In October 2012, the American Staffing Association (ASA) inducted LINK Staffing Services co-founder Karen Pitts into its Leadership Hall of Fame — the staffing industry’s highest individual honor. She became the 39th inductee and only the ninth woman to receive the recognition in the award’s history.
About the ASA Leadership Hall of Fame
The ASA created its Leadership Hall of Fame in 1985 to recognize individuals who have made outstanding contributions through dedicated service to the association and the staffing profession. Karen Pitts joined that group in 2012. The ASA board of directors selects inductees based on sustained leadership, industry advocacy, and lasting impact on the staffing profession.
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA member companies operate more than 25,000 offices across all 50 states.
Karen Pitts’ Career in Staffing
Karen Pitts entered the staffing industry in 1976 when she founded Nurses PRN, a medical staffing company. She grew it from a single office to seven locations within three years. She then served as Vice President of Med-Staff Inc., another medical staffing firm.
In 1980, Karen and her husband Bill Pitts founded LINK Staffing Services from a small office in downtown Houston. They built the company on four operating principles that have not changed since. Treat every person with dignity and respect. Meet and exceed client expectations. Commit to continual improvement. Do what is right regardless of circumstances.
Under Karen and Bill’s leadership, LINK developed the proprietary screening and safety programs that remain central to the company’s operations today. These include the 9-Step Employee Selection System℠ and the LINK 360° Safe Environment Program℠ — built from decades of placing industrial workers in Houston’s manufacturing plants, petrochemical facilities, and logistics operations.
“It’s very humbling to have my name placed alongside those who have inspired and led our association.”
— Karen Pitts, 2012
Today, LINK is led by Karen and Bill’s daughter, Kathryn Mujezinovic, as President and CEO — second-generation leadership continuing the founding principles that earned Karen the industry’s highest individual honor.
About LINK Staffing Services
Founded in 1980 in Houston, Texas, LINK Staffing Services is a locally owned, WBENC-certified staffing firm operating five offices across Greater Houston and the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex. Four-time Forbes Best Staffing Firms honoree. Learn more about LINK Staffing’s story