In mid-October, as President Barack Obama concluded his momentous joint news conference with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Janice Bryant Howroyd was in our nation’s capital meeting with South Korean officials and participating in the Investment Notification Signing Ceremony.

Washington, DC
Under the direction of Korean Minister of Knowledge Economy Mr. Choi, Joong-Kyung, KOTRA (represented by N. America Head Office President Mr. Um, Sungpil) and the ACT•1 Group (represented Janice), signed to acknowledge the ACT•1 Group’s commitment to invest in Korea by opening an office in Seoul, an emerging global business hub. This new ACT•1 location will be playing a key role in helping investors from the United States and other countries establish operations and build human capital in Korea.

KOTRA, or the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, facilitates Korea’s export-led economic development through various trade promotion activities such as overseas market surveys and business matchmaking. The ACT•1 Group has the enviable position as the premiere KOTRA’s US staffing partner. The Korean Government took a special interest in the ACT•1 Group because of the company’s track record for seamless and timeless process integration, and even more so when they learned that we do much more than staffing—ATS and VMS solutions from Agile•1, for instance.  With KOTRA bringing in foreign investors, the ACT•1 Group is primed to help companies bring in foreign talent as well as tap into the Korean talent pool.

Seoul, Korea
On October 28th, Janice and several ACT•1 delegates including Agile•1 President Peter Carvalho, convened in Korea. With quite a few important stops on their itinerary, the group spent their first days exploring the beautiful city of Seoul, taking in the very cosmopolitan business district along with the local culture and landmarks. They spent a day at the stunning ‘Lotte World’, which holds the Guinness Worlds Record for being the largest indoor theme park in the world.

Meetings with local dignitaries were also scheduled. The party had lunch with Former 1st Secretary of economy, Minister of Agriculture Mr. Chung So Young, and the next day, with Woonsan Group Chairman Mr. Hi Sang Lee. Janice and the rest of the group also visited possible sites for our new ACT•1 Korea office, including the impressive International Finance Center.

Next on the itinerary was the main reason for Janice and Peter’s trip to Korea, which is 2011 Global HR Forum (GHR). Janice was invited to be one of the Speakers during this world-renowned convention’s ‘The Art of Recruiting: How to Attract and Retain Talents’ Session.

During the Forum, specialists agreed that the key factors for Korea’s fast advancement as a global hub for human resources are people’s dedication to hard work and their passion for education. Janice reiterated and supported this during her presentation. One of her statements that truly resonated with the audience was, “The cultural embrace of strong work ethics, partnered with education and language skills, makes Korean workers competitively attractive in the global work force.”

Concurrently taking place with GHR is the Korea PE & VC Cleantech Forum 2011. Steve Lee, the ACT•1 Group’s delegate for this KOTRA-sponsored event, had the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the industry, network with foreign contacts and introduce ACT-1 Korea as a future HR partner for investors considering setting up shop in South Korea. “This forum is one of the many that the Korean government sponsor as they aggressively promote this sector,” says Steve. “Clean Technology means recycling, renewable energy (wind power, solar power, biomass, hydropower, biofuels), IT, green transportation, Greywater and other initiatives that create a smaller environmental footprint and minimize pollution. As a Korean American and as a father with a seven-year-old daughter, I highly respect this—it’s about investing in the future of mankind.”

Back at Home
On November 12, 2011, Janice will be honored with the BraveHeart Women Entrepreneur Award, which will be presented during a red carpet gala event at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Los Angeles. She is also being recognized by the Florida Investment Community later this month.

Additionally, Janice is listed in the Staffing Industry Report’s 2011 ‘100 Who’s Who in Staffing’ where she is among the top 20 CEOs for large staffing firms, joining the ranks of some of the world’s most powerful industry players.

As the ACT•1 Group prepares to be a part of the Korean business community through our first office location in Seoul, the company can look forward to both having an active role in developing and growing from this auspicious partnership.

Janice Bryant Howroyd was among the lawmakers, business leaders, and researchers selected to participate in a roundtable discussion held at the US Senate Budget Room during the 41st Annual Legislative Conference.

Led by U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship Chair Mary Landrieu, D-La., the group discussed the role small businesses can play in reducing the wealth gap. Also present during this Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) event were U.S. Representatives Chaka Fattah, Yvette Clark and Cedric Richmond.

