Our professional staff is top notch, offering years of experience and knowledge, as well as friendly attitudes. Below, you’ll find a brief introduction to many of our staff and their roles with Applied Recruiting Solutions.

JIM ANNIS – Managing Member of the LLC

Jim graduated with high honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1974. After moving to northern Nevada in 1981, he owned or was involved at a chief executive level in both small and medium-sized companies prior to opening Applied Staffing Solutions, LLC in 2002. Influenced by a combination of his experiences as an entrepreneur and 11 years in the staffing industry, Jim’s business philosophy is simple; there is joy in building a workplace which provides meaningful work, respects a balance of life for employees and fosters open communication. According to Jim, these three things are the reasons why you retain employees. It is not about money, it’s about these three things. In 2003 Jim established Applied Business Solutions (ABS), a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), which affords northern Nevada small businesses access to big company benefits and centralized HR expertise. His vision and leadership have been recognized as The Applied Companies were named one of the 2008 and 2009 Best Places to Work (EDAWN and Quantum research) and were nominated for a 2008 Distinguished Business Award in the Innovation category of the Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards (GIAA).

Jim is committed to northern Nevada as he is a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Reno Centennial Sunset and is that club’s Charter President, belongs to EDAWN (Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada), is past President of the Northern Nevada Human Resource Association, is a former Deacon at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, is past Secretary of Troop 107 of the Boy Scouts of America, is past Chair of the Reno Marketing Professionals, is on the Board of Directors of Nevada works and belongs to Western Industrial Nevada (WIN). Jim also belongs to the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board of the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce.

JESSE GREGORY - Division Manager of Applied Recruiting Solutions

Jesse was recently hired as the Division Manager for Applied Recruiting Solutions. His vast knowledge of the current employment market makes him a trusted advisor when considering human-capital solutions that affect your business. One of Jesse’s key strengths is bridging the gap between “A” companies and “A” candidates in highly technical positions and industries through non-traditional means. With over fifteen years in senior-level sales management positions, Jesse has worked for start-ups to Fortune 500 companies. A visionary entrepreneur, Jesse and his wife owned a professional recruiting firm specializing in the time-compressed placement of executive level management, mid-level management, and sales executive positions in the telecommunications arena where he was Vice President of Sales. Taking his passion for the recruiting field to the next level, he authored the “Get Hired Now” career coaching series, targeted toward professional and executive level career search methodologies.

LESSLIE BAUER - Business Development Partner

Lesslie is responsible for Business Development for all of The Applied Companies’ divisions. She has over fifteen years of sales management and marketing experience. Most recently, Lesslie was the West Coast Sales Manager for a NY based cosmetic company where she managed a team of eighty representatives and directly negotiated expanded distribution channels. As a former business owner, she understands the pressures entrepreneurs face and is confident that each of The Applied Companies can help her clients solve day-to-day HR-related business challenges. Lesslie is committed to educating her clients about new and creative solutions to address their needs and increase their bottom line. She believes that her creativity, listening abilities and respect for a company’s current position are her greatest strengths. “I look at any client’s business model like a puzzle. A business owner just needs to find the right pieces to fit the puzzle and it can always be a Perfect Picture. Sometimes the shapes are hard to see. Education is key. Our role is to help our clients find the missing pieces and open their eyes to new possibilities.”

“Helping our neighbors is something we are supposed to do in life,” says Lesslie, who has dedicated the last several years to non-profit and community activities. She recently collaborated with The Food Bank of Northern Nevada to implement Pay It Forward (PIF) Parties, which feed hungry children that are currently homeless or living in hotels. PIF Parties invites local business to host team-building employee luncheons and create Snack Packs for The Northern Nevada Food Banks’ Back Pack Program. “If every local business hosted one of these events a year, there would be no Hungry people in Northern Nevada,” said Lesslie, “so watch out for your invitation!” After efforts to educate the Washoe County School Board on the need for higher nutrition for our Nevada children, Lesslie created “Get Real,” an organization for parents whose mission was to educate parents on healthier choices. Get Real organized Health Fairs for children to show them healthier food choices and published a monthly kid-friendly recipe in the Washoe Family Magazine.

BILL MCRAE - Business Development Partner

Bill uses his thirty years of sales and customers service experience to educate local business owners about ABS’s strategic solutions for their complex HR challenges. A seasoned PEO professional, Bill was previously responsible for business development and sales management for a northern Nevada PEO. He has seen first-hand the benefits that small and medium sized companies can derive by using ABS’s services, especially in the areas of employee benefit programs and regulatory compliance. He also knows the challenges that business owners face as he was responsible for membership for the National Federal of Independent Business (NFIB), the nation’s largest small business lobby and the third largest lobby in the country. Bill’s nine years of experience as an owner of an import export business has definitely given him empathy with his clients. Bill considers himself a “problem solver” and enjoys developing long term relationships with clients. He takes pride in helping clients “peel away the onion” to determine their true HR needs. Despite the economy, Bill doesn’t want his clients to settle for less and truly believes that ABS is the right thing for them. Bill dedicates volunteer time to his children’s sports activities and his local church in Gardnerville

PAT PRENDERGAST - Business Development Partner

Pat puts her twenty-three years of sales management and business development experience to work every day to the advantage of her clients. She holds Certificate of Completion as a Full Service Staffing Account Manager from International Staffing University, which attests to her in-depth knowledge in all aspects of the staffing industry. Pat is proud of the nick name that has followed her for years, “Queen of Follow-Up.” Her clients value that Pat always touches base, which lets them know that she is there even if they don’t have an immediate need. Her primary goal is to provide a level of customer service that is above and beyond anything her clients have experienced before. Pat has worked for national companies, as well as locally owned companies, and understands the challenges of owning and managing a business. Pat’s entrepreneurial experience began when she began to study and become certified in counseling at the University of Houston. After focusing on courses in personal growth and healing techniques, she became a Life Coach, and went on to write monthly columns for magazines which incorporated her expertise. She believes that this education helped her to truly listen to others’ concerns and to problem solve, which results in giving her clients the “right solution, each and every time.”

Pat is a member of the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA) and the Reno Business Referrals Networking Group. She sits on the Welcoming Committee of the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Business Builders Committee for EDAWN. Her sales achievement for a national staffing company was recognized in 2003 for most improved sales year over year and the most improved gross profit year over year.