Spherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) in South Bend announced that franchise owners Tom and Elizabeth Pentenburg were presented with the President’s Award and Recruiting Excellence Award during the company’s annual National Meeting. Additionally, team member Jack Pentenburg was recognized as a Top New Business Developer.
The Pentenburgs led their team through a year of strategic investment and expansion, adding business development leaders across the markets they serve and introducing specialized recruiting roles focused on skilled trades and industrial management. These efforts resulted in the addition of more than 120 new clients and a 13% increase in gross profit in 2025, while maintaining a 4.8 Google rating and a 96.9% average quality assurance score across all offices.
Tom and Elizabeth were also recognized with the Recruiting Excellence Award for their team’s ability to evolve and execute innovative recruiting strategies. By launching a multi-channel marketing campaign highlighting team culture, opportunity and community impact, they successfully expanded their internal team while achieving nearly 250 placements in temporary hire roles.
Jack Pentenburg earned recognition as a Top New Business Developer for his strong sales performance and consultative approach to client partnerships. Through strategic networking and a deep understanding of local workforce trends, he has played a key role in driving new business growth across the organization.
“These awards reflect the intentional growth and collaboration we’ve prioritized across our entire team,” said Tom Pentenburg. “We’ve focused on investing in our people, strengthening our recruiting strategies and building meaningful partnerships in each of our markets. It’s incredibly rewarding to see that work translate into results, and we’re proud of the impact our team continues to make for our clients, candidates and communities.”
The 2026 Spherion National Meeting was held in Baltimore, Maryland, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel from March 18-21. Uniting franchisees, corporate leaders and strategic partners from across the country for several days of learning and celebration, this year’s company-wide gathering was especially meaningful as Spherion marks its 80th anniversary in 2026, celebrating eight decades of connecting businesses with talent and strengthening local communities.
Team members participated in educational sessions focused on topics relevant to the 2026 hiring reality, such as the importance of human interaction, legal trends, and using AI tools to grow revenue. The meeting concluded with Spherion’s Awards & 80th Anniversary Celebration, recognizing top-performing franchisees and offices whose leadership and results exemplify the brand’s commitment to excellence.
"As we celebrate 80 years of serving communities across the country, it’s incredibly inspiring to see the work our franchisees are doing in their local markets," said Kathy George, president of Spherion Staffing and Recruiting. "Tom, Elizabeth, Jack and their entire team across their offices in Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky embody the qualities that have allowed the Spherion network to thrive for so many years. Their dedication to building meaningful relationships with clients and candidates while helping businesses grow and individuals find opportunity is making a lasting impact in the community."
