A Message from Our CEO

To our clients, colleagues, and friends:

This year has proven to be unique in many ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all both personally and professionally. While it is easy to focus on the negative, I wanted to take a moment to share with you how we are focusing on the positive.

Each of us has had to adjust our normal lives to be productive parents, spouses, partners, friends, and children. Some days we feel overwhelmed by the lack of bandwidth because our spouse and kids are at home on their devices. Some of our team have become the teacher for their school-aged children (God bless our teachers!) and others have been faced with positive COVID-19 tests or other health issues in family members and the burden of caring for their needs is heavy. A few of our team feel that the overload of information and increased communication is exhausting; while others, like me, are missing the physical interaction we usually have with our clients and each other. At the end of the day, each of us is able to lie down knowing that we have an amazing support team at AAG. We have learned to have grace with each other as we work through these daily personal challenges. Because of the trust, communication, and accountability between us, all eight of our team show up every day, ready to serve clients with our best foot forward.

Over the last 6 months, how we do business has also faced significant change. Many of our clients postponed or canceled scheduled facilitations. Some are not comfortable with the pivot to a virtual world and others have simply shifted budgets and no longer have funds for training/facilitation. As of now, it doesn’t look like the government will be handing out additional support and the result will be that some must close the doors. This made us think about our priorities; what do all businesses need – even amongst the restrictions forced by COVID-19?

AAG has a team of smart, creative, experienced staff whose focus will be to provide essential HR services and grow through project-based and interim, fractional HR. Some may ask if this means we are no longer doing virtual facilitations. No! We will continue providing services clients request; however, our primary focus will be on meeting the immediate needs of our clients such as Outsourced HR Support, Payroll/Benefit Support, unbundling PEOs, etc.

What does any of this have to do with you? First, we understand the personal and business challenges and are walking through them too (sometimes it helps to know others are experiencing the same). Second, we ask that you think about your sphere of influence – what decision-makers do you know that could use help right now? Do you know someone who had to let their HR staff go because of the pandemic? Do you know someone who is looking for a more cost-effective way to manage payroll or benefits? Maybe you know someone who bought into a PEO last year but now is realizing it’s probably more then they need (or can afford). We are here to help!

Please share my contact information with anyone that comes to mind. We are grateful for your influence and willingness to help our mutual clients.

Sincerely,
Lisa Blanton
CEO & Business Advisor