While our primary business is pest management, it is also steeped in the people business.
Leila Haas, Sprague’s director of human resources, was recently honored by the Tacoma, Washington Business Examiner in its ‘40 Under Forty’ program that recognizes outstanding business and community leaders under the age of 40 in southern Puget Sound region.
The Business Examiner says 40 Under Forty recipients represent: “the diversity and excellence of the South Sound and includes those who have made great accomplishments and significant contributions to their businesses, industries and communities.”
Haas, a former high school teacher, holds a Master’s degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Seattle Pacific University and recently celebrated her fifth anniversary with Sprague.
“I am honored to be named to this prestigious program since it aligns with Sprague’s belief that you should always be looking to learn and gain knowledge to further your mission,” says Haas.
Finding and retaining top talent is a challenge every organization faces today and Sprague, with its long history of growth and innovation, is always exploring ways to develop top performers from within its ranks as well as identify new talent to bring into the fold.
“We take a strategic grassroots approach to recruitment and development, and believe our brand speaks for itself,” says Haas. “We want to engage not only with clients but within the communities we serve as well.”
Haas says Sprague pairs its legacy as a multi-generation family company with an aggressive, innovative approach to growth – a formula that benefits both clients and employees.
“We recognize our most valuable asset is people – plain and simple,” says Haas. “We stress innovation in our approach to pest management as well as in identifying and nurturing growth of talent inside and outside our walls. We want to be the best company we can be and not just in pest management.”
Sprague is proactive in using feedback from regular employee check-ins to gain insights on how to create continuing education offerings that promote both professional and personal development.
“We want to develop the whole person and these ‘stay interviews’ help us identify what programs are working and detect the gaps,” adds Haas. “The data we collect allows us to make better decisions as a company.”
Haas and her team also keep prospective Sprague candidates in the loop on what’s happening with the company even when a position is not currently open by sharing podcasts, videos or newsletters.
Why is pest management a desirable career path? Haas says one of the unique aspects about working in pest management is that an individual can see an actual outcome of their work protecting food and property each and every day.
“We proactively want to build our bench strength and attract individuals interested in exploring a career path that is always evolving,” says Haas.