The Past
On January 3, 1991, Genesis Employment Services was founded in Boston. It wasn’t the best time to start up a business, as the country was in the midst of a recession. But while the PEO industry had seen great success in other parts of the country, it was largely absent in New England—so we decided, “Why not here?”
What a difference a quarter century makes! Today, two name-changes later, Genesis HR Solutions remains the largest New England-based PEO. More importantly, the company has been continually accredited by the Employer Services Assurance Organization since 1996—and on June 1st, 2017, Genesis became one of the first PEOs certified by the Internal Revenue Service as a CPEO.
The Present
Yes, we had plenty to celebrate this year. And celebrate we did! Last week, led by Patty Hilger (president and chief operating officer) and Diane Stevenson (president and chief financial officer), the Genesis HR team gathered at the Stowe Mountain Resort in beautiful Stowe, Vermont, for a truly magnificent weekend.
The team that works so hard serving the small business community in New England showed their steely resolve by tackling some very challenging trails—including a straight-up climb to the crest of Mount Mansfield. At the celebratory dinner on Friday evening, we recalled the history of Genesis and the PEO industry, and I gave an extremely well-deserved tribute to the team that makes Genesis the success that it is.
We also acknowledged and celebrated our role in creating a better community. The Genesis Battlegreen Run affords small non-profit organizations the ability to raise funds more effectively, just as small businesses serviced by Genesis HR Solutions grow and prosper.
The Future
So what will the next 25 years bring? No one really knows. But with the proliferation of small businesses and the need for PEOs to help them succeed, we are extremely optimistic about the future. During our Vermont weekend retreat, we took the chance to celebrate each other and give thanks. For me, it was a great moment indeed—and one that was 25 years in the making.