Senator Landrieu made the following comments: “America is home to 5.8 million minority owned companies that pump around $1 trillion into the American economy equal to the economic impact of Australia, Turkey, and Greece. The discussion reinforced the capabilities of this business sector, and continued a dialogue about the barriers and obstacles that uniquely challenge minority business owners. I am pleased we were able to continue this discussion and I look forward to executing and molding programs to help expand the growth of minority owned businesses.”

The US Census Bureau and the Pew Foundation recently released information showing the net wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times that of Hispanic households. According to Pew that the wealth gap between white and African American and Hispanic households is larger now than at any time in the almost 30 years the Census Bureau has been collecting such data by race.

Testifying along with Janice were Attorney James M. Williams, Partner with Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams, Director Denise James Gatling, Director of Global Supplier Diversity & Business Development for GlaxoSmithKline, Ms. Monica Mason, Supply Chain Management Attorney and Supplier Diversity Council Member of Deere & Company, Ms. Leah Brown, JD, CHC, President & CEO, A10 Clinical Solutions, Inc., Mr. Frank J. Anderson, Jr., President &; CEO, Strategic Public Sector Solutions, LLC, and Mr. Carlton O’Neal, Managing Partner, Light Speed, LLC.

The National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) is proud to present the inaugural Hall of Fame Award to four of the most dynamic and significant women business owners in California. Each honoree is a trailblazer in her own right and they collectively reflect the legacy of power and success of the women’s business community at large.

As the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries with more than 6,000 members and 65 chapters, NAWBO®’s reach includes tens of thousands of accomplished businesswomen with incredible success stories. That makes the four women business owners who will be recognized at the Women’s Business Conference — August 31-September 1 at San Diego’s Manchester Grand Hyatt — truly exceptional. The 2011 NAWBO® Hall of Fame honorees include:

Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder and CEO, ACT-1 Group: A company that provides staffing solutions for corporations across the U.S. Founded in 1978 with an initial investment of $1,500, a telephone and a small lease space, her company is now the largest certified woman minority-owned staffing company in the United States and is worth more than $500 million. http://www.act-1.com/

Koni Kim, President and CEO, Koni Corporation: A leading woman-owned supplier of soft goods to the hospitality industry headed by a design legend. Women Presidents’ Organization and Entrepreneur Magazine named Koni Corporation No. 2 of the Top 50 fastest-growing women-owned/women-led, privately owned businesses in the U.S. and Canada.http://www.konicorp.com/

Maria de Lourdes Sobrino, Founder & CEO, Lulu’s Dessert Corporation: A native of Mexico City, de Lourdes Sobrino revolutionized the food industry by creating the first-ever ready-to-eat gelatin category based on her mother’s recipe. Lulu’s Dessert is now ranked among the top 500 Hispanic Businesses in the United States. http://www.lulusdessert.com/

Lynda Weinman, Co-Founder, lynda.com: A leading online instructional video service that teaches technology and design skills to hundreds of thousands of people through individual memberships or site licenses to businesses and universities. The company was listed as the No. 12 fastest growing education company in America in Inc. magazine’s 5,000 List. http://www.lynda.com/

“With this year’s conference being held in California, we selected top California-based women entrepreneurs who not only reflect the rich diversity of the No. 1 entrepreneurial state in our nation, but each one of them is a quintessential woman entrepreneur who strives for excellence in everything she does and is committed to giving back to her community,” says NAWBO® President and CEO Helen Han. “Through continuing to induct extraordinary women into the NAWBO® Hall of Fame, we hope to celebrate the rising power of women business owners and the growing impact of their leadership in the economic blueprint of our country.”

The NAWBO® Hall of Fame Awards will be formally presented on Thursday, September 1st at the Women’s Business Conference. Honorees will accept their awards at the Closing Dinner & Awards Ceremony and share their individual success stories in a moderated panel discussion.

“More than any other time in history, the time is now for women-owned businesses to access new opportunities, influence the future and grow their businesses to help fuel the economy and create new jobs,” says NAWBO® National Chair, Evelyn Strange, President of Advanced Electric Systems, Louisville, KY. “NAWBO® is proud to induct this year’s Hall of Fame Awards honorees who are leading the way.”

About NAWBO®
Founded in 1975, the National Association of Women Business Owners® (NAWBO®) propels women entrepreneurs into economic, social and political spheres of power worldwide by: strengthening the wealth creating capacity of our members and promoting economic development within the entrepreneurial community; creating innovative and effective change in the business culture; building strategic alliances, coalitions and affiliations; and transforming public policy and influencing opinion makers. Learn more at www.nawbo.org.

