DirtGorillaz is a specialized signage company based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, supporting major national brands like Pilot Travel Centers, Whataburger, among others. Their work spans everything from sign production to installation, including increasingly technical components like network and low-voltage systems.
As a growing company operating in a niche industry, one of their biggest challenges wasn’t winning business- it was finding the right people to support it.
The Challenge: Hiring in a Niche, Hard-to-Staff Industry
The signage industry presents unique hiring challenges:
- A limited talent pool with specialized experience
- Difficulty finding workers who can handle both production and field installation
- Increasing demand for technical skills like low-voltage and network installs
- No internal HR team to manage hiring at scale
For DirtGorillaz, hiring wasn’t just time-consuming- it was a constraint on growth.
The Start: A Cold Drop-In That Opened the Door
The relationship began with a simple, in-person introduction.
While in Chattanooga, an ABLEMKR team member stopped by the DirtGorillaz office and connected with Nolan, one of the owners. At the time, the company had never worked with a staffing partner before, but was open to exploring new options.
There wasn’t an immediate need- but the door was open. After staying in touch, the first opportunity came through and ABLEMKR delivered.
Building Trust: From General Labor to Specialized Roles
What started as a small engagement quickly expanded. As DirtGorillaz experienced the quality and reliability of ABLEMKR’s placements, they began to rely on the team for more critical roles.
Early Support
- General labor placements
- Contract workers to support production
Expanding into Skilled Roles
- Workers supporting both shop and field operations
- Graphic designer specialized in sign production
- Additional skilled laborers (contract-to-hire)
Supporting Evolving Business Needs
As DirtGorillaz has grown, so has the complexity of their work. In addition to signage, their projects began to include:
- Wi-Fi and Starlink installations
- Low-voltage network systems at travel centers
ABLEMKR adapted alongside, providing:
- Travel-ready technicians for installation work
- Local and traveling workers for on-site deployments
Filling Critical, Hard-to-Find Roles
One of the most challenging hires came when DirtGorillaz needed:
- A highly experienced sign installer
- Skilled in operating boom trucks
- Capable of leading installs in the field
ABLEMKR successfully sourced and placed the candidate- demonstrating the ability to deliver even on highly specialized, hard-to-fill roles.
Acting as a True Hiring Partner
DirtGorillaz operates as a lean team, without a dedicated internal HR department. As a result, ABLEMKR has evolved into a trusted hiring partner embedded in their growth.
ABLEMKR supports:
- Ongoing hiring needs as the business expands
- Rapid replacement when employees leave
- Workforce planning across both shop and field operations
Looking Ahead: Expanding the Partnership
As the relationship has grown, DirtGorillaz leadership has begun exploring deeper collaboration, including:
- Moving more of their workforce onto ABLEMKR’s platform
- Leveraging ABLEMKR to help manage payroll and workforce infrastructure
- Providing employees with access to benefits typically unavailable to small teams
The Impact: Enabling Growth Without Hiring Bottlenecks
Through its partnership with ABLEMKR, DirtGorillaz has been able to:
- Overcome hiring challenges in a niche, specialized industry
- Quickly fill both entry-level and highly skilled roles
- Expand into new service offerings (like network installs) with the right talent
- Operate without the burden of building a full internal HR function
ABLEMKR helps specialized construction and service companies like DirtGorillaz scale their workforce- from general labor to highly skilled roles- without slowing growth.
