The Grand Rapids, MI Express Employment Professionals office was founded in 1996 by Janis Petrini. The driving force was to assist in the enrichment of individual lives through gainful employment opportunities. Janis sought to provide community members with a means of providing for themselves and their families through not just jobs, but careers. The Grand Rapids office has been in existence for over 26 years; Janis' dream is coming true as we continue to help people during their job search and help companies with their staffing, human resource, and training challenges. We live our vision statement: To help as many people as possible find good jobs by helping as many clients as possible find good people.

Janis Petrini is a highly experienced Business Owner and Manager who has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of employees to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting edge markets, and fast-paced environments. Janis has a track record of more than 30 years of hands-on experience in strategic planning, business unit development, and project and people management. She is actively involved in managing and mentoring her team of almost 30. She co-manages all business operations while also pursuing her passion of helping people succeed and our community thrive. 

Top Five Strengths:

• Belief
• Achiever
• Responsibility
• Positivity
• Arranger

David Robb joined the Express Employment Professionals team in 2015. David initially joined Express as the Director of Marketing; overseeing all marketing, recruiting and communications. In 2020 he moved into the role of Director of Operations where he worked closely with Janis Petrini, Owner/Operator, to run the business and oversee daily operations. In 2022, David stepped into the role as Co-Owner/Managing Partner. He is passionate about providing solutions to both the workplace and the workforce, and offering opportunities for growth, retention, and strategic recruiting.

Prior to Express Employment Professionals, David was the Director of Data Analysis at a top digital advertising agency, where he worked to provide customized marketing solutions to clients around the world. David is a graduate of Calvin College with Degrees in Marketing and Economics.

 Top Five Strengths:

• Strategic
• Competition
• Analysis
• Maximizer
• Achiever

Heather Merrick has over 15 years of experience in human resources related roles, with strong experience in talent acquisition, organizational and workforce development, employee engagement, HR policy development, and HR strategy. She joined Express Employment Professionals in 2015 and currently serves as the Managing Director for Specialized Recruiting Group, an Express Employment Professionals company, to partner with client companies in providing HR solutions for recruiting and retaining top-notch talent, including training, workforce development, and recruitment strategies. Heather also provides consultation on HR policy development; best practices for employee engagement, organizational development, talent acquisition, and succession management; Veteran hiring, onboarding, and retention initiatives; and HR strategy for business success. Her recruiting experience includes manufacturing leadership, engineering, skilled trades, human resources, accounting/finance, sales & marketing, information technology, project management, administrative, medical, government, and non-profit roles.

In addition to her private sector work experience, Heather served 7 years on active duty in the United States Army and is a certified SHRM Foundation Inclusion Captain for Veteran Hiring, Onboarding, and Retention initiatives. Her education includes a bachelor of business administration degree with a double major in human resources management and marketing; a master of business administration degree with a concentration in human resources; and she is a SHRM Senior Certified Professional.

Heather is also an active volunteer in the community, having served on the AHRM Board of Directors in Grand Rapids in a variety of roles since 2013 including being selected as President for 2022; Vice President for 2021; serving as the Director of Workforce Readiness for the MISHRM Council for 2020 and 2021; and serving on a Board Committee for Family Promise of Grand Rapids in 2020 and 2021. Previous volunteer experience includes Michigan Blood; American Red Cross (Board Committee); Goodwill Industries of Grand Rapids; and Mosaic Film Experience.

Top Five Strengths:

• Input
• Strategic
• Relator
• Learner
• Achiever

Contact Heather for any Executive Search, Non-Profit, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering or IT needs!

Keri Banish joined Specialized Recruiting Group in 2023 as a Professional Recruiter. She holds a bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in International Business from Grand Valley State University. Keri has gained valuable professional experience in customer service, sales, and talent development. She looks forward to enhancing her skills to support companies in building successful teams. Keri enjoys running, watching reality TV, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Top Five Strengths:

• Achiever
• Discipline
• Analytical
• Focus
• Strategic 

Contact Keri for any Executive Search, Non-Profit, Human Resources, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering or IT needs!

