Meet Our Newest Recruiter – GK

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Since GK started with APR in August, she has been a fantastic addition to our team. Always willing to go the extra mile for our contractors, GK is the recruiter you want in your corner when a job opportunity opens up.

We asked GK some “Get to Know You” questions and here were her answers:

What’s been your favorite part about working for APR so far?
It’s a great learning environment while the job itself is challenging and fun.
Where is one place you’d love to travel to?
I would love to visit Europe & Russia
What are some hobbies/things you enjoy to do in your free time? 
I enjoy Cooking/ Baking and I am planning to join painting classes
The letters in APR stand for Accountability, Performance, and Results. What are some favorite things in your life that start with letters APR?
A – Appreciation
P- Passion
R- Rewards

A New APR In 2018

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A New APR in 2018
By: Linda Stone

With the holidays right around the corner, I like to take a step back and reflect over the previous year – obstacles that were overcome, lessons learned, and moments that will never be forgotten.

In 2016, we launched the WeCare program with the sole purpose of supporting our contract workforce. In 2017, we evaluated our program and took the feedback of our contractors and made some significant improvements. In 2018, here are a few things we have planned:

  • Quarterly Giveaways
  • Contractor of the Month
  • New Digital Newsletter
  • Discounts to Local Area Attractions
  • Streamlined Email Communication

We also made major updates to our website including easier navigation, an employee hub for our contract workers, and completely refreshed the content and color scheme.

APR also began supporting new Fortune 500 clients in a variety of different locations, which means new opportunities for your career. Make sure to check-in with us at the end of your assignment so we can get you connected with your next opportunity.

I hope this holiday season brings you joy and wonder. I challenge you to reflect on 2017 and to look forward at the new season 2018 will bring. I hope you will utilize APR to help make it your best year yet.

“May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter, and every window open to great possibility.” – Mary Anne Radmacher

Raising Money For A Good Cause

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month and APR participated in various activities to help raise money for City of Hope – a treatment and research center. One major event was Pink Fridays. Every Friday employees were invited to wear pink and if they did, Linda would donate $5 for every employee who participated. A few other events were “Donate for Donuts” and raffle tickets for vacation days.

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This particular cause struck close to home, as our founder and CEO Linda Stone is a Breast Cancer Survivor.  Linda has now been cancer free for 17 years. Here are her thoughts on the trials she faced, being a survivor, and encouragement for others.

“It was a great feeling to see APR Employees support the cause.  They were willing to give back to the community by participating in the fund raising event that benefits City of Hope and its Cancer Research Program.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1997 and my treatment plan included a radical mastectomy and aggressive chemotherapy.  Three days before my surgery, APR was awarded a big contract that was going to require a lot of work. APR could not afford to hire someone at that moment so as soon as I got home from surgery, I got busy.  Needless to say, I did not have any down time and had to keep going. A big motivator was having the passion and desire to succeed at what I was doing. I had forgotten that I just had a major surgery and may not survive.  That contract turned out to be a very successful business undertaking, growing exponentially each year.

The most challenging aspect of the cancer I went through was the chemotherapy. I also had a tough time living with one breast and had to carry a prosthesis so people would not notice my missing breast. Keeping a positive outlook in life, having a caring family there to support me, and keeping my mind busy on other activities, were helpful in overcoming this devastating incident in my life. 

 Some encouragement to others: Live a productive life, help those who need it most, and live life to the fullest without hurting others.  Be happy and share your happiness with people around you. Support cancer research even if and when you do not have cancer and believe that someday there will be a cure for cancer and cancer will not be as life threatening as it still is today.”

All donations were given to the City of Hope research and treatment center. Linda Stone chose the charity because she has previously worked with them and supports the work they do. City of Hope not only conducts research for breast cancer, but other forms of cancer as well. They are working on other methods to cure cancer such as using patients own blood cells to defend themselves from the cancer in order to reduce the use of chemotherapy or other harmful methods. Their treatment for every patient is individualized by case because not all methods work the same for every patient. They also help those patients who survive cancer transition to their old way of life with group sessions and support.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

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October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. APR participated in various activates to help raise awareness about the cause.

Bake Sale
Our annual bake sale, Bake for Hope, was held on Monday, October 24, 2016.  Our volunteer bakers, Rose, Connie, Jennifer, Anni, John, and Jacqueline, donated a variety of beautifully made, delicious treats for our event.  We packaged and sold chocolate cupcakes, red velvet cupcakes, Russian tea cakes, chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, and pink Hershey’s kisses.  We talked with people and collected donations in the main lobby from 1:00pm – 3:00pm.  Everyone who came out was excited to participate.  Many people were even brave enough to tell us about friends and family who survived a battle with breast cancer.  We were touched by the outpouring of support we received.  When the event concluded, we had raised $261.00 in donations.  It was an amazing day and we are beyond grateful to everyone who contributed to make this event a success.

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Pink Fridays, Employee Donations, Linda’s Match
Every Friday, employees were encouraged to wear pink. For every employee that did, APR would donate $5. Employees raised $360 for just wearing pink. Linda Stone, APR’s CEO, graciously offered to match employee donations, which was $210.

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Our grand total was: $1,862!

All donations were given to the City of Hope research and treatment center. Linda Stone chose the charity because she has previously worked with them and supports the work they do. City of Hope not only conducts research for breast cancer, but other forms of cancer as well. They are working on other methods to cure cancer such as using patients own blood cells to defend themselves from the cancer in order to reduce the use of chemotherapy or other harmful methods. Their treatment for every patient is individualized by case because not all methods work the same for every patient. They also help those patients who survive cancer transition to their old way of life with group sessions and support.

Welcome to the team, Danny!

APR welcomes Danny to the team as VP of Business Development.  Danny started his career with the Public Transit Authority in Orange County, CA and transitioned into staffing in 2000. Danny’s worked for a Global IT Management firm in Europe, as well as an executive consultant in the gas, oil and retail industry. Danny has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Health Science / Nutrition and a Master’s Degree in Exercise Physiology.

In his free time (which is sparse due to the sports and activities of 3 school-aged children) he enjoys traveling and any sport or activity which takes him outdoors.  As a family, he attempts to pair these passions.

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Welcome Danny! What’s been your favorite part about working for APR so far?
My teammates, the organization’s vision and the company culture.  It has been extremely humbling to be a 1st hand recipient of the openness and support I have received since joining.  In addition, it doesn’t hurt having beer on tap in our Irvine office.

What do you enjoy most about being involved in business development?
The ability to forge, mend and/or grow mutually beneficial relationships with others.  Simply put – we are in the ‘people business’, whether supporting our teammates, helping our customers achieve their goals or finding candidates their dream job.

What is a trip which you hope to take in the next couple of years?
While living in Sweden, we intended on skiing/snowboarding the mountains which lie adjacent to the Norwegian fjords.  Unfortunately, it did not happen – but we plan on changing that sooner than later.

Where is one place you’d love to travel to?
I can’t answer with just 1 response…Japan – to experience 1st hand their unique culture and Samoa – where I just may happen to bring along surfboards

The letters in APR stand for Accountability, Performance, and Results. What are some favorite things in your life that start with letters APR?
Not only a fun question, but also quite introspective.  A- Appreciation for life, we sometimes forget what is truly important; which leads right into the next letter, P- Perspective, keeping focus of the big picture and not getting overly distracted in the minutiae, and R- Resilience, at some point in our lives we will get ‘knocked down’, but what truly matters is that we get back up more times than we fall.

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We are excited to have Danny join our team and look forward to seeing what great things he accomplishes with APR!