach and that market stratum. We believe that every client and every potential candidate is special in some distinctive way and we take great pride in our ability to consult with both sides of the hiring equation.

Our philosophy moved us toward a quality and consistent approach to staffing. With a vengeance, we pursued and received the ISO 9001:2000 Certification for our world-class quality processes and customer satisfaction processes. Our audits have always been “perfect”. Our level of client satisfaction has always exceeded 4.75 out of 5 in our surveys.

This certification of quality processes and procedures allows Champion to functions the same way, regardless of office, for any client. It is a “Blue Print” of operations that is constant yet due to a core principle of ISO, always in the process of being upgraded and improved (continual improvement).

Where many companies have a small and elite quality Board, Champion has a large quality board assuring that precision stays at the service level, not only in the executive suites.

This attention to quality and detail commands a premium price, typically above the International or Franchise organizations. In that regard Champion has consciously taken our company out of competition based only on price. We believe and have proven that if a hiring client is only interested in the lowest price (even though they say otherwise) what they are actually saying is that they believe people, service and hiring are COMMODITIES.

To the contrary, we believe that service is only delivered by a quality staff. Champion provides that. We refuse to negotiate below an acceptable level of margin as it is the margin that pays our staff and our continuing quality improvements.

Learning our processes and the detail with which we must deliver them is not easy. One must be thorough, detail-oriented, and yet intuitive. Yes we are in the “people” business, but we are first in the Customer Service business and our customers need to count on Champion to help them in running their businesses. We need to perform, for our customers, in a precise, predictable and repeatable fashion.

Our Staff Retention:

In 1995 Champion had 7 people. Today we have over 30. Our ‘cousin’ company employs 10. Since 1995 we have added 4 offices, moved several facilities and changed the lines of business we are in. We have also added many professionals to our staff. Our average tenure is close to 5 years with Champion. That is remarkable for a company that has grown and changed, and for a company in a “turnover” business (Staffing and Sales).

WE HAVE STAFF TURNOVER: This is not an easy business. Our clients are demanding and we are only of value to them as we can perform on each assignment. Our candidates are constantly changing: Our goal is to find a permanent job for each of our candidates and once placed with a client, we want a person to stay there. So…we are constantly facing turnover of the people we serve, and that is a good thing. Our clients use us only when they need us, and typically only when it is a “HELP ME!” situation. At the same time, many of our clients use us every day of the year to staff operations in a flexible manner so they can concentrate on running their businesses, not worrying about staffing concerns.

Our business is for people who have stamina, perseverance, insight and DRIVE. People who can thrive on their days being in constant flux. We are NOT a place for people who want to put in time and get promoted based on how well the company is doing, not their own performance. People who do well in our company go home tired, but triumphant. Again, we are not for the ‘average’ person. Only the motivated problem-solvers do well.

The average U.S. corporate turnover is 20%+ per year. The average in the staffing industry is well above that. The average sales driven company turnover is in the 35% range. Champion’s is about 10%. And we do NOT typically hire from competitors (people experienced in staffing who know the ups and downs).

People leave for various reasons. Some say that we are demanding, and some say our industry is demanding. Some leave to have families, some for easier opportunities and some leave the area. Others are simply asked to move on due to lack of performance.

Fortunately, it does not happen too often, so we all must be doing something right.

Being ISO 9001:2000 certified and an excellent workplace is to conduct performance reviews on a regular basis. Our raises for people in salary-based functions doing well are substantially above the national average. Substantially.

Career Paths:

Our Director of Administration (Ass’t Controller) started as our receptionist when we had one office. Our corporate office Staffing Manager also started as our receptionist after the Director was promoted. All Staffing Managers got there through promotions. All Staffing Coordinators got there through promotions. Our Director of Business Development started as a Sales Rep. Our QA Manager was a “Floater”. Sales Reps have transferred from Staffing. People have left and returned. And been promoted. Some people just want to stay in the job they were hired to do. Our Staffing Director started as a Staffing Manager. Our Safety Director owned her own staffing firm. She has added several critical functions to her duties. At the same time we have had many folks work many years and stay home to have a family. All of that is good. In the last 10 years we have had 4 people begin their own staffing practices. They all learned from Champion, the “mothership”.

We are a “flat” organization in the way of red-tape corporate structure. Even the company president has no door on his office. Actually, no one has an office with a door. We have conference rooms for private meetings, not doors for hiding behind.

MONEY/ Income:

As Al Pacino said: “That’s the easy part”. Staffing Managers and Business Development/ Account Managers have unlimited compensation due to generous base salaries and defined bonus compensation plans. The bonus plans are based upon results and are never hidden nor lean, nor are there ceilings. We have staff members in their 20’s earning more than double and triple their age. Coordinators, Staffing Assistants and Administration personnel are all paid on salary plus discretionary performance bonus plans. Our compensation is generous.

Our philosophy is to never hold an individual back from their potential.

We support and pay for career and interest-based seminars for all employees. We also have over 90 hours of in-house training on DVD for all our operations functions. ALL employees can opt-in to our ISO quality seminars and board meetings.

Philanthropy and Community Support:

Champion has always been an enthusiastic financial supporter to community-based organizations that are picked by Champion Staff and our clients. We also encourage employee support of community organizations, individual projects and popular charitable events. To that end the company matches employee/family/ friends-raised contributions, encourages and organizes company and individual efforts to support and become involved charities and community participation programs. Recently, Champion was the #3 corporate fundraiser and participant (over 50 people) for the National MS Walk event in Cleveland.

