Qualified Resources International, a Cranston RI-based staffing company, acquired Monroe Staffing, a Monroe CT-based company with 2006 revenue of $40 million. Terms of the deal were not announced. Monroe's previous owner, Mark Christo, will remain with QRI to handle corporate business development.

Monroe Staffing specializes in engineering, IT, finance and accounting, administrative and clerical, and light industrial.

The deal "is a perfect fit with our East Coast expansion plans," said QRI president Timothy Harrington Jr. "This acquisition will provide our clients with expanded services and capabilities and will further position QRI as a customer-focused market leader, offering 12 locations throughout New England and the East Coast, specializing in engineering and information technology disciplines, administration, clerical, and light industrial."

QRI is part of Staff Service Group, a $3 billion company based in Japan.