Trailblazers, Visionaries, Game-changers

They don’t just follow trends — they create them. They push boundaries and redefine the standard. Meet the fearless leaders who’ve driven us to the top and are revolutionizing the U.S. staffing industry.

Trailblazers, Visionaries, Game-changers

Stacey
Lane

Chief Executive Officer, President, Staffmark Group

Full Bio

As CEO, Stacey drives the strategic direction, business operations, and execution for SMG’s eight major staffing brands. She is a driving force behind SMG’s transformation as a data-driven organization with a human touch at its core. Stacey has a proven track record of leading high-performance teams, creating a strong workplace culture, and developing people, and she brings a pioneering attitude to business challenges. She bets on a people-first strategy and focuses on delivering customer experiences that are the best in the industry, which has resulted in high levels of customer loyalty and client satisfaction. With nearly three decades of experience in the staffing industry, Stacey is a trusted advisor and thought leader. She was recognized as one of the most influential women in the industry in 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, and 2024 when she was named to the SIA Global 150 – Women in Staffing list. Stacey is passionate about promoting diversity and inclusion, as well as the advancement of women in leadership, and she was a founding member of the Women in Leadership Council with the American Staffing Association. She volunteers with the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, is a mentor with Foster Nation, and serves as a parent advocate with the Newport Institute. She is a Certified Staffing Professional (CSP) with the American Staffing Association (ASA).

Tom
Simeur

Chief Financial Officer,
Staffmark Group

Serving as Chief Financial Officer for Staffmark Group, Tom supports the field with tools, data, and analysis in their quest for industry-leading growth. He is responsible for many initiatives, including the implementation of the BI reporting platform, the design and implementation of incentive plans, business plans, budgets, and various support tools.

Full Bio

Serving as CFO for SMG, Tom has three decades of experience in the staffing, FP&A, and accounting industries. Tom supports the field with tools, data, and analysis in their quest for industry-leading growth. He is responsible for many initiatives, including the implementation of the BI reporting platform, the design and implementation of incentive plans, business plans, budgets, and various support tools. Tom holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Eastern Illinois University and holds a Certificated Staffing Professional (CSP) designation from the American Staffing Association (ASA).

Suzanne
M. Perry

Chief People Officer,
Staffmark Group

Serving as Chief People Officer, Suzanne is responsible for the human resources, compensation, and benefits programs for SMG and its family of staffing brands, with an emphasis on employee relations, compensation, benefits, recruitment, selection, and legal compliance. Her professional certifications and academic credentials demonstrate Suzanne’s commitment to excellence in human resources.

Full Bio

Serving as CPO, Suzanne is responsible for the human resources, compensation, and benefits programs for SMG and its family of staffing brands. She has worked in the human resources field since 1986, with an emphasis on employee relations, compensation, benefits, recruitment, selection, and legal compliance. Prior to joining SMG, Suzanne held senior human resources positions, both domestic and abroad, at Fortune 500 companies. She received her professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management in 1994 and her Certified Staffing Professional accreditation from the American Staffing Association. Academically, she holds a B.S. in business administration from San Jose State University and an MBA from Thomas More College. Her long-standing professional certifications and academic credentials demonstrate Suzanne’s commitment to excellence in human resources.

Forrest
Wagner

Chief Technology Officer,
Staffmark Group

Forrest is responsible for building and sustaining the company’s technology infrastructure, applications, and business processes to support recruiting, staffing, and operations. As Chief Technology Officer, he drives innovation by identifying and delivering technology solutions that create business value and exceptional experiences for clients and employees alike, equipping Staffmark Group for continued success.

Full Bio

Leveraging over two decades of experience in information technology, Forrest is responsible for building and sustaining SMG’s technology infrastructure, applications, and business processes to support recruiting, staffing, and operations. His extensive background spans web design, custom application development, database design, infrastructure maintenance and support, and project management. As CTO, Forrest drives innovation by identifying and delivering technology solutions that create business value and exceptional experiences for clients and employees alike. His technical expertise and strategic vision equip SMG for continued success. Forrest holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Cincinnati.

Liza
Palermo

Chief Experience & Marketing
Officer (CXMO), Staffmark Group

As a member of the executive committee and serving as CXMO, Palermo oversees brand and growth marketing, research and insights, digital experience, and communications. In her role, she leads transformative data-driven marketing strategies that improve customer experience, drive revenue growth, and differentiate the Staffmark Group family of brands as mavericks within the industry.

Full Bio

As a member of the executive committee, Palermo oversees brand and growth marketing, research and insights, digital experience, and communications. In her role, she leads transformative data-driven marketing strategies that improve the customer experience, drive profitable revenue growth, and differentiate the Staffmark Group family of brands as mavericks within the industry. Prior to Staffmark Group, Palermo held key roles at EmployBridge, including Vice President of Marketing and Talent Acquisition, where she launched a forward-looking brand strategy that drove record-breaking candidate growth and accelerated the company’s digital transformation. She also served as Vice President of Global Marketing at SFN Group where she played an instrumental role in integrating over 30 acquisitions, boosting revenues from $500 million to $4 billion in the U.S. and Europe, and introduced groundbreaking thought leadership research. As co-founder of a successful marketing consultancy, she fueled growth for start-ups and mature organizations alike and pioneered a proprietary product that boosted SEO and applicant flow by 35% for staffing clients. Palermo holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Boston University, where she graduated magna cum laude. She resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL with her husband and three adult children.

