Credentials


	Our professional staff is top notch, offering years of experience and knowledge, as well as friendly attitudes. Below, you’ll find a brief introduction to many of our staff and their roles with Applied Business Solutions.

	JIM ANNIS – Managing Member of the LLC Jim graduated with high honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1974. After moving to northern Nevada in 1981, he owned or was involved at a chief executive level in both small and medium-sized companies prior to opening Applied Staffing Solutions, LLC in 2002. Influenced by a combination of his experiences as an entrepreneur and eleven years in the staffing industry, Jim’s business philosophy is simple; there is joy in building a workplace which provides meaningful work, respects a balance of life for employees and fosters open communication. According to Jim, these three things are the reasons why you retain employees. It is not about money, it’s about these three things. In 2003 Jim established Applied Business Solutions (ABS), a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), which affords northern Nevada small businesses access to big company benefits and centralized HR expertise. His vision and leadership have been recognized as The Applied Companies were named one of the 2008 and 2009 Best Places to Work (EDAWN and Quantum research) and were recently nominated for a 2008 Distinguished Business Award in the Innovation category of the Governor’s Industry Appreciation Awards (GIAA). Jim is committed to northern Nevada as he is a Charter member of the Rotary Club of Reno Centennial Sunset and is that club's Charter President, belongs to EDAWN (Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada), is past President of the Northern Nevada Human Resource Association, is a former Deacon at St. John's Presbyterian Church, is past Secretary of Troop 107 of the Boy Scouts of America, is past Chair of the Reno Marketing Professionals, is on the Board of Directors of Nevada works and belongs to Western Industrial Nevada (WIN). Jim also belongs to the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and has served on the board of the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce.

	CELESTE PETERSON, PHR (Professional in Human Resources) PEO Director, Human Resources and National Client Services celeste.peterson@appliedbusinessnv.com With more than fifteen years experience in the human resource field, Celeste has found the PEO division with Applied her most rewarding position due to “the diversity of the clients and the ability to assist small businesses with human resource support.” Under her management and guidance, ABS was named Most Innovative HR Department in 2008 by the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA). Originally from Iowa, Celeste came to the Reno/Tahoe area in the mid 90's and was awarded a degree in speech communication from the University of Nevada, Reno. She has published various articles as an authority in Human Resources for the NNHRA newsletter, the Northern Nevada Business Weekly, and the Reno Gazette Journal. Celeste’s credentials include: certificate in Human Resource Management from the College of Extended Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) graduate of Leadership Reno/Sparks 2010 through the Reno/Sparks Chamber of Commerce. Completed community children’s waiting room project at HAWC Clinic completed the Washoe County Medical Society Mini Internship Program Programs Director/Board Member for the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA) in January 2007 Board of Director and committee chair for the Young Professional’s Network (YPN) National Group Health Plan committee member for National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) Member of the Entrepreneur Organization (EO) Member of the Nevada Development Committee of Planned Parenthood Mira Monte Volunteer with All Students College Educated in Nevada Today (ASCENT) Former member of the Diversity Conference Planning Committee, sponsored by the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association.

	MEGAN LEE, PHR (Professional in Human Resources) - PEO Human Resource Partner Megan graduated Cum Laude from the University of San Francisco with a degree in Communication Studies. Shortly after graduation, Megan moved to San Jose, California, where she secured a position in Human Resources with Google. At Google, Megan worked in benefit support, recruiting, staffing and Human Resource generalist activities. Upon relocating to Reno, it was a natural fit for Megan to work in an environment that utilized all of her experience. Megan says that "interfacing with clients and providing small companies with the human resource support that they need to better manage their businesses" are the most gratifying elements of her job. She is passionate about maintaining ABS’ high customer service standard and strives to go above and beyond for her clients on a daily basis. Megan is currently a member of NNRHA (Northern Nevada Human Resources Association) and has published an article for their newsletter. She is a former member of the Diversity Conference Planning Committee, sponsored by the NNHRA. In 2006, Megan received her Human Resource Management Certificate through the College of Extended Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. She then went on to earn her PHR (Professional in Human Resources) designation from SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) in 2007.

	MINDY STEWART, PHR (Professional in Human Resources)- PEO Human Resources Partner Mindy graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor’s degree in Business Management emphasizing in Human Resources in 2005. While studying at the university, she spent five summers as a Summer Student in the Accounts Payable/Payroll department at Barrick Goldstrike Mines, Inc. where she was exposed to hands on training in several aspects of administration. Prior to joining ABS, Mindy was the Personnel Coordinator with Lithia Motors. Mindy is responsible for all new hires, workers’ compensation claims, pay rate changes and other administrative duties. She believes her organizational skills are an asset as “being efficient helps me get back to clients and employees quickly.” Mindy continues her love of learning and career development by working towards an HR Certification through the University of Nevada, and she recently received her PHR (Professional in Human Resources) designation from the Human Resource Certification Institute. She is also an active member of the NNHRA (Northern Nevada Human Resources Association).

