EXHIBIT 99.1



     CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

         I, W. David Foster, Chief Executive Officer of Ablest Inc. (the
"Company"), hereby certify, pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of
2002, that:

         (1)      The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of the Company for the
                  period ended June 30, 2002 (the "Report"), which this
                  certification accompanies, fully complies with the
                  requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act
                  of 1934; and

         (2)      The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in
                  all material respects, the financial condition and results of
                  operations of the Company.




                                        /s/ W. David Foster
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        W. David Foster, Chief Executive Officer




August 12, 2002