WOMEN OF THE YEAR 2002: Rhonda Robichaux

Rhonda Robichaux

Position: President of APCO Personnel Services, L.L.C. and APCO Payrolling Services, L.L.C.

Age: 37

Family: husband, Greg

Education: Immaculata High School

After working for years in the staffing industry, Rhonda Robichaux began to question the wisdom

"Here I was doing everything from top to bottom but I was making money for someone else," Robichaux says.

In 1998, using a $6,000 loan from her parents, Robichaux bought a computer, copier, phone and fax machine, and started her own permanent placement staffing company, APCO Personnel Services LLC. She couldn't afford an office so she worked from home and interviewed applicants at nearby restaurants.

Nine months later, she repaid her parents, opened an office, hired a staff and expanded her business to include permanent Placement, temporary and temp-to-hire.

Based in Marrero, APCO Personnel Services fills openings in everything from management and clerical to the hospitality industry. Robichaux says the people she finds jobs for come from all walks of fife, but she is particularly interested in helping the homeless.

"The jobs I find them are entry-level but it's full-time and helps them get off the street and save some money," Robichaux says. "A lot of these people just ran into some bad luck and are trying to get back on their feet."

Many homeless people don't have the proper attire to wear to interviews, so Robichaux purchases suits and dresses at local thrift stores for them.

"You can't get a job without a suit but you can't afford the suit without a job," Robichaux says.

Robichaux has 30 homeless individuals working and on their way toward finding apartments. One man lost his job after the Sept. 11 attacks, forcing his entire family into shelters. With the help of APCO, he found a job, is working full time and has a home for his wife and children.

"This is a huge accomplishment in my life and every time I put someone to work I feel like I'm succeeding," Robichaux says. "They've lost everything including their self-esteem and it gets the best of them until they feel like they're failing at everything. We're doing our best to get them back on their feet again and give them some of their confidence back."

Robichaux began a second business with her father in 1999 called APCO Payrolling Services LLC, an employee leasing company that assists small businesses unable to cover the spiraling cost of workers' compensation. Robichaux, who grew up on the West Bank, says she would like to eventually open a nonprofit organization to collect donations for clothing for the homeless.

"When most people see a guy sleeping on the street they consider him a bum but I see someone going through some hard times," Robichaux says. "We just want people to be more aware of their situations."