Paragon IT Professionals, an IT staffing and project solutions firm in Des Moines, announced the promotion of Jessica Grant to president. Grant steps in for co-founder, Craig Jackman, who served as the company’s president for 29 years. “This decision came after years of observation, trust building and leadership growth,” founders Craig and Joel Jackman said in a prepared statement. “Promoting from within preserves the culture and integrity of Paragon while positioning the company for long-term sustainability.” Grant most recently served as vice president of marketing and has been a member of Paragon’s senior leadership team for nearly seven years. According to a news release, Grant has played a key role in enterprise-level initiatives, cross-functional leadership and helped guide Paragon through an evolving market. Over the next year, the Jackmans will work with Grant on the transition, before turning their focus toward strategic growth initiatives, long-term positioning and future value creation for the company. “The Jackmans have built a remarkable company with a legacy that I feel an incredible sense of responsibility to help carry forward,” Grant said in a prepared statement. “This transition is less about me and more about the future of Paragon. We have a strong leadership team, a culture we’re proud of, and an opportunity to expand what’s possible for the company.”