My Career Journey - Meet Devette Sproaps

Devette Sproaps’ Recruiting Passion is about Helping Others

As a young woman, Devette Sproaps felt lost and unprepared when it came time to look for a career, but she certainly didn’t lack resourcefulness and a get-it-done attitude. While she wasn’t clear on a profession at that time, Devette knew where to go to gain some direction.

“I went to a non-profit that helped me figure out my goals and showed me how to look for a job because I had no clue,” Devette said. “They sat me down, asked me about my goals and what I like to do. That’s when I looked at human resources and learned that it’s about helping people and establishing relationships. That’s my passion. It’s in my blood.”

She’s been pursuing her HR career path over the past 20 years with great personal and professional success. Prior to joining Allied Universal, Devette gained experience as a call center sales representative before moving into a human resources role. It didn’t take long for her to get promoted to a recruiting position. She also gained experience at a non-profit organization as a job developer/case manager where she helped young adults with job and life skills.

Devette joined Allied Universal in 2008 as a District Recruiter, and served in that role for eight years during which time she admits feeling a bit stagnant. That changed in 2016 when Allied Barton merged with Universal Protection Services to become Allied Universal and she was promoted to Regional Recruiter.

“I went from supporting one General Manager, one Vice President and 25,000 hours in St. Louis to supporting three General Managers, two Vice Presidents and 110,000 in additional locations,” Devette said. “My career started to change from that moment.”

Devette thrived in this role, working tirelessly, often at night and even on weekends to ensure hiring needs were met. In fact, her efforts to support a large contract transition in Houston and her assistance with massive hiring needs after Hurricane Harvey hit Texas in 2017 resulted in Devette being recognized as Recruiter of the Year two years in a row. She has also earned several recognitions for helping reduce non-billable overtime (NBOT), which has a serious impact on profit margins. 

In July 2021, Devette was promoted to Regional Recruiting Manager for the Central Region where she leads a team of 12 recruiters who support recruiting efforts in New Orleans, Houston Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Kansas.

Twenty years on, Devette continues to pay it forward to others seeking career guidance.

“I’m in this field of work because I like to help others, and if I can make a difference in others’ career paths, that gives me satisfaction,” Devette said. “Our job is to help people. It’s so satisfying for me to know that we match people up with jobs.  Whether their motivation is housing, food or children, jobs help people, and when they work for Allied Universal, the company offers vast career opportunities.”

Devette Sproaps, Regional Recruiting Manager, shares the career growth opportunities available at Allied Universal®: