Manpower admired for high performance.

• Position: Temporary employment agency Manpower Inc.

How does a business become one of America s Spotlight Corporations?

Manpower, Inc. appears to have the answers. The company, which has offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks, was recently named one of the country's most-admired companies by Fortune magazine. It is the second consecutive year Manpower was recognized with the distinction.

Manpower provides temporary staffing services to other companies, and began in 1948 with one office in Milwaukee, Wis. By 1985, there were 1,000 offices. Today, it has 2,800 offices worldwide, and is one of the world's largest employers, providing jobs to more than 760,000 people in the United States and more than 2 million globally. Sales have grown from $300 million per year in 1976 to $8.9 billion last year. The Alaska offices have been in operation since December of 1993 and had sales revenues of $4.8 million last year.

According to Paula Lindsey, Manpower's state district manager, it was this impressive growth that led to the company's recognition in the 1996 and 1997 Fortune 500 list, which included both industrial and service firms for the first time. In all, more than 12,000 companies were surveyed by Fortune. They were rated on eight key attributes of reputation, including innovativeness, quality of management, employee talent, quality of products/services, long-term investment value, financial soundness, social responsibility and use of corporate assets.

"Manpower's successful globalization strategies and history in the global market set the company apart," said Lindsey. "Manpower grew its foreign operations from scratch, rather than by acquisition of foreign firms. The fact that the chief executives who started Manpower's operations in Japan, Switzerland, France and Israel still lead their respective organizations today is a tribute to Manpower's commitment to quality and customer service."

Also noteworthy are the benefits the company provides to its temporary employees. Manpower's part-time employees are eligible for paid leave, as well as health and life insurance. All Manpower temporaries can take advantage of the company's free training in...