Corporate Headquarters:
125 S. Wacker Dr.
Suite 1250
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (312) 580-2500
Fax: (312) 580-2515
www.bannerpersonnel.com

A leader in the staffing industry since 1970, Banner is the largest privately-held staffing firm in Chicago certified as a WBE (Women Business Enterprise) by the City of Chicago. Consistently recognized in Crain’s Chicago Business’ top 25 listing of “Largest Women-Owned Firms” and “Chicago’s Largest Staffing Firms”, Banner Personnel Service has five offices throughout the greater Chicago Metropolitan area:

   • Chicago
   • Libertyville
   • Naperville
   • Oak Brook
   • Schaumburg

Celebrating thirty five years in business and ranked #24 of “Chicago’s Largest Women-owned Firms” in Crain’s BOOK OF LISTS 2005, Banner Personnel Service, Inc. provides opportunities in temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire positions. Banner assists clients in filling their staffing needs at all levels, whether an administrative assistant, receptionist, customer service representative, legal secretary, paralegal, insurance professional or a warehouse employee.

Banner Personnel Service, Inc. has maintained the same vision to be the premier staffing service to Chicago-area clients since its founding in 1970.

Banner...

   • Has been a staffing industry leader for over three decades
   • Brings service to clients’ doorsteps through five Chicago-area offices
   • Serves reputable clients in various industries and of all sizes
   • Consists of a professional team with staffing industry CPC/CTS certifications
   • Employees average five years of staffing industry experience
   • Niche specialists in the areas of Administration, Insurance, Legal and Light Industrial

History...

If it hadn't been for one man's vision and dynamism, Banner Personnel Service, Inc. would never have made it onto the landscape of Chicago's job placement industry. And if it weren't for the continued commitment of the man's wife, Banner wouldn't be leading the staffing industry into the 21st century.

James M. Singer, fresh out of college and newly married, got into the personnel field when he went looking for a job himself. Living in Kentucky with his wife Emel, Jim happened to pick up a Chicago Tribune. Job opportunities seemed endless in the Windy City, so he made appointments with some personnel agencies there. After meeting with the charismatic, success-driven candidate, the vice president of the very first agency hired Jim Singer himself.

As quickly as he took to the business, the business took to him, and after two years Jim was managing four branch offices. The absentee owners asked if he was interested in buying them out but the books revealed a troubled company. Jim took a pass on that offer but found it had whetted his entrepreneurial appetite. Even though the country was in the grip of a recession, he took over the lease of an insolvent downtown employment agency, purchasing its contents lock, stock and barrel. With a staff of three, Banner Personnel opened its doors for business in September 1970.

Just before the winter holidays, having lost her job because of the recession and expecting the couple's first child, Emel Singer joined Banner's office staff. As the years went on, she worked alongside her husband, answering phones, keeping the books, calculating the payroll - whatever was necessary - while the Singers' two children slept through their infancies amid the steady buzz of Banner's office.

The early years were a great struggle as Banner focused its efforts in placing direct-hire, professional-level employees. When the firm added office staffing services in the mid-1970s, the company began to take off and grew again in 1982 when Jim launched Banner Temporary Service, Inc. They were heading for a "banner" year in 1986 when Jim Singer was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He died less than a year later in December 1987. Emel was left with two adolescent children, 152 employees and a multi location business. No one thought the new chairwoman and CEO could handle it all - no one except her loyal and dedicated staff, whose unwavering support encouraged Emel to continue building Banner.

Born of Jim Singer's dream and fueled by the Banner Team's determination, today Banner continues to provide qualified temporary, temp-to-hire and direct hire talent to thousands of Chicago area Clients through their five regional offices.