	ANGELA ATCHLEY, SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources)– PEO Director, Human Resources & Client Services Angela Atchley is a seasoned professional with over twenty years experience in Human Resources and over nine years experience in Unemployment Administration and Account Management. Prior to coming onboard with ABS, Angela served as the Employee Relations, Communications & Training Manager for Silver Legacy Resort Casino. She holds an Associate of Arts degree as a paralegal in Legal Administration from Morrison College/Reno Business College. She has also earned her SPHR, Senior Professional in Human Resources designation from the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). In her role as Applied Business Solution’s Human Resources Partner, Angela provides professional, timely resolutions to complex issues. Angela says she enjoys “finding the balance” in both employees’ and management’s needs by assisting businesses in making sound human resources related business decisions. She realizes that although business is business and there are processes to adhere to, employees have wants and needs in their own life which require compassion on her part. She believes that employers can have higher employee engagement- and therefore a higher retention rate - through more effective employee communication. Angela knows that turnover can be prevented by employing the right dialogue, which can educate employees on how to become more of an asset to the employer. Angela is detail oriented, well organized, and she has a penchant for communications and customer relations. She uses these strengths to get favorable results for her clients, including her current record of 100% favorable rulings on EEOC and NERC claims and over 85% favorable resolution record for unemployment appellate hearings. Angela is currently a member of the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA), the Reno Sparks Chamber of Commerce, and Silver State Striders. She has been published as an HR expert in the NNHRA newsletter.

	MICHELLE MILES - PEO Payroll Partner Michelle was recently promoted from Director of First Impressions at The Applied Companies, where she had numerous responsibilities from greeting office guests to coordinating internal payroll, to her new role as PEO Payroll Partner for ABS. One of her key roles in the new position is to anticipate issues with her clients’ payroll processing - before they become issues. Capitalizing on her fifteen years of customer service experience, Michelle’s attention to detail and keen follow up skills help her clients save time and money. Prior to ABS, Michelle honed these skills with careers in the signage, staffing, and finance industries, where she kept abreast of codes, laws, regulations, and technical requirements to ensure that her clients’ achieved their goals and objectives. While Michele “thrives on getting the job done efficiently, and accurately,” she does so with a human approach. Michelle believes that one of her greatest professional strengths is building and maintaining long term businesses relationships. In additional to her people skills, Michelle has a love for animals, which leads her to contribute to animal-based charities including the Humane Society, Wildlife Preservation, and ASPCA.



	LESSLIE BAUER - Business Development Manager Lesslie is responsible for Business Development for all of The Applied Companies’ divisions. She has over fifteen years of sales management and marketing experience. Most recently, Lesslie was the West Coast Sales Manager for a NY based cosmetic company where she managed a team of eighty representatives and directly negotiated expanded distribution channels. As a former business owner, she understands the pressures entrepreneurs face and is confident that each of The Applied Companies can help her clients solve day-to-day HR-related business challenges. Lesslie is committed to educating her clients about new and creative solutions to address their needs and increase their bottom line. She believes that her creativity, listening abilities and respect for a company’s current position are her greatest strengths. “I look at any client’s business model like a puzzle. A business owner just needs to find the right pieces to fit the puzzle and it can always be a Perfect Picture. Sometimes the shapes are hard to see. Education is key. Our role is to help our clients find the missing pieces and open their eyes to new possibilities.” “Helping our neighbors is something we are supposed to do in life,” says Lesslie, who has dedicated the last several years to non-profit and community activities. She recently collaborated with The Food Bank of Northern Nevada to implement Pay It Forward (PIF) Parties, which feed hungry children that are currently homeless or living in hotels. PIF Parties invites local business to host team-building employee luncheons and create Snack Packs for The Northern Nevada Food Banks’ Back Pack Program. “If every local business hosted one of these events a year, there would be no Hungry people in Northern Nevada,” said Lesslie, “so watch out for your invitation!” After efforts to educate the Washoe County School Board on the need for higher nutrition for our Nevada children, Lesslie created “Get Real,” an organization for parents whose mission was to educate parents on healthier choices. Get Real organized Health Fairs for children to show them healthier food choices and published a monthly kid-friendly recipe in the Washoe Family Magazine.



	PAT PRENDERGAST - Business Development Partner Pat puts her twenty-three years of sales management and business development experience to work every day to the advantage of her clients. She holds Certificate of Completion as a Full Service Staffing Account Manager from International Staffing University, which attests to her in-depth knowledge in all aspects of the staffing industry. Pat is proud of the nick name that has followed her for years, “Queen of Follow-Up.” Her clients value that Pat always touches base, which lets them know that she is there even if they don’t have an immediate need. Her primary goal is to provide a level of customer service that is above and beyond anything her clients have experienced before. Pat has worked for national companies, as well as locally owned companies, and understands the challenges of owning and managing a business. Pat’s entrepreneurial experience began when she began to study and become certified in counseling at the University of Houston. After focusing on courses in personal growth and healing techniques, she became a Life Coach, and went on to write monthly columns for magazines which incorporated her expertise. She believes that this education helped her to truly listen to others’ concerns and to problem solve, which results in giving her clients the “right solution, each and every time.” Pat is a member of the Northern Nevada Human Resources Association (NNHRA) and the Reno Business Referrals Networking Group. She sits on the Welcoming Committee of the Sparks Chamber of Commerce and the Business Builders Committee for EDAWN. Her sales achievement for a national staffing company was recognized in 2003 for most improved sales year over year and the most improved gross profit year over year.

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