Exhibit 16.1 Office of the Chief Accountant Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 June 10, 2002 Dear Sir/Madam: We have read Paragraph (a) of Item 4 included in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 10, 2002, of Ablest Inc. to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. Very truly yours, ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP Copy to: Vincent J. Lombardo, Chief Financial Officer, Ablest Inc.