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                                                                  EXHIBIT 10.15

                          EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

         THIS EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made and entered
into as of this 17th day of March, 2000, by and between The Wackenhut
Corporation, a Florida corporation, its successor or successors, (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company") and Philip L. Maslowe (hereinafter referred to as
the "Executive").

         The Executive is a key executive of the Company, and the Company
desires to provide the Executive with an incentive to remain with the Company if
concerns arise over a possible change in control.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and other good and
valuable consideration, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:

1.       TERMINATION OF EXECUTIVE EMPLOYMENT. If the Executive ceases to be
         employed by the Company for any reason (including the delivery of a
         written resignation to the Company by the Executive or his authorized
         representative on the Executive's or his estate's behalf) at any time
         during the 12 month period commencing on the date on which a Change in
         Control (as defined in Section 2 below) occurs, then (i) the Company
         shall pay the Special Termination Payment (as defined in Section 3
         below) to the Executive (or his estate) within ten days after said
         termination, (ii) all awards granted pursuant to The Wackenhut
         Corporation Employee Long-Term Incentive Stock Plan and any other
         unvested stock options or other interests the Executive holds in the
         Company's stock or the stock of a subsidiary of the Company shall
         become fully vested, all restrictions on restricted stock units shall
         lapse, and all performance targets with respect to performance units or
         shares will be deemed to have been met as of the date the Executive's
         employment is terminated, (iii) the Company shall transfer all of its
         interest in any automobile used by the Executive pursuant to The
         Wackenhut Corporation Executive Automobile Policy (the "Executive
         Automobile Policy") and shall pay the balance of any outstanding loans
         or leases on such automobile (whether such obligations are those of the
         Executive or the Company) so that the Executive owns the automobile
         outright (in the event such automobile is leased, the Company shall pay
         the residual cost of such lease), (iv) the Company shall pay to the
         Executive, within ten days after said termination, the present value of
         all cash payments pursuant to the Amended and Restated Senior Officer
         Retirement Agreement entered into between the Company and the Executive
         (the "Deferred Compensation Agreement") as if the Executive had
         remained employed with the Company through the Retirement Date defined
         therein (the "Deferred Compensation Payoff"), (v) the Company shall
         continue to provide the Executive (and if applicable, his
         beneficiaries) with the Executive Benefits (as described in Section 4),
         at no cost to the Executive in no less than the same amount and, on the
         same terms and conditions as in effect on the date on which the Change
         of Control occurs for a period of 3 years after the date of termination
         of the Executive's employment with the Company, regardless of the cost
         to the Company, or, alternatively, if the Executive (or his estate)
         elects at any time in a written notice delivered to the Company to
         waive any particular Executive Benefits, the Company shall make a cash
         payment to the Executive within ten days after receipt of such election
         in an amount equal to the present value of the Company's cost of
         providing such

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         Executive Benefits from the date of such election to the end of the
         foregoing 3-year period, and such present value shall be determined by
         reference to the Company's then-current cost levels and a discount rate
         equal to 120 percent of the short-term applicable Federal rate provided
         for in Section 1274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code (the "Code") for
         the month in which the Change in Control occurs; and (vi) the Company
         shall pay to the Executive, within 10 days after said termination, an
         amount equal to the sum of (a) the dollar value of vacation time that
         would have been credited to the Executive pursuant to the Company's
         Vacation Policy dated August 1, 1997, Number HR 350 (the "Vacation
         Policy") if the Executive had remained employed by the Company through
         the "Anniversary Date" (as defined in the Vacation Policy) immediately
         following his termination of employment, multiplied by a fraction, the
         numerator of which is the number of days which elapsed from the
         Executive's Anniversary Date immediately preceding the date of
         termination through the date of such termination, and the numerator of
         which is 365, plus (b) the dollar value of vacation time which the
         Executive was entitled to have taken immediately prior to the
         Executive's termination, which was not in fact taken by the Executive;
         the dollar value of vacation time referred to above shall be equal to
         the amount which would have been paid to the Executive by the Company
         during such vacation time had the vacation time in fact been taken by
         the Executive immediately prior to the Executive's termination. If the
         Executive dies during the 3-year period contemplated by clause (v) of
         the foregoing sentence, the Company shall provide the Executive
         Benefits, to the extent applicable, to the Executive's estate, or make
         any applicable cash payments in lieu thereof to said estate. The
         present value represented by the Deferred Compensation Payoff referred
         to above shall be calculated (i) using a discount rate equal to the
         lower of the rate provided for in Code Section 280G(d)(4), or six and
         one-half percent (6.5%), and (ii) without regard to any mortality
         factors or related probabilities. The Executive shall be deemed to be
         employed by the Company if the Executive is employed by the Company or
         any subsidiary of the Company in which the Company owns a majority of
         the subsidiary's voting securities. Notwithstanding anything else in
         this Agreement to the contrary, subsequent reemployment of the
         Executive by the Company or any successor of the Company following a
         Change in Control will not cause the Executive to forfeit any
         compensation or benefits provided in this Agreement.

