Entrepreneur Serves as Mentor to Women
Apr 16, 2012
Teresa Katubig mentors Women
For Teresa Katubig, being able to live the American dream took a lot of determination and perseverance, but it was worth every second.
“After getting divorced, I used credit cards and a second mortgage to start my business,” said Katubig, president and CEO of Extra Help, Inc. “I have worked very hard and saved every penny to make it work. Now, as a result, we are comfortable and happy. That is what the American dream is all about.”
In March, Katubig received the Tallerico Leadership Award, which recognizes individuals who mentor others and provide a role model to encourage women to achieve their full leadership potential.
“I am super-excited and quite surprised,” said Katubig, also a mother of two children. “I had never imagined being a recipient.”
Since founding Extra Help Inc. – a full-service employment, payroll, and workforce services company – in 1995, Katubig has used her own experiences and influence to assist in the promotion of other women. She has grown her company into a multi-million-dollar regional leader and continues to devote herself to the development of young women.
“Our biggest accomplishment is helping business owners run their businesses more effectively and efficiently with great employees while also helping an applicant find a great new job,” Katubig said. “We want to make a difference. We are in business to help others.”
Over the last 15 years, the business has continued to grow with offices now in Edwardsville and St. Louis with plans of opening another office in West County later this year.
“From my experiences, I had run a business and had fantastic management and recruitment training,” she said.
“And I thought, I can do this. I rented a building in Johnston City, across from the Dairy Queen at a four-way stop. I used a lettered sign to do my advertising and wrote down names of businesses from the sides of trucks as they drove by. Then I spent the rest of the time calling them to see if we could help them with employees or payroll.”
The business then grew by “leaps and bounds,” Katubig said.
“I have built a fabulous team that I could not even begin to tell anyone how hard they work or how dedicated they are to our effort,” she said.
Extra Help has been recognized as one of the largest women-owned businesses in St. Louis, along with one of the fastest-growing companies in the region. Last year, the company was named as one of the fastest-growing companies in the nation. Recently, Extra Help was named Business of the Year by the Marion Chamber of Commerce.
Katubig also supports many other local organizations such as the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club’s Table for Four programs, the YWCA of Metro St. Louis, Circle of Women, and the Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois. Katubig also volunteers at a homeless shelter and works with various committees benefiting the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, The Night’s Shield, and Children’s Home + Aid.
