Celebrating 50 years of excellence

Innovative workforce solutions for 50 years and counting

As a privately held, woman-owned, women-operated company, IES is excited to celebrate 50 years of enabling the evolution of work. We are proud to help businesses explore new opportunities to expand their workforce and redefine how they approach attracting, hiring, and payrolling talent.

The IES difference

IES has long been a central figure in the evolution of the modern workforce. We attribute our success and longevity to an unflinching devotion to our culture and core values – People First, Future Forward, Integrity, and Teamwork.
Women-owned and led
Our knowledgeable team of industry leaders has a true vision for the future of work. With over 200 years of combined industry expertise, our team’s vast knowledge has helped shape the evolution of contingent workforce engagement and management.
Integrity-based
At IES, there’s nothing more important than doing the right thing, every time. That’s why integrity, accountability, and high-touch personal service are foundational touchstones of our corporate culture.
People-first
Our Net Promoter Score is 80% higher than the industry average and we have achieved a 99.8% compliance rating in client audits. Our relentless focus on service is a key differentiator for the businesses we serve.
Future forward
IES has long been a central figure in the evolution of the modern workforce – and we’re not stopping now. Never content with the status quo, we’re dedicated to anticipating and enabling the innovation our clients and their workers demand.

The history of IES

A look back at 50 years of workforce innovation

Hundreds of recruiting companies launch each year. Few have the foresight, agility, and perseverance to grow into a long-standing industry powerhouse.

1974: Founded in San Diego as a temporary placement agency.

Founded in 1974 as a woman-owned staffing company in a male-dominated industry, IES had to prove itself from day one. Fueled by fiery persistence and an unyielding commitment to its core values, the company’s small early successes turned into years of steady growth – and an emerging reputation for great talent and exceptional services.

1980: Added technical and Employer of Record services nationwide.

Founder Karla Hertzog recognized that new technologies were emerging and workforce demographics were shifting. And this would have a profound impact on how businesses would find and use talent in the decades to come.

1990s: Recognized as one of the largest women-owned businesses in San Diego. Rebranded company to shift focus from innovative recruiting technology to hiring workers efficiently – decades before competitors. 

2007-2011: Added back-office services for recruiters and staffing agencies. Added independent contractor compliance services.

Unafraid to veer from her staffing roots, Hertzog refocused IES’s vision as a provider of payrolling and compliance services for forward-thinking clients that identified contract talent on their own. This bold and innovative shift not only launched the company to new heights and unprecedented growth, it cemented IES’s reputation as a renowned industry innovator – a reputation that continues to grow with each passing year.

2018: Added global EOR services, expanding services in 150+ countries. Kara Hertzog joined IES as COO.

2022: Opened direct entities in the UK, Canada, Ireland, and Germany. IES made the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Company in America list for the first time in company history - putting IES in the top .07% of USA companies in terms of growth.

2024: Launched Direct Sourcing Simplified offering.

 

2024 and beyond: While much has changed, one thing remains the same: IES’s future-forward vision and passion for the contingent workforce continue as the foundation upon which workforce success stories are born. 

50 years – and we’re just getting started

IES continues to innovate as the world of work evolves. As we look ahead to the next 50 years, we’re ready to continue defining the future of work.

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workers engaged annually

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female leaders

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countries and all 50 US states

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client audit compliance rating

Redefining the future of work

For 50 years, even as our business has grown, our mission has remained steady: To provide companies with flexible, consultative, and technology-driven solutions for engaging the evolving workforce. To empower our employees to learn, grow and make a difference in their communities.

Learn more about IES