innovate arkansas

AssessPros
Owner: Tim Zimmerman
Address: 500 Silverhawk Lane, North Little Rock 72118
Phone: (501) 803-9790
Fax: (501) 803-9721
Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Startup: Dec. 15, 2007
E-mail: tzimmerman@assesspros.com
Web site: www.assesspros.com

"Employers need to understand that the employees are the ones their companies are built on," Tim Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman, who launched AssessPros in December, hopes to build his company on that concept.

AssessPros is an authorized strategic partner of Profiles International Inc., which offers an extensive human resource management system to all types of employers. "Basically, we provide very valuable information about the characteristics of employees," Zimmerman said. "We then show you how to use that information in your business to get a better return for the investment you've made in the employee."

For 22 years, Zimmerman managed more than 150 employees for RGA in North Little Rock. But in July 2007, he began looking for a new career, and that search led him to Profiles International. "I was very impressed with what they did," said Zimmerman, who invested $16,000 of his own money to become an independent contractor.

"Networking to gain credibility" is the next step for AssessPros. "I've made some really good contacts, but I understand that this is not a quick thing," Zimmerman said. "It takes a long time to gain credibility."

Zimmerman is optimistic about the more than 100 Arkansas companies that have already shown interest in the services offered by AssessPros, and he expects to have about 50 clients secured in the next five years. "I would expect to be known as a vendor who partners with those clients to help them with their people issues," he said.