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NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 2 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE THE GROWTH and evolution of Jamaican enterprises are integral to the nation’s economic and social development. Over the past 35 years, Manpower & Maintenance Services (MMS) Limited Group has been part of this evolving landscape, responding to the needs of an ever-changing economy and expanding its contributions across multiple sectors. Established in 1990, MMS began with a focus on janitorial and facilities management and has since broadened its scope to include education, workforce training, human resource outsourcing, and job placement. The Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED) is among its contributions, providing training opportunities supporting skills development and professional advancement. The ability of businesses to adapt, innovate, and diversify is critical to sustained progress. Over the years, MMS has extended its operations into air and seaports, healthcare, education, telecommunications, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). Through its subsidiaries, the organisation has also undertaken initiatives aimed at workforce readiness and professional growth. Enterprises such as MMS contribute to national development, not only through their economic engagements but also by fostering opportunities for employment, capacity-building, and social impact. As the organisation marks 35 years, this milestone provides an opportunity to reflect on the broader journey of business expansion and resilience within Jamaica’s economic framework. Congratulations on this anniversary, and best wishes for the future. HIS EXCELLENCY THE MOST HON SIR PATRICK ALLEN ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J Governor General INTEGRAL TO ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CONGRATULATIONS TO Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited (MMS) Group on the occasion of 35 years of excellence in service, innovation, growth, and nation-building. Founded by the visionary M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe in 1990, MMS has evolved from a single company specialising in janitorial and maintenance services into a dynamic group of companies employing over 2,500 Jamaicans. The company’s journey began with a focus on providing janitorial, building, and grounds maintenance services to healthcare institutions. This was in response to the growing need for cleaning and portering services in hospitals, a demand that MMS swiftly met. MMS’s track record of excellence at the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies helped expand its client base, attracting other health facilities, commercial businesses, and international entities. Through the years, MMS has diversified, becoming a full-service human resource and facilities maintenance company offering multi-site, best-in-class, and cost-effective solutions. With the growth of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) in Jamaica, MMS became a prominent provider of bundled services, including janitorial services, grounds maintenance, pest management, and human resource outsourcing. Today, MMS services over 180 clients across 220 locations islandwide, across various industries, including telecommunications, banking, hospitality, and healthcare. Beyond business, MMS has made significant strides in workforce education and community development. Through the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), MMS has empowered Jamaican workers, equipping them with the skills necessary to remain competitive in a global economy. The MMS Foundation and charitable initiatives in health, education, and sports highlight your commitment to nation-building. As MMS celebrates this remarkable milestone, I commend the entire team for their unwavering commitment to service excellence. May you continue to contribute to Jamaica’s economic and social advancement through dedication and innovation. Congratulations, and best wishes for continued success in the years to come! DR THE MOST HON ANDREW HOLNESS, ON, PC, MP Prime Minister 35 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Messages IT IS with great pleasure that I extend heartfelt congratulations to Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited Group as you celebrate your 35th anniversary. Founded in 1990 by the visionary M. Audrey StewartHinchcliffe, Manpower has grown from a pioneering janitorial and facilities management company into a dynamic and diversified group of enterprises that continues to make a significant contribution to Jamaica’s development. With a workforce of over 2,500 Jamaicans, your operations reflect the values of innovation, resilience, and a deep commitment to national service. From the transformative work of the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED) to the expansion into human resource outsourcing, sales and distribution through The Clean Store, and community upliftment via the Manpower & Maintenance Services Foundation, your organisation is a testament to what can be achieved when vision is coupled with action. This milestone is not only a celebration of longevity, but of a legacy rooted in empowering people, enhancing productivity, and uplifting communities. Your contribution to skills training, job creation, and philanthropy reflects a holistic approach to business that is both admirable and impactful. On behalf of the Opposition, I commend you on this significant achievement and wish you continued growth and success in the years ahead. Congratulations on your 35th anniversary! MARK J. GOLDING, MP Leader of the Opposition SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT This milestone is not only a celebration of longevity, but of a legacy rooted in empowering people, enhancing productivity, and uplifting communities. Your contribution to skills training, job creation, and philanthropy reflects a holistic approach to business that is both admirable and impactful.
