Marsha Murray wanted it all.

When the time came to choose between a career and a family, she decided on both.

Murray started a staffing agency in the spare bedroom of her Memorial-area home, balancing the needs of her husband and two children between phone calls and business appointments.

Both were successful.

Murray raised two children, who have graduated from Memorial High School.

And, earlier this month, she was given the 2004 Women in Business Champion of the Year award by SCORE, a resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to Sherri Renfroe, with Short Communications.

Renfroe said Murray was recognized for her dedication to encouraging women in business. Ten other entrepreneurs also were honored by SCORE at a luncheon ceremony, which took place during Houston Small Business Week.

“I was thrilled to receive the award, but in my industry there is a lot of support for one another,” Murray said. “We all support one another and are all advocates for one another.”

Murray was an up-and-coming career woman when she began at a Houston personnel agency in 1978. She immediately took to the work, enjoying the challenge of making successful employer-employee matches.

But, when her son was born 15 weeks premature in 1982, she put her job on hold to care for him. She loved being a full-time mom, but grew to miss her work. In 1988, she decided there was no reason she couldn’t do both.

“I wanted the flexibility to be a full-time career person, and a full-time mother,” Murray said.

She set up an office in an extra bedroom, and juggled finding employees for client companies and playing with her children.

Murray’s company wasn’t made in the mold of other personnel agencies.

“I wanted to put my own spin on staffing,” she said.

She tailors the employee to the client company by matching the behavioral and work style of each, rather than focusing solely on matching an employee’s skills to the company’s job description. The company, Murray Resources, has a 92 percent success rate at matching companies and employees that are suited to one another, she said.

She’s been so successful that the temporary and direct-hire staffing company has seven full-time employees and 75-100 contract employees. Murray Resources differs from its competitors in another respect, she said.

The family-friendly atmosphere mirrors Murray’s belief that employees can be dedicated workers and devoted parents.

“Marsha builds a relationship with the family, as well as the staff members,” said Carol Copley, a five-year employee at Murray Resources.

“She does that with her clients and with her staff.”

Murray said the bottom line is being sensitive to the needs of others.

“I have one employee who adjusted her hours because she has a 1-year-old,” she said.

Murray also gives employees one Friday off each month, in addition to vacation time, to take care of their family’s needs.

As a result, Murray said her company has a tenured staff that is more energetic and dedicated.

“When you’re employed by someone who loves your family as much as they love your work, you don’t want to leave that person,” Copley said.

Her advice to other women who want a career and a family?

“Seek out a company that has a culture that is sensitive to employees with families. That had a lot to do with why I started my company,” she said.

If you have a suggestion for a “Faces in the Crowd” profile, contact Donna Hatch at donna.hatch@chron.com.