 |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Profile 
| Acro completes the development and implementation of two major IT applications for the State of New Mexico | |||||
Livonia, MI – September 8, 2008 – Acro Service Corporation (”Acro”), a Michigan based provider of Information Technology services across the nation, announced today the completion of the development and implementation of two major IT applications for the State of New Mexico (”State”). The first application called SARA (Screening, Admissions and Releases Application) was implemented for the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) of the State. SARA is a multi-agency effort within the State to provide statewide-centralized screening, detention, releases and tracking services for juveniles. The new system helps the State and local government agencies to process the screening of children referred for detention, and provide for real-time tracking of children in detention and their releases statewide. It helps the State to achieve compliance with Children’s Code and Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) in the most efficient and secure manner and meet the requirements of the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and the Annie E. Casey Foundation (AECF reporting standards. Before the Acro-developed software was deployed, the agencies had to rely on an older database system that lacked support and caused deficiencies, such as, missing data, releases not being recorded and added workload burden due to use of manual processes. “Acro’s development and delivery of the SARA system was done in a very professional manner and consistently met or exceeded CYFD’s goals for quality, timeliness and cost. They were quite flexible in addressing our requirement changes without adding to the cost of the system. The SARA system produced by Acro is extremely easy to use and provides our agency workers with the ability to provide needed services to the State population in general and the youth in particular” said Ted Lovato, Deputy Director Juvenile Justice Services at CYFD. In a related development, Acro recently completed another IT project for the State of New Mexico. Acro designed a web site to promote health insurance among New Mexico citizens on behalf of the State’s Human Services Department (HSD). This site, called “Insure New Mexico! Solutions” (http://www.insurenewmexico.state.nm.us/) replaced HSD’s previous website and provides substantially improved levels of service to the citizens accessing the site including eligibility wizards and broker search in addition to adding better ‘look-and-feel’ and user friendliness. It also has sections for the State’s insurance brokers to provide information regarding upcoming training events and statistical data. ”Acro’s technology consulting services are always delivered with quality and client satisfaction as the central focus. We use the latest technologies and provide our services in conformance with industry recognized standards such as ISO 9000:2001, SEI’s CMMI and the PMBOK recommendations of Project Management Institute. We are delighted that CYFD found our services and the final product meeting their important business needs” said R.V. Rao, Acro’s division president. Diego Garcia, Acro’s account manager for the State of New Mexico added, “State of New Mexico has been a long term, satisfied client of Acro and we are gratified that the various agencies of the State including CYFD and HSD are finding Acro’s IT services beneficial as evidenced by the repeat orders placed with Acro”. | |||||
| Firms offering fewer temp jobs - But agencies say there is a rise in demand for people with college degrees and special skills | |||||
| The Detroit News - July 4,2008 By: Jaclyn Trop | |||||
As buyouts, layoffs and other cuts take their toll on Michigan's full-time work force, the ripple effect is extending to temporary staffing agencies. The demand for temps is dropping as the state's employers make do with leaner work forces. Michigan's temp agencies filled an average of 92,800 jobs in April, compared with 99,100 in December, according to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth. "Every month or two, a business becomes a little more cautious and hires a little bit less," said Tobey Sommer, an analyst who watches Kelly Services Inc., an international staffing firm headquartered in Troy. Long a refuge for laid-off employees, people seeking work-life balance and those between jobs, temporary staffing firms place people in jobs ranging from landscapers and lab chemists to executive assistants and accountants. The need for workers to fill unskilled manufacturing positions has suffered due to decreased business from automakers and their suppliers, according to Eric Jones, regional director of Milwaukee-based Manpower Inc. Other customers that have traditionally requested unskilled temp labor like Comerica Bank and Volkswagen are leaving Michigan, he said. Jim Clark, executive vice president of Acro Service Corp. in Livonia, said Acro has received 30 percent to 40 percent fewer orders over the past three months. "There's no question that it's down substantially on the temp side," he said. Still experts have identified "bright spots" in an otherwise bleak outlook for temps. While demand has waned for clerks and other low-skilled workers, experts say opportunity abounds for those with specialized skills in fast-growing fields like health care, engineering and information technology. Accountemps, a staffing firm that focuses on the financial sector, reported an increase in hiring