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 3 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE Messages IT GIVES me great pleasure to extend heartfelt congratulations to Manpower & Maintenance Services (MMS) Limited as you celebrate your 35th anniversary. What began as a vision in 1990 has blossomed into one of Jamaica’s most dynamic and versatile service providers, with an impressive footprint across Kingston, Mandeville, and Montego Bay. MMS’s growth over these 35 years speaks volumes about your commitment to excellence. From your core facilities maintenance and human resource services to your expanded portfolio that now includes janitorial services, grounds maintenance, landscaping, integrated pest management, and human resource outsourcing, you have consistently demonstrated adaptability and foresight. What particularly impresses me is your holistic approach to workforce development through the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED). This initiative aligns perfectly with our ministry’s vision of creating pathways for Jamaicans to acquire valuable skills that enhance their employability and contribute to national development. With over 2,500 employees serving more than 220 client locations islandwide, MMS has become a cornerstone of Jamaica’s service industry. Your client base, spanning international, regional, and local businesses, reflects the trust and confidence your partners place in your capabilities. I value organisations like yours that prioritise continuous learning and skills development. IWED’s commitment to research-based training programmes that reflect current practices and techniques is commendable and essential for building a competitive workforce. As you mark this significant milestone, I encourage you to continue your excellent work in providing innovative solutions in facilities maintenance, workforce education, and outsourced services. Your contributions to Jamaica’s economic landscape and human capital development deserve our highest praise. Congratulations once again and best wishes for continued success! SENATOR DR THE HON DANA MORRIS DIXON Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information A DYNAMIC, VERSATILE SERVICE PROVIDER ON BEHALF of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, I extend warmest congratulations to Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited on the occasion of your 35th anniversary. For over three decades, Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and service delivery. Your contributions to the Jamaican labour market via the service sector, and your employment of some 2,500 persons contributing to our historically low unemployment rates, our economy and the wider society are truly commendable. As we celebrate this milestone, we acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and resilience that have been the hallmarks of your success. I commend your initiative in creating additional entities in your strategic undertaking of expanding your brand and boosting the skillset of the Jamaican workforce through the creation of Manpower and Maintenance Business Services Limited. Further to serve additional needs in the service industry, you expanded your portfolio offerings to include Manpower and Maintenance Services Sales and Distribution Limited to offer a wide range of cleaning and sanitising products and Manpower and Maintenance Services Foundation Limited to boost your philanthropic efforts. This type of expansion and growth is a testament to the power of your vision as entrepreneurs and your commendable leadership in providing job opportunities for our citizens. This innovation and progress will secure your enduring legacy and presence in the industry, shaping the landscape for another 35 years. Your company has stood the test of time and will serve as an example to future generations of entrepreneurs as to the capacity for Jamaican brands. I wish you continued success, growth, and prosperity as you mark this significant chapter in your history. May the next 35 years bring even greater opportunities, achievements, and impact. Congratulations once again to Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited on this remarkable anniversary. THE HON PEARNEL CHARLES JR, MP, JP Minister of Labour and Social Security A MILESTONE CELEBRATED: 35 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE WHEN MANPOWER & Maintenance Services Limited (MMS) was founded 35 years ago, my aim was to fulfil my need for employment as well as to provide a service in cleaning and related areas that I believed was lacking in Jamaica at that time. The formation of the company came after a 22-year sojourn overseas where I worked in various capacities, both in the United States of America and the Caribbean. Resettling in Jamaica had its own set of challenges and to say these were overwhelming at times, is an understatement. However, with the assistance of family, friends and good old-fashioned moxy, I managed to put my skills and experience in the health sector to good use. As I have indicated in my book, The Will To Overcome… Reflections On Circumstance, Vision, Service, “the success that is seen today, has a history which is not for the faint-hearted but thankfully, it also reinforces the principle that when you have something to do, just do it, stick to it – because as the saying goes, ‘Every setback is a set-up for a comeback.’” I will forever be indebted to The Tony Thwaites Wing, UWI and Life of Jamaica, now Sagicor, the first two organisations that decided to take a chance on me. These are the foundations on which MMS was built and today I can reflect with immense gratitude and pride on the road that we have travelled and the experience gained. I also thank the approximately 200 clients who we now serve, not just as a single entity but as a multi-service group of companies, with some 3,000 employees who are the backbone of our organisation. After 33 years at the helm of MMS as founder, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO), I officially retired from the position of CEO on March 27, 2023, and handed the day-today operations over to the very capable Don Gittens, while I continue to serve the organisation as chairman. Don brings to the position of CEO considerable expertise and experience in several critical areas including business development, strategic management, financial analysis and strategic planning, and he is making his mark both internally and in the marketplace. While he respects MMS’s past, he is charting an impressive course for the future A NEW CHAPTER PLEASE SEE CHAPTER, 4 M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 4 and is committed to continuing to shape the organisation into the truly outstanding entity that it has always promised to be. To have had the privilege to lead the MMS team for over three