We had the good fortune of connecting with Rachel Bickham and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Rachel, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Bickham Services Unlimited LLC was started out of the desire to help people find rewarding employment opportunities and make lasting professional connections. Initially, I was a sole proprietor focusing on administrative and project support services. After successfully hiring 1099 contractors to perform work on a Purchase Order, I quickly realized the impact it had on them being able to provide for themselves and their families. That’s when I knew I had what it took to transform the business into something that would make a greater impact on the lives of many. The business structure was later changed to an LLC and its service offerings to full-cycle staffing and recruiting with a focus on construction staffing.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Bickham Services Unlimited, LLC. is a staffing and recruiting company located in Houston, Texas. We specialize in personalized staffing solutions for both private and government clients by matching quality talent with opportunities. We provide top-quality temp-to-hire, temporary, long-term, and direct-hire placements. Our recruiting team has staffed in-demand professionals in the Construction, Information Technology, Industrial, Administrative, and Support industries.
As a certified minority and Woman Owned Small Business, Bickham Service’s recruiting and matching processes are key to our continued success in quickly and effectively supplying high-quality staff. We have established a wide network of diverse high achievers. Through this well-established diversity network, our firm has been able to identify and qualify the best and the brightest talent and interest them in opportunities with the organizations we serve. By implementing a staffing and recruiting plan that aligns with the latest industry trends in technology, skill demands, and compensation, Bickham Services can take environmental factors, organizational structure and culture, job responsibilities, and business objectives into consideration to obtain the best-qualified candidates. Our team of recruiters are experienced in the industries we serve, therefore understands the importance of having experienced competent personnel from both risk management and
operational standpoints.
Like many organizations, Bickham Services was severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as companies began to lay off employees and place hiring freezes on all open positions. All staffing contracts were placed on indefinite hold due to the worldwide lockdown. It was a challenging time but we managed to get through it. We landed a federal staffing subcontract after six long grueling months of no work. Revenue increased by over 400%. I’m extremely proud of the resilience we showed in the midst of a crisis. Many businesses were forced to close their doors and never reopened but we managed to survive and thrive in the aftermath. We’re still feeling the economic impact of the pandemic yet we continue to overcome each obstacle faced.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When my best friends, Ida and Christina, comes to town, we always visit Bar 5015 for Sunday Funday. It’s such a vibe with great music and people-watching. We’ll eat brunch at Thirteen, lunch at The Warwick, drinks and light bites at Joey’s Uptown, and dinner at Juliet’s, Steak 48, or Kiss Houston because we’re all about good food and good vibes. For something more relaxed and social we will go to Moxies, Brenner’s on the Bayou, or Patterson Park. We’re huge San Francisco 49ers fans (sorry Texans) therefore Social Beer Garden is our go-to place to watch football. Houston Niner Empire hosts game day watch parties whenever the 49ers play and yours truly is definetly in the building with my Niners gear on. For fun and entertainment, it’s all about Puttshack, Puttery, Cidercade, Zero Latency, and Immersive Gamebox. We can be grown kids and live our best lives!
When I’m not working, hanging out with friends and family, or traveling, I enjoy giving back to my community. You may catch me hosting a toy drive, feeding the homeless, or distrubuting relief boxes with Bread of Life.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First and foremost, God. Without Him I am nothing and I can’t do anything. I give him all the praise and glory. The second shoutout goes to my son, Darren R. Gardner. He’s the reason why I keep going. Even though he’s an adult now, I still want to be a role model for him. I want to let him see that anything is possible when you trust and believe in God and yourself. I love you more than life, son. My late sister, Bridget, instilled in me a strong work ethic and always encouraged me to be the best version of myself. Every time I went to her for advice, she would tell me that I could do anything I put my mind to and not to doubt myself. I miss you every day, Sis. My family and friends have been supportive and understanding. Thank you and I love you all. My past and present employees. I believe employees are a company’s greatest assets. Thank you all. Last but not least, every company I’ve ever worked for. I thank them for giving me the opportunity, experience, and education I needed to venture on my own. Every position I held in the past was a stepping stone to get me to where I am now. Therefore, I’m extremely grateful to them all.
Website: www.bickhamservices.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-bickham-cdt-56110140/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BickhamServicesUltd/
Image Credits
Ke’er Orr at Point and Click Photography