With a bachelor's degree in marketing, J.T. currently serves as Managing Partner for the Springfield, Jacksonville and Bloomington, IL Express locations.  J.T. has served in nearly every role within the Springfield Express office since joining Express in 1993, including Staffing Consultant,  Manager of the Professional and Office Services teams, and Director of Operations. J.T.'s depth of experience, combined with his training and coaching skills, continues to enhance the effectiveness of our staffing consultant team.

Kayla has been a valuable addition to Express since 1994, and has held nearly every position within our company. She currently serves as Managing Partner, holds the designation of a Certified Staffing Professional, and oversees the Springfield, Bloomington and Jacksonville locations. Kayla specializes in helping organizations create highly productive teams of people while controlling their cost of labor, and she has led her Springfield team to be one of the best in client retention. Her memberships include: Business Education Partnership Committee, Business Connections Committee, Community Connection Point Board and currently serves as Chair on the Board of Directors for the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. She is a former Rotary International member and has also served as a United Way Loaned Executive. Prior to being recognized as a leader in the staffing industry, Kayla earned a Bachelor's degree in accounting from Southern Illinois University. Now, Kayla's "hands-on" experience and successes have made her a sought after speaker, trainer and consultant. Kayla's hard work has been proven in being the second person company-wide at Express to achieve the $1,000,000 producer award.

Zachery has a bachelor's degree in psychology with a minor in business from Oral Roberts University. He has received appreciation from our largest local client for his ability to help them maintain a high-performance workforce. He has achieved the scholar designation from Express University for completing 54 online courses related to staffing. Zac came to Express in 2003.

Lea helps managers and business owners find qualified candidates for temporary and direct hire positions.  She works with a variety of companies to fill positions including, but not limited to, welders, factory laborers, banquet servers, restoration technicians, and many other industrial jobs. Lea started at Express in January 2009 with over four years of staffing industry experience from her previous background. 

 Madison has been a crucial part of the Express team since January of 2022. She builds relationships with our clients and associates, helping to send more people to work every day. She is dedicated, hardworking, and always willing to put in extra effort for her team. In Madison’s free time, she can be found spending time with her loved ones or playing with her pitbull.

 

Dave joined the Express team in 2022. Dave grew up in Springfield and graduated from Southeast High School. Before coming to Express Dave built a career in the grocery industry. The odds were pretty good that when shopping you would be greeted by his smiling face. He has a passion for helping others and providing top-notch customer service to the associates and companies we serve. When Dave is not working he enjoys spending time with his wife, Lacy and his son, Payton. Traveling, building Legos, and watching a little WWE are among their favorite ways to pass the time.

Cortez joing the Express team in 2023 with 30 years of military service in the US Army. First Sergeant Gillespie spent much of his military career overseas including time in Afghanistan and Iraq as well as numerous other assignments and deployments. Afterwards, Cortez and his wife LaTona returned to Springfield and worked for the Illinois Comptroller as Director of Administrative Services for nearly 6 years. He is a graduate of Southeast Highschool.  

Shannon joined the Springfield Express family in April of 2024. Currently, she resides in Decatur with her beautiful cat, Izzy. Shannon has three wonderful children and nine grandkids whom she loves to spoil! She would describe herself as someone who loves the outdoors, specifically taking long walks on nature trails. A fun fact about Shannon is that she and her best friend have been friends for over 40 years!

Jacob joined the Springfield Express team in the Spring of 2024 as an Employment Specialist. With him, he brings a wealth of experience in sales and customer service, as he previously worked for AT&T! He lives in Carlinville and hopes to ramp up our southern market. Some of his interests include fishing, flag football, and being a father to his two daughters.

Kirk joined Express in 2014. He brings over 16 years of Health Care industry knowledge and experience as a career Accountant to his current role.  Having unique insight into the Accounting & Finance needs of our clients, Kirk is able to maintain a strong role in the placement of IT, Engineering and high end professionals in both long term and temporary roles. Kirk holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University-San Bernardino and an MBA in Business from Texas A&M University. Kirk also serves on the Board of Directors for Community Connection Point in Springfield.

Jordan joined Express in 2020. He brings with him 12 years of Insurance and Financial Services experience. He understands the importance of building strong relationships and he values his commitment to helping others succeed. Jordan serves our team recruiting professionals in the Accounting, Finance, Engineering, and IT fields. Jordan has his Bachelor's degree in Business Management & Organizational Leadership from Illinois college. In his free time, he enjoys running and spending time with his wife and four kids. 

Taylor joined the Office Services team at Express in 2021. Hailing from Historic Petersburg, Illinois, Taylor spent the last 12 years in upper management for The Buckle clothing store in Springfield, Iowa and Peoria locations. She has recently relocated to Springfield with her kitties, and is excited to dig in and help people succeed. She loves sports, specifically March Madness and Golf, and provides next level customer service.

Rachel joined the Express team in March of 2024 as a Front Office Coordinator. Quickly, she became a key player and soon moved into the role of Employment Specialist. Rachel is a graduate of Lincoln Land Community College, where she received her associate's degree, and Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where she studied Criminal Justice with a double minor in psychology and forensic science! Outside of work, you can find Rachel hanging out with her fiancé, Brock, watching Harry Potter or Criminal Minds.