in southeast Michigan for both entry-level and senior-level workers. Mergers, closings and other business-to-business transactions require short-term accounting help, according to Kristen Cislo, a Southfield-based branch manager. In addition to financial services, workers in engineering, health care, information technology and science are wanted "across the board," according to Shaun Fracassi, a senior vice president and general managers at Kelly Services. Though many of those jobs require a four-year degree, "because of the short supply we are seeing, some employers are accepting a two-year degree." Michigan's staffing firms generated $2.1 billion in 2006, employing 356,801 people for temporary or contract work, according to the most recent figures released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the American Staffing Association. About one-third, or 126,600, of these employees bridged to full-time employment that year. In general, hourly pay for temp jobs is comparable, or slightly less, than full-time wages, Jones said. Among the Detroit-area jobs posted on Accountemps' Web site this week are a medical billing and coding specialist with at least five years' experience for $12 to $14 per hour and several staff accountant positions ranging from $12 to $25 per hour. Manpower Inc.'s openings range from a forklift driver at $9.50 per hour to a pharmacist at $46 per hour. Agencies often offer benefits like health insurance and the option to enroll in a 401(k) plan as soon as a temp finds work. Holiday and vacation pay takes effect after a certain number of hours worked. Some firms, like Kelly Services, offer discounts on cars, computers, mobile phones service and health club memberships. Though Kelly Services fills positions across a range of occupations, workers for unskilled or manufacturing jobs aren't as desired as "white-collar" workers with professional or technical skills, Fracassi said. More than 20 percent of Kelly Services' Michigan-based temporary employees have a college education, compared with more than 25 percent of Kelly Services temps nationwide, according to a spokeswoman. The picture isn't completely bleak for workers without professional credentials. Acro reported a strong demand for unskilled workers from about a dozen "significant clients," including those in the automotive sector, in Michigan's southeastern corridor. Though openings for the "light industrial" jobs in assembly and packaging have remained steady, it is difficult to fill positions, Clark said. "We have to scratch harder to find candidates. The (unskilled) labor pool has clearly declined to some degree." He chalked up the shortage to workers leaving Michigan and a trend toward specialization. "Whatever the field, there is more and more of a stress towards deep specialization," Clark said. "Very few job orders that we see are generic." | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Steps Up to Support Clients, Suppliers and Employees Affected by Axium International Bankruptcy | |||||
Full Service Human Capital Management Firm Offers Seamless Transition Livonia, MI - January 14,2008: Acro Service Corporation (www.acrocorp.com), one of nation’s top firms in the Human Capital Management space area has geared up to provide support to the clients, suppliers and employees affected by the operational shut down of Ensemble Chimes Global (ECG), an Axium International company and former leader in contingent labor management. “Given its 25+ years of history of providing the types of services that were offered by Axium, and its spotless financial record, Acro offers peace of mind to those companies and individual affected by this event” said Ron Shahani, President and Founder of Acro. “Acro is ready to transition Axium’s clients using its staffing, payrolling and vendor management solutions in a seamless and effective manner with minimum disruption and maximum speed” added Mr. Shahani. “Also, being a staffing firm, we understand the needs of other staffing suppliers and can work with them in a more constructive manner” he further stated. In addition to being one of the leading staffing firms in the nation supplying critical resources to many Fortune 500 firms in various labor categories, Acro has also developed a number of innovative offerings to help clients reduce costs and increase effectiveness of contingent worker procurement and management processes. Acro’s XRMSM division (www.xrmsolutions.com) specializes in providing Vendor Management Service (VMS), Payrolling Service and Time-Expense Management through web based solutions hosted by Acro. VMS and Payrolling clients of ECG will benefit greatly by migrating to XRMSM solutions provided by Acro. Contact: R.V. Rao Division President Acro Service Corporation Tel: (734) 591-1100 ext 4318 rvrao@acrocorp.com | |||||
| Staffing Firm seeks to be Master Vendor | |||||
Detroit News - December 22,2007:
Final word: "We have a honed recruiting process we've developed over the past 25 years," Shahani said. | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. receives Award from Houston Minority Business Council | |||||
