Since our founding, Express Employment Professionals has been guided by a simple vision: help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.

The journey to become an international franchised staffing giant was decades in the making, an evolution forged from humble beginnings, marked by perseverance, and an undying passion to help people build better lives for themselves and their families and help communities grow and prosper.

Shortly after the end of World War II, accountant David L. Reiff moved from Chicago, IL, to Spokane, WA, in search of a more hospitable climate in which to open his bookkeeping business. He found an office located in the same building shared by a small employment agency that was struggling to stay afloat. As he operated his fledgling bookkeeping business, he took the opportunity to learn about the staffing industry by observing the staffing employees at work.

In 1951, Mr. Reiff sold his accounting firm and bought the staffing company, renaming it Acme Personnel Services. His son, Bill, joined the business as it began to flourish. Throughout the early 1960s, Acme expanded to include offices throughout the state of Washington.

In 1965, Robert A. Funk joined Acme in the Seattle office as a Staffing Consultant, helping match job applicants with job orders. In less than a year, due to dogged determination and his knack for building personal relationships, Mr. Funk was promoted to Office Manager.

In 1969, Acme acquired a staffing office in Oklahoma City. Mr. Funk was offered the opportunity to manage the new territory and accepted the position. In a short time, he opened four new successful Acme offices in Oklahoma and was soon promoted to Vice President overseeing offices in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Minnesota, Arkansas, and Colorado.

In 1973, William H. Stoller, a college basketball player at Pacific University near Portland, OR, joined the Acme team as a part-time Staffing Consultant. In little time, his competitive spirit and determined work ethic led him to out-produce all other offices in the Portland area. In less than two years, Mr. Stoller was promoted to District Manager.

A recession in the early 1980s exacerbated Acme’s financial woes at the corporate level as cracks began to form in the foundation of the Acme business structure. Acme president Bill Reiff took drastic measures to keep Acme solvent, but the damage was too far gone.

In 1983, Acme declared bankruptcy. Offices closed abruptly, leaving employees to ponder their futures. Mr. Funk, determined to keep his offices operational, contacted Mr. Stoller to ask if he was interested in forming a new temporary employment services company. Together, they contacted Acme Franchisee Jim Gray, inviting him to join them due to his extensive back-office operations experience. Mr. Gray agreed and together the three men became the Founders of Express Temporary Services with eight offices in Oklahoma, Oregon, and Colorado. Though struggling in its infancy during a national economic downturn, Express managed to generate gross revenues of $2 million in 1983, despite the depressed economy.

The rest, as they say, is a history that continues to this very day!

1985 – 1999: Franchising, Growth, & $1 Billion in Sales

• 1985: Express employed 35,000 people and set its sights on bringing hope through employment to many more. The Founders determined that the best way to grow was through franchising, introducing a new era in Express’ history. Along with the new business model came a fresh new name: Express Personnel Services.
• 1986: A new era of exponential growth was ushered in as the Express Founders acquired the franchise rights to 30 Acme offices across the United States. Sales grew 105% generating over $38 million.
• 1988: Express opened their 100th office and topped $82 million dollars in sales.
• 1999: Co-founder Mr. Gray decided to sell his stock in Express. Founders Mr. Funk and Mr. Stoller purchased Mr. Gray’s shares, and the present-day ownership structure was cemented.
• 1999: Express achieved a major milestone by reaching $1 billion in sales.

2000 – 2019: Express in the New Century

• 2002: Express began franchising in South Africa with a desire to help people prosper through employment opportunities.
• 2005: Express awarded its 500th franchise and helped a record 300,000 associates find employment.
• 2008: Express celebrated 25 years of success and changed its name to Express Employment Professionals, updating its corporate identity to better reflect its wide array of employment offerings.
• 2011: Express reached another major milestone by recording 3 million hours worked in a single week.
• 2014: Express was recognized as the No. 1 industrial staffing provider, as well as the fastest growing major staffing company.
• 2016: The accolades continued as Express was named one of Forbes’ best franchises to buy, in addition to employing an all-time high of 510,000 associates and recording sales of $3.05 billion.
• 2017: Express reached another milestone in by reaching 4 million hours worked in a single week.
  • Lifetime achievement accolades were bestowed upon both Express Founders in 2017: 
    • Mr. Stoller was inducted into the Lower Columbia College Athletics Hall of Fame as a two-sport inductee for his contributions as a player on the college’s basketball and baseball teams in the 1970s.
    • Mr. Funk received his state’s highest honor as he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
     
   
• 2019: Express employed 552,000 associates in more than 800 franchise locations and generated more than $3.53 billion in sales.

2020 – Present: The Core of Express & Beyond

Celebrating its 40th year in 2023, Express franchise ownership opportunities are available in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Through diversification in Light Industrial, Skilled Trades, Office Services, and Professional staffing, Express intends to reach $5.5 billion in sales by 2025.

Today, and every day, Express Employment Professionals remains dedicated to bringing hope through employment and to fulfill the mission to put a million people to work annually.