Economic Opportunity for All

First Step Staffing, Inc. was founded by successful entrepreneur, Greg Block (1966-2020). Raised in a family with a strong focus on civil service and leadership, Greg always knew he wanted to make a positive difference in the world. However, first he wanted to achieve success in his professional life so that he would have a solid foundation upon which to build a social enterprise. Prior to founding First Step, he was President, CEO, and sole owner of American Pacific Enterprises, which he grew from a $20 million to $185 million corporation.

After selling his company at the age of 40, Greg was able to get to work. Greg met with dozens of civic, business, and nonprofit leaders in his hometown of Atlanta. It did not take long for Mr. Block to realize that the most widespread, persistent, and difficult social problem to solve was homelessness. With the vision of becoming America’s jobs solution to homelessness, First Step Staffing, Inc. was officially launched on October 16, 2007.

Since First Step Staffing was founded in 2007, under Greg’s leadership, First Step has empowered more than 15,000 men and women on the path out of poverty and homelessness and into self-sufficiency. Combined, these individuals earned more than $100 million.

Greg always envisioned scaling the work of First Step so we could help empower more people through employment in cities across the country where homelessness is prevalent. In 2015, Greg began to make his vision a reality with the acquisition of a staffing firm in Atlanta. From 2015-2020, all while fighting the battle for his life, Greg spearheaded 2 additional acquisitions in Philadelphia and Los Angeles. He also launched an organic growth model in the City of Nashville. Today, with locations in 6 cities, First Step is the largest alternative staffing agency in the country.