Media Contact: Christina Jorgensen
Drizen-Dohs Corporate Communications
(818) 772-9555, ext. 103

Act•1 Group Chair and CEO Janice Bryant Howroyd will be among the distinguished women entrepreneurs driving the upcoming Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) Conference. The largest event of its kind for Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs) in the nation, the event takes place in Las Vegas from June 21st through 23rd and will bring together over 3,000 attendees and 350 exhibitors. The Act•1 Group is among the three Conference Co-Chairs, along with Zorch and Amgen, one of our major clients.  Our company has been honored in the past by WBENC for outstanding growth and service, and Janice has shared the stage with WBENC at numerous business conferences.

Janice will be a key note speaker during the General Session: A Conversation with 2011 WBENC National Conference & Business Fair Co-Chairs, on Tuesday, June 21, at the Mandalay Bay Resort in the North Convention Center, Islander DEI at 2:15 p.m. Joining Janice on the speakers roster are equally successful and inspiring personalities that include Amgen VP of Strategic Sourcing Farryn Melton, ImprovEdge Founder & CEO Karen Hough, Sports + Gaming League Commissioner and celebrity poker player Annie Duke, Zorch Founder and CEO Nicole Loftus, Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh, and acclaimed Special Investigations Correspondent and CNN’s In America Documentaries host Soledad O’Brien.

The Conference theme for 2011 is ‘The Opportunity Connection’, which is based on one of WBENC’s three core values: certification, opportunities, and resources. This theme re-emphasizes WBENC’s commitment to connecting major corporations with WBEs (Women Business Enterprises) to identify and negotiate business opportunities, the value of WBENC certification, and its business facilitation tools, such as WBENC’s Business Fair, and MatchMaker Meetings. These values also are fundamental to AppleOne and Agile1.  For this reason, Janice says we are happy to honor the request that she participate.

During the two and a half day annual event, conference attendees will foster business opportunities by participating in an ambitious agenda that includes workshops, general sessions, WBENC’s Business Fair, MatchMaker Meetings, and networking events.  “WBENC has been an outstanding champion of women owned businesses, both in the corporate arena and at the policy level in this country,” says Janice. “Everywhere I travel outside of the USA, people ask me about WBENC, and how to build success models like theirs.  WBENC is impacting women around the globe, and making it possible for all employees of these companies to grow.  Their value is strong, in this regard, to both women and men. That is why so many professionally accomplished and highly profiled men rush to support WBENC.  I’m honored and happy to deliver what I can to this conference along with my many personal friends at WBENC!”

WBENC is the leading advocate for, and authority on, women’s business enterprises as suppliers to the world’s major corporations.  Founded in 1997, WBENC is also the nation’s leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, with over 10,000 WBENC-certified WBEs and WBENC certification accepted by more than 1,000 corporations, representing America’s most prestigious brands.  The ACT.1 Group is maintains a WBENC certification, along with the other prestigious certifications.

For more information, please go to www.wbenc.org

Janice Bryant Howroyd takes some time to give smart and heartfelt answers to Making It! TV’squestions about going global, working with family members and weathering challenges.

Ninety-five percent of small and medium sized businesses participating in a survey by staffing company AppleOne report that they will not be laying off any more employees over the next year and nearly half expect to be hiring new staff in 2011. These numbers are a marked improvement from last year and show signs of a rebounding economy.

“Rising unemployment rates have been a major concern in this country and it will be a welcome change to get more Americans back to work,” says Janice Bryant Howroyd, CEO of AppleOne. “Bringing this nation back to its full potential has been a priority of workers as well as business owners. The market is more exciting now, and has more opportunity for skilled workers than we’ve seen in the last decade.” According to the research, 41 percent of respondents expect to increase staff in 2011, a significant jump over the 33 percent of respondents who said this in 2010. Another 53 percent expect staff size to remain the same. Only 5 percent report that they plan to lay off staff, down from 10 percent last year.

Businesses surveyed had average staff of 267 people and represent the major job creators among U.S. employers.

Outsourced temporary workers remain the main resource for hiring. “Hiring temporary workers gives employers a chance to find the right fit for their company without a permanent commitment right away, while a temporary job lets an individual earn a salary and continue to look for a job that fulfills a goal.

