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. In 2024 she was nominated for the highly coveted Athena Award, dedicated to empowering women in leadership. Kayla was also selected as one of Security Bank's 2024 Women of Influence.

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.  

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, a valued member of the Express Employment team since 2014, is a multi-million producer with an impressive 16 years of accounting experience. His extensive background provides him with a unique insight and deep understanding of the accounting and finance needs of our clients. Kirk plays a crucial role in sourcing top-tier IT, engineering, and accounting professionals for both permanent and temporary positions. Kirk holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Accounting from California State University-San Bernardino, as well as an MBA from Texas A&M University. In 2017, he was recognized with the prestigious President's Club Award from our headquarters, only being awarded to the top 5% of SRG recruiters. Between his track record of achievements and his passion for helping others, Kirk is a true servant leader.

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! 

Chris joined the Springfield Express team in 2022 as a Light Industrial Specialty Manager. In July 2023, he transitioned into the Branch Manager role for the Jacksonville office. After developing our Jacksonville branch, he is now back in the Springfield office helping to lead our Skilled Trades division to success! He previously held a successful 26-year career in the grocery industry, where he worked his way from a Store Clerk to a District Store Director over three locations. He has a passion for helping people succeed. Chris was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD, the youngest of 3 siblings. Chris has been blessed with 5 children, and his wife Kristen. In his spare time, you can find him in the bowling alley playing in competitive leagues.

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 and enjoys helping people find their purpose. One of his passions is connecting individuals to opportunities and 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 and 2024. Michael has been recognized by the Springfield Business Journal for the 40 under 40 award, UIS for the "Good As Gold" volunteerism award, and the hometown hero award from Modern Woodmen. 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. In 2017, she began her role leading the Talent Acquisition team for candidates in the Springfield, Jacksonville, and Bloomington areas. In 2024 she again transitioned into the Marketing and Workforce Operations Manager role, leading our marketing, communications, and recruiting efforts for our three office locations. She also serves as the leader for our front office team and the experience they provide for our associates coming into the office. 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.

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!

 

Sallie joined the Express team during the summer of 2024 as a Front Office Coordinator. She is the smiling face at the front desk, always offering a warm welcome to visitors. Coming from a remote work environment in tech, she realized how much she values face-to-face interaction. When she's not working hard, you can find her at home in Sherman watching the Cubs game. Sallie is happily married, a proud mother, and the loving owner of two adorable pugs. 

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!  

 

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.