decades has indeed been an honour and a blessing. I am proud to have worked with a dedicated and visionary board of directors; as well as committed men and women who have been generous with their opinions and ideas about the direction and development of the organisation. Many of them have gone beyond the call of duty to meet and often exceed the clients’ expectations. I pay tribute to the staff both past and present and thank them for their invaluable support. I also thank our many clients, suppliers, supporters, well-wishers, and advisors who continue to cheer us on, and even our competitors and critics who challenge us to do and be better. In a time of change and uncertainty, both locally and internationally, we welcome leadership with innovative ideas and a steady hand, who can meet the needs and challenges of this era, while motivating the team to think creatively and unconventionally. This is essential as MMS refines its strategies and charts a new course for the future As we mark this 35th anniversary milestone, we not only celebrate success but survival, resilience and the fruits of faith manifested in what we have accomplished together. I am extremely hopeful and excited as this new chapter unfolds. MMS is in good hands! M. AUDREY STEWART HINCHCLIFFE, CD, JP Chairman CHAPTER CONTINUED FROM 3 Specialized in: • Computer Networks Installation and Maintenance • Point of Sale Systems • PBX Systems Installation and Support • Network Surveillance System Installation and Support. Empowering businesses across Jamaica and the Caribbean with reliable, innovative IT solutions. Messages TWO YEARS ago, I assumed the position of CEO at Manpower & Maintenance Services Ltd Group (MMS) on the retirement from that position of founder and chairman, M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe. Those are huge shoes to fill as Mrs Hinchcliffe’s and Manpower’s reputation for professionalism, service and efficiency in the marketplace is legendary. I am therefore privileged and honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and multifaceted organisation at this time. Over the past 35 years, Manpower’s evolution from a small company offering janitorial services to the largest multi-service organisation of its kind in Jamaica and the Caribbean is indeed commendable, and my mission is not only to work with all our stakeholders to uphold the tenets that underpin the MMS entities but to implement strategies to ensure the robust growth and longevity of the group. To this end, we have embarked upon a plan of action to strengthen the entities under the MMS umbrella as we become more flexible and agile in business development, strategically build on existing partnerships even as we forge new ones; to extend our service offering to different sectors that are not now members of the MMS family; to deepen our relationships with our clients and vendors and of course fortify the existing bonds with our members of staff who have already signalled their commitment to ensuring that MMS continues to achieve its goals. To date, we have seen progress in virtually every area including facilities management, Manpower & Maintenance Business Services (MMBS), Sales & Distribution, the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), and we have been placing greater emphasis on community support and involvement through the Manpower & Maintenance Services Foundation (MMSF), and the empowerment of staff through the M’Power Women’s Group. We have also entered into new strategic partnerships, the most recent being with Paramount Jamaica. They will supply chemicals for the facilities management arm of MMS, as well as specially manufactured products, including “Powersol” that will be distributed under the MMS label, and also provide warehousing and logistical support for the organisation. Manpower is also planning to increase the locations where its products can be acquired with the opening of new The Clean Store® facilities in Kingston and Portmore, in addition to those already existing at Drax Hall and the regional offices in Mandeville and Montego Bay. We also plan to add Property Management and Waste Management to the list of services that MMS now offers. I am indebted to the MMS staff for embracing the vision and upholding the tradition to serve with excellence, dedication, and countless contributions of time and effort to achieve these objectives and ensure the continued growth of the organisation. I am also grateful for the support of our clients, suppliers, supporters and well-wishers. I invite all stakeholders to continue the journey and grow with us. Working with the board of directors, we aim to provide the leadership and direction that will make this organisation an even greater force for change and innovation in the marketplace for the next 35 years and beyond! DON GITTENS CEO A DYNAMIC, MULTIFACETED ORGANISATION Founder, chairman and former CEO of Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited (MMS), M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe (left), symbolically passes the leadership baton to newly appointed CEO Don A. Gittens in a function to mark the occasion at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston. MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 5 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE THIRTYFIVE YEARS ago, if anyone had told M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe when she started Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited (MMS) in a small office on Grants Pen Road in Kingston, that with that step she had sown the seeds that would produce a group of companies, chances are she would have viewed that news with disbelief. The decision to return to Jamaica after living and working overseas for over two decades did not result in the easy transition or ready employment as she had hoped. She subsequently made the decision to put her tremendous experience, talents and skills to good use by providing employment for herself. She had served in healthcare, education and administration and worked with several organisations and institutions including the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM) in Guyana, where she completed a six-year assignment as the first Health Development Officer for the then 17-member states of CARICOM. Armed with the experience and knowledge gained, she decided to establish Caribbean Health Management Consultants Limited (CHMC), her first business venture. This paved the way for Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited, which was created to fill a niche in the cleaning and sanitisation sector. “I am indebted to Mr Dixie Adams for allowing us to remain at his Grants Pen property rent-free in the early days,” recalls Mrs Hinchcliffe. “In those days, the way was far from clear. When I came back to Jamaica, I was full of energy and