Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Associate Olivia Edwards spoke with Pat Gingrich, president and CEO of American Personnel Managers & Consultants (APMCI), a central PA-based human resources consulting service, in recognition of National Business Women’s Week. Gingrich spoke of the benefits of working with Women’s Business Enterprises (WBE) and Minority Business Enterprises (MBE) and shared examples of practices that have helped her company adapt through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has given APMCI opportunities to understand that “every coin has two faces.” Everyone has experienced the negative side of the coin. COVID has been a horrendous problem, affecting public health and disrupting our daily lives.
On the flip side, we get a better understanding of what is truly important – family, faith, and a balanced life. It has also allowed APMCI to adapt in response to a constantly changing world. After all, “we, as Americans, are survivors.”
We’ve been able to be flexible and adapt to change. We’ve modified our business approach by utilizing modern technologies such as Zoom and Skype. These adaptations have enabled us to continue meeting our operational goals and client needs, and solving other related problems through the pandemic – all while providing directness and openness for client clarity.
This clarity is important for understanding APMCI’s client-centered approach. We pay close attention to client needs, requests, issues and concerns, all while supporting each of them with a common sense, customized strategy. These practices help us achieve our ultimate goal of providing services and support in a strategic, cost effective, sustainable and ethical manner.
To illustrate, I’ll use the example of a banking client. The bank’s overall functions and procedures remain intact, while APMCI recruits, screens, tests and trains candidates for the bank’s Customer Service Call Center. This partnership assists clients through innovation, cost management, employee initiatives and technology. We are “small enough to care, large enough to get the job done.”
As a Women’s Business Enterprise, we provide that different perspective, one in which we achieve a better understanding by “walking in the shoes” of others. This leads to the introduction of new and exciting insights which assist in increasing project efficiencies and saving clients money.
In addition to “out of the box” problem solving, a few other benefits of working with WBE and MBE companies include potential tax incentives, reduced tax liabilities, faster turn-around times as a result of being a smaller company and sharing knowledge and resources with other WBE companies.
But most importantly, by working with a WBE or MBE company, a business demonstrates its interest and commitment to working with diverse organizations and furthering economic growth in local communities.