Exhibit 24(a)



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                                -----------------

         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
Executive Stock Awards Plan, hereby constitutes and appoints each of William
Appleton, Charles H. Heist III, and Vincent J. Lombardo, as an 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 October 23,
2003.

                                    ABLEST INC.



                                    By:      /s/ Charles H. Heist
                                       ---------------------------------------
                                             Charles H. Heist, Chairman