wanted to contribute, but it was difficult to find a place where I could really use what I had learnt. I felt very vulnerable and eventually resorted to seeking assistance from family and friends.” Recounting that period in her book, The Will to overcome … she writes, “Life threw me many lemons and I made the best lemonade. How was I able to do it almost pennilessly? Not only did I have the right mindset, but I also had the right skill sets. I had several ideas for a business. When I felt insufficient on my own, I sought help to sift through those ideas.” The birth of MMS Ltd was painful, and its growth and development have not been without challenges, but Hinchcliffe possessed “the will to overcome,” and the number of entities that has emerged under the MMS umbrella after 35 years “is the result of prayers, partnerships, faith and hard work.” A family-owned business, Manpower’s shareholders include: Mrs Hinchcliffe, her daughter Dr Annette Hinchcliffe-Mosely, nieces Imogene Henry, Marilyn Pryce and Faith Williamson. The company developed, however, under Mrs Hinchcliffe’s management as founder, Chairman and CEO. In the initial stages, Mrs Hinchcliffe CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO JAMAICA M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe at the Collins Green office that MMS acquired in 1995. PLEASE SEE SERVICE, 6
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 6 said, “I had to get my hands dirty. I did whatever it took to get the business going. It is not unusual for people starting a business to begin on the ground floor, laying a foundation in keeping with their strategic vision. I was no different. I was on a mission, and I had a vision to establish a business that placed value on professionalism, attention to detail, accountability and reliability. I wanted to ensure that clients received value for money.” Manpower began by offering janitorial and related facilities management services to healthcare institutions, including the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital; followed by Spanish Town Hospital and Life of Jamaica (LOJ), now Sagicor. Manpower continues to serve two of these foundation clients today. It was not long before MMS was recognised as a superior service provider, and a variety of commercial and other enterprises, modern office complexes, entertainment venues, educational and sport facilities, hotels, wharves, shopping malls, the international airports and factories, soon joined the list of clients. Later, the company would launch its Powermaid© service now Power Home Suite of Services® for the cleaning and maintenance of prestige homes. It also offers a range of other services including building care, Pest Management Service (formerly pest control), landscape design and maintenance, plumbing, carpentry and provides washroom and other supplies. Having established its headquarters in Kingston, there was also the opportunity to expand to other areas of the island and an office was opened in Montego Bay 25 years ago to serve the North Coast community. In 2013, MMS also opened its office in Mandeville to benefit mid-island and the South Coast. Always researching and looking for avenues of expansion, the management of the organisation also found other creative ways to contribute to workforce improvement through the establishment of other entities including the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), which was relaunched on November 30, 2022, at its new location, 17 Eureka Crescent, Kingston 5. The Institute’s transition to a college for workforce development was also announced. A front-runner and constantly ready to seize opportunities for growth whenever and wherever MMS Board of Directors (from left): Leo Williams, Dawn Marie Brown, M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe, Don Gittens, Velma Brown, Joseph Taffe and Andrew Lee, Faith Williamson and Peter Thompson. PLEASE SEE SERVICE, 8 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 8 they present themselves, MMS saw a niche in the market for cleaning and sanitisation supplies during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and took yet another important step to add value for its clients. While many businesses halted operations during this time, MMS boldly launched its Product Sales and Distribution Centre on its thirty-first anniversary, May 4, 2021 at its old headquarters, 14 Collins Green Avenue in Kingston. This new division paved the way for The Clean Store®, distribution outlets through which consumers can now purchase retail and wholesale cleaning, sanitation, sanitisation, landscaping, and pest control equipment and supplies. The first The Clean Store® located at Shop #5, Knutsford Express Business Centre in Drax Hall, St Ann, was opened on October 22, 2022. Others are soon to be opened in Kingston and Portmore. Under MMS’s umbrella is also Manpower & Maintenance Business Services (MMBS), that is committed to providing the best Human Resource Outsourcing (HRO) solutions to its valued clients. It continuously seeks to improve its areas of operation, with a view to ensuring satisfactory client and employee engagement. The Manpower & Maintenance Services Foundation was established in recognition of the organization’s commitment to community improvement through projects that promote effective corporate social responsibility. Its flagship programme, the annual Back-to-School Awards presentation, represents a partnership between the company and a number of its business associates through which children of Manpower’s employees who are entering high school for the first time are provided with needed supplies and cash donations to assist in their preparation. The Foundation also supports the Special Olympics as well as the sports programme at Excelsior High School. On January 8, 2021, MMS launched the M’Power Women’s Group, an entity dedicated to the “upliftment” of women “through work and education.” Conceptualised by Mrs Hinchcliffe, the Group’s primary objective “is to address issues that affect women at the workplace and motivate them to improve their education and upgrade their skills while on the job, either through the Institute for Workforce Education & Development (IWED), or other educational institutions.” In 2023 MMS made another major change when founder, Chairman and CEO, Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe, announced her retirement as CEO and passed that leadership baton to Don Gittens. An accomplished manager with experience and expertise in several key disciplines including strategic management and planning, financial analysis and business development, Gittens’ impact is already being felt throughout the organisation and in the marketplace. The first company in Jamaica to become a member of Building Service Contractors Association International (BSCAI), MMS is