Meet the Team

Kim Phillips Nakatani

Owner

Born and raised in Santa Cruz, I found my way into the staffing industry while attending Cabrillo College and looking for flexible work. I started as a receptionist at Express Employment Professionals and quickly discovered that staffing was a great fit for me. I loved the fast pace, the variety, the opportunity to help people, and the fact that no two days—or people—were ever quite the same.

Over the years, I continued learning, took on new responsibilities, and worked my way through several different roles within the company. Today, after more than 30 years with Express, I’m proud to be the owner/operator of our Santa Cruz County office.

That experience has given me a broad understanding of staffing and small business, including recruiting, payroll, customer service, sales, office management, and leadership. But what I value most are the relationships I’ve built along the way. I believe in being honest, positive, curious, creative, and genuinely helpful—and in treating the people and businesses we work with like neighbors, because they are.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, working on art and home improvement projects, reading, listening to music, exploring our local woods, checking out local restaurants, and finding humor wherever I can.

Email Kim

Christina Ayala

Senior Staffing Specialist

With 18 years at Express, Christina brings unmatched experience and heart to everything she does. From her early days as our receptionist, to her current role specializing in placing skilled office services and professional people with companies throughout Santa Cruz County, Christina has worn many hats - and she's worn them well. Raised in Watsonville and having spent much of her time in Santa Cruz, she knows our community inside and out. 

When she's not connecting great people with great local jobs, you'll find her hiking coastal trails, lifting heavy weights, tending to her plants, creating floral arrangements, diving into a good book, or enjoing coffee and indie music with friends and family. 

Email Christina

Estela Montes

Junior Staffing Coordinator - Light Industrial

Born and raised in Watsonville, Estela brings heart, hustle, and hometown pride to her role at Express. Since joining our team three years ago as our Front Office Coordinator, she's grown into her current role as our Jr Light Industrial Staffing Coordinator. Fully bilingual in English and Spanish, Estela is passionate about helping people find the right job fit. 

Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, getting creative, and hanging out with her pup, Peanut.

Email Estela

Sheena Cuccia

Recruitment Specialist & Social Media

Born and raised in the Santa Cruz area, Sheena is passionate about giving back to and uplifting the community she has always called home. As a Recruitment Specialist with Express Employment Professionals, she enjoys connecting local job seekers with meaningful employment opportunities and helping individuals take the next step toward achieving their career goals. She strives to make the job-search process as welcoming, supportive, and successful as possible for each person she works with.

Outside of Express, Sheena enjoys staying active and involved in the Santa Cruz community. She loves attending local events, roller skating, dancing, and finding new ways to connect with the people that make the area such a special place. Her genuine passion for helping others and building strong community connections carries through both her professional and personal life.

Email Sheena

Office Assistants, Ruby, Liz and Aaralyn

Ruby, Elizabeth and Aaralyn are our amazing trio of part-time office assistants. All three are proud locals and current students, bringing energy, organization, and genuine passion for helping to our office every day. Whether supporting our team behind the scenes, or greeting visitors with a smile, they're always eager to learn and assist. 

We're lucky to have them on board!

Email Our Office Assistant