Kaylee Cooper joined the Express Employment Professionals team in 2020 and currently serves as the Managing Director of Skilled Trades Recruiting and Apprenticeships. Kaylee began building her career in Human Resources and Recruitment in 2015 after completing her bachelor's in Human Resource Management at Davenport University. 

She concentrated her recruiting career in skilled trades after witnessing the ongoing challenges manufacturers have with the trades talent pool firsthand, and has recruited for the trades in both internal and third-party capacities. After attending her first Kaizen, Kaylee became fascinated by Lean theory and she recently earned her master's degree in Lean Manufacturing from Kettering University in Flint, Michigan.  

With a passion for manufacturing and processes, Kaylee's goal is to help our clients grow their skilled trades teams to the next level with the best workforce, structured apprenticeships, and strategic hiring and retention solutions. Kaylee specializes in skilled manufacturing placement including Maintenance, Electrical, Welding, and Machining from entry to management levels. 

Kaylee is a Certified Professional Resume Writer through the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches. She also serves as the Recruitment Chair on the Board of Directors for SECOM Resource Center.

Top Five Strengths:

• Learner
• Responsibility
• Developer
• Achiever
• Focus 

Contact Kaylee for any resume or cover letter services!

Nic Dampier understands the value of good storytelling and the impact this has on brand identity and community. As the Creative Director for Specialized Recruiting Group of Grand Rapids, as well as Frontline Training Solutions and the Grand Rapids, Michigan location of Express Employment Professionals, he is responsible for the strategic direction, vision, and branding of all marketing and communication initiatives. He has a passion for storytelling with excellence and helping brands become scalable and sustainable. Nic is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Degree in Strategic Communication Management and is focused on developing brand strategy that cuts through the noise by following a communication filter he designed called C.R.I.C.K.E.T., which stands for brand messaging that is Clear, Relatable, Intentional, Consistent, Kinetic, Engaging, and Truthful.

Nic is also a veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as a Religious Program Specialist Petty Officer Second Class immersed in the middle east culture learning how to communicate across cultural boundaries. After the Navy, he spent a decade serving as a Creative Arts Pastor for a large multi-site church network telling stories of the church and directing the production/music experience for thousands of people in person and online. He is an accomplished destination wedding and brand filmmaker of 13 years. Most recently he was featured in the 2021 ArtPrize International Art Competition as a "must see," by local news where he won 97 individual fan-favorite awards for his entry featuring 19 stories overcoming various adversity and struggles like homelessness, alcoholism, and prison through a positive mindset, grit, and employment support.

Top Five Strengths:

• Strategic
• Maximizer
• Developer
• Positivity
• Self-Assurance

Casey Jankoska joined Express Employment Professionals in 2008 as the Client Relationship Manager, and is now the Director of Client Relations. It is her goal to understand the needs of companies and to find specific solutions. Casey has previously served on the Board of Directors with the Association for Human Resource Management (AHRM) as President and is involved in many other community organizations. She received her PHR and SHRM-CP Certifications as she has a passion to help leaders in the Human Resource field.

Top Five Strengths:

• Woo
• Positivity
• Achiever
• Communication
• Relator

Veronica Minard joined the Express Employment Professionals team in 2024 as a Senior Marketing Specialist. She brings over a decade of marketing and communications experience from corporate, nonprofit and workforce development settings. She is passionate about telling impactful stories and is excited to belong to a team that is dedicated to putting people first. 

Veronica received her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Theatre Arts from Kalamazoo College and her Master of Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership from Grand Valley State University. She is a West Michigan native who has called Grand Rapids home for over 20 years. Outside of work she enjoys traveling, seeing live music, and watching her daughter play volleyball.

Top Five Strengths:

• Woo
• Strategic
• Arranger
• Learner
• Communication

Jeani Ransom joined Express Employment Professionals in 2010 and is currently the Business Office Manager. Since working at Express, Jeani has experience working with our associates and clients as the Front Office Coordinator and Payroll Specialist with a goal to deliver exceptional service. Currently, her Associates Degree in Accounting helps her assist the owner with the activities of running the business. She has an extensive background in customer service and finances, having worked in the banking industry for over 12 years. She currently is very involved in her church youth program as well as the schools her children attend.

Top Five Strengths:

• Belief
• Empathy
• Developer
• Responsibility
• Positivity