• Meet Our Team

    Amy R
    Amy Martin

    Training and Development Manager

    Amy joined the Express Team in June 2017 as an Office Services Recruiter and now handles the internal training for our team and external trainings for our Clients and Community Partners. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education from Indiana University and was a teacher for many years. Her experience includes retail management recruiting and, training and NPO business development and event coordination. Amy loves melding her previous experience into her role with Express. With community service being a passion, she proudly serves on the Board of Directors for Turning Point and Stateline SHRM, sits on planning committees for the McHenry County Disability Job Fair, Annual SHRM DEI Roundtable, and participates in community trainings through MCWN Step Forward program, MCC LIGHT transition education, PADS of Elgin, Pioneer Center, and several school districts. Most recently, we have included Team and Leadership trainings for our local businesses! Amy's very favorite thing to do outside of work is spend time doing anything outdoors or crafty with her family, they are the foundation of everything for her.

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    Marcela Lopez
    Marcela Lopez

    Office Manager

    Marcela joined our team in September of 2018 as an Onboarding Coordinator. However, with her background in recruiting and customer service, she quickly found herself in the position of Employment Specialist for the Light Industrial Division, where she spent close to 3 years on that role before transitioning to the Leadership team as an Office Manager. Marcela spends a significant amount of time juggling between audits, meetings with team members, and successfully implementing new strategies to better improve the productivity of our office. Helping others has always been a passion of Marcela’s and working at Express helps her to live her dream. When she is not working, Marcela enjoys reading and spending time with her dog, Archie, family and friends.

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    Kyle Copeland
    Kyle Copeland

    Professional Recruiting - Engineering

    Kyle joined the Express Team in June of 2022. Prior to Express, Kyle graduated from Augustana College in 2020 and landed a job as a customer service representative/account manager where he worked for 18 months. He found his passion in building/retaining customer relationships and simply helping others. Kyle represents ambivert qualities which allows him to be very flexible in his decision making and handling certain situations. In his free time, Kyle enjoys sports, playing softball, video games and working out. 

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    Jim S
    Jim Scott

    Professional Recruiting - IT

    Jim joined our team in 2023 as a Professional Recruiter in our Specialized Recruiting Group. He is responsible for direct placement/full time IT placement on the SRG team. He has extensive IT recruitment experience in his former positions, helping individuals find work both locally and nationwide. Jim is passionate about placing the right person into the right culture; always focused on a long-term win-win for client and candidate. Outside of work, Jim enjoys sports, exercising and spending time with his family.

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    Carlene
    Carlene Choinski

    Professional Recruiting – Accounting & Finance, HR

    Carly joined the SRG team in Summer 2021 and comes from a professional background in sales, operations and management. Carly loves to multitask and stay busy which is a perfect fit for the recruiting field! She is passionate about creating relationships with both her candidates and clients to find the best possible outcome for both parties.  In her spare time, Carly likes to travel to new places, spend time with friends and family, get outside, and be active.

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    Kelly Nowik 2
    Kelly Kontaxis

    Specialized Recruiter - Skilled Trades

    Kelly rejoined the Express team at the end of 2021 after taking some time off to spend with her two young boys. With almost nine years in retail management and 15 years in customer service, Kelly's true passion is helping others. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, drawing and painting, and loves attending concerts and music festivals. She is so excited to be a part of the Express team, again!

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    Adam Turner
    Adam Turner

    Business Development Manager- Skilled Trades

    After 13 years in Atlantic City as a poker dealer and supervisor, Adam wanted something different. He moved to Illinois to live with his girlfriend after two years in a long distance relationship. Wanting to expand on his customer service background, he applied with Express on a whim, unaware of even the existence of staffing firms. He was drawn to the position of employment specialist because it mentioned the ability to help people. Since starting this position in June of 2021, he is extremely pleased he stepped into a career with so much potential for growth. He has actually been a rapper putting out music for the past 4 years, too! He enjoys reading, working out, especially running, and playing Xbox with his girlfriend.

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    Ruby Garcia 2
    Ruby Garcia

    Professional Recruiting - Industrial Leadership

    With five years of light industrial recruiting experience, Ruby rejoined our Express team in February of 2022. She is a very nurturing person, with a strong passion for helping others. When not helping associates find their perfect job, Ruby enjoys spending time with her son, watching movies and traveling.

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    Mariah Babjak

    Division Manager - Light Industrial

    Mariah came to Express in November 2015. Before becoming a Staffing Consultant and then Onsite Manager, she spent 6 years as an Assistant Store Manager in retail. Mariah's incredible insight and professionalism has earned her the current title of Team Lead for our Employment Specialists. Helping to teach and train our successful Crystal Lake Light Industrial staff to once again bring us to Platinum! Currently, Mariah is in the process of obtaining her Associates Degree in Business Management and continues her education at Columbia College of Missouri for her Bachelor's Degree. In her spare time she likes to read, exercise and spend time with her two sons.

