“In traditional Nelson style, wherever there’s a demand from our customers we’ll develop a solution.” —Donna Farrugia
The larger Nelson corporate umbrella encompasses multiple, specialized divisions: Nelson & Associates, a resource for financial, accounting and legal jobs; Nelson Staffing, recruiting for administrative, manufacturing and wine and food production jobs; Nelson Technology, focusing on IT, engineering and other technical staffing; and Nelson Interactive, finding candidates for marketing and digital media positions.
Another fast-growing segment of the business is Nelson Compliance, which provides compliance services to the increasing number of businesses working with independent contractors (and other nontraditional workers), ensuring that employers are classifying workers according to the correct local, state, federal or country laws and regulations.
Compliance issues have come to the forefront of many employers’ concerns as more and more jobs added post-recession are on a temporary or contract basis. While some employers remain cautious about hiring full-time workers directly, demand is growing in many sectors for a contingent workforce that can scale up or down with more flexibility.
“In traditional Nelson style, wherever there’s a demand from our customers we’ll develop a solution,” says Donna Farrugia, who was named CEO of Nelson in 2013. “We do have plans to grow and increase our investment in the Nelson Compliance service, as well as iWorkGlobal, our global payrolling sister division.”
Farrugia believes it’s the company’s commitment to keeping its word, along with employees who are encouraged to be innovative and creative in coming up with solutions for customers, that have helped it to adapt over the years and to grow through the best form of advertising: word of mouth.
“We have decades of relationships here at Nelson,” she says. “At one point in his or her life, a person can be looking for work and then, a decade later, that same person can be a manager looking to staff his or her own department. It’s really about building collaborative, helpful and personal relationships with people.”
At the end of the day, finding the right job for someone, or the right employee, is about taking the time to listen and understand the client’s needs and goals. As demand for staffing services grows, working one-on-one with clients will continue to be the most important element of Nelson’s success.
“On behalf of the family, all the shareholders and all the Nelson employees, I don’t think there’s anything more rewarding than knowing our customers and our candidates appreciate what we do,” says Farrugia. “We’re all about providing the highest level of personal service we can, and we’re so proud to be part of this award and part of the North Bay.”