Casey joined the Springfield Express team in April of 2024. With her, she brings a wealth of experience in management, as she spent the past 10 years as a Regional Manager for Planet Fitness! She currently resides in Petersburg with her loving husband and their two daughters, Addy and Charlotte. Outside of work you can find Casey camping with the family or doing some other kind of outdoor activity!

Harrison joined the Express team in 2023. As an search & contract specialist, he draws on his skilled trades experience, as well as his sales background, to build relationships with our clients and help put people to work. Outside of work, Harrison, his wife Gracie, and their son Ezra call Spaulding, Illinois home. Some of Harrison’s interests include watching football and basketball, specifically the Lakers or the Chicago Bears! He also enjoys fishing and spending time with family.

 

Don joined Express office as an Area Manager in 2012 with 15 years of outside sales and management experience in the areas of telecommunications and advertising. In 2015 he took on the role of Sales Manager. As a previous small business owner, Don understands the importance of attracting, developing and retaining talent.   He was born and raised in the Springfield community and he's highly committed to its success.  He earned a Bachelor's degree in Education specializing in Exercise Physiology from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

A Southern Illinois native; Michael's background in sales, marketing, and leadership all began in the retail industry. Helping companies develop a stronger workforce is now his passion. Serving as the current board President of the Central Illinois Customer Service Association and Vice Chairman of the Salvation Army board has afforded him the opportunity to develop deep and meaningful relationships within his community. Michael volunteers with the Red Cross, Central Illinois Food Bank, and other local agencies when he discovers an opportunity. Michael is very engaged in the community & enjoys helping people find their purpose. One of his passions is connecting individuals to opportunities & resources. Michael works closely with the Family Guidance Center, Gateway, Helping Hands, and many of the local churches.
His ability to connect with both people and companies has earned him national recognition as a Top 50 Sales Representative for Express in 2019. Michael has been recognized by the Springfield Business Journal for the 40 under 40 award, UIS awarded & recognized Michael with their "Good As Gold" volunteerism award, he received the hometown hero award from Modern Woodman & continues to be recognized as a top performer. 
 Michael is a proud father, husband, and man of faith and his commitment to the community and helping others is apparent in the way he serves.

Erin joined Express in 2014 with over 9 years of management and leadership experience. Her background and expertise include grant writing, new business development, and staff recruitment/training skills gained during 13 years in the retail and healthcare industries. In 2015, she transitioned from an administrative staffing consultant role to focus on recruiting top talent in the areas of Accounting, Engineering, and Information Technology. Then in 2017, she began her role leading the Talent Acquisition team for candidates in the Springfield, Jacksonville, and Bloomington areas. Erin also leads the coordination of marketing and communications efforts for the three offices. She is a current member of iWIL and earned the Springfield Business Journal's 40 Under 40 award in 2021. Erin is a graduate of Eastern Illinois University and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Health Studies.

Emily started at Express in 2023 as a Front Office Coordinator but soon became our Marketing Specialist, focusing on social media and community outreach. She received her associate's degree in communications from Lincoln Land Community College, then attended Illinois State University, graduating with her bachelor's degree in English. Emily is an avid reader and loves to write. In her free time she plays video games and spends time with her cat Fiona.

Valerie has been a wonderful addition to the Talent Center here at Express since 2017. Coming to us with 9 years of management experience, her customer service skills really shine. As a Recruiting Specialist, Valerie is dedicated to helping others find work and is a warm and inviting welcome to anyone that is new or returning to Express. Valerie also leads the team with her proactive recruiting efforts, finding specific candidates with the skills and experience our clients need to help with their hiring needs.  As a mom, she loves to soak up every moment with her husband and two kids! 

Fadra has been with Express since 2019. As a recruitment specialist, she speaks with dozens of applicants weekly and is dedicated to matching them with positions that align with their interests and skill set. Fadra works part time at Express and owns her own hair salon. She is crafty and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Fadra has been happily married for over 30 years and has 3 beautiful children. Her grandkids Ross and Renlee are her pride and joy!

 

Eric has been part of the Express team since 1998. With a degree in business administration, he ably serves as payroll specialist, but his value to Express goes far beyond his work with payroll and payables. Eric also deals with most of the computer issues, benefits administration for in-house staff and meeting room set-ups. 

Kara joined the Express team in 2012. She is an integral part of our team handling the processing of weekly payroll for Express associates, managing online timekeeping systems and the accounts receivables for the office. She graduated with Bachelors in Communications from Benedictine University in Springfield in May 2012. She enjoys traveling and likes to spend her spare time with her husband and dog Dexter.

Cheyanne joined the Express team in Spring of 2024 as she seamlessly stepped into the role of Front Office Coordinator. With a degree in Property Management, Cheyanne is no stranger to hard work. Before coming to Express, she worked as a Correctional Officer for the State of Illinois! As a mother of three, Cheyanne's time outside of work is spent with family. Between riding horses and spending time at her family farm, you can often find Cheyanne curled up reading a good book.

Adrienne has been a Front Office Coordinator at Express since 2021. She is often the first face people see when coming into our office and she always greets them with a smile. Adrienne’s managerial experience combined with her overall care and compassion for everyone has made her a vital member of our team. She is happily married to her husband Robbie, with their two kids Maddie and Braxton. When Adrienne isn’t at work, you can find her serving at her church or DIYing her latest project!