Houston - December 03,2007: The Houston Minority Business Council (HMBC) and the Houston Business Journal congratulate the 2007 Emerging Ten (E-10) Award Winners. This prestigious award honors ten of HMBC's top minority-owned businesses. These HMBC certified minority business enterprises (MBEs) are setting trends and embracing the future with innovative practices and solutions. Companies receiving this award are recognized for making significant contributions to their industry and community; for expanding the role that MBEs play in the development of Houston's economy. They also encourage other minority businesses to strive for excellence in their own industries. These companies' exceptional service, overall industry enhancement, community involvement, innovative performance and doing business with, assisting, and mentoring other MBEs had an overwhelming effect in their receiving the 2007 E-10 Award. Ron Shahani, a native of India, moved to Detroit, Michigan in the mid 1970s, earning his master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit. After serving five years with the Ford Motor Company, Mr. Shahani began to form the Acro Service Corporation. Today, Acro is one of the nation's largest providers of staff augmentation, outsourcing and consulting in the areas of information technology, engineering and design, industrial, professional and office administration services. Acro has 31 offices worldwide and annual revenues of $120 million. Acro clients include: NASA, ExxonMobil, BP, El Paso Energy, Lockheed Martin, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, CMS Energy, DaimlerChrysler, Delphi, Visteon, General Electric, Pharmacia, Pfizer, and numerous State governments among others. Shahani credits Acro's growth and success to personal persistence and being able to overcome obstacles to find creative solutions for both American and global industries. In particular, under Shahani's leadership, Acro has distinguished itself in assuming broad responsibility for finding and managing large staffs of skilled workers undertaking special projects. Examples include managing more than 200 technical staff members assigned to NASA and helping an automotive supplier to quickly ramp up to a staff of 300 in its distribution operation. An example of his continuing dedication to innovation is the development of XRMSM Solutions, which is a proprietary, customized software that can manage a company's entire contract staffing needs, including supervising and coordinating the activities of all temporary workers and their suppliers. | |||||
| Emerging Global Leader Award Recipients Announced by Detroit Regional Chamber | |||||
 Emerging Global Leader Ron Shahani and his wife Chris of Northville, Michigan | Detroit - January 25,2007: The Detroit Regional Chamber today announced the recipients of the prestigious World Trader of the Year and Emerging Global Leader awards. The honorees will be recognized during the Chamber's 23rd Annual International Consular Gala at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham on Friday, March 9. | ||||
This award was originally presented in 1953 and past recipients include L. Brooks Patterson of Oakland County, Charles "Chip" McClure of ArvinMeritor, Nick Scheele of Ford Motor Co., Dieter Zetsche of DaimlerChrysler and Richard E. Dauch of American Axle Manufacturing. The Emerging Global Leader was first granted in 2006 to recognize the growing vital role non-automotive industries play in diversifying the Detroit Region's economy. The inaugural recipient was Dominic Pangborn of Pangborn Design. "Tim Manganello and Ron Shahani exemplify the type of leaders the region needs to be competitive in global economy," said Detroit Regional Chamber President and CEO Richard E. Blouse Jr., CCE. More information about the International Consular Gala With nearly 23,000 members, the Detroit Regional Chamber is the largest chamber of commerce in the country. The Chamber's mission is carried out through business attraction efforts, public policy advocacy, strategic partnerships and quality products and services for members. | |||||
| The Detroit News: Need a Temp Job ? Good Luck Finding it. | |||||
"It offers a lot of conveniences," says Kirby Miles of her temp job at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. She went back to school to study public relations. The Detroit News - November 6, 2006 Jennifer Youssef After leaving her job as a contractor at Delphi Corp. earlier this year, Deborah Bostwick of Burton couldn't find another full-time job that offered a retirement package, paid vacation and health benefits. So she settled for a temporary job at a domestic auto company, where she's been since early September. For her, it's not ideal, but she feels fortunate to have a job at all. Once considered a last resort for job-seekers, temporary positions are now in hot demand in Metro Detroit among the thousands of unemployed workers. Industry experts and others say there are considerably more people seeking temporary work than there are jobs. "In our industry, it's a very common thing to have a shortage of jobs or a shortage of labor," said Ron Shahani, president and CEO of Acro Services Corp., a staffing agency in Livonia. "Right now, there is no shortage of labor." That's no surprise considering that Michigan is tied for the highest unemployment rate in the nation (7.1 percent), as the domestic auto industry undergoes a historic downsizing. The damage includes nearly 45,000 fewer jobs at Ford Motor Co., 35,000 at General Motors Corp. and 19,000 at auto parts maker Delphi Corp. The job losses in Michigan have not only created a larger pool of workers looking for temporary work, but also have meant fewer temporary jobs. Companies that downsize cut not only their permanent work force, but also their use of temporary staffing agencies. Although fewer than 10 percent of the workers at Metro Detroit auto companies were temps, those jobs were among the first to be cut. Last year, 535 Michigan staffing companies paid out $1.9 billion to 85,494 temp workers, according