“It’s a win-win,” adds Howroyd. “These days, employers are hiring cautiously, so a temporary job is a good way to get a foot in the door, make a positive impression and earn money while enhancing skills.” Most of the businesses who took part in the survey expressed optimism about the outlook for 2011 and feel the economy is stabilizing enough to maintain or grow their staff.

Employment services and job boards are the primary channels that businesses use for their recruiting, according to the survey. Classified advertising and employee referrals accounted for 13 percent of new hiring.

AppleOne is a member of the ACT-1 Group, the nation’s leader in staffing and workforce solutions. In addition, the ACT-1 Group is a leading global provider of workforce solutions through Agile-1 and offers a variety of other human resource business services such as personnel background and screening through its A-Check America brand. AppleOne has offices throughout the United States and Canada. ACT-1 Group serves companies in the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Europe, and India, and is in process of opening in Latin America.

Note: this blog post originally appeared on The Huffington Post

Traditionally, each of us handles the end of year holidays in different ways, and it’s always with less time and more money spent. Completing yet another year of economic uncertainty and, for many, hard times, is bringing even more stress than usual. Most of my AppleOne staffing offices tell me that, although many of the people we are working with in their job searches do share bleak stories of fear, being alone and being broke… many also say that they are living vicariously on the hustle and bustle of the malls and the festive store windows. Some are turning their radio dials to the All Holiday music stations and are stocking up on table games, versus the more expensive computer game cards. Many are enjoying the festive environments of our offices and investing more time in their computer skills enhancements, while others are requesting to retake tests in order to score higher and put their best foot forward in the new year. For many, it’s working, literally!

What I recommend is, whether you thrive on the hustle and bustle and plan to spend money and time on shopping, or whether you just want to hide away ’til 2011 is upon us, step back and ask yourself this question: Will I allow my work (or search for it), added to the holidays, to equal stress for me? Or, will I take several deep breaths and manage the stress of this season, dividing out time to evaluate my work plan, and then enjoy the holiday within that perspective?

Remember that companies across the country have already made their big cuts in jobs, healthcare, bonuses and holiday parties. While employment won’t jump quickly, there is little room left for many of these companies to lay off more people, so your work plan should certainly be in gear now. However, make the holiday about more than work for you. If you are blessed with family and friends near, accept the joy of their presence and make it clear to everyone what your gifting situation is. You’ll be surprised by how happy many will be as they are facing the same consideration.

My family has decided to give the gift of our service to each other, with coupons for babysitting, grocery shopping (inserting coupons in the homemade gift cards) and other chores. We are also recycling….That sweater that Aunt Trish loved! me in last month….It’s been cleaned and boxed with my rhinestone star pin. She’s gonna love it! Do the same with your close ones. This is especially great for the females who enjoy swapping goods! It can work for the males in your family, too. Recycle those tools, sports goods, etc. They’ll look as good as new in sparkly gift wrapping and presented with your sincere, and non stressed, smile!!!

If you are alone, witnessing the festivities of others can have an opposite effect on you, and cause emotional strain. Instead of staying in your own sadness, step forward and bring joy to others. Volunteer at food banks, schools and pre-schools and religious outreach programs (all of which are on reduced budgets, just like you). Homeless shelters will enjoy the old things you’re holding on to, even more than you would enjoy the new thing that you won’t be buying yourself! They don’t even want you to wrap it! Over my life and career, I have learned that giving forward is the very best way to combat emotional lows and holiday blues.

My encouragement to you is my Five Point Plan to stay on top of your fun and work during the holidays.

1. Keep your perspective. You get the most results from where you apply your attention. Schedule your time carefully so things get done, and commit to simplicity. Too much multi-tasking can end up costing you money and time, rather than getting things accomplished. If you need to online shop or take care of personal matters during work hours, eat lunch at your desk and do it on your own time. Leave the office chats and holiday parties earlier and use the time wisely.

2. Leave personal stress out of the workspace and leave workspace stress out of your personal space. If you are overwhelmed with family obligations and tensions at home, leave them there. Remember that your co-workers have their own stresses, and encourage their treatment of you by the example you set.

3. Make lists… simple ones with timelines, and dollar signs where appropriate, and stick to them! Put your smallest, and/or easiest, tasks at the top so they can be checked off quickly. Don’t keep adding. Setting limits now will ensure you won’t be left catching up after the holiday season is spent!

