Robert Half International Distinguished Leaders Among Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business

SAN FRANCISCO, June 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half International President Rita Steel and Senior District President Sharon Black were honored last night, along with 148 other local leaders, at the San Francisco Business Times' 'Most Influential Women' awards reception. The event is held annually in honor of outstanding women professionals who make a difference in their companies, industries and communities. The winners were also featured in a special publication in the April 29th issue of the San Francisco Business Times.

As President for Robert Half International, the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm, Rita Steel oversees Central and Western U.S. operations for the company's professional staffing divisions. In a career that has spanned more than 20 years with the organization, Steel has worked her way from the ground floor of the firm to the executive ranks, supervising operations of increasing size and revenue along the way.  She is committed to the development of a strong workforce, serving as Vice Chair on the Board of Directors and a member of the Contra Costa regional board of Women's Initiative for Self Employment, an organization that helps disadvantaged women launch entrepreneurial businesses in their local communities. Steel also founded a West Coast suit drive pilot program, which became the model for Robert Half International's annual company-wide campaign, collecting over 170,000 pieces of clothing since 2002. In 2010, Steel was honored by Dress for Success Worldwide for her years of dedication and service.

Senior District President for Robert Half International, Sharon Black oversees operations for the company throughout Northern and Central California, Hawaii, Utah and Nevada. Black first joined the company in 1994, and has more than 25 years of experience in the staffing industry. She is a committed member of the community, participating in the Junior League of Palo Alto for over 20 years and serving on the Board Development Committee for the local Girl Scouts of America. Black also spearheaded an annual toy drive throughout the Bay Area, benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and similar non-profits. Since launching this effort in 2009, Black's teams have donated over 2,000 toys to local families in need.

About Robert Half International

Founded in 1948, Robert Half International is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm with more than 360 offices worldwide. The company's professional staffing divisions include Accountemps®, Robert Half® Finance & Accounting and Robert Half® Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam®, for highly skilled office and administrative support professionals; Robert Half® Technology, for information technology professionals; Robert Half® Legal, for project and full-time staffing of attorneys, paralegals and legal support personnel; and The Creative Group®, for creative, advertising, marketing, web and public relations professionals. For more information about the specialized staffing and recruitment divisions of Robert Half International, visit www.roberthalf.com.

SOURCE Robert Half International