2.       CHANGE IN CONTROL. For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change in
         Control" shall be deemed to have occurred as of the first day that any
         one or more of the following conditions shall have been satisfied:

                  (i) any "person" as such term is used in Section 13(d) and
         14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, (the "Exchange Act")
         (other than members of the Controlling Shareholder Group, the Company,
         any trustee or other fiduciary holding securities under any employee
         benefit plan of the Company, or any company owned, directly or
         indirectly, by the shareholders of the Company in substantially the
         same proportions as their ownership of stock of the Company), is or
         becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the
         Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
         representing 30% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
         then outstanding securities;

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                  (ii) the shareholders of the Company approve a merger or
         consolidation of the Company with any other corporation or entity,
         OTHER THAN a merger or consolidation which would result in the voting
         securities of the Company outstanding immediately prior thereto
         continuing to represent (either by remaining outstanding or by being
         converted into voting securities of the surviving entity) more than 80%
         of the combined voting power of the voting securities of the Company or
         such surviving entity outstanding immediately after such merger or
         consolidation; or

                  (iii) the shareholders of the Company approve a plan of
         complete liquidation of the Company or an agreement for the sale or
         disposition by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company's
         assets; or

                  (iv) the total combined voting power of the Company (or any
         successor entity) represented by shares of voting stock owned by
         members of the Controlling Shareholder Group is reduced to 30 percent
         or less.

                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall a Change in
         Control be deemed to have occurred, with respect to the Executive, if
         the Executive is part of a purchasing group which consummates a
         transaction causing a Change in Control. The Executive shall be deemed
         "part of a purchasing group" for purposes of the preceding sentence if
         the Executive is a direct or indirect equity participant in the
         purchasing company or group.

                  The "Controlling Shareholder Group" includes (i) George R.
         Wackenhut, (ii) the spouse and lineal descendants of George R.
         Wackenhut, (iii) any trust whose only beneficiaries are persons
         described in the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), and (iv) Affiliates of
         the persons described in the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii). An
         "Affiliate" of a person includes only a corporation, limited liability
         company, partnership, or similar entity where all of the voting
         securities or ownership interests of said entity are directly owned by
         such person. A "person" includes any natural person and any
         corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other
         entity.

3.       SPECIAL TERMINATION PAYMENT. For purposes of this Agreement, the
         "Special Termination Payment" shall mean an aggregate amount of money
         equal to the product of three (3) multiplied by the sum of the
         Executive's annual base salary as in effect at the time of the
         termination giving rise to the Special Termination Payment, or if
         greater the annual base salary in effect for the calendar year prior to
         the date of termination, plus the greater of (i) the annual bonus the
         Executive received during the preceding calendar year or (ii) the
         largest annual bonus the Executive would have received if his
         employment had not been terminated in the calendar year in which his
         employment was terminated assuming that all targets and incentives are
         met (regardless of actual results and criteria). In the event that the
         Company does not pay the Special Termination Payment by the due date
         specified in this Agreement, then the unpaid amount shall bear interest
         at the rate of 18 percent per annum, compounded monthly, until it is
         paid.

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         a.       EQUALIZATION PAYMENT. If any of the Special Termination
                  Payment will be subject to the tax (the "Excise Tax") imposed
                  by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
                  amended (the "Code") (or any similar tax that may hereafter be
                  imposed), the Company shall pay to the Executive in cash an
                  additional amount (the "Gross-Up Payment") such that the net
                  amount retained by the Executive after deduction from the
                  Special Termination Payment and the Gross-Up Payment of any
                  Excise Tax imposed upon the Special Termination Payment and
                  any federal, state and local income tax and Excise Tax imposed
                  upon the Gross-Up Payment shall be equal to the original
                  amount of the Special Termination Payment, prior to deduction
                  of any Excise Tax imposed with respect to the Special
                  Termination Payment. The Gross-Up Payment is intended to place
                  the Executive in the same economic position he would have been
                  in if the Excise Tax did not apply. The Gross-Up Payment shall
                  be paid to the Executive in full, at the time the Special
                  Termination Payment is paid pursuant to Section 1 hereof. For
                  purposes of determining the Gross-Up Payment pursuant to this
                  Section 3.a, the Special Termination Payment shall also
                  include any amounts which would be considered "Parachute
                  Payments" (within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the
                  Code) to the Executive, including, but not limited to, the
                  value of any Executive Benefits paid or provided to the
                  Executive during the period provided for in Code Section
                  280G(b)(2)(C).

         b.       TAX RATES. For purposes of determining the amount of the
                  Gross-Up Payment, the Executive shall be deemed to pay Federal
                  income taxes at the highest marginal rate of Federal income
                  taxation in the calendar year in which the Gross-Up Payment is
                  to be made, and state and local income taxes at the highest
                  marginal rate of taxation in the state and locality of the
                  Executive's residence on the date of termination, net of the
                  maximum reduction in Federal income taxes which could be
                  obtained from deduction of such state and local taxes.

         c.       TAX CALCULATION. Simultaneously with the Company's payment of
                  the Special Termination Payment, the Company shall deliver to
                  the Executive a written statement specifying the total amount
                  of the Special Termination Payment and the Gross-Up Payment,
                  together with all supporting calculations. If the Executive
                  disagrees with the Company's calculation of either of said
                  payments, the Executive shall submit to the Company, no later
                  than 30 days after receipt of the Company's calculations, a
                  written notice advising the Company of the disagreement and
                  setting forth his calculation of said payments. The
                  Executive's failure to submit such notice within such period
                  shall be conclusively deemed to be an agreement by the
                  Executive as to the amount of the Special Termination Payment
                  and the Gross-Up Payment. If the Company agrees with the
                  Executive's calculations, it shall pay any shortfall to the
                  Executive within 20 days after receipt of such a notice from
                  the Executive, together with interest thereon accruing at the
                  rate of 18 percent per annum, compounded monthly, from the
                  original due date of the Special Termination Payment through
                  the actual date of payment of said shortfall. If the Company
                  does not agree with the Executive's calculations, it shall
                  provide the Executive with a written notice within 20 days
                  after the receipt of the Executive's calculations

