Our Story Abbott & Associates was founded in 2002 by Joan Wiederspiel. After years of loyal service as a market vice president for a top staffing firm, Joan found herself laid off. She quickly turned that hardship into an opportunity. Driven by her passion to help talented people achieve their goals, Joan started her own company. That passion is the spirit of Abbott & Associates today. The foundation of our company culture is a drive to do good things for others. Though we have grown, Abbott & Associates is still a family owned and operated business. We know our market inside and out, and we understand the challenges facing both employers and job seekers in the Portland area.