Candace Rooks is an Edmonton entrepreneur who has successfully built a profitable business, becoming a shining example for aspiring business owners. Through perseverance, strategic thinking, and market adaptability, she has achieved impressive results. Read more about how Candace Rooks found success and grew her career on edmonton1.one.
Recruitment Partners Inc.: The Journey from Startup to Success
Candace Rooks is the co-founder of Recruitment Partners Inc., a company with offices in Edmonton and Calgary. She also serves as the President of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) in Edmonton. In 2011, Joe Gagliardi, Katie Fayad, and Candace Rooks founded Recruitment Partners Inc. Six months later, they leased office space and hired a receptionist. Month by month, the company experienced rapid growth.
Recruitment Partners Inc. offers permanent, contract, and temporary staffing services. They also feature a dedicated centre that helps candidates with resume writing and interview prep. Additionally, the company specializes in executive search for senior management roles. Their main goal isn’t just to meet client expectations, but to exceed them. They partner with everyone from local startups to large-scale enterprises.
Crisis and Growth: How Candace Rooks’ Business Adapted During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In an interview, Candace admitted that when she and her partners decided to launch the business, failure never even crossed her mind; instead, she moved forward with absolute certainty. However, the company’s growth in 2020 wasn’t without its hurdles. The COVID-19 crisis proved to be their biggest challenge yet. They were forced to downsize and let go of recently hired staff.
Rooks noted that this major challenge simultaneously became a great opportunity and a valuable lesson for the future. Before the pandemic, no one could have imagined the business would grow so quickly and reach new heights. In 2020, they successfully launched an executive search program and expanded their operations into other regions of Canada and the US, having discovered that remote work made this highly efficient.
The executive search service was created to meet the needs of clients who were looking for more than just general staffing and required top-tier candidates for leadership roles. Rooks and her partners expected it would take some time to get the project off the ground. To their pleasant surprise, it took off much faster than anticipated.
Recruitment Partners Inc. stands out for its flexibility and ability to adapt to market shifts. The company constantly tailors its approach to local conditions and is always ready for new challenges. They continue to build strong partnerships between employers and job seekers while fostering a great work culture for their own team. Ultimately, Recruitment Partners Inc. creates life-changing opportunities and helps shape future leaders. They are focused on leaving a lasting legacy, as building long-term relationships remains at the heart of what they do.
Beyond running her own business, Candace Rooks is actively involved with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization in Edmonton. In 2012, she attended a training conference where she found herself disappointed by the group learning format, the facilitator, and the overall vibe. After returning home, she spent the next few hours searching for a peer group where she could learn from other business owners, network, and become a better leader. Candace stumbled upon EO by chance, submitted an application, and was accepted.
Core Values and Advice for Entrepreneurs from Candace Rooks
She was fortunate to learn alongside experienced and successful business leaders who shared their insights, listened, and offered support. Candace initially thought she would pick up a few business strategies, apply them at the office, and be done with it. Instead, she gained so much more. EO provided not only a voice but also a powerful platform for learning. Mentorship from seasoned professionals and deep conversations had a profound impact on Rooks, teaching her to look at the bigger picture. Today, she has transitioned from a member to the President of EO. Notably, the Edmonton chapter of this organization is considered one of the largest and most successful in Canada.
Candace Rooks highlighted several key principles that help her build a successful business:
- Vulnerability – Always being yourself and having the courage to let people know the real you. Being genuine and vulnerable has been the foundation of her success.
- Empowerment – Rooks encourages her team to bring solutions to the table rather than dwelling on problems. This empowers them and fosters strong leadership skills.
- Collaboration – The team strives for creativity and makes a significant contribution to the organization’s overall success.
- Feedback – Honest, positively framed conversations help every team member develop their strengths and create real opportunities for growth.
- Fun – It’s incredibly important to enjoy the process and strike a healthy work-life balance.
The entrepreneur also actively gives back to the local community. Both Recruitment Partners and EO Edmonton share her philanthropic values. At Christmas, the entire company team donates gifts to families through the Wings organization. They have also supported The Shoebox Project, Hope Mission, the Winnifred Stewart Association, the Edmonton Community Foundation, and many others.