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                  advising the Executive that the disagreement is to be referred
                  to an independent accounting firm for resolution. Such
                  disagreement shall be referred to an independent "Big 5"
                  accounting firm which is not the regular accounting firm of
                  the Company and which is agreed to by the Company and the
                  Executive within 10 days after issuance of the Company's
                  notice of disagreement (if the parties cannot agree on the
                  identity of the accounting firm which is to resolve the
                  dispute, the accounting firm shall be selected by means of a
                  coin toss conducted in Palm Beach County, Florida by counsel
                  to the Executive on the first business day after such 10 day
                  period in such manner as such counsel may specify). The
                  accounting firm shall review all information provided to it by
                  the parties and submit a written report setting forth its
                  calculation of the Special Termination Payment and the
                  Gross-Up Payment within 15 days after submission of the matter
                  to it, and such decision shall be final and binding on all of
                  the parties. The fees and expenses charged by said accounting
                  firm shall be paid by the Company. If the amount of the
                  Special Termination Payment or Gross-Up Payment actually paid
                  by the Company was less than the amount calculated by the
                  accounting firm, the Company shall pay the shortfall to the
                  Executive within 5 days after the accounting firm submits its
                  written report, together with interest thereon accruing at the
                  rate of 18 percent per annum, compounded monthly, from the
                  original due date of the Special Termination Payment through
                  the actual date of payment of said shortfall.

         d.       SUBSEQUENT RECALCULATION. In the event the Internal Revenue
                  Service imposes an Excise Tax with respect to the Special
                  Termination Payment that is greater than the Excise Tax
                  calculated hereunder, the Company shall reimburse the
                  Executive for the full amount necessary to make the Executive
                  whole in accordance with the principles set forth above,
                  including any interest and penalties which may be imposed.

4.       EXECUTIVE BENEFITS. The term "Executive Benefits" means all health,
         dental, disability, life insurance, retirement and fringe benefits or
         programs now or hereafter established by the Company which cover the
         Company's executives or its employees, and applicable family members
         and which are in effect on the date on which a Change in Control
         occurs. The term "Executive Benefits" also includes, for purposes of
         Section 3, the value of the items provided for in clauses (ii) and
         (iii) of the first sentence in Section 1.

5.       NON-COMPETITION. In the event that Executive's employment is terminated
         pursuant to Section 1 hereof and Executive timely receives payment of
         the Special Termination Payment, Executive agrees that for a period of
         12 months after such termination of employment not to, directly or
         indirectly, own, manage, operate, control or participate in the
         ownership, management operation or control of, or be connected as an
         officer, employee, partner, director or otherwise with, or have any
         financial interest in, or aid or assist anyone else in the conduct of,
         any business (a "Competitive Operation") which competes with any
         business conducted by the Company, or by any group, division or
         subsidiary of the Company for which the Executive has had
         responsibility, in any area where such business is being conducted at
         the time of such termination. It is understood and agreed that, for the
         purposes of the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, no business
         which is conducted by the

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         Company at the time of the Executive's termination and which
         subsequently is sold or discontinued by the Company shall be deemed to
         be a Competitive Operation within the meaning of this Section 5.
         Ownership of an amount not to exceed five percent (5%) of the voting
         stock of any publicly held corporation shall not constitute a violation
         hereof.

6.       RELEASE AND INDEMNITY. The Company hereby fully and forever releases,
         acquits, discharges and holds the Executive harmless from any and all,
         and all manner of, actions and causes of action, claims, suits, costs,
         debts, sums of money, claims and demands, presently known or unknown,
         whatsoever in law or equity or otherwise, which the Company ever had,
         now has or may now have, or will have in the future, by reason of any
         matter, cause or thing whatsoever, from the beginning of the world and
         all times thereafter. The preceding sentence does not apply to any
         matters, events, actions, claims, damages or losses arising from, in
         connection with or relating to (i) any intentional illegal conduct of
         the Executive, or (ii) conduct of the Executive after the Executive
         ceases to be employed by the Company. The Company at all times shall
         indemnify, save harmless and reimburse the Executive, from and against
         any and all demands, claims, liabilities, losses, actions, suits or
         proceedings, or other expenses, fees, or charges of any character or
         nature, which the Executive may incur or with which they may be
         threatened with, arising from, in connection with, relating to or
         arising as a result of Executive's employment by the Company or any
         other relationship that the Executive has with the Company as an
         officer, director, agent shareholder or otherwise, including without
         limitation settlement costs and attorneys' fees and court costs at
         trial and appellate levels which the Executive may incur in connection
         with settling, defending against or resisting any of the foregoing. The
         Company shall pay to the Executive any amounts due with respect to said
         indemnity within 5 business days after the Executive issues a written
         demand therefor to the Company. The provisions of this section are an
         expansion of any rights that the Executive may have with respect to the
         subject matter, and no other agreement or arrangement which the Company
         may have that benefits the Executive with respect to the subject matter
         hereof shall be superseded or limited in any way as a result of the
         parties entering into this Agreement.

7.       NOTICES. Notices and all other communications contemplated by this
         Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly
         given when received at the address specified herein. In the case of
         Executive, notices shall be delivered to him at the home address which
         he has most recently communicated to the Company in writing. In the
         case of the Company, notices shall be delivered to the Company's
         corporate headquarters, and all notices shall be directed to the
         attention of the Company's Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to the
         Company's General Counsel.

8.       NO MITIGATION. Executive shall not be required to mitigate the amount
         of any payment or benefit contemplated by this Agreement upon his
         termination of employment (whether by seeking new employment or in any
         other manner), nor shall any such payment or benefit be reduced by any
         earnings or benefits that Executive may receive from any other source.

