On December 15, 2015, Management Business Solutions, Inc. (MBS), a Grand Rapids-based staffing firm, announced that its principal founder and CEO, Floriza Genautis, officially offered company shares to Latoya Person, Managing Partner. In 2014, MBS employee Amy Marshall was also offered shares under the Company's 5-year Employee Ownership Plan. This move is consistent with Floriza's plan to hire future owners.
In 1990, Floriza graduated from the Philippines' De La Salle University and headed straight for Silicon Valley. She had no work experience and a minor language barrier. She was eager to work and took any job she could get! After dutifully mopping floors at Kentucky Fried Chicken, Floriza's luck changed. She was hired by a staffing agency as a temporary employee and was sent on assignments throughout the Bay Area. She had no car, at times commuting for hours by bus. "I did anything to work!" As her career progressed, she was ultimately hired by a staffing firm and worked her way up to the job of recruiter.
Eventually Floriza and her husband decided to return to his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her initial plan was to be a stay-at-home mom, but plans change. With her husband's support and encouragement, Floriza opened MBS in 2006. Opening her own business allowed her to create her ideal version of a staffing agency.
Floriza Genautis founded MBS to provide practical, cost-effective and customized employment solutions. The current MBS staff has more than 30 years of combined experience in recruiting, staffing and sourcing—all key components when designing customized staffing solutions. MBS is headquartered in downtown Grand Rapids and committed to the West Michigan community. It also has national recruiting reach.
5-Year Employee Ownership Plan
Floriza's initial plan to "sell off her company" was based on her desire to retain a consistent workforce. The goal of the 5-Year Employee Ownership Plan is to show a "commitment to guaranteeing the success of our organization by creating future leaders that are vested in the growth of the organization. Constant training and mentoring are provided. One on one interaction, an open door policy and communication are important, as well as making sure autonomy and flexibility are given to all. Valuing the contribution of each team member, we strive for success and excellence as well as making sure that upward mobility is available to all. Our business model is to hire and train future owners."
Future owners are taught the company's strategic plan and receive a voice in the business. Five years from the date on which they enter the ownership track, future owners receive MBS shares. "These shares are given, not purchased. There is no buy-in." Floriza emphasizes.
Latoya Person, MBS' most recent future owner, has been with the company for five years and has more than 10 years of management experience and expertise in the field of employee hiring and recruitment. Her work ethic and desire to help the company grow culminated in her promotion to lead recruiter.
Floriza describes Latoya's role at MBS: "Since joining MBS in 2010, Latoya has added great depth to our team and has been a critical part of our outstanding team. She has excelled in a number of key roles over the years and has been a huge asset to me and to our clients. Her integrity and passion for helping people is what drives her role in our company and additionally, she is an exceptional individual whose leadership ability, management skills and industry knowledge will continue to thrive here at Management Business Solutions. Latoya has a natural talent for strategic oversight and effective analysis that has awakened her elite sourcing abilities. She is our internal sourcing guru and brings expertise in attracting extraordinary candidates."
Leading by Example
Floriza credits her mom for much of her success. "My mom always set a wonderful example for me. She has no fear; she takes risks and is always learning new things." Floriza has shown her daughter and the women with whom she interacts the benefit of leading with integrity, grace and vision. While the life she leads now may look different than the one she pictured upon moving to Grand Rapids, she wouldn't have it any other way.
Written by Lisa Stickler, staff writer for West Michigan Woman magazine.
