Entrepreneurialism is something that Jess has grown up with. Starting with her great-great grandfather, who as a German immigrant, came to Canada in the 1930's. He failed miserably at his first few trades related jobs, and found his passion in starting and growing retail operations, throughout the province of Alberta. His entrepreneurial spirit was passed down to Jessica's grandfather and then father who fashioned it into a series of manufacturing facilities and retail stores, including one that specialized in sportswear and outerwear- called Powder Ridge.

Jess' first job (she thinks was at the age of 8!) was 'sorting hangers' in one of her dad's stores, for the sales people. Those early lessons about hard work, long hours and helping others are still with her today as President and Owner of The Specialized Recruiting Group (Express Employment Professionals).

Graduating from the U of A with a psychology major and linguistics minor, Jessica felt her calling was to somehow be in business for herself, while still helping others. When her father, in 2004, identified Express Employment Professionals as a business venture that could provide Jessica with just this blend- the opportunity to build a company while helping other businesses and people - she jumped at it.

Jessica finds inspiration through her mentors, through her connections in the Express network as well as the business groups she belongs to, and the organizations she supports. Beyond that- it's the intangibles, such as spending time with her friends and family- sharing experiences- on the ski hill, outdoors or travelling, that are most important. Jessica enjoys staying active, with hobbies including running, tennis, and hiking. She has recently started to challenge her patience by picking up golf and yoga.

A Favourite Quote:

"You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." -Jon Kabat-Zinn

Driven by his passion for sports, family loyalty and entrepreneurial spirit, Branko is a leader with an unorthodox approach. His quiet demeanour belies his take-charge attitude with a focus on results, propels Branko to take on new challenges.

Learning from his parents, Branko was taught valuable lessons about work ethic, loyalty and teamwork. Particularly from his father who escaped communist Yugoslavia by foot and came to Canada. 

Branko's first job was delivering flyers in the Edmonton Crestwood neighbourhood for five dollars. Prior to joining Express, he worked his way into a leadership role within the oil & gas industry- where he worked for nearly 15 years. Branko now leads Express' Senior Level Search Division, one that has grown exponentially in recent years.

Always a team player, Branko uses skills gained while playing high-level organized soccer and hockey to coach and mentor the other search and contract employees who make-up the accounting, finance and administration teams.

To relax, you will find Branko spending time with family, playing golf in the summer, men's hockey league in the winter and year-round his latest passion- cycling. 

Branko's inspiration to always improve comes from his father, who early on in life instilled this quality in him and would say: "A wise man learns from other's mistakes. A fool learns from his own". 

Prior to her current role, Sabby was working in the banking sector, honing her skills in preparation for her next career path, one that would allow her to combine her education and passion for helping others.

In her current role with Express Employment Professionals as an Accounting/Finance Search Specialist, she takes lessons learned from her NAIT Business Degree in HR and a thorough understanding of the financial marketplace to find her clients the right candidate.

Her co-workers describe Sabby as driven, detail orientated and cares about her impact on others. She is outgoing, kind and considerate- a true team player.

Supported by parents who came from India, they taught her that hard work, education and practical thinking will open doors and endless opportunities. Influenced by her dad and brother, Sabby is grounded by family and traditional Punjabi roots.

During her spare time, Sabby likes to shop, hike, watch the Oilers play (and win!) or pick up a game of soccer.

Sabby's forward-thinking attitude and positive optimism come from the 5 by 5 rule. "If it is not going to matter in five years, do not spend more than five minutes being upset by it."

She is a practical thinker, as her dad would so proudly say.

Born in Germany to Bosnian parents, Elma has an international sense of flair and passion for traveling, helping others, and the finer things in life. From her first job serving others in the hospitality industry to her current position as the Division Manager Contract Administrative + Accounting, Elma's true calling is working hard for and with others. This is reflected every day in her leadership role and in finding the right contractor for her clients. 

With a degree in HR from NAIT, she is essential to the growth and success of her client's businesses. Getting to know her client's business first-hand allows Elma to practice her HR, negotiation, and recruiting skills when finding the right candidates for her clients. She prides herself on her enthusiastic personality, genuine curiosity, and empathy for others- traits that truly complement her education and experience and directly relate to her success.

If you ask any of Elma's colleagues how they would best describe her, they would undoubtedly say her energy, determination, and confidence. 

Favorite Quote:

"Give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world." -Marilyn Monroe

Bre's small-town roots in Dundas, Ontario keep her well-grounded. Her parents were and are key influencers in her life, instilling a strong work ethic, compassion for others, and an appreciation for the importance of family.

In 2012, Bre seized an opportunity to move to Alberta and made the jump to the Edmonton region.

Bre describes herself as driven, outgoing, and compassionate; qualities she strives to live in and outside the office. She has a heart for canine rescue and animal shelters and enjoys turning rescues into new family members.

In her pastime, Bre stays connected to family back in Ontario and spends time with her husband and their dogs. Next on her bucket list is touring the east coast of Canada.

A Favourite Quote: 

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Dixie's journey started when she and her mother left their home in El Salvador, headed to Edmonton, Canada.  After completing high school in Edmonton, Dixie attended a local beauty college before realizing that her calling was to help others fulfill their journeys.

