PGS Worldwide

PGS Worldwide

• Rank: 5
• Headquarters: Independence, MO
• Top staffing segment(s) served –  Engineering
• 2019 US staffing revenue – $12.5 million
• Compound annual growth rate – 60.0%
• Website: www.pgsworldwide.com

Growth at PGS Worldwide is about keeping in close communication with its contractors while expanding business along with its customers as they grow. “We’ve grown by taking care of our clients’ needs - every single one that we can - and just the growth of client’s business mergers and acquisitions have led us to more opportunities,” founder Sean Lindsey says.

The Independence, Missouri-based staffing firm provides engineering staffing in the defense and aerospace industry. It works with three of the top-five defense and aerospace firms; workers placed by the firm have helped build satellites that are now flying overhead.

PGS’ aim is to work closely with clients, providing all the types of talent they need. It doesn’t just specialize in filling certain types of engineering positions. “If we join a program, we’re really hoping to take care of that program in total,” Lindsey says. “That way, we are able to grow within their organizations.” In fact, the company has placed workers from onsite cooks all the way up to nuclear engineers to make sure a client’s needs are met.

In addition to the relationships with its client companies, PGS also focuses on its relationships with contractors. The company is in contact with contractors at least once a week during the placement process. Dustin Couts, VP of business operations, says the company has a number of touch points through which it fosters the relationship between company and consultant.

“We try to make sure they feel they are part of our organization,” Couts says. Communication includes keeping workers up to date on what is happening in the aerospace industry as well as other approaches. For example, the company awards “challenge coins” to workers after 30 days. They are similar to military challenge coins awarded in the armed services for specific accomplishments. Overall, Couts says PGS’ growth comes down to timing and execution.

The company has also worked through the Covid-19 pandemic. Couts notes the company did see a decrease in requests and some contracts ended early. Still, it is moving forward, and most of its contractors and client companies are considered essential staff and operations.

The company has also been fortunate to work on the government side of aerospace, not the commercial side, which has seen more of an impact.

“I think that as far as getting through the Covid-19 situation, we’re pretty blessed to be in a sector that is considered essential,” says Lindsey, the founder. “Although there has been a little bit of decline in the short term in the beginning of the pandemic when everyone was wondering what was going to happen, it hasn’t been terrible for us.”