Dealing in handshake contracts

Things stay the same as BEST finds itself under new management

It's not often the new owners of a business want to herald the fact that they're not changing a thing.

But that's exactly the cast with Basin Employment Service Training, Inc.

Located at 415 W. Third Ave., BEST has long had a tradition of good service as a temporary employment agency, according to new vice president Linda Lee Chambers.

Chambers and her husband Bill, new owner/CEO of BEST, have taken over the business from Bill's ex-wife, Linda Chambers Kenney. Bill and Linda Lee Chambers were married May 11.

"When they divorced, Linda took the business and Bill kept the home, but remained in the business as far as doing the books and that kind of thing," Chambers said. "Because they're friends; there's no animosity, which is heaven. When she remarried, of course, he was still involved with the business, so that's kind of how that transition took place."

Chambers said that the business wants to do as best as possible for the people that walk in through their door.

"Linda has done such a wonderful job," Chambers said. "She has certainly been a strong community support, and we want to continue that. We both believe in the community … so that's going to continue on, as BEST has always done."

Chambers said that they don't intend to change a thing about the business.

"BEST is known for being a good, strong, honest business to do business with," she said. "I can't even imagine what changes we would possibly make. It is a very efficient business. Karen [Porter, administrative assistant] and Bonnie [Rodriguez, office manager] are absolutely amazing; they are on the ball … There isn't any major change at all, other than the fact that there's just a different Linda."

BEST does not only place people in a temporary position, but it also does not charge employees if they find that temporary position to become permanent.

"In most cases, there's a fee," she said. "But Linda has always done the business in a handshake contract, and that's the way this business is operated and it will continue to operate that way. A handshake is honored. I think that's a pretty good way of describing this business."

Chambers said that when a person comes in, she, Bill, Porter or Rodriguez will sit down and talk with the person and find out what kind of employment they are looking for and where he or she would feel comfortable working.

"When we have a customer, a client, call and say, 'I'm looking for an individual that I think will fit in with our company,' what we've done already is have a pretty good idea of who will fit in best with that company," Chambers said.

BEST has about 100 to 130 people working in jobs that range from four hours to 40 hours, Porter said.

The Chambers officially took over the business from Kenney on Wednesday, although they have been working on the transition for six weeks.