The Nelson Family of Companies, a Sonoma CA-based staffing firm, named Catherine Candland as its CEO effective May 1. Candland takes over the CEO role from founder Gary Nelson, who will remain chairman.

Candland's experience includes founding a staffing firm called Advantage in 1985. That company was later sold to Crystal Co. in 2004, which in turn was sold to The Goodwill Group in 2007 -- ultimately purchased by Cerberus Capital Management in 2009. She remained president and CEO of Advantage as it grew into a company with more than $200 million in revenue.

Candland is moving to California from Connecticut as she takes on the new role.

The Nelson Family of Companies ranked No. 44 on Staffing Industry Analysts' 2009 list of largest U.S. staffing firms.

Nelson founded the company in 1970. Its divisions include WorkforceLogic, Nelson Staffing, Nelson & Associates, Nelson Technology, NelsonJobs.com and HRhome.