to the American Staffing Association. Shahani's agency is getting twice as many applications this year for professional and light industrial jobs, including secretarial, engineering, accounting and information technology. At the same time, southeast Michigan companies are requesting 50 percent fewer workers, he said. In communities such as Grand Rapids and Ann Arbor, which are less dependent on the auto industry, the temporary staffing situation isn't as dire, said George Corona, senior vice president and general manager of Troy-based Kelly Services Inc. "West of Detroit, the picture is certainly brighter," Corona said. It's also brighter in most of the nation, where there's more temporary work than there are workers, said Richard Wahlquist, president and CEO of the American Staffing Association. Jobs flexible but not secure Many do temporary work by choice, but most hope the work will lead to a full-time job with the company. According to a 2006 survey by the American Staffing Association of 13,196 current and former temp employees, most temps (59 percent) take a job to get their foot in the door. Others do it because they need the flexibility temp work offers or to get job training and experience. Kirby Miles, 21, of Canton Township was lured by the flexibility of tempwork; she opted for a job at the Society of Manufacturing Engineers in Dearborn. Miles wasn't making money as a real estate agent, so she put it aside and went back to school to earn a degree in public relations. "It offers a lot of conveniences," Miles said of her job. "It's never bad to get some money, especially when it's a slow market." But with the convenience of temporary employment comes negatives for many workers. Besides the lack of job security, temporary positions typically don't offer as many benefits, health or otherwise, and in some cases offer lower paythan comparable permanent jobs. Better days ahead in 2007 The good news is that there appears to be better days ahead for temporary employment, experts said. The bad news is it won't get here until the latter part of 2007. Auto companies and suppliers will continue to shed jobs through the next year, analysts say, keeping demand high for temporary jobs and supply low. But those jobs, and permanent work, too, will begin to reappear once the auto companies are stable again, industry experts said. Already, auto companies and suppliers are rehiring some workers to fill in gaps created when too many people from one department retired or took buyouts. Some weeks, Acro Service Corp. will get requests from the auto companies for 30 to 40 engineers. "It's kind of a mixed bag," Shahani said. "What's happening now is these companies are having their challenges, and they don't know who'll take (buyout and retirement) packages." Bostwick is holding out for those better days ahead. She would rather have a permanent position, but she likes her temp job and said her income is better than it would be as a permanent employee at a smaller company. "I want to stay where the pay is better," Bostwick said. "That's the driving force." In the years ahead, as 70 million baby boomers begin to retire in huge numbers, Shahani expects a new trend in the temporary staffing industry toward skilled temp workers. And with only 40 million younger workers to replace them, Corona predicts a worker shortage in Michigan and nationwide. "That will be the biggest gap," Corona said. "It's already beginning to affect us. It's only going to get worse in 10 years." You can reach Jennifer Youssef at (313) 222-2319 or jyoussef@detnews.com. | |||||
| Asia Business News ranks Acro Owner in the Top 25 Asian-owned US Businesses | |||||
Asian Business News - Winter 2005: The Asian 25 represent the premier Asian-owned businesses in the United States. Companies listed range from manufacturing to high tech and automotive components to office products. Compiled from corporations, supplier diversity groups and business organizations across the country, the listing ranks companies according to reported gross revenues during fiscal year 2004. Acro's owner, Ron Shahani, was ranked #6 on this list by achieving a 2004 gross revenue of $98 Million. Acro Service Corp. has 1,000 employees and a wide array of service offerings for resourcing management and fulfillment services in information technology, engineering, and office support. The service offerings also include staff augmentation, outsourcing, consulting and Web-enabled tools and services. | |||||
| Who's Who in Detroit Business: CRAINSdetroit.com recognizes Acro Service Corp. as one of the business leaders at the top of their industries | |||||
Despite a brutal local economic environment for contract staffing firms, Shahani has managed to lead Acro Service Corp. through a period of steady growth and now runs one of Southeast Michigan’s largest information-technology and staffing companies. He’s establishing offshore staffing offices in India and aggressively competing for contracts with major customers to manage their staffing. http://www.crainsdetroit.com/cgi-bin/page.pl?pageId=666 | |||||
| 2005 Future 50 of Greater Detroit Congratulations Future 50 winners! | |||||
