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Sharlene Massie

We are a staffing agency that recruits and selects candidates based on our core values – enthusiasm, sincerity, stability, and loyalty – and places them in both temporary and permanent roles with our clients (businesses and not-for-profits.) We are woman-led and locally owned and operated for 26 years. As Masters at Matching Culture®, we match people to organizations, not just resumes to job descriptions, with a 96 per cent successful placement rate.

We have an immediate reach to nearly 8,000 active candidates and have supported over 3,300 companies in finding the perfect candidate.

Tell us about yourself?

My education was at Mount Royal University in public relations, but I have been in this industry for more than 30 years. I wanted to start my own business, and I guess I had rose-coloured glasses on. I believed I could do it, and I had a lot of clients standing behind me, saying they would support me. Finding a great match between employee and employer is incredibly satisfying.

If you could go back in time a year or two, what piece of advice would you give yourself?

I can go back a decade or two, actually. Every decade changes, and every year changes. I will never stop learning. I do know I need to keep my ego in check. No matter how good things get, there are always ups and downs. Also, I would say I have learned in the last year that my health has to come first. If I’m not healthy, I can’t do my job and support the people in my company.

What problem does your business solve?

LOL, right now low unemployment rates. We help businesses find the staff they need to do what they do. We can help them temporarily when they have gaps to fill, and we can recruit direct hires as well to keep them operating seamlessly and growing. Our recruiters are experts who can fill the roles businesses don’t have the time, energy, or networks to fill themselves. We make it easy. And we put people to work! Our Google reviews say it all.

What is the inspiration behind your business?

Businesses and our clients inspired our business. I hate seeing businesses struggle to find staff when they don’t have to.

What is your magic sauce?

We are a little old-school and also very forward and tech-focused. We have old-school values like loyalty and stability. We interview people. We pick up phones. We are service-focused. But we are also adopting new technologies and improving efficiency all the time. We believe activity breeds activity. We are fun. We are stylish and funky – never boring. Our office is loud and rowdy and full of laughing and talking. Our windows open. We work out together at lunch. We work hard while laughing loudly. Our people and culture are our secret sauce.

What is the plan for the next 5 years? What do you want to achieve?

I need to be able to afford my vacations! Travel is expensive, lol. Actually, retention is my number one priority. I have an amazing team. I also want modest growth. I need to be efficient. Right now, my focus is internal within our four walls. I’m also pushing health for everyone on my team.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced so far?

I’ve been through it all – a catastrophic flood, recessions, cyber-attacks, a Lamborghini crashing through my office, and of course, Covid-19. The one that had the most operational impact was the recession of 2014, 15, and 16. The learning that went along with that recession was immense. The operational changes I made turned out to be astronomical. Through that, I developed retainer options, not-for-profit rates, and focus statements. I survived line item by line item. I negotiated every penny. I took no salary. But I got through it, and then I was in great shape to move into a boom for us in 2018.

How can people get involved?

If you want to see what makes us different, you can visit our site, check out our amazing Google reviews, or give us a call at 403-508-1000. See if someone picks up. See if we call you back if our lines happen to be busy. We will.

It’s crazy not to use us if you need staff! Our retention rates are unreal. There’s a reason that almost everyone who uses us once uses us more than once.