The Ōnin Group promoted Jim Weaver to CEO and announced the initiation of an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP.

Weaver previously was chief operating officer at the Birmingham, Alabama-based staffing firm. He joined the company 23 years ago as an out-of-work musician seeking a warehouse position.

“Jim’s journey from the warehouse floor to the executive suite encapsulates the essence of opportunity and growth we stand for at The Ōnin Group,” Hugh Thomas, managing partner for Ōnin, said in a press release. “His leadership is a clear signal that hard work and dedication can lead to remarkable achievements at Ōnin.”

The company also announced other changes to its C-suite structure. Josh Gluskin, senior VP of strategic growth, will take on the role of chief strategy officer. Gluskin joins Weaver and Chief Information Officer Rick Orcutt on Ōnin‘s C-level leadership team.

Ōnin also noted its transition to an employee stock ownership plan underscores its commitment to community, shared prosperity and collective leadership.

“Stepping into the CEO role as we embark on this ESOP venture is a humbling privilege,” Weaver said in a press release. “The plan for this next era is simple: We will keep pressing into our core purpose of creating opportunity and empowering Ōninites as they, in turn, do the same for our teammates, clients and communities.”

The Ōnin Group ranks as the 13^th-largest industrial staffing firm in the US.

Jim Weaver