also listed in “Who’s Who in Building Service Contracting,” a publication of Building Services Contractors International. Manpower is a founding member of the Jamaica Association of Commercial Cleaning Contractors and also one of a few companies in the Caribbean to become a member of Cleaning Management Institute. From a small enterprise, today MMS’s employees number over 3,000 and the organisation serves approximately 300 client locations. It is managed overall by a Board of Directors that consists of M. Audrey Stewart Hinchcliffe (Chairman), Don Gittens, Faith Williamson, Leo Williams, Velma Brown, Peter Thompson, Dawn-Marie Brown, Andrew Lee and Joseph Taffe. “We are committed to the continued growth and development of the Manpower Group by building on the solid principles of integrity and service excellence on which the organisation was founded,” says CEO Don Gittens. “We are also proud of the fact that many of our services, including training, are now customised for the specific needs and convenience of our customers. At the same time, we are also mindful of the environment in which we operate and the need to uphold industry standards, while reducing our own carbon footprint for the good of the planet. Our focus is not only on expansion and profit-making but on ensuring that we continue to develop an organisation of which all stakeholders can be proud,” he added. Former Prime Minister the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson along with Chairman and former CEO of MMS, M. Audrey Stewart Hinchcliffe, cut the ribbon at the official opening of Manpower Centre, the company’s headquarters at 1 Eureka Road in Kingston, on May 12, 2005. MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 10 WITH THE retirement of founder and Chairman of Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited Group (MMS) M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe as CEO, the organisation welcomed Don Gittens to that office on March 27, 2023. A “seasoned management professional,” Don has come to the position from JAMPRO where he served for over six years as Manager, Logistics, Energy, Infrastructure and Emerging Sectors. He is a trained Project Manager and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Management from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in Telecommunications from the State University of New York: Institute of Technology. He is also certified in Strategic Investment Promotion, Public Speaking and Sales Techniques. Don has over 20 years’ experience in the areas of business development, strategic planning, international investment and trade negotiations, policy development, strategic marketing, client relationship management, consultative and technology sales, as well as financial analysis. He also held management positions at CLICO Holdings (Barbados) Ltd, where he was the Information Systems Manager, and at Cable & Wireless Jamaica (LIME & C&W Business) where he served as Regional Enterprise Account Manager/BPO Executive Manager. Determined to succeed, Don has seamlessly integrated himself into his new role focused on achieving increased growth and development, both for MMS and himself. “The transition has been fantastic. I feel at home at Manpower as the Board of Directors, managers and staff warmly welcomed me. I have received great support and positive feedback from the team and with the Chairman, Mrs Hinchcliffe, making herself available to play an advisory role, I have been able to understand the Company from the ground up. I firmly believe that neither management nor the organisation can succeed if the members of staff are not with them and therefore from the moment I took office, I have shared my vision for the Company with the staff, and I am happy to say they have embraced it and have come onboard as we introduce and implement new strategies for taking MMS forward.” But what motivated Don Gittens to take such a demanding job at MMS? “It is the intrigue and being able to experience a company like MEET MMS CEO, DON GITTENS CEO Don Gittens addressing a vendors’ meeting shortly after taking office. PLEASE SEE GITTENS, 12 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 12 this that has the business lines that Manpower has. How many other organisations can provide the experiences associated with facilities management, training, sales and distribution, and outsourced human resource services? Manpower is unique and the bonus is that I am also able to trust Mrs. Hinchcliffe as well as my team to be supportive.” Gittens’ first order of business was to implement a four-point plan for the Company in a bid to involve all stakeholders. First, he ensured that all employees or “internal customers made the necessary adjustments and understand the vision for continued growth.” Next, he reached out in face-toface meetings with existing clients, “to assure them that we are their strategic partners. Their success is our success, and we want to help them grow.”Thirdly,“we embarked upon a relentless mission to forge new alliances by identifying new sectors and welcoming new clients with whom to develop strong relationships.” Fourthly, “We are also focusing on innovation, where we look at new methods and technologies that can help us to improve our processes, how we do things, for greater efficiency, effectiveness and growth.” According to Gittens, “Engaging the people with whom we work – both internally and externally – is the key to achieving our goals and objectives.” His greatest challenge is to maintain the blistering pace he has set for himself as he strives to meet the “aggressive targets” he has identified. “We operate in a competitive and dynamic environment, so this is not the time to take it easy. To accomplish more meaningful changes at MMS requires hard and consistent work, even as we realise that change is a process, it will be gradual. We have got to be careful in our approach, however, and keep the team motivated so they remain fully on board and committed to the process.” Members of the senior management and supervisory staff are singing Don’s praises as he has led by example, encouraging them to adopt fresher approaches to executing their responsibilities, and introducing a programme of re-orientation through change management training. He has also sought to make the team more cohesive by organising team-building exercises for both groups, which, from all accounts, they have found beneficial. “I fully realise that change will not come overnight but I believe that I have now become accepted as a fully-fledged member of the Manpower family. I certainly feel at home, and this makes the process much easier. “I am encouraged and impressed by the family atmosphere that pervades the organisation and the staff’s commitment to getting the job done. They have repeatedly shown their willingness to go beyond the call of duty, even to working outside of normal business hours to get the job done and for the most part, they do so without complaining. This makes me even more dedicated to working with and supporting my team. My philosophy has always been, “lead by example.’ I will not ask my colleagues to do what I am not prepared to do myself. I firmly believe in always putting people first.” A very busy professional, Don still manages to engage in extracurricular activities, while also prioritising his wife and family. He is an avid sports fan who enjoys “chilling with close friends and watching sports – all sports.” He is a strong advocate for work-life balance. The good news is that Don continues to bound out of bed every morning, excited to face each day fully aware that no two days will be the same. “Two years later, I continue to be excited about the job at Manpower. I enjoy my role so much, it doesn’t begin to feel like work, and you are truly blessed when your work becomes your passion and doesn’t feel like work. I am always looking forward to discovering new things about the work environment and about myself, to having new experiences as I work with my team to meet and overcome every challenge. Each day is about learning and growing. That makes me excited about the future.” CEO of MMS Don Gittens (in front), leads the men of MMS in serving their female colleagues at the annual International Women’s Day luncheon (2024). MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 13 MANPOWER’S FACILITIES Management Services is the heartbeat of the organisation. It is facilities management and maintenance that gave birth to MMS, and around which the various entities that fall under the umbrella are built. MMS has developed an enviable reputation as a leader in facilities management with a proven record for professionally managed, cost-effective outsourced services. Clients benefit from expert advice and support from trained, certified and experienced team members who ensure that facilities, including buildings and grounds, receive the best possible attention, enhanced through partnerships with efficient and reliable specialists. We are experts in: • Building Maintenance (both newly built and established structures). • Janitorial and related services. • Landscaping and grounds maintenance. • Pest management and control. • We train and provide capable team members who are prescreened and undergo security clearance before being deployed to multiple sectors and industries. Manpower’s efficient emergency response team promptly restores client’s premises and makes them operational in the shortest possible time following construction, renovation, natural or other disasters. The organisation operates on the premise that each client is unique, therefore the services offered must be customised to meet the specific needs of each, whether those needs are commercial, business or domestic. Now firmly set on a growth path, Facilities Management Services under the capable management of General Manager Ahijah Brown, is pulling out all the stops to ensure that he and his team meet the targets that have been set for them. The team has embarked on a programme to refine its processes and become more intentional in the push into other sectors and industries. According to Mr Brown, “We have revamped our Power Home Suite of Services and Pest Management Services and are now focusing on building out our overall facilities management capabilities in the Western Region (Region 4), which includes St Ann and parts of St Mary, Trelawny, St James, Westmoreland and Hanover. The thrust now is to raise awareness about what we offer and strengthen our presence in these areas with a view to creating a greater impact while demonstrating to the consumer the benefits of calling the MMS team for full-service facilities management and maintenance,” he said. This strategy is paying dividends. At the same time, the organisation plans to increase its services to include Property Management and Waste Management. It is also exploring ways in which new technologies can expand and enhance Facilities Management Services’ efficiency and effectiveness. “Increasingly modern technologies are changing the way we relate to customers and do business. The marketplace is dynamic. Our aim is to lead this change in our sector for the benefit of our clients and the growth of the Company,” Mr Brown said. MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT SERVICES – THE HEARTBEAT OF MMS MMS CEO Don Gittens (2nd from left) and CEO of Paramount Jamaica Hugh Graham seal their agreement with a handshake, following the announcement of the partnership agreement between the two organisations at the JMEA Expo on Friday, April 4, 2025. Sharing the moment are General Manager of Facilities Management Services at MMS, Ahijah Brown (left) and Chief Operations Officer of Paramount Jamaica, Everton Younger (at right).
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 14 Message I WISH to congratulate Manpower and Maintenance Limited as it celebrates its 35th anniversary, for its remarkable contribution to human resource development in our country. The story of the establishment of the company is an inspirational one, reflecting courage, tenacity, and a willingness to push boundaries of its owner and founder, Audrey Hinchcliffe. This journey has motivated many others to venture into entrepreneurial activities. The company has grown and evolved over its 35-year history to being a large conglomerate in a wide variety of businesses, employing over 2,500 Jamaicans. Importantly, it has sought to improve the skills level of the workforce through training and professional development. It is difficult to separate Manpower from its founder, Audrey Hinchcliffe. I wish to single out, just one of her many outstanding attributes, which has been her willingness to document and share her own journey, through the publication of books. This ensures that future generations can learn from her experiences and build on the legacy she has established. Once again, congratulations to Manpower and best wishes for your continued growth and success. JULIAN J. ROBINSON Member of Parliament South East St Andrew REMARKABLE CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 15 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE THE INSTITUTE for Workforce Education & Development (IWED) was established in 2005 to offer the finest in technical and vocational education and training to equip employees to function effectively and efficiently in the workplace. An Independent School registered with the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, IWED is also registered with the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (JTEC) under the Higher Education Brokers and Providers Classification and holds University Council of Jamaica (UCJ) Stage 2 registration