Livonia, MI – September, 2005 – The Future 50 of Greater Detroit competition, now in its 11th year, is sponsored by BDO Seidman LLP, the Detroit Regional Chamber, LaSalle Bank and WWJ Newsradio 950. The 50 companies listed below were chosen based on their impact on the economy of Southeast Michigan through growth in employment, investments, community enhancement, revenues and acquisitions. This year's awards luncheon is Sept. 30 at the Troy Marriott with Denise Ilitch, president of Ilitch Enterprises, as keynote speaker and Murray Feldman, business reporter and 5:30 p.m. anchor for WJBK Fox 2 and host of the Feldman Report on WWJ Newsradio 950, as master of ceremonies. Other speakers will include Richard E. Blouse Jr., CCE, president and CEO of the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Mark A. Hoppe, CEO of LaSalle Bank. Each of the Future 50 winners was asked to describe the key to their success and to identify the most significant issue or issues facing growing companies in Southeast Michigan today. Here is a sample of their responses:  Acro Service Corp. Ron Shahani President & CEO Key to success: The primary reasons for our success are our national presence, range of service offerings and competitive pricing policies. We have 20 offices around the country and a wide client base that includes numerous Fortune 500 clients in the automotive, aerospace, defense, energy, finance, pharmaceutical and utility industries, plus the federal government, nine state governments and a county government. We provide staff augmentation services and technology consulting/outsourcing services; we are thus positioned as a one-stop shop to meet the entire spectrum of our clients’ human capital management needs. Significant issues: Southeast Michigan is home to several of the world’s largest auto suppliers, and assuring viability of the auto industry remains a challenge to businesses. Also challenging to Southeast Michigan businesses is dealing with cost-cutting efforts and the effect this has on employees and unions.  Sue Piotrowski Vice President : Client Services Group Acro Service Corp. Sue Piotrowski accepts the 2005 Future 50 of Great Detroit Award on behalf of Acro Service Corporation. | |||||
| Human Resources: How to Pick a Temporary Staffing Firm | |||||
Livonia, MI – September, 2005 – How do you know when it’s the right choice? Start by looking at where your organization is and where it wants to be By Ron Shahani Founder and President Acro Service Corp. What is temporary staffing? If you were to ask 10 people what comes to mind when they hear those words, you’d most likely get many different responses. Employers, employees and the client companies who utilize the services of this industry all have differing opinions of what these words mean. But all parties would agree that getting the most value out of an alternative employment arrangement like temporary staffing is the ultimate goal. How do you know when temporary staffing is the right choice? It is important to look at where your organization is and where it wants to be when trying to forecast your internal workforce. A demand vs. supply analysis is an ideal first step for any organization to undertake. A variety of forecasting methods are available to do this; it must be done with enough accuracy to help support and sustain organizational objectives and strategies. When researching temporary staffing, consider the following:
Many companies are looking more and more to using temporary agencies to fulfill staffing needs. There are many advantages to using temporary agencies. Since the employee is on the payroll of the temporary agency, businesses are able to reduce costly expenses such as worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation insurance and employee benefit costs. More importantly, the use of temporary employees gives organizations greater flexibility to adjust their staffing needs to respond to their rapidly changing workloads. Here’s a checklist to complete before hiring temporary staff: Define the position. Give a clear understanding of the initial length of the assignment. Be clear with the staffing firm and the temporary employee. Also, if possible, be up front with temporary employees if there is a possibility that the position will “go direct,” which is a term used to describe the transformation from a contract placement to becoming a permanent employee on the client’s payroll. Understand the process. Take time to find the most qualified candidate. And if you are pleased with the results, return to the same staffing company when you need additional resources. Tracking the number of successful “submittals” is a common practice in the staffing industry. The staffing firms that are consistently successful at filling a client’s job orders know the type of employee you’re looking for – creating a longer-term relationship that augments and enhances your permanent workforce. Know your needs, and communicate them. It is important for both the temporary staffing supplier and the company hiring the workforce to understand the needs and goals of the organization. Building the relationship on communication from the onset and continuing to work together through changing realities will make the experience most beneficial for everyone involved. Ron Shahani is founder and president of Acro Service Corp. in Livonia and a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors. | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Acquires Certain Assets of Wagon Engineering, Inc., U.S.A. | |||||
