Express Founders

  • Building a Culture of Caring

    In 1983, Bill Stoller and Bob Funk founded Express Employment Professionals with a determination to do business differently. Realizing profits aren't the only measure of success, Stoller and Funk wanted the company to be grounded in a focus on community impact When good people find good jobs, individuals, businesses, and communities succeed together. This culture of caring is at the heart of every leadership decision at Express, from our international headquarters to our local franchise offices.

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  • Robert A. Funk
    Founder, CEO and Chairman

    Funk, Bob_2014_webRobert A. Funk is chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Express Employment Professionals. Prior to founding Express, Funk gained extensive experience with Acme Personnel Services, beginning as a personnel consultant and then rising to first vice president.

    Funk graduated from Seattle Pacific University (SPU) with a bachelor's degree in business administration and theology. He completed his graduate studies at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and received his master's degree in business administration and theology from SPU. He holds three honorary degrees: an honorary doctorate of public service from SPU, awarded in 1995; an honorary doctorate of law presented by Oklahoma Baptist University in 2000; and an honorary doctorate of law presented by Southern Nazarene University in 2001.

    Professional Memberships and Honors

    • Impact OKC: Man of the Year, 2015
    • The Staffing 100 List of Influential People, Staffing Industry Review
    • International Franchise Association Hall of Fame, 2010
    • Oklahoma Affiliated Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield, 2009
    • Chairman of the Conference of Chairmen, Federal Reserve Bank System, 2007
    • Chairman of the Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank, serving the 10th district, 2006-2007
    • International Franchising Association (IFA), board member
    • IFA's Entrepreneur of the Year Award, 2000
    • IFA's Educational Foundation, board of trustees
    • Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI), board of trustees and charter honoree
    • SMEI Hall of Fame, inductee
    • National Association of Personnel Services Hall of Fame, inductee
    • Blue Cross Blue Shield, board member


    Community Involvement

    • National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, chairman of the board of directors
    • Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, member and former chairman
    • Oklahoma Youth Expo, former chairman of the board of directors
    • Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) board of trustees, member and former chairman
    • Business Affairs Committee at OBU, chairman
    • President’s Council at OBU, lifetime member
    • Business Advisory Council for Oklahoma Christian University of Science and Arts, member
    • Oklahoma Independent College Foundation, board member
    • Allied Arts Circle Club, member and former co-chairman
    • Prix de West Society, member and former chairman of the awards committee
    • The University of Edinburgh’s James Clerk Maxwell Patron’s Club, member 

  • William H. Stoller
    Founder, President and Vice Chairman

    Stoller Bill_2014_webWilliam H. Stoller is vice chairman of Express Employment Professionals. He is also a member of the executive committee, which oversees strategic planning and direction for the company. As president of The Stoller Group, he owns 26 Express offices in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and California. Stoller also owns Xenium, a human resource management company, and ESM Group, Inc., a staffing management company.

    Stoller graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore., with a bachelor’s degree in business and economics. He obtained a master’s degree from Portland State University in business administration. He has also earned certifications from the American Staffing Association (Certified Staffing Professional), the National Association of Personnel Services (Certified Personnel Consultant) and the International Franchise Association (Certified Franchise Executive).

    Prior to founding Express, Stoller began his career with Acme Personnel Services in 1973 as a consultant trainee and subsequently held positions as branch manager, group manager, district manager and regional manager for Oregon and Utah.

    Stoller also owns and oversees Stoller Vineyards in Dayton, Ore., which produces 125 acres of grapes (93 acres of Pinot Noir and the balance in Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc grapes) for Chehalem winery, which Stoller partially owns, in nearby Newberg and several other wineries in the Willamette Valley.

    Professional Memberships

    • American Staffing Association, board member and 2008 chairman elect
    • National Association of Personnel Services, chairman of the board 2000-2001
    • National Association of Professional Employer Organizations, member
    • International Franchise Association, member
    • Oregon Association of Personnel Consultants, past president
    • World Presidents’ Association, member


    Community Involvement 

    • A-dec, member of the advisory board of directors
    • Pacific University Board of Trustees, member and past chairman
    • Portland Opera, former board member and chairman
    • Rotary Club of Portland, 27-year member and past president
    • Classic Wines Auction, past chairman