Diverse points of view are the norm in any conversation at Therapia Staffing. All you need do is glance at the company’s 40-person internal team to see why, as they are diverse in age and ethnicity as well as religion. This has served the Coral Springs, Florida-based nursing and allied staffing company well. And it directly relates to why Jennifer Goldstein founded the woman-owned business in 2015 after 23 years in staffing.
People
“Jennifer was looking to create a business model where people could be their authentic selves and enjoy coming to work every day,” says Russell Maurer, director of recruitment and people development for Therapia. “I’ve been here since the beginning and we thrive every day under that principle.”
Authentic is right. Employees range from 20 to 60 years old, 16 of whom are people of color, all working amicably alongside one another. “Everyone shares their perspective and opinion, which vary because we all come from a different background,” Goldstein says. She understands how to lead a team where collective voices, with sometimes different messages, work together for a common goal.
And these differences have yielded great results for the provider of contract, temporary to permanent, and direct hire personnel to medical and educational partners. “Therapia evolved from a dream to what is now: a successful place of business,” Goldstein says. “We bridge the gap every day through our dedication to deploying the most caring nurses, most devoted therapists, and overall, the most qualified candidates available in healthcare and education.” The company, which is small but growing, currently has more than 350 contract healthcare professionals across the US and Aruba.
These workers encompass a wide range of expertise including nurses, doctors, LPNs, CNAs, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, MSWs and psychologists, special education teachers and sign language interpreters. Clients include hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, schools and home health.
Purpose
Founder Goldstein refers to the spirit of Therapia as “ohana,” a Hawaiian word that means “family.” “Therapia is composed of men and women who walk in the light of our motto: ‘At the heart of all we do, is YOU!’,” she says. “Our ‘why’ is what makes us different. The causes are always personal to me, and I think it’s important to have a collective purpose, but I aim to lead a diversified staff that has their own reasons for wanting to come do the kind of work we do every day.”
It’s easy to be yourself at Therapia. The company has established a culture that warmly embraces diversity and inclusion. “Our approach to D&I is unique because it comes naturally,” says Maurer. “Our staff is from everywhere and anywhere, which we embrace to the fullest. We accommodate staff’s religious and personal needs in scheduling, encourage employee-led initiatives, and allow our in-house staff to bring their dogs or children to work when need be.”
Working in this environment enables the internal staff to do their best for their candidates and clients. Goldstein’s philosophy has helped them to see that taking care of one another is essential to growth. At the same time, this supportive behavior has led to strong partnerships with both facility clients and their contract healthcare/educational professionals.
As a result, Therapia, has received numerous accolades, including SIA’s Best Staffing Firms to Work For and Inc.’s Best Workplaces, both in 2019, and this year the Inc. 500 Series: 250 Most Successful Companies in Florida, Inc. 5000: 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America and the Sun Sentinel #1 Top Work Place.
While accolades validate Therapia’s success, the company does not plan to rest on its laurels. It wants to keep evolving to meet client needs. “Culture starts from within and definitely influences the success of the business,” Goldstein says. “We’re real people in the business of helping real people; for us that ideal isn’t a gimmick, it’s reality.”