9.       MODIFICATION AND WAIVER. This Agreement shall not be canceled,
         rescinded or revoked, nor may any provision of this Agreement be
         modified, waived or discharged unless the

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         cancellation, rescission, revocation, modification, waiver or discharge
         is agreed to in writing and signed by Executive and by the President or
         Chairman of the Board of the Company. No waiver by either party of any
         breach of, or of compliance with, any condition or provision of this
         Agreement by the other party shall be considered a waiver of any other
         condition or provision or of the same condition or provision at another
         time.

10.      COMPLETE AGREEMENT. This Agreement supersedes all previous severance
         agreements entered into by Executive and the Company. Except as
         specifically provided in Section 1 of this Agreement, this Agreement
         does not affect any deferred compensation agreements, non-qualified
         retirement plans, or any other agreements entered into by the parties.

11.      NO ASSIGNMENT. No right, benefit or interest hereunder, shall be
         subject to anticipation, alienation, sale, assignment, encumbrance,
         charge, pledge, hypothecation, or set-off in respect of any claim, debt
         or obligation, or to execution, attachment, levy or similar process, or
         assignment by operation of law. Any attempt, voluntary or involuntary,
         to effect any action specified in the immediately preceding sentence
         shall, to the full extent permitted by law, be null, void and of no
         effect. This Agreement is binding on all successors of the Company,
         whether by merger, consolidation, purchase or otherwise, and all
         references to the Company shall also include references to any such
         successor.

12.      GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and
         enforced in accordance with and subject to, the laws of the State of
         Florida applicable to Agreements made and to be performed entirely
         within such State, as to all matters governed by state law or, if
         controlling, by applicable federal law.

13.      SEVERABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision or
         provisions of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or
         enforceability of any other provision hereof, which shall remain in
         full force and effect.

14.      LITIGATION; VENUE. Any action at law or in equity under this Agreement
         shall be brought in the courts of Palm Beach County, Florida, and in no
         other court (whether or not jurisdiction can be established in another
         court). Each party hereto waives the right to argue that venue is not
         appropriate in the courts of Palm Beach County, Florida.

15.      EXPENSES. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all legal
         and/or accounting expenses he incurs in connection with the execution,
         delivery and enforcement of his rights under this Agreement.

16.      WITHHOLDING. All payments made pursuant to this Agreement will be
         subject to withholding of applicable taxes.

17.      COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
         counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all
         of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

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         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Executive Severance
Agreement effective the 17th day of March, 2000.

SIGNED, SEALED AND DELIVERED                 EXECUTIVE:
IN THE PRESENCE OF:

/s/ Paul W. Miller                           /s/ Philip L. Maslowe
------------------------------               ----------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF WITNESS BELOW:                 Philip L. Maslowe

Paul W. Miller
------------------------------               Date: 3/17/00
                                                  -----------------------------

/s/ Ultan P. McCabe
------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF WITNESS BELOW:

Ultan P. McCabe
------------------------------

                                             THE WACKENHUT CORPORATION

/s/ Patricia Delinois                        By: /s/ R. R. Wackenhut
-------------------------------                  -------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF WITNESS BELOW:

Patricia Delinois
-------------------------------                Name:  Richard R. Wackenhut
                                               Title: President and Chief
                                                      Executive Officer

/s/ JC Tissot                                  Date: 3/17/00
-------------------------------                 -------------------------------
PRINT NAME OF WITNESS BELOW:

JC Tissot
-------------------------------

                                        8<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                              RETIREMENT AGREEMENT

         This RETIREMENT AGREEMENT (this "Agreement or this "Retirement
Agreement") is made and entered into as of the 13th day of February 2000, by and
between PERSONNEL GROUP OF AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation with its
principal place of business in Charlotte, North Carolina, ("the Company"), and
EDWARD P. DRUDGE, JR.
("Employee").

                              STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

         Employee has served as an officer, director and employee of the
Company. Employee desires to retire and resign from all of his current positions
with the Company, and Company has agreed to accept Employee's retirement and
resignation, on the terms and conditions set forth below.

                                    AGREEMENT

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements
contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the Company and
Employee hereby agree as follows:

         1. Date of Termination. Employee hereby retires and resigns from all
executive positions and capacities with the Company and/or the Company's
subsidiaries, including without limitation as an officer and director of the
Company and the Company's subsidiaries, and the Company hereby accepts all such
resignations, and all such resignations are deemed to be effective, as of
February 13, 2000 (the "Retirement Date"). From the Retirement Date through
April 13, 2000 (the "Employment Termination Date"), Employee shall be deemed,
for purposes of salary and certain other benefits expressly provided herein, a
non-executive employee of the Company, entitled to certain benefits expressly
provided herein. Employee hereby resigns his employment with the Company and the
Company's subsidiaries in all capacities, effective as of the Employment
Termination Date.

         2. Consulting; Term; Duties. For the period beginning as of the
Employment Termination Date and continuing through April 13, 2002 (the
"Consulting Period"), Employee will act as a consultant and general advisor to
the Company and its subsidiaries on all matters pertaining to the business
conducted by the Company and to the retention of selected employees and the
goodwill and business of the customers and suppliers of the Company and its
subsidiaries. Employee will use his best efforts to maintain the goodwill of the
customers and suppliers of the Company and its subsidiaries and to provide for a
smooth and orderly transition of power and responsibility to Employee's
successor as selected by the Company. Employee will be available to perform
services hereunder on an as needed basis upon the reasonable request of the
Company.

