Recognition honors WSI's Best in Class performance in Light Industrial staffing, driven by the strength of its referral network
KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Workforce Strategies, Inc. (WSI), a Midwest-based staffing and recruiting firm, has been named a 2026 Network Impact Award winner by Staffing Referrals, earning Best in Class honors in the Light Industrial category.
The Network Impact Awards recognize staffing firms that most effectively grow their business through employee and candidate referrals, based on data collected through the Staffing Referrals platform. Winners are selected for placing a significant share of referred candidates into jobs — a direct reflection of the trust candidates and employees place in their experience with the firm.
This award was earned one referral at a time, by people who trusted this team enough to send them a friend.
For WSI, the honor reflects a simple reality: the people it places are its best advocates. Across its offices, WSI connects job seekers with light industrial, manufacturing, skilled trades, and professional opportunities — and a growing share of those candidates come through referrals from people who’ve had a good experience with the WSI team.
Jeff O’Brien, WSI CEO said, “At WSI, we made a strategic decision to invest heavily in employee referrals because we believe the best recruiting networks are built on trust, not job-board traffic. Our experience has shown us that great employees tend to know other great employees, which is why our best employees are also our best recruiters. For our clients, that means access to a deeper network of proven, referred candidates who may never respond to a traditional job posting. This award validates the investment we’ve made in building that network and, more importantly, the competitive advantage it creates for the companies that partner with WSI.”
For businesses partnering with WSI, this recognition underscores what a strong referral network signals: candidates who are engaged, satisfied, and willing to put their own name behind the recommendation. That’s a pipeline built on trust — not just volume.
About WSI WSI is an award-winning staffing and recruiting agency specializing in light industrial, manufacturing, skilled trades, and professional placement throughout the Midwest. WSI connects job seekers with opportunity and helps businesses solve their toughest workforce challenges. Learn more at wsitalent.com.
About Staffing Referrals Staffing Referrals is a referral marketing platform built for the staffing industry, helping firms grow through the power of employee and candidate networks. The Network Impact Awards recognize the firms that do this best.