After being presented with the opportunity to join Express Employment Professionals in an office administration capacity, Dixie has not looked back.  

At work, Dixie is a team player. Collaboration and a consultative approach are key to exceeding the client's expectations and finding the right fit for the associates she works with. When challenges arise, the team comes together. For Dixie, rewards come when she can help others achieve their personal goals- and she does that every day. 

When Dixie takes time for herself, she spends time with her favourite little companion, a Yorkie/Chihuahua cross, watching movies and getting lost in a good book.

Seeing firsthand the road her mom took to give her family a better life.  She also looks forward to returning to El Salvador for a visit someday soon, where the journey started.

A favourite quote: Take every chance, drop every fear.

Melissa's career journey started after graduating from University in New Brunswick, with a major in psychology and a minor in sociology. At that time she decided to explore career opportunities out west.

Landing in Edmonton and securing a position with Express Employment Professionals as Client Development Manager, Melissa has been with Express since 2014. While collaborating with her sales team and her recruitment team, she has a goal of crafting relationships within the community, telling the Express story, adding value for her clients and finding ways to grow existing business.

A quote that she strives to live by: "You will always grow through - what you go through". Two key influencers that have always supported Melissa's growth (both personally and professionally) are her parents. They both instilled a very strong work ethic in her, and she is grateful for that. She also is a fan of author/educator Barbara Bruno- and often references her book, "High-Tech High Touch Recruiting".

Melissa is focused on staying positive and healthy - and outside of the office, spends a lot of time with her cycle bar community- pre and post their regular cycle sessions!

Stephanie Mandrusiak is a Commercial Employment Specialist at Specialized Recruiting Group. Stephanie brings 17 years of experience in leadership within the luxury beauty industry where she recruited and led top-performing teams; ultimately highlighting her passion and natural ability to recognize top talent.

Stephanie's entrepreneurial spirit and business acumen were inspired at a young age by her grandparents who were successful business owners. Stephanie has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a Business minor. She brings a results and relationship-driven attitude and enjoys building trusted relationships with candidates and clients, with the goal of changing lives and having a positive business impact. Joining the Specialized Recruiting Group team has been supportive and encouraging to Steph's values and ambitions.

When she's not at work, Stephanie contracts herself out as a certified makeup artist for weddings and enjoys time at home with her family.

A Favourite Quote: "When we help ourselves we find moments of happiness. When we help others, we find lasting fulfillment."  -Simon Sinek

As an Alumni of the University of Alberta's B.Comm program - with a major in Human Resource Management, Chava has a deep passion for talent acquisition. This stems from her desire to provide Edmonton's organizations with workforce solutions that directly impact their core business functions. In her role as a Contract, Accounting and Finance Specialist, Chava provides support in all areas of Accounting, Finance, and Administrative positions.

From a young age, Chava has valued building strong relationships everywhere she goes. Growing up in Wetaskiwin, AB, she was heavily involved in a variety of extracurricular activities - both in her hometown and in Edmonton's surrounding communities. From dance, school sports, to track and field, she was always put in new environments with unfamiliar faces, which showed her the importance of making friends and building meaningful connections. Throughout her university degree, she worked in a variety of industries with companies such as Earls, Molson Coors, and Lululemon. 

In her free time, she likes to attend spin classes, try new restaurants for the food/cocktails, or spending time with friends.

A Favorite Quote: "Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die"

Mark Salcedo is an Administrative Employment Specialist with Specialized Recruiting Group. He speaks to candidates, builds meaningful connections to understand their career goals, and bridges the gap with employers to form a significant work experience. Mark says it is most rewarding when he tells a candidate they get the job, and they're ecstatic and celebrating over the phone.

Graduating from MacEwan University with a Bachelor's Degree in Commerce and majoring in Accounting, Mark built his business acumen and formed a mindset focused on success and accomplishing goals. However, accounting wasn't his goal as he excels in talking to people face-to-face and providing business solutions that will make you feel at ease.

Mark enjoys climbing the Wolf Willow Stairs to sweat and adding investments to his impressive Pokémon Card collection.

A Favorite Quote: "If I have stood further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants."

Raised in Spruce Grove, Alberta, Jaclyn had the best of both worlds, growing up with a small-town spirit while being just a hop, skip, and a jump from Edmonton. Starting her journey in retail, she managed a local store for over a decade, where she learned how to handle anything & everything that came her way. At her core, Jaclyn is all about people. She is dedicated to building relationships & finding solutions to problems using a "glass half full" mindset. 

In her current role at Specialized Recruiting Group as a Commercial/Skilled Trades Recruiter, Jaclyn spends her time building a pipeline of qualified candidates, providing clients with top talent, and everything in between. She is energized by seeing the potential in others and finding ways to help people succeed. 

Jaclyn firmly believes in the importance of work-life balance. When she is not in the office, you will find her at home cooking, cheering on the Oilers, Jays, or Elks, watching Grey's Anatomy re-runs, spending time outdoors with her four-legged pals, or planning her next adventure!