         3. Retirement Payments and Other Benefits. Subject to Employee's full
compliance with the terms of this Agreement, including the conditions set forth
below, Employee shall be entitled to the following benefits:

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                  (a) Salary Continuation. The Company shall continue to pay the
current base salary of Employee ($385,000 per year) from the Retirement Date
through the end of the Consulting Period. These salary continuation payments
shall be payable at times and in accord with the regular payroll practices of
the Company with respect to its executive officers. All such payments shall be
subject to, and reduced by, any applicable federal and state withholding taxes
and other charges for health and other benefits as applicable.

                  (b) Stock Options. All outstanding options to purchase the
Company's common stock that have been granted to Employee prior to the
Retirement Date and are summarized on Exhibit A attached hereto (collectively,
the "Options") shall continue to be outstanding and shall continue to vest and
become exercisable in accordance with their respective stated vesting schedules
from the Retirement Date throughout the Consulting Period. Employee shall be
entitled to exercise such Options, according to the terms thereof, to the extent
then vested as of the end of the Consulting Period, at any time prior to the
90th day following the end of the Consulting Period (the "Option Expiration
Date"). After the Option Expiration Date, all unexercised Options held by
Employee shall expire.

                  (c) SERP Benefit. Effective on the last day of the Consulting
Period, Employee shall be entitled to an annual benefit under that certain
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Edward P. Drudge, Jr., effective as of January
1, 1999 (the "SERP"), as if Employee's retirement had occurred on the last day
of the Consulting Period, which benefit would be $150,000 annually, payable in
accordance with the terms of the SERP, for a period of 15 years following the
end of the Consulting Period; provided, however, that notwithstanding the terms
of the SERP, Employee and the Company agree as follows: (1) in no event will the
maximum benefit payable to Employee under the SERP exceed $150,000 per year; (2)
in the event Employee becomes entitled to a benefit under the SERP because of,
or upon the occurrence of, a Change of Control (as defined in the SERP), the
amount of such benefit will be $150,000 per year (irrespective of when such
Change of Control occurs); and (3) the term "employment agreement" in subsection
(a) of Section 2.02 of the SERP, which provides that Employee's benefit may be
forfeited in the event Employee engages in competition with the Company in
violation of his employment agreement, shall be deemed to mean and include this
Agreement. The Company and Employee agree that the SERP is hereby amended if,
and to the extent, necessary to give effect to this Agreement.

                  (d) Company Property. Employee agrees that, on or prior to
April 13, 2000, he will purchase from the Company, at book value as set forth on
Exhibit B, attached hereto (or exchange, in the manner set forth in Exhibit B),
all Company property set forth on Exhibit B hereto. Employee may continue to use
his Company-issued cellular phone for business-related purposes through April
13, 2000, and shall return such phone to the Company immediately after April 13,
2000.

                  (e) Company Car. From the Retirement Date through May 9, 2000,
Employee shall be entitled to receive a $1,200 monthly car allowance, which will
be payable towards existing lease payments on the Employee's leased Mercedes
S500 Sedan. As of May 9, 2000, Employee shall either (i) return such vehicle to
the Company for surrender in accordance with the terms of

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such lease or (ii) purchase such vehicle upon payment by Employee of the
residual value and all other fees and expenses required for purchase and payoff
under the terms of such lease.

                  (f) Health Care Benefits. From and after the Retirement Date,
Employee and his spouse and dependents shall be entitled to continue to be
covered by the Company's group health, dental and life insurance provided to the
Company's executive employees, at the same coverage level and on the same terms
and conditions as in effect on the Retirement Date or as available upon any
amendment of such insurance plans applicable to all executive employees of the
Company (including without limitation, Employee's payment of his portion of
applicable premiums), until the earlier of (i) such time as Employee obtains
alternative comparable coverage under another group plan, which coverage does
not contain any pre-existing condition exclusions or limitations, or (ii) the
end of the Consulting Period. Upon the termination of the benefits coverage
under the preceding sentence, Employee and his spouse and dependents shall be
entitled to obtain, at Employee's sole cost and expense, continuation coverage
under the Company's health insurance plan pursuant to Section 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and under any other applicable law,
to the extent required by such laws, as if Employee had terminated employment
with the Company on the date such benefits coverage terminates. Employee agrees
to cooperate with the Company in discharging its obligations hereunder and, in
that connection, to execute any required forms or applications, and to submit
required underwriting information, should they be required by any insurer
hereunder.

                  (g) Other Benefits. Except as expressly set forth herein,
after the Retirement Date, Employee shall not have the right to participate in
or receive any other benefit under any employee benefit plan of the Company, any
fringe benefit plan of the Company, or any other plan, policy or arrangement of
the Company providing benefits or perquisites to employees of the Company
generally or individually. Specifically, without limitation, Employee shall not
be entitled to payment of any cash bonus, any payment for accrued but unused
vacation time or paid time off or any continuation of Company-paid country club
or dining club membership fees or dues, and Employee shall not be allowed to
continue to participate in the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan; provided,
however, that the following benefits will continue from the Retirement Date
through, and terminate effective as of, April 13, 2000: the Company will
continue payment of Employee's existing Carmel Country Club dues and Tower Club
dues (including a pro-rated amount of such dues for April 2000).

         EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT THE COMPANY'S OBLIGATION TO
PROVIDE ALL BENEFITS AND PAYMENTS TO EMPLOYEE PURSUANT TO THIS AGREEMENT IS
EXPRESSLY CONDITIONED UPON EMPLOYEE'S COMPLIANCE IN FULL WITH ALL OF EMPLOYEE'S
OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, AND THAT ANY FAILURE OF EMPLOYEE TO COMPLY IN FULL WITH
ALL SUCH OBLIGATIONS WILL CONSTITUTE A MATERIAL BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT, WILL
RELEASE THE COMPANY FROM ANY FURTHER OBLIGATION TO PROVIDE ANY SUCH BENEFITS AND
PAYMENTS.

