"It is an honor that candidates trust us to help them find work. It is an honor that local employers trust us to find their workforce. And it is a huge honor that our internal team chose to build their careers with us."
Starting a franchise business takes courage. Building one that lasts takes grit, heart, and a genuine love for people.
When Katherine Kleemann and her husband, Justin, looked into franchise ownership in 2008, they were young, ambitious and eager to plant roots near family. Today, Katherine is an 18-year franchise veteran in the Spherion franchise community. Alongside her team in Bryan, Texas, she connects local businesses with talented workers, proving every day that staffing is not just about filling roles, but changing lives.
We sat down with Katherine to talk about her path to ownership, the realities of running a staffing business and why she still loves celebrating her team’s big wins.
Tell us your Spherion story: What was your path to Spherion franchise ownership?
Katherine: We were young! My in-laws actually discovered the opportunity through business connections at Spherion’s corporate office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. At the time, Justin worked in human resources, and I worked in fundraising and marketing. We knew we wanted to raise a family in a smaller community and live closer to our childhood homes in The Woodlands, Texas.
Through conversations Justin’s father had with his Spherion connections, the Spherion team mentioned they were looking for franchise owners in the College Station/Bryan area (Aggieland!). We spent about nine months thinking it through. After attending Spherion’s Discovery Day, we decided to take the leap to business ownership in 2008.
Why did you choose to franchise with Spherion?
We didn’t really look at other franchises, though we did look at other businesses. With my father-in-law and Justin both having HR backgrounds, we thought we knew the staffing industry. We quickly learned how little we actually knew, but we were determined to learn and be successful at staffing!
What won us over for Spherion were the people we met at Discovery Day. We felt they genuinely wanted us to succeed. They treated their franchisees as true partners, never just a number for a big corporation. In fact, some of those same corporate team members are still with Spherion today, and they are still cheering us on!
What does a typical day in the office look like for you?
During my 18 years in the business, I’ve held every job title in the office. I love recruiting. I still love talking to people, hearing their stories, and learning how other local business owners make their companies tick.
Today, I’m still very active in our business, but my main job is being the team cheerleader. I have a wonderful team who makes the real recruiting magic happen every single day, and I am so grateful for them.
Nothing in business is ever truly predictable, but staffing is a people business. Saying there are "a lot of variables" is an understatement. You cannot make assumptions. You have to be a calm problem-solver—or an aggressive one who simply refuses to quit—because you will face a brand-new challenge almost every week. - Katherine Kleemann, Spherion franchise owner
What is the most rewarding part of being a Spherion franchise owner?
I believe in the power of a job. A job gives someone the opportunity to provide for their family, use their talents, build relationships, and gain confidence.
It is an honor that candidates trust us to help them find work. It is an honor that local employers trust us to find their workforce. And it is a huge honor that our internal team chose to build their careers with us. I love watching them thrive. We celebrate big around here, and nothing brings me more joy than seeing a team member hit a milestone. I hope we can celebrate many more.
Build Your Future with America’s Most-Awarded Staffing Network
Katherine’s journey shows what happens when local passion meets the backing of a proven national network. As a Spherion franchise owner, you don’t just run a business. You become an essential leader in your local economy.
Are you ready to build a meaningful business of your own? Contact Spherion today to learn more about becoming a franchise owner in our growing community.
Dan Brunell
Senior Vice President of Franchise Development
Dan has been matching aspiring business owners with their perfect franchise for more than 30 years. His experiences as a senior executive in the staffing industry and founder of a top franchise brokerage equip him with the insights and motivation to help prospective franchisees succeed.