For Ryan Shelton, moving around the country as a child gave him a wide view of life in the U.S. From California to Tennessee and North Carolina, each place left a lasting impression. But when he settled in Oregon, it became the place he and his wife would call home. Now, as part of Selectemp Employment Services in Albany, Ryan is bringing his passion for customer service and relationship-building to a role that helps local businesses and job seekers alike.
Ryan didn’t start his career in staffing; he spent several years in the automotive industry, working at local car dealerships. That experience shaped his approach to business, especially when it came to customer service.
“The automotive industry gets a bad reputation,” Ryan shared. “No one enjoys buying a car—it’s stressful and not fun. Working in that environment taught me the value of good customer service. My approach was always to inform customers and let them make their own decisions, rather than pushing anything on them.”
It was that mindset of building trust and providing value that naturally led him to a new career. When he and his wife welcomed their first child, Ryan began looking for more stability. This search brought him to Selectemp Employment Services, where he saw an exciting opportunity to use his customer-focused skills in a new way, and is now the Business Development Manager.
“I had no idea what staffing was about, but the role seemed intriguing,” he said. “I jumped in, and I’ve been with Selectemp for just over four months now.”
Selectemp Employment Services isn’t new to Oregon. The company began in Eugene in 1987, founded by a few people who came from the logging industry and were very familiar with staffing agencies for their own business. They saw a need for agencies with a skilled workforce, both for seasonal and temporary staffing as well as long term temp to hire roles. Many industries require employees who could work during peak seasons, but without a need for year-round contracts. Selectemp filled that gap by connecting skilled laborers with companies for temporary employment.
Since then, Selectemp has grown, expanding into five locations across Oregon, including Salem, Albany, Bend, Roseburg, and the original Eugene office. But while the company has deep roots in the Pacific Northwest, it’s also part of the larger Talent Launch Network, a national organization based in Ohio. Ryan noted how this partnership enhances Selectemp’s ability to serve local businesses while tapping into nationwide resources.
“Talent Launch handles things like payroll, marketing, and legal services for us, which frees up our team to focus on what we do best: connecting businesses with great candidates,” Ryan explained. “It’s the best of both worlds—we have local leadership and decision-making but with the support of a much larger network.”
In Albany, Selectemp’s focus is clear: helping local businesses in the light industrial sector find the workers they need. Whether it’s manufacturing, distribution centers, or skilled trades, Selectemp specializes in matching candidates to positions in production, warehouse work, and more.
“About 90% of what we do is in light industrial,” Ryan said. “But we also place people in entry-level office positions, like receptionists or billing clerks. It’s a wide range, and we’re always working to understand what businesses need most.”
But finding the right workers in the current economic climate can be tough, especially as businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19. Employers are facing challenges when it comes to wages and competing for talent.
“We’ve had some tough conversations with our clients,” Ryan shared. “They’ll come to us and say they’re struggling to find people, and we sometimes have to explain that you have to pay a little bit more to attract the people that you want.”
Ryan emphasized that Selectemp’s role goes beyond filling positions. The goal is to form true partnerships with local businesses. “We want to make sure that we’re ingrained in their business, and we want to understand the good things and the bad things, and what’s hard about their industry, and what’s great about it.”
On the flip side, Selectemp helps connect job seekers with employers. Whether someone is looking for seasonal work during Albany’s busy agricultural seasons or seeking long-term employment in manufacturing, there are plenty of opportunities in the area.
“Albany has a surprising variety of products made right here in town,” Ryan added. “A lot of people don’t realize how much is manufactured locally unless they’re specifically looking for it. We see everything from seasonal work in agriculture to production roles.”
At the heart of Selectemp’s success are the company’s core values. They’ve created a memorable acronym, METRICS, which stands for Make it Happen, Entrepreneurship, Teamwork, Relationships, Integrity, Communication, and Sense of Urgency. These values guide the company’s interactions with both business clients and job seekers.
“We want to build personal and professional relationships with everyone we work with,” Ryan explained. “It’s not just about sending people to jobs—it’s about making sure they’re the right fit and ensuring that businesses have the workforce they need to succeed.”
While Ryan’s professional journey is impressive, his personal life is full of adventure too. After growing up moving across the U.S., his favorite place to live might surprise you—North Carolina. “It’s beautiful there, and the beaches are amazing,” he said. “The water is warm, unlike the Oregon coast, so I’d have to say North Carolina wins.”
One of his most memorable travel experiences came from a trip to Iceland with his wife. While hiking to a glacier, they encountered an unexpected challenge.
“We signed up to do a zip line across this deep ravine,” Ryan recalled, “but when we got there, we found out we had to build the zip line ourselves! It was a total surprise.”
Despite the unexpected twist, Ryan and his wife successfully completed the adventure, a fitting metaphor for the hands-on approach Ryan brings to his work at Selectemp—helping businesses and job seekers build strong connections and cross new heights.
Ryan also takes pride in Selectemp’s community involvement. One of the company’s favorite causes is working with CASA, an organization that helps children in foster care. Last year, Selectemp participated in a Pajama Drive for CASA, and Ryan looks forward to continuing that tradition.
As Ryan Shelton settles into his role at Selectemp Employment Services, his commitment to providing excellent service to local businesses is clear.
If you’re a business in Albany looking for staffing solutions or a job seeker ready for your next opportunity, Selectemp Employment Services is ready to partner with you.
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Dec. 20th, 2023