as a Higher Education Institution (2022-2026). IWED, a multifaceted institution with a variety of education and training programmes, continues to empower trainees and satisfy labour demands in several industries, with its tailored training courses; helping hundreds of trainees think creatively and unconventionally, while adopting new techniques and approaches to problem-solving to achieve career and organisational goals. The Institute is ideally located in Kingston, Mandeville, and Montego Bay. IWED has established a reputation for delivering quality training to government and private sector organizations and institutions gaining certification to succeed in the workplace by offering several short-term courses using experiential learning guided by qualified and dedicated instructors. The Institute also offers, free of charge, the 6th Form Pathway Programme sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth & Information. Interim President of IWED, Verica Bennett-Davidson, explains that “Following a recent strategic review under the theme: “Pathway to Academia and Business,” IWED’s Board of Directors approved two IWED: CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND SUCCESS Chairman and former CEO of MMS, Mrs M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe (left), smiles with approval as former Minister of Education and Youth, Hon Fayval Williams, displays the official letter from the Jamaica Tertiary Education Commission (J-TEC) recognising IWED as “a higher education broker and provider”. The occasion was the relaunch of IWED. At right is Chairman of IWED, Mr Wayne Chen. PLEASE SEE IWED, 16
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 16 strategic pillars – Academia and Business. This new direction will propel and position the institution in the higher education landscape to offer more innovative courses and programmes that will generate revenue while improving workforce productivity.” The institution’s goal is, “Transformation of the workforce through skills training and certification.” This includes the Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) process as an avenue for certification. In keeping with this new direction, IWED has repackaged short micro credentials offerings into Advanced Professional Diploma for academic rigour at the tertiary level. “Micro-credentials are increasingly promoted as a more flexible way of recognising knowledge, skills and competences. They give learners and employees the possibility to collect and combine smaller units of learning [short courses] according to their specific needs and, as such, are often seen as facilitating lifelong and life-wide learning.” To expand education and training activities in Kingston, IWED, which was relaunched in 2022, recently relocated to its new physical space at 17 Eureka Crescent, Kingston 5. This facility also boasts an impressively retooled computer lab. IWED is managed by a Board of Directors with noted Businessman Wayne Chen as Chairman. (L-R) MMS CEO Don Gittens, Interim President of IWED Verica Bennett-Davidson, Chairman of MMS M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe and Chairman of IWED Wayne Chen, proudly display the RJR Gleaner Award for Education (2023) for IWED’s “pivotal role in workforce development, providing technical and vocational accreditation programmes for national development, facilitating greater inclusion of Jamaicans in the workforce”. IWED CONTINUED FROM 15 To expand education and training activities in Kingston, IWED, which was relaunched in 2022, recently relocated to its new physical space at 17 Eureka Crescent, Kingston 5. This facility also boasts an impressively retooled computer lab. MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 17 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE ON ITS 31st anniversary, May 4, 2021, MMS opened the Manpower & Maintenance Services Product Sales & Distribution Centre in Kingston, signalling the organisation’s official entry into the market to retail and wholesale goods related to its services. Located at 14 Collins Green Avenue, Kingston 5, the Centre is the realisation of plans for expanding the Group, while adding value for clients. Since then, the distribution outlet, The Clean Store® has been opened at Shop #5, Knutsford Express Business Centre in Drax Hall, St Ann, with services also available at the MMS branches in Montego Bay and Mandeville. Retail and wholesale cleaning, sanitation, sanitisation, landscaping, and pest management equipment and supplies are now available at these locations. Now MMS Sales & Distribution Ltd, the entity provides a greater opportunity for MMS to assist consumers to use the best products correctly. A key benefit to consumers is the emphasis of staff on expanding product knowledge, providing greater convenience and efficiency, faster delivery, and exceptional customer service, so that clients can be confident about what MMS offers and feel even more secure in the knowledge that the organisation lives its promise when it invites them, as the tagline says to, ‘Get more than clean, Get hygiene.’ Through this facility MMS is also forging new partnerships to ensure that a range of eco-friendly cleaning and sanitizing products, food containers and utensils are made available on the local market. This, as the entity ventures into new areas of business to meet demand and achieve growth targets. With the recent announcement of its partnership with chemical manufacturers, Paramount Jamaica, Sales & Distribution will also be able to increase its inventory with specially manufactured Jamaican products, including “Powersol” that will be distributed under the MMS label. Consumers in Kingston and St Catherine will also be able to shop for products more conveniently as plans are now in place to open new The Clean Store® facilities in Kingston and Portmore. “We want to bring high quality products to the market that are competitive both in performance and price, that our customers find reliable and effective and cater to their needs and so we are pulling out all the stops to make this happen. At Manpower, we have developed a very strong reputation for quality and reliability over the years, and we want to assure our customers that the trust in our services can also be applied to the products that carry the MMS name,” said General Manager of MMS Sales & Distribution Mitchell ‘Mitch’ Watson. To improve service delivery in Western Jamaica, Manpower has added a warehouse team to better manage operations in that area. Customers can also look for the new delivery trucks that are coming on stream to make acquiring products even more convenient for them. MMS Sales & Distribution Ltd is managed by a Board of Directors, chaired by Joe Taffe. MMS SALES & DISTRIBUTION: MORE THAN CLEAN The opening of The Clean Store® in Drax Hall, St Ann, in 2022.
