For nearly two decades, Laura Nowlan has been a cornerstone of the staffing industry in Las Vegas. Her career began 18 years ago, and for the last ten years, she’s been at the helm of her own staffing agency. With a focus on creating long-term partnerships rather than quick fixes, Laura has developed a company that thrives on aligning talent with opportunity while fostering meaningful connections between businesses and employees.
Roles Within
Running a staffing agency means managing two sides of a dynamic marketplace: the clients who need staff and the people seeking jobs. While finding quality candidates has never been a challenge for Laura’s team, the real focus is building relationships with companies. She views her agency as an extension of her clients’ HR departments, offering solutions for businesses struggling to attract and retain talent. For Laura, it’s not about simply filling a role—it’s about creating a win-win situation where both the employee and the employer can succeed.
Overcoming Challenges & Growth
During the pandemic, when many businesses faced uncertainty, Laura saw an opportunity to expand. She opened a branch in Irving, Texas, and within a month landed a national logistics account. This led to projects in Indiana and Arizona, where her team filled hundreds of positions, showcasing her agency’s ability to adapt and deliver results even in challenging times.
Committed to Culture
Laura is committed to finding the right culture and skills fit for each placement, ensuring employees thrive in their new roles and clients receive dependable team members. Her success stories range from relocating a project manager from California to Nevada, who has remained with the company for five years, to placing employees who have grown into long-term positions spanning over a decade. These examples highlight her agency’s dedication to sustainable hiring practices.
Family Involvement
Laura’s journey as a business owner is deeply personal. Her three children have played integral roles in the company’s development. From investing in the business to contributing operational support, her family has been there every step of the way. Even her grandson has caught the entrepreneurial spirit, inspired by the legacy Laura has built.
Advocacy for Others
As an advocate for women entrepreneurs, Laura has utilized resources like WBEC-West, the SBA, and SCORE to grow her business. Recently, she completed an advanced leadership course sponsored by Cox Communications and Southwest Gas, where she gained insights into AI and accounting that she’s now integrating into her work.
For aspiring business owners, Laura’s advice is straightforward: tap into community resources and build your company thoughtfully. While partnerships can be beneficial, she advises caution, suggesting that employees may be a better initial option than co-founders. Through careful planning and unwavering determination, Laura has achieved full ownership of her company and continues to expand its impact.
Moving Forward
Looking ahead, Laura’s focus remains on connecting with businesses that value long-term relationships and high-quality staffing solutions. Her story is a testament to the power of resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to doing things differently in an industry where the human element often takes center stage. Listen to Laura Nowlan’s full journey on Women in Motion here: https://businessradiox.com/podcast/women-in-motion/staffing-success/
About Women’s Business Enterprise Council-West (WBEC-West)
WBEC-West is a regional partner of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), a coalition of corporations, WBEs, and regionally focused women’s business organizations. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC is the largest certifier of women’s business enterprises in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supply chain.
