By Aphrodite Kotrotsios
Celebrating over four decades in the staffing industry, Gus Perdikakis, founder of Gus Perdikakis Associates Inc. (GPA), continues to uphold the core values that launched his company in 1979: faith, family, and personalized service.
A Greek-American Entrepreneurial Journey
“My beautiful wife Jo Ann always knew we would start our own company,” said Perdikakis. “I had a total of 15 years working with two engineering staffing firms. I started working as a janitor while in college and eventually becoming a vice-president. Having the ‘Greek entrepreneurial spirit’ we started our company with 3 employees with the philosophy of quality and personalized service to both employees and clients alike.”
Both Gus and Jo Ann come from strong Greek-American roots. “Both of our families have roots in Greece and my father, George, barely escaped the Turkish occupation. First working the steel mills in Aliquippa, PA, and then he opened several chili parlors in Cincinnati. My father-in-law Nicholas Lambros left Kosmas as a young man, and eventually settled in Harrison, OH. There is where he opened The Coffee Pot and a family restaurant. That entrepreneurial spirit carried down to both Jo Ann and I to live the American dream of controlling our own destiny.”
Building a Business on Values and Trust
“For many years growing up, I worked in my father’s chili parlors and restaurant and learned the importance of dealing with the customers and public,” he shared. “We both have tried to carry that philosophy through my business career and onto my employees. Our success is in our philosophy: It’s all about treating everyone like Family.”
“We strive to pass the American Dream along to our staff at GPA by empowering each individual to treat their part of our business as if it were their own.”
Innovating the Staffing Industry
Perdikakis has seen the staffing industry evolve over several decades. “From the mid-forties, the beginning of our industry was in response to military buildup. Our industry played a key role but was not really recognized. Since then the staffing industry has grown to be an intricate part of clients’ business strategy. From contract staffing to direct hiring, the industry has grown tremendously.”
“I had the honor of being twice elected as National President of the National Technical Services Association (NTSA), now a segment of the American Staffing Association,” he noted.
“While many client firms try to treat staffing as a commodity, GPA is unique in our offerings by truly partnering with our clients and remaining flexible to provide staffing solutions. We were one of the first to add Technical and Administrative staffing to our engineering services.”
Looking Ahead: A Family Legacy
“Celebrating our 46th year, we remain very proud of our corporate and individual growth and recognition. I believe we have tried to maintain the personalized service to employees as well as clients and accepting work that fits our core capabilities and wheelhouse. Over the decades, we have gained client confidence and this is why we have become a preferred staffing partner.”
With an eye toward the future, Perdikakis is preparing GPA for generational continuity. “Working with the University of Cincinnati’s Goering Center Next Generation Institute, we are starting to put in place our succession plan preparing for the future of GPA. We are blessed to have all of our immediate family working in the business, including our 2nd generation leaders Lynn, named after my beloved mother Evelyn; Mandie, named after mother-in-law Margaret; George, named after my father; and our 3rd generation Gus C, our grandson named after me.”
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