William Stoller, co-founder of Oklahoma-based Express Employment International, dies at 74
Stoller began his career in staffing in 1973 at Acme Personnel in Portland, Oregon, and was admired for his innovative ability, along with his integrity and commitment to helping others succeed, according to a news release. When the company later went bankrupt in the early 1980s, he and two other Acme employees — one of them Bob Funk, from Oklahoma City — founded Express Employment.
They made two key decisions: to be a franchise company and to focus on temporary help — flexible staffing, which might well have anticipated what's now called "the gig economy," in which people provide services on demand, as actors, musicians and others have traditionally done.
About 30 years after founding the company, Stoller replaced Funk as CEO after a prolonged legal battle, the details of which remain mostly sealed. Funk and Stoller have both said they remain on good terms.
Express grew to be one of the largest employment companies in the country and moved its headquarters to OKC, The Oklahoman previously reported.
In November 2024, Stoller told The Oklahoman that Express' franchise structure set them apart in a crowded industry increasingly moving online.
"Most important, I think, is that we're a franchise company, so we have business owners that are in the field who live in the marketplace or live close to the market they're dealing with. And I think that gives an advantage to us because we know the community and the people who live in the community know they can go to our offices to apply for jobs," he said. "Number two is our culture, our value system. Our franchisees strongly believe we're there to help people find jobs, and that leads our culture to accomplish that."
Aside from his work with Express Employment, he also was the founder and proprietor of Oregon-based Stoller Winery.
Limited details are being shared at this time out of respect for the family, the company said in a news release. Funeral arrangements and other remembrance opportunities will be announced at a later date.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Express Employment International co-founder William Stoller dies at 74
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