         4. Return of Company Property. All records, files, lists, including
computer generated lists, drawings, notes, notebooks, letters, handbooks,
blueprints, manuals, sketches,

                                       3
<PAGE>   4

specifications, formulas, financial documents, sales and business plans,
customer lists, lists of customer contacts, pricing information, computers,
software, cellular phones, credit cards, keys, equipment and similar items
relating to the Company's business, together with any other property of the
Company or property which the Employee received in the course of Employee's
employment with the Company (except as may be purchased by Employee pursuant to
Section 3 hereof), shall be returned to the Company immediately after the
Retirement Date (or, in the case of Company property with respect to which
Employee's usage or benefit has been extended under the terms of Section 3,
hereof, immediately upon the termination of such benefit continuation period).
Employee further represents that Employee will not copy or cause to be copied,
print out or cause to be printed out any software, documents or other materials
originating with or belonging to the Company. Employee will cease usage of all
Company credit cards as of the Retirement Date, and the Company may deactivate
or cancel all such account or access numbers pertaining to any Company credit
cards in Employee's possession as of the Retirement Date.

         5. Confidentiality and Nondisparagement. Employee agrees not to make
any statement, written or oral (including but not limited to any media source),
regarding any of the following subjects without the prior approval of the Board
of Directors of the Company: (a) any of the circumstances leading up to or
surrounding Employee's retirement or resignation from the Company; or (b) the
terms of this Agreement. Furthermore, Employee, for the good and valuable
consideration furnished herein, agrees not to disparage, bring into disrepute or
make any negative statement concerning the Company or any of its employees,
officers or directors or make any other statement that would disrupt, impair or
affect adversely the reputation, business interests, or profitability of the
Company, or its employees, officers or directors, or place the Company or such
individuals in any negative light. Any breach of this Agreement by Employee
shall constitute a material breach of this Agreement, and shall permit the
Company to cease all payments to Employee hereunder.

         6. Release. As consideration for the payments to be made by the Company
to Employee pursuant to Section 3 hereof, Employee agrees for Employee and for
Employee's heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, to release and forever
discharge the Company and all of its parent and subsidiary corporations,
together with each of their respective agents, officers, employees, directors
and attorneys, from and to waive any and all rights with respect to all manner
of claims, actions, causes of action, suits, judgments, rights, demands, debts,
damages, or accountings of whatever nature, legal, equitable or administrative,
whether the same are now known or unknown, which Employee ever had, now has or
may claim to have, upon or by reason of the occurrence of any matter, cause or
thing whatsoever up to the date of this Agreement, including without limitation:
(i) any claim whatsoever (whether under federal or state statutory or common
law) arising from or relating to Employee's employment or changes in Employee's
employment relationship with the Company, including Employee's retirement,
separation, termination or resignation therefrom, (ii) all claims and rights for
additional compensation or benefits of whatever nature; (iii) any claim for
breach of contract, implied or express, impairment of economic opportunity,
intentional or negligent infliction of emotional distress, wage or benefit
claim, prima facie tort, defamation, libel, slander, negligent termination,
wrongful discharge, or any other tort, whether intentional or negligent; (iv)
all claims and rights under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of

                                       4
<PAGE>   5

1964, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1871, or 1991, the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Americans With
Disabilities Act of 1993, the Family and Medical Leave Act, all as amended, or
any other federal, state, county or municipal statute or ordinance relating to
any condition of employment or employment discrimination; and (v) all claims
under any employment agreement between Employee and the Company; provided,
however, that this release shall not (i) include any claims relating to the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement or (ii) operate to release
Employee's ownership of any common stock or, to the extent provided herein,
options to acquire common stock of the Company.

         7. Acknowledgement of Waiver of Rights. Employee acknowledges that
Employee's waiver of rights and claims under this Agreement includes a waiver of
rights and claims under the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act of
1967, as amended, and that such waiver and the waiver and release of all other
rights and claims contemplated by the release set forth in Section 6 above are
made knowingly and voluntarily. Employee acknowledges that he has been given a
period of at least twenty-one (21) days to consider the provisions of the
release stated above, and to consult with Employee's attorney, accountant, tax
advisor, spouse or other persons prior to making a decision to sign this
Agreement. Employee further acknowledges that the Company has not pressured or
coerced Employee to execute this Agreement prior to the expiration of 21 days
from the date it was furnished to Employee and that any decision to execute this
Agreement prior to such time has been made freely and voluntarily. Employee
certifies that the Company has advised Employee in writing to consult with an
attorney regarding the legal consequences of the execution of this Agreement.

         8. Governing Law and Forum Selection. Employee agrees that any claim
against the Company or any of its affiliates or their employees arising out of
or relating in any way to this Agreement or to Employee's employment with the
Company shall be brought exclusively in the Superior Court of Mecklenburg
County, North Carolina, or the United States District Court for the Western
District of North Carolina, and in no other forum. Employee hereby irrevocably
consents to the personal and subject matter jurisdiction of these courts for the
purpose of adjudicating any claims subject to this forum selection clause.
Employee also agrees that any dispute of any kind arising out of or relating to
this Agreement or to Employee's employment (including without limitation any
claim released herein by Employee) shall at the Company's sole election or
demand be submitted to final, conclusive and binding arbitration before and
according to the rules then prevailing of the American Arbitration Association
in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, which election or demand may be made by
the Company at any time prior to the last day to answer and/or respond to a
summons and/or complaint or counterclaim made by Employee. The results of any
such arbitration proceeding shall be final and binding both upon the Company and
upon Employee, and shall be subject to judicial confirmation as provided by the
Federal Arbitration Act and/or the terms of Chapter 1, Article 45A of the North
Carolina General Statutes, which are incorporated herein by reference.

