AtWork Group, a national staffing franchise, acquired Palm Desert, Calif.,-based Desert Personnel Services, which has served Coachella Valley job market since 1975. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Gregg Hassler and Moses Rangel took over operations beginning Jan. 1, following the retirement of Desert Personnel’s prior owners. They will continue to work with the prior owners for a three-month transition period. Hassler and Rangel are AtWork franchise owners in Temecula, Calif.

In addition to the staffing and pre-employment screening services they currently provide at their Temecula location, Hassler and Rangel will target the growing hospitality and search division industries and bring experience to serve the casino industry. The new owners also identified the need for certified clerical and administrative staff to fill vacant medical administrative positions.

“AtWork SoCal’s success lies in a unique, all-encompassing approach to staffing.” said Hassler. “We provide a full-service model to guide employers and job seekers alike through the entire hiring process. We view the Desert Personnel acquisition as a perfect opportunity to expand the legacy of the Coachella Valley’s longest-running staffing agency by delivering effective solutions to area employers and job seekers.”

AtWork ranks on Staffing Industry Analysts’ lists of fastest-growing staffing firms. AtWork, based in Knoxville, Tenn., has 93 locations under its umbrella, 27 of which are company-owned.