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    Shanell Wilkins 2
    Shanell Wilkins

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial Division

    Shanell joined our Express team in August 2018. She started her customer service background in 2014 while attending McHenry County College to further her education.  Her passion for helping people is what drives her to be successful in her role as a Recruiting Specialist.  In her free time she likes spending time with her family. 

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    Sarah Elliott (2)
    Sarah Elliott

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial

    Sarah has been with Express since September of 2018. Sarah started off as a Front Office Coordinator for the Express office located in Bellingham, WA. In March of 2019 she moved back home to Illinois and joined our team as a Light Industrial Employment Specialist. She prides herself in building and maintaining client relationships and satisfaction. During her down time, Sarah enjoys making unforgettable memories with her two year old and shopping.

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    Amber
    Amber Jacobs

    Account Manager - Light Industrial Division

    Amber Jacobs has been working with Express since March of 2023. She has been working in the recruiting and HR industry for the past 12 years. She worked in multiple different industries such as Automotive, industrial, HVAC, office and medical. Her passion is to help others finding their path to a great career. She achieved her Associates Degree in Medical Assisting in 2011 and has been working in the HR field since. She enjoys spending time with family, cooking, baking, BBQ’s and get togethers around a bonfire. Her greatest goal in life to achieve is to always strive to be the best version of herself.

     

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    Katie Smith 2
    Katie Smith

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial

    Katie joined Express in January of 2022. She loves working for Express because she enjoys a challenge and new opportunities for growth. Katie is also a big people person, and loves to see others succeed! Prior to working for Express, Katie was an Activity Director at a nursing home. When not working, Katie enjoys watching suspenseful Netflix shows and spending time with her son and watching him play football. Go Wolves!

     

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    Griselda Martinez
    Griselda Martinez

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial

    Prior to joining Express in April of 2022, Griselda worked in Sales and Customer Service for over 14 years and managing an office as an Insurance Agent for 7 years. She loves that Express offers opportunities to Grow within. She also enjoys helping people and knowing that she can make a difference in people's lives. Griselda loves hitting the trails with her husband and two boys to look for puff mushrooms, using her Cricut to craft On the weekends, and watching the Office.

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    Jazmin
    Jazmin Padron

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial

    Prior to joining Express in October of 2022, Jazmin was a National Recruiter for two years in which she acquired her recruiting skillset and staffing background. She was drawn to Express due to her eagerness to grow professionally. She is not only excited to contribute her experience to the team, but also continue evolving as a recruiter. Jazmin is currently pursuing her Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Human Resources, and has recently found a passion for fitness. In her free time, she enjoys visiting new restaurants and cafes, and loves to attend Sunday services. 

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    Amberlynn1
    Amberlynn Denton

    Employment Specialist - Light Industrial

    Amberlynn started with Express Employment in February 2023. She is super outgoing, and her bubbly personality is what helps her connect to our associates and team. Her passion is in helping people reach their goals and make there dreams a reality. Express is the perfect fit for her because she is able to help people, one job at a time. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and getting tattoos.

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    Becca Pearson 2
    Becca Pearson

    Accounts Receivable/Payroll Administrator

    Becca joined the Express team in April of 2017. Prior to starting at Express, Becca worked at Family Video for six years. There she found her passion of wanting to help others. Starting off as an Onboarding Coordinator at Express, Becca helped to support our Onsite Managers and quickly grew into an Employment Specialist. After a few short months, Becca found her true calling in the Payroll Department and began her payroll journey in January 2018.  This role includes many hats and keeps her very busy but she loves that she gets to make a difference every day. Outside of work Becca enjoys reading and playing with her dogs, Tinker Belle & Pepper Oni.

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    Priscilla Martinez
    Priscilla Martinez

    Front Office Coordinator

    Prior to joining Express as a Front Office Coordinator in May of 2022, Priscilla has five years of office coordinator experience as well as a background in marketing. She loves spending time with her husband, son, three dogs and two cats. Priscilla also enjoys traveling and leading a calm and relaxed lifestyle. Her favorite state that she has traveled to so far is Montana and hopes to live there one day. Her dream state to visit is Alaska. In her free time, Priscilla loves shopping, celebrity gossip and keeping up with trends.

     

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    Alice Artel
    Alice Artel

    Front Office Coordinator

    Alice Artel has been working with Express since March of 2023. She brings fifteen years of costumer service to her role. Her favorite part of customer service is providing an enjoyable experience and helping others. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family.

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    Danielle
    Danielle Copeland

    Marketing Coordinator

    Danielle has been with Express since May of 2023. Danielle is a Marketing Intern, striving to hold a full time position as a Marketing Coordinator in the future. She is on track to receive her Bachelors degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Illinois State University in December of 2023. She prides herself in building and learning about various marketing strategies to better improve her success post grad. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, and shopping.

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