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 18 “MANPOWER AND Maintenance Business Services Limited (MMBS) is a subsidiary of the Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited Group. We have been operating since 2002, providing full-service human resource management services, which is, basically, our business partners outsourcing some or all of their human resources management services to us,” explains General Manager, HR Business Services at MMS, Monica Young. MMBS is committed to providing the best human resource outsourced (HRO) solutions to its valued clients and continuously seeks to improve its areas of operation with a view to ensuring satisfactory client and employee engagement. General Manager H R Business Services Monica Young has daily oversight of Manpower & Maintenance Business Services and the HRO portfolio, with Nicole Lindsay as project manager. A growing industry, human resource outsourcing is “the practice of having a third-party organisation manage all (or some of) a business’ human resource tasks”. Outsourcing these services helps to improve efficiency in organisations as instead of individuals being bogged down with administrative work in areas in which they may not be fully competent, their energies can be better employed in initiatives for which their skills are more suited. This shift helps companies benefit from the best talent pool in the industry and should ultimately lead to a greater return on investment as the company also saves money. “The services are scalable and client specific, and we collaborate closely with the client to ensure that what we offer are aligned with the client’s needs. The services can be long-term, short-term, or cyclical and fall under two categories: talent acquisition, which includes recruitment and placement; and talent management, which incorporates payroll and benefits administration, employee relations, training and development, and policy development and execution,” says Monica Young. According to Project Manager Nicole Lindsay: “As experts in the area, we help clients with their HR functions so that both the client and the organisation can focus more on growth in its core business. We provide support to all sectors in several areas, including staff recruitment, payroll and benefits, administration, and training.” There are other benefits to outsourcing. Chief among them is the high level of competence that HRO professionals bring to the job. They are versed in the laws, rules, and regulations as these apply to human resource management – including areas such as taxes, workplace safety, and matters related to employee relations. Outsourcing also saves administrative time for the in-house team. While hiring an outside HRO expert to assume the responsibility for providing cost-effective and efficient strategies to streamline some, if not all, human resource functions in-house, employers are cautioned to ensure that they select competent providers of the service. “Do your due diligence. Ensure that whoever you choose is experienced in areas such as tax, payroll, employee relations, or in the particular areas that management may be seeking to employ HRO services. Professionals should be informed and knowledgeable about the service areas,” Ms Lindsay said. Manpower and Maintenance Business Services Limited is managed by a board of directors chaired by Andre Gordon. MMBS: PROVIDING THE BEST HRO SOLUTIONS “The services are scalable and client specific, and we collaborate closely with the client to ensure that what we offer are aligned with the client’s needs. The services can be long-term, short-term, or cyclical and fall under two categories: talent acquisition, which includes recruitment and placement; and talent management, which incorporates payroll and benefits administration, employee relations, training and development, and policy development and execution,” says Monica Young. MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE
NAME OF FEATURE | THE GLEANER | SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025 19 MMS 35TH ANNIVERSARY FEATURE Messages IT IS with profound pleasure that I extend my heartiest congratulations to Manpower and Maintenance Services Limited Group (MMS) on the auspicious occasion of your 35th anniversary. This remarkable milestone speaks volumes about your resilience, vision, and unwavering commitment to excellence in Jamaica’s service sector. From humble beginnings in 1990, when Chairperson M. Audrey Stewart-Hinchcliffe recognised an untapped niche in the market, MMS has transformed from a singular focus on janitorial and facilities management into a dynamic constellation of enterprises that now employs over 2,500 Jamaicans. This journey reflects not merely growth, but a testament to the power of visionary leadership and strategic adaptation in an ever-evolving marketplace. The breadth of your current operations is nothing short of impressive. Through the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), you’ve elevated the competencies of countless Jamaican workers, while Manpower and Maintenance Business Services Limited has revolutionised human resource solutions across our island. Your expansion into cleaning and sanitising products through The Clean Store demonstrates your ability to pivot and create new value streams, while your space rental services and the philanthropic arm of your organisation underscore a commitment to both commercial excellence and social responsibility. As Jamaica continues its development journey, organisations like MMS serve as beacons of what is possible when determination meets opportunity. Your 35-year legacy of service excellence, job creation, and community investment has helped strengthen the backbone of our economy and improve the quality of life for thousands of Jamaicans. May the next chapter of the MMS story be even more brilliant than the first, as you continue to set new standards of excellence and innovation in service delivery. The seeds planted 35 years ago have indeed blossomed into a mighty enterprise that all Jamaica can be proud of. With warm regards as you continue to soar. P.J. PATTERSON, ON, OCC, KC Former Prime Minister of Jamaica A 35-YEAR LEGACY OF SERVICE EXCELLENCE “THE JOURNEY of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”This profound statement is synonymous with Manpower & Maintenance Services Limited, growing from infancy to now a leader and game changer not only in its core function to provide janitorial service but having also diversified into other business ventures such as: Training through the Institute for Workforce Education and Development (IWED), that seeks to improve the skills of Jamaican workers in a variety of areas. Manpower and Maintenance Business Services Limited, which provides human resource outsourcing solutions in several areas including staff recruitment, payroll and benefits, among others. Manpower and Maintenance Services Sales & Distribution Ltd, which was established in 2021 to offer a wide range of cleaning and sanitising products through The Clean Store, the first of which was opened in Drax Hall, St Ann in 2022. The philanthropic arm of the organisation, Manpower & Maintenance Services Foundation Ltd, which supports community projects in health, education and sports. Over the period of 30 years, from 1992-July 31, 2022, Spanish Town Hospital and Manpower & Maintenance Services Ltd have shared a rich history and weathered many storms. As an excellent corporate citizen, the company has expressed its philanthropic service to the hospital in cash and kind and supported many of our welfare activities and projects. In celebration of your 35th anniversary, I express heartfelt congratulations on your achievement of this momentous milestone. VETA MCDERMOTT MS Operations Manager Spanish Town Hospital A LEADER AND GAME CHANGER
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