Livonia, MI – August 26, 2005 , Acro Service Corp. (Acro), a Livonia, Michigan based provider of staff augmentation, engineering, design and information technology services completed a purchase of certain assets and businesses of Wagon Engineering, Inc., U.S.A (Wagon) previously known as Hawtal Whiting, Inc. The acquired assets include Wagon’s design engineering services business contracts, operations and facilities totaling over 100,000 square feet in Sterling Heights and Pontiac, Michigan. The acquired assets and businesses will be integrated into Acro’s technology consulting group to provide engineering and design services using a delivery model which leverages U.S.-based and offshore resources. The new Acro division will conduct business under the name, Acro Hawtal, Inc., and will be headed by Mr. R.V. Rao, Division President. “This acquisition strengthens Acro’s footing in the design engineering space while providing greater access to customers in the automotive industry,” said Ron Shahani, president, Acro Service Corp. “Our expanded business unit creates a powerful capability to provide comprehensive solutions for our customers.” “Acro provides bottom-line business results for our customers,” said Rao. “This acquisition underscores that strategy by better enabling us to provide high-quality design engineering services at a significantly reduced cost.” About Wagon USA Wagon USA delivers a variety of innovative products and specialized engineering services to customers in the automotive industry. From aluminum space frame body structures and magnesium door frames to glass roof assemblies, Wagon products give customers another means of differentiating themselves from their competition. Wagon ranks among the leading automotive design and build suppliers, with 20 plants in Europe and in the United States. The company’s web address is www.wagon-usa.com About Acro Service Corp. Founded in 1982, Livonia, Michigan-based Acro provides engineering, design, information technology, and human capital management services to the world’s leading organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and government entities. Acro expands the capabilities of its clients through technical consulting services, process and project outsourcing, managed human capital programs and staff augmentation services. Acro has 20 offices worldwide. The company’s web address is www.acrocorp.com. | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Receives "Future Fifty" Honor Award recognizes rising Southeastern Michigan's stars of business | |||||
Livonia, MI – August 15, 2004 – ACRO SERVICE CORPORATION (ACRO) today announced that it has been named a "Future Fifty Company of Greater Detroit". The announcement was made by Ron Shahani, ACRO's Founder and President. "We extend tremendous gratitude to our talented staff and clientele", stated Shahani. "To grow we constantly find new and better ways to serve our customers through personal responsibility and teamwork. Acro is committed to exceeding customer expectations and building long-lasting relationships. The Future Fifty honor is an acknowledgement that we are exceeding our own expectations". Co-sponsored by BDO Seidman, LLP, Detroit Regional Chamber, SmithBarney Citigroup, and WWJ Newsradio 950, the annual "Future Fifty" award honors emerging businesses across Southeast Michigan by providing recognition to top performers and successful members of the business community. Acro was selected among 400 applicants in the Southeastern Michigan to receive the honor. To be eligible to receive the "Future Fifty" recognition, companies must have headquarters in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw, Monroe, Lapeer, St. Clair or Livingston counties, be at least two years old, and generate at least $1,00,000 in annual revenue. In addition, the company must have demonstrated a favorable impact on the surrounding community, exhibiting an increase in full-time employment and an increase in revenue during the past fiscal year. Acro will be presented with the award at the 2004 FUTURE 50 Awards Luncheon in October at the Troy Marriott. | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Awarded Business Outsourcing Contract by Castrol Industrial Americas | |||||
Livonia, MI – October 27, 2003 – Acro Service Corp. (Acro), a Livonia, Michigan based provider of human capital management, consulting and outsourcing services, was awarded a national-scale business process outsourcing contract by Castrol Industrial Americas (Castrol), based in Downers Grove, Illinois. Castrol Industrial Americas is a division of Castrol Industrial North America Inc., a member of the BP Group. Under the terms of the three-year contract, Acro will outsource and manage the administrative and labor functions that Castrol’s Chemical Management Services (CMS) performs on behalf of its U.S. clients. As part of the outsourcing arrangement, Acro hired approximately thirty Castrol employees to complement Castrol’s CMS teams in providing services to Castrol clients in more than a dozen U.S. locations. Going forward, Acro will assume full responsibility for the assignment and management of Acro administrative and labor staff to support Castrol’s onsite services at new and expanded CMS client’s locations. Castrol will retain in house CMS engineering and program management personnel. Acro’s assumption of these important support responsibilities will allow Castrol staff to focus on core value-added client services. During the transition, Acro implemented its proprietary workforce management system, XRMSM Solutions, to achieve additional important benefits for Castrol. XRMSM Solutions streamlines Castrol’s communication of CMS requirements, time and expense reporting and approval, cost accounting data collection and electronic invoicing across all CMS client sites. XRMSM Solutions is a fully scalable, state-of-the-art, web-based system provided through an Application Service Provider platform. Its national reach and network of over 30 offices throughout the U.S. allowed Acro to seamlessly coordinate