PBN Leaders & Achievers Awards 2025
DAWN APAJEE
City Personnel Founder and president
DAWN APAJEE’S RECRUITING CAREER began in London in 1989. From the start, she loved the connection between people and opportunity.
After relocating to Chicago in 1995 and continuing her work in the staffing industry, Apajee quickly noticed how transactional the business had become.
“It often felt like the human element was missing, and that never sat right with me,” she said. “When I eventually moved to Rhode Island, I saw an opportunity to build something different. I wanted to create a staffing agency that was personal, inclusive and community-driven”
That desire to reshape the entire experience for job seekers and employers alike is what led Apajee to launch her leading woman- and minority-owned staffing agency, City Personnel, in Providence in 2006. It’s been her passion ever since.
Being rooted in community has vastly shaped City Personnel’s mission, Apajee says. Because the agency exists alongside the people it serves, Apajee says she felt a “deep responsibility” to both give back and lift others.
“I’m passionate about creating opportunities for underrepresented communities and using our platform to make a meaningful, local impact,” she said. “Our business is not just about filling roles; our business is to create a ripple effect of positive change in the place we call home.”
Apajee worked with many organizations, including Year Up United and the Rhode Island Black Business Association, and has partnered with Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island, Amenity Aid and Foster Forward to support donation drives. She also serves on the board of nonprofit granola and food company Beautiful Day, which helps refugees receive job training, learn English and build confidence as they start fresh in a new country.
Known for its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, City Personnel ensures that job opportunities are accessible to candidates from all backgrounds.
“Being in business for nearly two decades, especially in an industry as competitive as staffing, is something I’m incredibly proud of,” Apajee said. “We’ve seen many agencies come and go, but our commitment to staying local, building real relationships and prioritizing people has kept us going strong.”
