Suburban Group
Helping companies with hiring, human resources, retention
By Kate Daly Assistant Editor

Nancy Carlson of Suburban Group

Westborough - As times and needs have changed, so has a local company dedicated to successful employment. For the second time, the Suburban Group has changed its name to reflect its growing services.

"We continue to focus on contingency staffing and recruiting," said Nancy Carlson, president and owner of the company, "[but] we are much more than staffing."

Temporary staffing was the company's origins nearly 40 years ago, and appeared in its original name. That changed to Suburban Staff - ing, and now to the Suburban Group, reflecting the broader services the company off ers to clients in several states.

"We are more of a human resources managerial and solutions provider," Carlson said. "We do everything in human resources from developing a whole department [for a small company] to updating policies."

Suburban Group can help a small company by drafting standard forms and procedures, developing job descriptions, establishing a hiring process, and ensuring compliance with myriad employment laws.

The company's longtime strength is helping employers and employees succeed, Carlson said.

"We can teach you how to conduct a review, how to set a plan in motion," she said. "Our programs are designed for success for the business owner, the employee and all the other employees affected."

Suburban Group will train managers to help them become more effective in hiring, managing and evaluating employees.

"People are the most important part of our business," she said. "We take that responsibility seriously."

Suburban Group also wants companies to retain the temporary-to-direct employees and the professionals it recruits.

"We want to make sure it's the right fit and when [the new employee] is there, they are given every opportunity for success," she said.

If a company outsources work, Suburban Group can simplify a time-consuming task, Carlson said.

"You make one phone call," she said. "You have one contact, one responsible party to save your company time and money."

Suburban Group will ensure candidates are qualified and oversee compliance with pay and hiring requirements, she said.

Carlson bought the company in 1994 and has overseen its development. She was one of 15 people recently featured in an article in the Worcester Business Journal, "Entrepreneurs 2007: Learning from the Best."

Perhaps the best lesson she has is summed up this way.

"Our mantra is to really get to know our customer really well," Carlson said. "If we do that, we're really listening to what their needs are."

The Suburban Group is located at 30 Lyman St. in Westborough. The phone number is 508-366-8521 and its Web site is at www.suburbangroup. com.

Editor's Note: the preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.