Barbara Gebhardt - President, Opus Staffing

Barbara Gebhardt has been in the employment field since 1981. Starting her career with Career Blazers, she went on to open their first franchise in 1987. She later opened a Career Blazers training center which successfully integrated training and placement and became the model for sites nationwide.

In 1996, Gebhardt became Executive Vice President / Chief Operating Officer of Career Blazers, responsible for all company operations while continuing to operate the office on Long Island. After the completion of 5 years in the role and achievement of a series of corporate objectives, Gebhardt was again dedicating herself to staffing on Long Island.

In June of 2004, Gebhardt created Opus Staffing and separated from Career Blazers franchise program. Although much of business operations remained constant, there was a renewed sense of flexibility and agility which allowed Opus Staffing to exceed our clients' and candidates expectations.

Specializing in the areas of office clerical through executive support, human resources, and sales and marketing. Gebhardt remains intensely aware of the value of providing her clients with the talent that will make a difference in their organization.

In 2006, she created a new division, Opus Scientific, to keep locally trained scientists on Long Island and attract scientific talent to the area. Opus Scientific provides temporary and contract staffing, contract to hire and direct hire staffing to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, cosmetic, chemical, food and other scientific intensive industries that require skilled talent.

Gebhardt plays an active role in the Long Island marketplace. Gebhardt is currently working with the American Heart Association and the Go Red Movement. She has served as Vice President of the Long Island Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association and President of the Advisory Council for the National Council for the Aging. She served on the board of the New York Staffing Association and is a past president of the Association of Personnel Consultants, Long Island chapter.......In 2008, Gebhardt received The Alternative Boards Most Accomplished Member Award. She is also a recipient of the New York State Jenkins Award for distinguished service to Half Hollow Hills PTA. Gebhardt was selected as one of Long Island Business News Class of 2008 Long Island's Most Influential Women.