Linda Jordan is a woman with undeniable vision. Over 20 years ago, she saw her job as a place with no professional future, so rather than sit and watch life pass her by, Jordan decided to take matters into her own hands.

“After spending 10 years in the placement industry with two different agencies, I wanted to spread my wings,” she explains.“My goal was to have a company that had a good blend of both temporary placement and direct hire services, working in partnership with our clients. I wanted to help them with not only talent search, but also cost control and special project management.”

But Jordan, president and CEO of L.K. Jordan and Associates, did not stop there. Once she formed the Corpus Christi-based company in 1990, she immediately visualized branching out to other Texas cities, expanding to Austin by 1996, Houston three years later and San Antonio in 2005.

“Our growth has helped us provide superior service to our clients who are expanding into those markets,” she says.

Born in Refugio, Jordan says she considers herself “a South Texas girl, through and through.” Her mother, a librarian, encouraged her to become a teacher but Jordan ultimately decided to follow in her mother’s footsteps and study library science at Texas Woman’s University.

After graduating, she found a job as a representative for a book wholesaler, but her extensive travel schedule throughout Texas and New Mexico took its toll on her family.

“It was rewarding, but after an especially tough year and lots of nights away from my daughter, I visited an agency to help me find a job,” Jordan recalls.“When they offered me a recruiter position, I took it and never looked back. I knew immediately that job placement was where I needed to be.”

Celebrating the company’s 20 year anniversary next year, Jordan says she still finds challenges that make each day unique and keep her excited about being in the office everyday.

“Most of my day is in managing the business, but I still interview and place candidates in jobs,” she says.“It’s what keeps me in touch with the challenges my employees experience in the market.”

Jordan says although the nation’s current economic slowdown means achieving growth in the staffing business is difficult, she has begun to see a big turnaround the last few months of the year.

“I feel optimistic,” says Jordan about the economy. “In the meantime, we are finding satisfaction in keeping relationships with our existing clients and making sure we are there for them as they start the rebuilding process.But we’re encouraged and happy to see growth again.”

Jordan’s natural flair for developing personal relationships with her clients has transformed many into lifelong friends.

“Over the last 20 years, she has placed me in some really good jobs,” marvels Dorise Steele, director of accounting at Sherwin Alumina. “She placed me as a controller at KRIS-TV years ago and that eventually turned into a job as the station manager. Each job has taken me to the next level.”

Steele says it’s Jordan’s personal touch that sets her apart from her competitors.

“She’s down to earth, a great friend and a great lady,” she says. “Linda has given me mentoring when I needed it and has even helped me make important decisions about my career. But then again, her entire organization is filled with down to earth people.”

After 20 years of building an empire, Jordan is not slowing down, but contemplating the natural evolution of her business: offering additional services, such as Vendor Management Services. Eventually, when the time does come for retirement, she says her daughter, Leslie Jordan-Willett, vice-president at L.K. Jordan is poised to take over as president.

“Leslie is a natural to move up into my role when the time is right for me to slow down, although I’m not planning to retire any time soon,” she smiles reassuringly.

Jordan says she believes the secrets to her company’s successes have been her hands-on approach to staff management along with her desire to consistently provide superior customer service to her clients.

“We work hard to maintain a happy workplace for our own employees.Our team is motivated by a friendly competition between our branches and the knowledge that when we do well, so do they,” Jordan confides.“By the same token, we believe in a partnership approach to staffing, staying abreast of our clients’ business needs and helping them to be successful.”