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The Power of Media: How Coverage Helped Shape My Journey in Puerto Rican Recruiting
- claymartin24
- May 25
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 2
Founder Clay Martin shares how national media coverage helped launch Isla Talent and highlight Puerto Rico as a key labor source across U.S. industries.
Over the past decade, I’ve seen how powerful media exposure can be—not just for building credibility, but for telling the story behind a mission. As the founder of Isla Talent, a company focused solely on recruiting skilled Puerto Rican laborers for companies across the mainland U.S., I’ve experienced firsthand how national coverage helped grow my reputation and bring attention to the labor challenges we work to solve.
Back in 2017, I was featured in two major industry publications. The first was Lawn & Landscape Magazine, in an article titled “An Alternative to H-2B” which shared my early work with Martin Recruiting and Consulting placing Puerto Rican laborers for landscaping companies and the importance of alternative labor solutions during a time of growing H-2B visa uncertainty.
That same year, Landscape Management Magazine ran a piece titled “Desperate Measures”, which addressed the green industry’s labor shortage and highlighted Puerto Rico as a key labor source, a direction I was already deeply committed to and helping to shape.
These efforts came from countless networking initiatives and had a significant positive impact on getting my name out there.
Fast forward to 2023, and my first company, Martin Recruiting & Consulting, was acquired by Good Labor Staffing. That transaction was covered in Lawn & Landscape’s article “Good Labor Staffing Acquires Clay Martin’s MRC”. The coverage helped solidify Puerto Rican recruiting as a scalable, long-term solution in the landscaping world.
Getting this coverage came, again, from consistent relationship building and earning credibility.
During my time at Good Labor Jobs, I worked hard to get our name and the broader concept of staffing from Puerto Rico recognized across blue collar and health care industries. I had the opportunity to speak publicly about the recruiting process, workforce trends, and what keeps employees loyal and motivated. You can hear some of those insights in this video interview about recruiting strategies and this discussion focused on the manufacturing industry.
How This Helps Isla Talent Today
These articles and interviews helped shape the foundation I’ve built Isla Talent on, and they continue to serve as proof of what’s possible with the right recruiting model. At Isla Talent, we don’t just fill positions—we provide support systems, translation services, and long-term retention strategies that keep both clients and employees happy.
Being featured in national media wasn’t just good exposure; it was validation of a recruiting model that works.
The media helped shine a light on my work, but the mission continues. If you’re looking for reliable labor from Puerto Rico and a recruiting partner that understands how to manage the full lifecycle of employment, let’s connect. I’m proud to have played a significant role in getting the word out on Puerto Rico as a labor source for the hospitality, health care, construction, and landscape industries.
I’m grateful to everyone who has played a role in supporting me and helping spread the word for job seekers in Puerto Rico.
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