Careers:

Staffing:

There are three functions in “Staffing”:

“Manager”: The office Staffing Manager supervises all staffing functions in an office and is in charge of contact with our hiring clients. This function makes the final choice of interim and interim to direct employee for our clients. This person also coordinates with all other offices, Account Management and Corporate Administration. This is a hands-on position as are all positions in our company.

“Coordinator”: This function is primarily involved in recruiting, interviewing, evaluating and “managing” our interim and interim to direct workforce, along with the Staffing Manager.

“Assistant”: This function will emulate an administrative assistant’s function in most companies. It coordinates with corporate administration. The person will take all incoming employment inquiries, perform first-level screening, schedule interviews and handle first-assignment calls. This is our ‘entry-level’ function.

All staffing functions require knowledge of personal computers, excel spreadsheets, an acute interest in people and results and a high degree of energy/resiliency. One will gain exposure to (through intense training) payroll, human resources, orientations, safety, ISO Quality, consultative selling and problem solving and employee relations. Drug-Free workplace training and all that goes with that is an essential part of the function as we are working with employee orientations and DFWP issues with our clients.

Practical “street smarts” and a strong sense of people-intuition are critical to success in these functions. A 4-year degree is advised, but not an absolute. We find that people from retail, the military or from high-involvement TEAM functions do well in these careers. One can earn over $50,000 per year after experience and high results.

Account Management/ Sales:

Our sales “Representatives” are our first contact with potential clients. These are our “Hunter-Gatherers” and they also have a critical on-going relationship with every one of their clients. Once Champion secures a client, we rarely lose that client. The Account Manager (Sales) needs to be able to change from Hunter-Gatherer to “Nurturer” in an instant.

NEW AM’s begin with Champion by doing the hardest thing in sales: Cold Calling (over the phone). If you can’t cut the rejection (as in all sales) it is probably a good idea to steer clear of sales.

As a person gains accounts (and therefore residual/ ongoing commissioned income) your role expands to customer service/ problem solving and consultative management. The goal is to become a valued advisor to our client and to be able to anticipate solutions before problems arise.

Between selling and acting as an advisor to the client a person will learn and perform the most critical function of our profession: working with the client on understanding job openings, positioning those job openings and advising the client of the opening’s “fillability” (most employers want to demand more than they can offer, and sometimes embark on a search for the wrong individual).

Different than most large and regional staffing firms, Champion does not reduce or eliminate commissions for an Account Manager on accounts over a year old. We financially motivate our AM’s to have deep and consultative relationships with their clients.

An Account Manager can earn a six-figure income with Champion. Realistically, that level of income will take time, effort and the building of a stable account base. A solid AM can earn $50-$70,000 including commissions.

Corporate Administration:

These roles include Accounting, Payroll, Accounts Receivable, Quality and Safety.

In the Accounting and Payroll areas all functions are “generalists”, reporting to our Corporate Controller who is a Certified Public Accountant. Our payroll done in-house on an industry-specific application, and is processed every week. Our staff financial personnel average over 5 years tenure with the company and function as an in-house customer service team. Their contributions to the success of our company are extreme and highly recognized. Accounting degrees for the staff are not required.

Our safety department is combined with OSHA and Drug Free Workplace. The manager is responsible for in-house personnel training, client training and advisory functions, claims processing and oversight with third parties. This department is also responsible for client-specific safety training for interim employees, administration of employee safety programs and incentives and all Drug Free Workplace administration and training. Without missing a beat, our Manager is also responsible for our employee and corporate newsletter.

Corporate Benefits (Direct Champion Employees only):

Unlike most corporations, Champion has increased our benefit program offerings rather than reduced them and has not passed on a higher percentage cost of these programs.

As an overview, Champion offers the highest level Blue Cross medical with the lowest possible cost to the employee for single or family coverage. We also have Dental and Prescription coverage, disability and life insurance protection.

A qualified 401K with high company matches and contributions is available and self-directed.

The company has normal holidays paid, vacations from 2 to 4 weeks based upon tenure, an unused vacation time buyback program, a generous sick and personal time off allowance, and flexible family time off.

The company also has a paid Wellness Fitness program for all employees and families, which includes Fitness Center cost reimbursements, plus our own in-house corporate fitness center with showers and lockers available to all Champion Staff and family anytime.

Champion is also the only company in North East Ohio (that we know of) that offers a high cash incentive to all employees for purchasing or leasing a Hybrid Vehicle. The company also promotes recycling and ecology friendly efforts in-house and at home.

All staff members can be reimbursed for relevant and personally chosen seminars, training programs and self-directed learning. We encourage all members to choose at least one seminar for their career enhancement and one for personal gain.

And More:

Champion offers a great environment, a tremendous opportunity to learn useful and transferable skills as one climbs the career ladder and also stability in an unstable world. We have been around for decades and will be around for decades longer.

And not at all last: we have fun. In our TEAM environment, our people get along well, socialize, share and support each other. And you don’t want to miss the Winter Holiday Party! Doing so could cost you a wide-screen plasma TV, a mountain bike, or even cash.

Feel free to ask ANYONE in our company about joining our staff or pick up the phone and call the company president: Robert Schepens, CPC. You may also apply via email to: ras@championjobs.com. Robert is also our Human Resource specialist along with Joy Turner, our Director of Corporate Administration and Benefits who has been with the company since 1995.