Warren Carter, 46, of Chula Vista has been working double shifts. He owns two businesses, QualiFind and Eastlake Business Suites. And with AgriFind being a subsidiary of QualiFind, you could say the former U.S. Navy businessman stays busy.
QualiFind, an executive search firm, was started in February 1999. When outside companies need to fill executive positions such as a manager or chief executive officer, they ask QualiFind to find potential candidates, Carter said.
He is a self-starter and enjoys creating ideas and studying business, he said.
The next step is for QualiFind employees to search for good candidates, which are usually already employed.
Through extensive research, the candidates are then contacted and asked if they wish to change jobs, usually with better opportunities and chances for a promotion.
AgriFind essentially works the same but is marketed toward the agriculture industry, such as seed companies.
Both firms are currently trying to recruit people to fill 125 vacant executive spots in Mexico, Carter said. Even though the business is located in the Eastlake area, business is conducted across the country.
His partner, Fernando Espinosa, deals with the Mexican side of the business.
“We’re putting Chula Vista on the map for U.S. and Mexico,” Carter said.
The partnership has been great even though the two men used to be business competitors.
“It worked great,” Carter said. “I’m 100 percent American and he’s 100 percent Mexican.”
Both QualiFind and AgriFind have bloomed across the country, getting requests from Georgia and other locations, he said.
In 2005, Carter purchased three two-story units in Eastlake and created Eastlake Business Suites. The company serves small and local businesses by providing them an office, Carter said.
Businesses from Mexico that want to establish an office in the U.S. have rented out space, he said.
Those interested can choose packages starting at $150 per month. Their space includes office furniture, a meeting room, Internet access, a state-of-the-art phone system, a receptionist and more.
Those who do not necessarily need a physical office can choose to have a virtual office instead, he said. They will still have the receptionist and phone system, but there is no physical location. If they want to have a meeting, they can call ahead and reserve a meeting room for a fee.
There are 18 private offices or 50 virtual office spaces, Carter said. About 40 businesses are currently using the building or its address for mail services.
Carter’s most recent plan, QualiFind Career Transition, involves helping executive-level employees by offering resume writing services, career coaching or setting up a resume from scratch. These services range between $300 and $1,000.