         9. Entire Agreement. This Agreement contains the entire agreement
between the Company and Employee and supersedes all prior agreements relating to
the subject matter hereof or otherwise, specifically including, without
limitation, that certain Employment Agreement dated as of September 29, 1995 (as
amended), between the Company and Employee and any stock option

                                       5
<PAGE>   6

agreements relating to the Options between Employee and the Company, all of
which are hereby expressly terminated, and may be changed only by a writing
signed by the parties hereto. Any and all prior representations, statements and
discussions regarding the subject matter of this Retirement Agreement have been
merged into and replaced by the terms of this Retirement Agreement.

         10. Further Conditions. The obligations of the Company set forth in
this Agreement, including specifically in Section 3 hereof, are conditional upon
Employee's execution and full ratification of this Agreement, including the
release set forth herein, no later than twenty-one (21) days following the date
on which this Agreement is submitted to Employee, as well as upon Employee's
failure to revoke the same following the expiration of seven days following such
execution. In the event that Employee fails to execute this Agreement within
such 21-day period or revokes the execution thereof within seven days following
such execution thereof, the Company's obligations hereunder shall be null and
void.

         11. Severability. If any of the provisions set forth in this Agreement
shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity,
illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or
unenforceable provision had never been contained herein; provided, however, that
this provision shall not affect Employee's ability to ratify any provision of
this Agreement.

         12. Confidential Information, Non-Solicitation and Non-Competition.

                  (a) From the date hereof through and including February 13,
2004, Employee shall not, except as may be required to perform his duties
hereunder or as required by applicable law, disclose to others or use, whether
directly or indirectly, any Confidential Information regarding the Company.
"Confidential Information" shall mean information about the Company, its
subsidiaries and affiliates, and their respective clients and customers that is
not available to the general public and that was learned by Employee in the
course of his employment by the Company, including (without limitation) any
proprietary knowledge, trade secrets, data, formulae, information, and client
and customer lists and all papers, resumes, records (including computer records)
and the documents containing such Confidential Information. Employee
acknowledges that such Confidential Information is specialized, unique in nature
and of great value to the Company, and that such information gives the Company a
competitive advantage.

                  (b) From the date hereof through and including February 13,
2004, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly (e.g., as an advisor,
principal, agent, partner, officer, director, shareholder, employee, member of
any association or otherwise) engage in, work for, consult, provide advice or
assistance or otherwise participate in a business that provides commercial
staffing, commercial permanent placement, information technology consulting,
information technology staffing or information technology permanent placement
services in the following geographic areas: (i) each and every city in which the
Company (which, for purposes of this Section 12, shall mean and include the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates) has an office or place of business
as of the Retirement Date; (ii) each and every county in which each of the
cities described in Section 12(b)(i) above is located; (iii) a 50-mile radius
outside the boundary limits of each city described in Section 12(b)(i) above;
and (iv) a 50-mile radius outside the boundary limits

                                       6
<PAGE>   7

of each county described in Section 12(b)(ii) above. Employee further agrees
that during such period he will not assist or encourage any other person in
carrying out any activity that would be prohibited by the foregoing provisions
of this Section 12 if such activity were carried out by Employee and, in
particular, Employee agrees that he will not induce any employee of the Company
to carry out any such activity; provided, however, that the "beneficial
ownership" by Employee, either individually or as a member of a "group," as such
terms are used in Rule 13d of the General Rules and Regulations under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, of not more than five percent (5%) of the
voting stock of any publicly held corporation shall not be a violation of this
Agreement. It is further expressly agreed that the Company will or would suffer
irreparable injury if Employee were to compete with the Company or any
subsidiary or affiliate of the Company in violation of this Agreement and that
the Company would by reason of such competition be entitled to injunctive relief
in a court of appropriate jurisdiction, and Employee further consents and
stipulates to the entry of such injunctive relief in such a court prohibiting
Employee from competing with the Company or any subsidiary or affiliate of the
Company in violation of this Agreement.

                  (c) From the date hereof through and including February 13,
2004, Employee shall not, directly or indirectly, influence or attempt to
influence customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
affiliates, to divert their business to any competitor of the Company.

                  (d) Employee recognizes that he will possess confidential
information about other employees of the Company relating to their education,
experience, skills, abilities, compensation and benefits, and interpersonal
relationships with customers of the Company. Employee recognizes that the
information he will possess about these other employees is not generally known,
is of substantial value to the Company in developing its business and in
securing and retaining customers, and was acquired by him because of his
business position with the Company. Employee agrees that, from the date hereof
through and including February 13, 2004, he will not, directly or indirectly,
solicit or recruit any employee of the Company for the purpose of being employed
by him or by any competitor of the Company on whose behalf he is acting as an
agent, representative or employee and that he will not convey any such
confidential information or trade secrets about other employees of the Company
to any other person.

                  (e) If it is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction
in any state that any restriction in this Section 12 is excessive in duration or
scope or is unreasonable or unenforceable under the laws of that state, it is
the intention of the parties that such restriction may be modified or amended by
the court to render it enforceable to the maximum extent permitted by the law of
that state.

                  (f) Employee acknowledges that he has been informed of the
time, territory, scope and other essential requirements of the restrictions in
this Section 12 in connection with this Agreement, and Employee further
acknowledges that he has received sufficient and valuable consideration for his
agreement to such restrictions.

