Oklahoma: A Story Through Her People

EXPRESS
EMPLOYMENT
PROFESSIONALS
Above: Bob Funk, CEO and chairman of the
board for Express Employment Professionals.
Right: Bob Funk always wanted to be a
rancher. He owns Express Ranches, the No. 1
pure-bred cattle producer in North America.
Below: Bob Funk is named
Most Admired CEO.
Oklahoma is a state where the American
dream still exists. People with big dreams,
much like Bob Funk, can see them come
to fruition because of the Oklahoma spirit.
This state welcomes entrepreneurs. And, the
result is an environment where businesses
and employees thrive.
Funk is CEO and chairman of the board
for Express Employment Professionals, the
largest franchised staffing company, second
largest privately held staffing company and
the number one industrial staffing company
in the United States.
Express provides expertise in evaluation
hire, temporary staffing, professional search
and human resources, and works across a
wide variety of industries for more than
55,000 companies annually.
It all started when Funk moved from
Washington to pursue an opportunity
in Oklahoma.
“I am an Oklahoman, not by birth, but
by choice,” Funk said. “For me, coming to
Oklahoma was a turning point in my life.
I am convinced that no other state would
have offered the business opportunities that
I experienced as a young entrepreneur. If
you want to see your dreams realized, then
Oklahoma is the place for you.
“At eighteen, I decided I wanted to be three
things simultaneously—a minister, a rancher,
and an entrepreneur,” Funk said. “When I
made that declaration to my boss at the time,
he told me I was dreaming. But, I didn’t let that
stop me. I worked my way through college
and became the first to graduate out of
thirty-two cousins. Today, I am so blessed to
have seen all three of those dreams come true.”
“I became a true entrepreneur in 1983 with
the start of Express. My cattle business has
been a passion of mine that’s led to Express
Ranches, located in Yukon, Oklahoma,
becoming the number one, pure-bred cattle
producer in North America,” Funk said. “And
most importantly to me, the staffing industry
is a ministry because we are able to give hope
and encouragement to so many people.”
Express has become a powerful economic
leader in Oklahoma, in large measure, because
of a fearless work ethic of Funk and the
employees at the company’s international headquarters
and thirty-four local franchises. Hard
work and determination are part of the
Oklahoma culture, and part of the reason that
Express has reached its current level of success.
“The 322 individuals at our international
headquarters in Oklahoma City and in our
offices throughout the state of Oklahoma
are the most productive, loyal and driven
employees I could possibly ask for,” Funk
said. “The company is successful because of
the relationships we build with employees,
potential employees, franchisees, businesses
and the community.”
Funk aspires to the notion that everyone
deserves to experience the satisfaction and
self-esteem that comes from being engaged
in meaningful work. Whether you are an
IT professional, an entrepreneur, a warehouse
worker, or any and everything in between,
meaningful work can add purpose and fulfillment
to your life. It can help shape your
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