Our President

Argo L. Simpkins

Argo L. Simpkins, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABO Haven, Inc., has spent the last two decades honing her professional skills as an educator, successfully implementing processes designed to develop vocational and technical competencies for socially challenged populations.

In addition to her executive accountabilities, Argo continues to function as the School Director for ABO Haven, Inc. She maintains an active presence with her staff and students, thus providing her the opportunity to personally ensure that the standards of excellence she developed over the years are maintained. This "hands-on" approach is in large part responsible for high levels of performance, low absenteeism, and positive results exhibited by alumni of ABO Haven, Inc., who enter the workforce upon graduating from ABO Haven's curriculum. Equally as important is the positive workplace value system and management efficiency demonstrated by her staff.

While she possesses numerous management skills, Argo credits her effectiveness to the focus she has placed in several key areas: the teaching of technical skills, such as computer applications and keyboarding for beginners and advanced typists and the teaching of soft skills, such as time management and workplace protocol. Argo believes that such information is essential to help them bridge the digital divide.

Prior to assuming the helm of ABO Haven, Inc. Argo was employed with Campus Boulevard Corporation (CBC) for nine years, progressively serving as Coordinator, Head Instructor, School Director, and Chief Operating Officer. Hired by CBC in 1994 to implement the organizations' first training contract through Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation (PWDC), formerly known as the Private Industry Council (PIC), Argo developed curriculums, instructed and counseled students, and hired and trained staff, all while implementing and managing thirteen additional CBC contracts.
As her responsibility for CBC operations grew, so did the business. This non-profit business expanded such that a for-profit subsidiary was incorporated as a proprietary school and subsequently licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Education in December, 1999. Argo developed the requisite processes (Computer Office Technology, Computer Servicing & Troubleshooting, Data Entry, Customer Service, Hospitality, and Introduction to Computers for the International Student with English as a Second Language) which qualified the institution to be licensed.

Argo's efforts have resulted in the organization's numerous awards:
§ 1997 National Council for Urban Economic Development Program Award
§ 1997 Pennsylvania's Governor Achievement Award for Outstanding Performance in Job Training and Placement
§ 1997 National Association of Counties (NACO) Award for Job Training and Placement,
§ Pennsylvania Partners Job Training Award
§ National Congress for Community Economic Development Award
§ National Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED)
§ United States Department of Commerce Award
§ Korean and American Friendship Society Award
§ Outstanding Job Training Vendor Award for the State of Pennsylvania
§ Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce 2000 Business and Community Excellence Award

Argo has been invited to speak to various organizations and institutions; executives in the public and private sector have been intrigued by her successful training methods, high employee retention rate, training completion rate, and placement retention rate. Argo has addressed such esteemed audiences as The University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Elijah Anderson Community Focus Group, Eastern State College, National Black Caucus of Local Elected Officials (NBC-LEO), and National Council for Urban Economic Development (CUED). She has also been featured on such popular local network television programs such as Visions and Prospective A.M.
Furthermore, Argo's successful method of educating and developing skill sets for socially challenged populations has been the subject matter in a number of publications:

§ Neighborhood Transformation, by John Kromer, former Director, Office of Housing and Community Development, City of Philadelphia
§ Economic Development Commentary, (Fall 2000 issue, "Workforce Development for the Neighborhood Economy" by Mr. Kromer)
§ Code of the Streets, (Argo is highlighted via pseudonym, by University of Pennsylvania's Dr. Elijah Anderson)
§ Germantown Courier (September 1999 issue, "Local Job-Training Program Is Named Best In Nation")
§ Cascades' ("Nonprofit Training Program Director Gets State And National Recognition")
§ Newsweek (November 13, 2000 issue, "America's Prison Generation" by Ellis Cose)
An accomplished motivational speaker, Argo also does workshops in attitudinal adjustment in the workplace and has presented workshops to administrative and managerial staff at Health Partners of Philadelphia.
In the past nine years, Argo has managed and developed training programs, resulting in graduates who have contributed over $5 million to the economy of the Commonwealth. Listed below are documented retention statistics for years of training (students were tracked up to 14 months after graduation).
§ 90 percent of graduates from CBC are working in position three months after program completion.
§ 80 percent of graduates are working in positions seven to eight months after program completion.
§ 70 percent of graduates are working in positions one year and two months after program completion.
§ Graduates earn an average hourly wage of $10 an hour with full benefits.

Argo works diligently to create an atmosphere of progress and growth for her staff and students. Her capacity to function effectively in a diverse work environment, solve problems, and work well under enormous pressure has allowed Argo L. Simpkins to develop into one of the Delaware Valley's leading authorities on workforce development in principal and in practice.