the entire transition process within seven business days, and without any interruption of services to Castrol or its CMS clients. About Acro Service Corporation and its XRMSM Solutions Division: Founded in 1982, Livonia, Michigan-based Acro Service Corp. (Acro) provides information technology, engineering and human capital management services to the world’s leading organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and government entities. Acro expands the capabilities of its clients through technology consulting services, process and project outsourcing, managed human capital programs and staff augmentation services. Acro has 34 offices worldwide. The company’s web address is www.acrocorp.com. Acro’s XRMSM Solutions Division provides web-based software and expert management services so that firms that use external labor, including contract labor, temporary services, consulting services and independent contractors, can achieve the following important benefits: gain full control of their external labor spend; assure fairness in external labor decision making; receive greater value through market-based pricing, supplier consolidation, consistent processes and improved competition; simplify and dramatically improve external labor administration; and drive substantial process savings through automation. The company’s web address is www.xrmsolutions.com. About Castrol: Castrol is a global leader in the supply of high-performance lubricants, metalworking products and chemical management services. Call 1-800-621-2661 or visit www.CastrolAdvantage.com. | |||||
| Detroit Regional Chamber's 100 Emerging Business Leaders | |||||
| |||||
| 2003 ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR - WINNER : STAFFING / CONSULTING SERVICES | |||||
| |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Completes XRMSM System Implementation at Northrop Grumman Facility | |||||
Livonia, MI – April 28, 2003 – XRMSM Solutions, Inc., a division of Acro Service Corp., announced today completion of the implementation of components of its XRMSM System at the Azusa, California facility of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC), the nation's second largest defense contractor. | |||||
| Acro Service Corp. Completes eProcurement Implementation at CMS Energy Corp. | |||||
Livonia, MI - April 28, 2003 - XRMSM Solutions, Inc., a division of Acro Service Corp., announced today the completion of its implementation of eProcurement systems and services on behalf of CMS Energy Corp. (NYSE: CMS). XRMSM Solutions completed the implementation of its cutting edge supplier/workforce management technology for use at all CMS locations. The XRMSM Solutions offering, consisting of the XRMSM System and XRMSM Services, streamlines CMS Energy's procurement of contract and temporary labor, improves productivity and reduces costs associated with talent acquisition. The XRMSM System has been fully integrated with CMS Energy's legacy systems, automating all aspects of external labor procurement, the collection of time and expense records, the capture and reporting of cost accounting and project accounting information, and electronic invoicing and payment. Under the terms of its three-year contract, XRMSM Solutions will manage CMS Energy's external labor spending, including management of a pool of approximately forty vendors "Acro analyzed the scope and nature of our business and our requirements, then tailored its XRM Solutions to give us an efficient, cost-effective system to manage our contract and temporary labor needs," said Cynthia L. Westerhof, CMS Energy's executive director of human resources. Acro Executive Vice President Jim Clark said, "Over the past two years our clients have clearly communicated that Acro will expand its domain by providing its clientele with better answers and greater efficiencies. Acro has invested heavily in the XRMSM Solutions Division. It is gratifying to see the results the XRMSM Solutions approach is achieving for CMS and other key Acro clients." About Acro Service Corporation Founded in 1982, Livonia, Michigan-based Acro Service Corp. (Acro) provides information technology, engineering and human capital management services to the world's leading organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and government entities. Acro expands the capabilities of its clients through technology consulting services, process and project outsourcing, managed human capital programs and staff augmentation services. Acro has 31 offices worldwide. The company's web address is www.acrocorp.com. About Acro's XRMSM Solutions Division XRMSM Solutions, Inc. provides web-based software and expert management services so that firms that use external labor, including contract labor, temporary services, consulting services and independent contractors, can achieve the following important benefits: gain full control of their external labor spend; assure fairness in external labor decision making; receive greater value through market-based pricing, supplier consolidation, consistent processes and improved competition; simplify and dramatically improve external labor administration; and drive substantial process savings through automation. The company's web address is www.xrmsolutions.com. About CMS Energy Corporation CMS Energy is an integrated energy company, which has as its primary business operations an electric and natural gas utility, natural gas pipeline systems, and independent power generation. The company's web address is www.cmsenergy.com. | |||||
| ACRO SERVICES CORP. NAMED 5th LARGEST ASIAN INDIAN AMERICAN COMPANY BY NEWS INDIA TIMES | |||||
