Exhibit 24(a)
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                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
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     Ablest Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), which proposes to file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the
Securities Act of 1933, a registration statement on Form S-8 or other form
registering under the Securities Act of 1933 shares of the Company's common
stock in connection with the grant of restricted stock under the Company's
Restricted Stock Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints each of William Appleton,
Charles H. Heist III, and Mark Kashmanian as the attorney of the Company, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and
stead of the Company, to sign and file the proposed registration statement and
any and all amendments and exhibits thereto, and any and all applications and
other documents to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pertaining to such shares or such registration, with full power and authority to
do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever requisite to be done in
the premises, hereby ratifying and approving the acts of such attorney or any
such substitute.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Ablest Inc. has caused this power of attorney to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned in Clearwater, Florida on May 23, 2002.

                                   ABLEST INC.




                                   By:  /s/ Charles H. Heist III
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                                          Charles H. Heist III