Clay Martin Launches Isla Talent

The company continues the model of connecting mainland employers with workers from Puerto Rico, but also offers HR support, mediation and translation services.

Clay Martin has launched Isla Talent, a workforce solutions firm focused on recruiting and supporting blue-collar labor, with a special emphasis on long-term employee retention. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, there are no visas needed and no red tape. 

Martin's career began 20 years ago with a four-year stint serving in the Peace Corps working and living amongst indigenous groups of Latin America.

"I didn't realize it at the time, but that experience carved the path for me to eventually become an entrepreneur, and a recruiter. I was constantly cultivating relationships and creating projects from the ground up, literally. I quickly accepted not to fear failure, but to embrace it, and grow from my mistakes and learn from the community members by being patient and listening to them," Martin says. 

Martin, the founder of Martin Recruiting and Consulting (established in 2016), built his reputation by helping landscape companies fill critical labor gaps by recruiting talent from Puerto Rico. Following the sale of MRC in 2023, he quickly realized he wasn’t finished.

“After selling Martin Recruiting and Consulting in 2023, I just knew I had to start my own firm again,” Martin says. “Too many people rely on me for my expertise, and I’m a firm believer in sticking to what you are good at and collaborating with people you can trust.”

Isla Talent continues the model of connecting mainland employers with workers from Puerto Rico but introduces a more hands-on approach to managing the employment relationship. The company offers HR support, mediation and translation services to improve communication and retention between employers and their crews, a response to what Martin describes as one of the biggest pain points in the landscape and construction industry.

“It’s not just about placing workers anymore,” he says. “It’s about making sure they succeed and stay.”

Martin said the current political climate was also a key factor in his decision to return. With increased uncertainty around immigration policies and the future of the H-2B visa program, he believes Puerto Rican labor, which is not subject to those restrictions, will play an even greater role in stabilizing the landscape industry’s workforce. Martin says he can place 10-20 employees in a matter of a few weeks. 

“The need is greater than ever and my talent pool is ready to work immediately,” he says. “What I love about this industry is how connected it is. Everyone knows everyone, and people want to help each other out. I feel fortunate for the industry relationships I’ve made over the last decade.”