Livonia, MI -, January 15, 2003 - ACRO SERVICE CORP. (ACRO) has been named the 5th largest privately held Asian Indian American company by the prestigious News India Times. ACRO is one of the nation's largest providers of staff augmentation, outsourcing and consulting in the areas of information technology, engineering and design, industrial, professional and administrative services. | |||||
| XRM Solutions Set: Customizes Web-based Managed Service Provider Programs ACRO SERVICE CORPORATION IS GLOBAL LEADER AND INNOVATOR IN HUMAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT | |||||
Livonia, MI - December 16, 2002 - When the Jet Propulsion Lab, Boeing Aircraft or one of the Big Three automakers needs a team of specialized engineers. When a Fortune 500 firm is searching for an interim COO or CFO. When a manufacturer requires industrial workers to ramp up production or support for a hot moving item. Who do they call? | |||||
| ACRO SERVICES CORP. NAMED TO "ASIAN 50" LIST BY ASIAN BUSINESS NEWS MAGAZINE | |||||
Livonia, MI - December 16, 2002- Acro Service Corp. (Acro) has been named to Asian Business News magazine's "Asian 50" list recognizing the top Asian-owned businesses in the U.S. Acro is one of the nation's largest providers of staff augmentation, outsourcing and consulting in the areas of information technology, engineering and design, industrial, professional and administrative services. | |||||
| MICHIGAN-BASED ACRO SERVICE CORPORATION: NATIONAL LEADER IN CONTRACT STAFFING HELPS SET NEW EMPLOYMENT PARADIGM | |||||
Livonia, MI - December 16, 2002 - For most of the half century since World War II, even with the glowing accomplishments of the American and global economies, the way people were hired and fired remained remarkably constant. | |||||
| BIOGRAPHY - RAVINDER (RON) SHAHANI PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER ACRO SERVICE CORPORATION | |||||
 | Who would start a business in one of the deepest recessions of the modern U.S. economy? Ron Shahani would-and succeed. It was 1982, and it was clear in Detroit that not only were auto sales hit hard by the recession but also things wouldn't bounce back so glowingly as they usually did after a recession, due to the growing strength of the Japanese automakers. The auto industry, i.e. our Big Three automakers, clearly saw the need to reduce fixed costs with one clear target being the more highly paid salaried workers. These individuals included "brain" workers like engineers and designers. Still, the push was on to build better cars."It was clear that market share wouldn't be re-won unless American cars demonstrated quality and innovation, unless we designed cars that were more fuel efficient. So, even with hiring freezes there was an urgent need for engineering resources for special projects, which could be funded and then staffed using contract engineers," says Shahani. A native of India who earned his bachelor's in Commerce from the University of Bombay, | ||||
Shahani moved to Detroit and earned his master's degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit in 1977. After serving five years with Ford Motor Company as a financial analyst, having been immersed in an automotive industry under attack, Shahani conceived what has become Acro Service Corporation (Acro). Today, Acro is one of the nation's largest providers of staff augmentation, outsourcing and consulting in the areas of information technology, engineering and design, industrial, professional and office administration services. It has 26 offices worldwide. Current Acro clients include NASA, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, CMS Energy, DaimlerChrysler, Delphi, Visteon, Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Pharmacia, Pfizer, ExxonMobil and numerous State governments among others. Shahani credits Acro's growth and success to personal persistence and being able to find creative solutions for both American and global industry. In particular, Acro, under Shahani's leadership, has distinguished itself in assuming broad responsibility for finding and managing large staffs of skilled workers undertaking special projects. Examples include managing more than 200 technical staff members assigned to NASA and helping an automotive supplier to quickly ramp up to a staff of 300 in its distribution operation. There is also a message in Shahani's methods. He has steadfastly directed an Acro business philosophy of fair dealing, believing in a participative versus authoritarian management style, and "doing the right things for the right reasons, with major emphasis on the long-range consequences of our decisions." Shahani resides in Northville, Michigan, with his wife and two sons. Among his professional affiliations are the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, Economic Club of Detroit, the Detroit Society and the American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin. | |||||
Founded in 1982, Livonia, Michigan-based Acro Service Corp. (Acro) provides collaborative engineering, information technology and human capital management services to the world's leading organizations, including Fortune 500 companies and government entities. Acro expands the capabilities of its clients through technology consulting services, process and project outsourcing, managed human capital programs and staff augmentation services. Acro (www.acrocorp.com) has more than 44 offices worldwide, including regional centers in Michigan, Tennessee, New Mexico and California. | |||||
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