4. Let yourself shine! At work, go the extra mile to help out during a time when many slack off. This is the perfect time to show your boss that you can shine under pressure, as many employers have their own exacerbated stress levels with worry about their company’s future. Gift them your full support and dedication. It will bring joy and return to you both.

5. Make the holiday a family affair. Don’t be afraid to delegate. Rely on family, friends and even neighbors to help you shoulder some of the responsibility. It may seem easier to do it yourself, but you’ll be surprised at how happy people are when they know that you appreciate their help. Let the kiddies in on it, too! Even if no one can do it as well as you, a little less perfection can bring a lot more enjoyment.

Know this: The sum of how much you enjoy this holiday season depends upon how you add up the situations you face, and how you divide the work involved to make this a joyous season. 2010 is almost gone, so don’t lose yourself to it. After all, the true meaning of ‘Holidays’ is “Holy Days”. However you celebrate, plan to bring and receive as much joy as you can. Love your family and friends as best you can, and remember that no matter what you don’t have this holiday, there are so many people with so much less. The love you already have is the most valuable gift you will ever receive.

Happy Holidays and God bless!

Janice

“‘In toughest times, this is when we get most creative.’ Howroyd, the Chairman and CEO of the Act-1 Group, explained to a packed room of Marshall students at USC’s Galen Center how she took her business from a one-woman operation to being a leader in the human resources industry, providing workforce solutions internationally through her Agile1 Solutions group, and becoming the largest certified woman-minority owned staffing agency in the U.S under the AppleOne brand name.”

More

From valuable advice for aspiring women business owners, to achieving and living the American Dream, to why now is the time to reinvent, reinvest and refresh our businesses and ourselves, Janice shares a wealth of empowering insights. Read Janice’s interview, A Well-Deserved Honor for an Exceptional NAWBO L.A. Member on NAWBO Focus, the official National Association of Women Business Owners newsletter.

Note: this blog post originally appeared on The Huffington Post

Traditionally, the end of year is the busiest shopping season of all. If you’ve been out of work all year, the looming holidays can be a depressing prospect. Common job seeker belief is that this is the slow hire period and the smart strategy is to put off looking until the New Year.

Hark! Hear the bells! This is not the time to give up. This is the time to let your abilities, enthusiasm and availability shine for you!

While others are slowing down their job search for the holidays, this is the exact time to spruce up your resume and make some calls. The employers you want to reach are probably in the best position to consider hiring you because many companies complete their fiscal year by budgeting for the next. This most often includes allowing for any new hiring that will occur. So, as your job search competitors are going into holiday mode, grab the attention and good cheer of hiring managers and turn your shopping spree into a shiny new job!

During this slow period, employer’s schedules are more open than usual, and I can’t stress how important networking is. This is the perfect time to do it. Right now, ask your employed friends to invite you to their company holiday parties and make that time work for your job search. Talk to the other employees about the company and learn if there are job openings or future planned hiring. The components of Luck are: Learning, Using, Communicating and Kindling! Kindle your holiday fire by finding the right opportunity. You have to put yourself in a position for luck to find you.

One solid tip this time of year is: Make a list and check it twice! Create a list of every interview you’ve had this past year and send holiday cards to each of them. Don’t worry about finding fancy expensive cards; that’s not the point. It’s about reminding them that you are still out there and getting back on their radar. They will appreciate the thought, even if they don’t have a job for you at the moment. You will be at the top of their list in the New Year as they search their files for candidates. You may even choose to send a smart, personalized and attractive holiday greeting that you create electronically! Show your skills off!

Persistence beats resistance, every time! So, continue to screen the classifieds and web-postings. Use your social media outlets to let people know you are looking for work.

Finding the right job is definitely a gift you give to yourself. Making sure there are gifts for your loved ones and friends during this holiday season is also possible. TEMPORARY WORK IS OUT THERE!!! Sign up with Apple One via our website (www.appleone.com) or come into your local AppleOne office (or any temp agency), and be surprised by who you might help, while helping yourself. As you’re playing holiday elf to a company, remember to mention that this is a seasonal job and you are seeking fulltime employment.

Keep in mind: Once you get the interview, be cheerful. Don’t bring the weight of the year with you. We have all felt the turbulence of the past few years, but attitude is a powerful thing and can change lives. It can change yours! God Bless you.