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         13. Voluntary Agreement. Employee hereby represents that Employee has
carefully read and completely understands the provisions of this Agreement and
that Employee has entered into this Agreement voluntarily and without any
coercion whatsoever, and in order to receive certain benefits not otherwise owed
to Employee by the Company. Employee represents that he has been advised of his
right to secure counsel to assist in his reviewing this Agreement, that he has
retained counsel so to advise him, that he has had sufficient time to review
carefully each of the provisions hereto with his counsel, and that his execution
hereof is the product of his own free will and volition.

         14. Assistance and Cooperation. Employee agrees to cooperate with and
provide assistance to the Company and its legal counsel in connection with any
litigation (including arbitration or administrative hearings) or investigation
affecting the Company, in which, in the reasonable judgment of the Company's
counsel, Employee's assistance or cooperation is needed. Employee shall, when
requested by the Company, provide testimony or other assistance and shall travel
at the Company's request in order to fulfill this obligation; provided, however,
that, in connection with such litigation or investigation, the Company shall
attempt to accommodate Employee's schedule, shall provide him with reasonable
notice in advance of the times in which his cooperation or assistance is needed,
and shall reimburse Employee for any reasonable expenses incurred in connection
with such matters. In addition, during the time he is receiving the payments set
forth in Section 3 herein, Employee agrees to cooperate fully with the Company
on all matters relating to his employment and the conduct of the Company's
business. This obligation to cooperate, however, shall not be considered to
prohibit or restrict other employment by the Employee, except as is set forth in
Section 12 herein.

                         [Signatures on Following Page]

                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement, or caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their authorized
representatives as of the day and year first above written.

                                          COMPANY:

[CORPORATE SEAL]                          PERSONNEL GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

Attest:
                                          By:      /s/ James C. Hunt
                                                   -----------------------------
                                          Position:  President
                                                     ---------------------------

/s/ Ken R. Bramlett, Jr.
------------------------
       Secretary

                                          EMPLOYEE:

                                          /s/ Edward P. Drudge, Jr.       (SEAL)
                                          --------------------------------
WITNESS:                                  Edward P. Drudge, Jr.

/s/ Bettyann Hale
-------------------------

                                       9
<PAGE>   10

                                    EXHIBIT A
OPTIONEE STATEMENT                              PERSONNEL GROUP OF AMERICA, INC.

                           EXERCISABLE AS OF 3/27/2000

EDWARD P. DRUDGE

6717 WYNFAIRE LANE
CHARLOTTE, NC  28210
SSN ###-##-####

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  GRANT     EXPIRATION  PLAN ID       GRANT           OPTIONS        OPTION       OPTIONS     OPTIONS
  DATE         DATE                   TYPE            GRANTED         PRICE     OUTSTANDING    VESTED
<S>          <C>        <C>       <C>                 <C>           <C>          <C>           <C>

9/25/1995    9/25/2005            Non-Qualified       357,144        $7.0000       357,144     357,144 CURRENT
9/26/1996    9/26/2006            Non-Qualified       440,000       $12.4700       440,000     352,000 CURRENT
                                                                                                88,000 ON 9/26/2000

1/2/1997     1/2/2007             Non-Qualified       103,634       $11.5900       103,634     103,634 CURRENT

9/26/1997    9/26/2007            Incentive            23,696       $16.8750        23,696      11,848 CURRENT
                                                                                                 5,924 ON 9/26/2000
                                                                                                 5,924 ON 9/26/2001

9/26/1997    9/26/2007            Non-Qualified        76,304       $16.8750        76,304      38,152 CURRENT
                                                                                                19,076 ON 9/26/2000
                                                                                                19,076 ON 9/26/2001

12/31/1997   12/31/2007           Incentive             6,236       $16.0313         6,236       6,236 CURRENT
12/31/1997   12/31/2007           Non-Qualified        72,680       $16.0313        72,680      72,680 CURRENT

9/28/1998    9/28/2008            Incentive           100,000       $12.2500       100,000      25,000 CURRENT
                                                                                                25,000 ON 9/28/2000
                                                                                                25,000 ON 9/28/2001
                                                                                                25,000 ON 9/28/2002

12/31/1998   12/31/2008           Incentive            17,114       $17.5313        17,114      17,114 CURRENT

9/28/1999    9/28/2009            Incentive            25,000        $5.3100        25,000           0 CURRENT
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 9/28/2000
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 9/28/2001
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 9/28/2002
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 9/28/2003

12/8/1999    12/8/2009            Incentive            25,000        $9.0000        25,000           0 CURRENT
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 12/8/2000
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 12/8/2001
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 12/8/2002
                                                                                                 6,250 ON 12/8/2003
TOTALS                                      1,246,808                            1,246,808     983,808
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   11

                                    EXHIBIT B

                                COMPANY PROPERTY

         Property                                      Book Value
         --------                                      ----------
*IBM 600 laptop computer                               $ 3,198.00
*Battery                                               $   216.00
*A/C Adaptor                                           $    65.00
*Docking Station                                       $   868.00
*Mouse and Keyboard                                    $   108.00
*Laser Printer                                         $   659.00
*Monitor                                               $ 1,074.00
*Chair                                                 $   818.00

*Employee and the Company agree that these items may, collectively, be exchanged
by Employee in an even exchange with the Company for Employee's existing
membership and all related rights in the Charlotte Motor Speedway's Speedway
Club.

Source: [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00009-of-00352.parquet"}, [{"source": "alea-institute/alea-institute/kl3m-data-edgar-agreements/train-00009-of-00352.parquet"}]]