Barbara
Simmer

Executive Vice President,
Staffmark

As Executive Vice President, Barbara works closely with the senior leadership team to improve sales, operations, and service delivery across Staffmark’s Staffing, Enterprise, and Specialty business units. She also led the collaboration between Staffmark and sister company Indeed Flex to help capitalize on the latest innovation impacting the industry – platforms.

Full Bio

As Executive Vice President of Staffmark, Barbara is responsible for leading the strategic vision for Staffmark’s commercial staffing operations. She leverages 20+ years of experience in staffing and recruiting, including previously leading the collaboration between Staffmark and sister company Indeed Flex, to help capitalize on the latest innovation impacting the industry – platforms. She also works closely with the senior leadership team to improve sales, operations, and service delivery across Staffmark’s Staffing, Enterprise, and Specialty business units. Since joining Staffmark in 2015, Barbara has served in a variety of management and leadership roles, including, regional director, regional vice president and most recently senior vice president. Prior, she held sales and leadership positions at other organizations, including Kelly Services and Snelling Staffing Services.

Barbara has served as a mentor to other up and coming leaders in our industry through the ASA Mentorship Program and has been a guest speaker for other professional organizations on industry topics. She was named to the Staffing Industry Analyst’s 2023 Global Power 150 Women in Staffing list. She holds a bachelor’s degree with dual majors in human resources and change management from Ottawa University, Ottawa, Kansas.

Clara
Davis

Senior Vice President, Finance/Group Controller, Staffmark Group

In her role as SVP of finance, Clara is responsible for all aspects of accounting operations, overseeing all transactions related to general ledger, receivables, payables, and financial reporting, ensuring all records are maintained in accordance with GAAP. She also oversees the treasury functions of the organization, along with credit, purchasing, and real estate.

Full Bio

With over two decades of experience in the staffing industry, Clara has previously served as VP of administration and SVP of finance. Clara holds an MBA and bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University.

Nina
Franco

Senior Vice President, Revenue Performance, Staffmark

As Senior Vice President of Revenue Performance, Nina develops next-generation go-to-market strategies, sales training programs, and sales management best practices. As a result-driven executive with progressive experience in recruiting, sales, and change management, she is passionate about identifying, hiring, training, and motivating to build a cohesive and highly efficient team.

Full Bio

Nina is a results-driven executive with more than 15 years of progressive experience in recruiting, sales, and change management at all levels. As Senior Vice President of Revenue Performance, she develops next-generation go-to-market strategies, sales training programs, and sales management best practices. Prior to her current role, Nina served as Regional Vice President where she was responsible for growing one of the company’s largest U.S. regions.

Before joining Staffmark, Nina held numerous leadership positions at some of the largest staffing firms in the country, including Randstad and Adecco. She has received several honors and awards, including a 40 under 40 staffing nominee by Staffing Industry Analysts and her Commercial region was the top performing in 2022.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and business administration from the University of Albany. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time outdoors, and making memories with her family. She has also been actively involved in the community, serving as a Sunday school teacher for five years and is currently the Assistant VP of New Members for the National Charity League.

John
Koberg

Senior Vice President, Staffing Services, Staffmark

In his role as Senior Vice President of Staffing Services, John leads the strategic direction and operational execution for the company’s commercial staffing business unit. Collaborating closely with the senior leadership team, he drives growth initiatives and ensures the seamless delivery of top-tier staffing solutions across a wide range of industries.

Full Bio

John has over 30 years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry and currently serves as the Senior Vice President of Staffing Services. In his role, he leads the strategic direction and operational execution for the company’s commercial staffing business unit. Collaborating closely with the senior leadership team, he drives growth initiatives and ensures the seamless delivery of top-tier staffing solutions across a wide range of industries. John’s expertise in sales, talent acquisition, workforce planning, and operational excellence has been pivotal in building high-performing teams and executing large-scale projects that significantly enhance client satisfaction and retention. His ability to forge strong relationships with both internal teams and a broad client base has been a key factor in the ongoing success and expansion of the company’s commercial operations. Over the years, John has held numerous positions, from Account Manager, Onsite Supervisor and Manager, Account Executive, Branch Manager, Operations Manager, Region Director, and Region Vice President.

Prior to joining us, John served in management and leadership roles at several leading staffing firms, including Vice President of Staffing for ACT 1 Group, Area Vice President with Adecco, and District Manager at Kelly Services. His demonstrated history of working in the staffing and recruiting industry makes him an invaluable leader, ensuring we deliver exceptional service delivery to our clients.

John holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Arizona State University.

Eric
Manning

Senior Vice President, Technology & Professional Services

As SVP of the technical and professional services team, Eric ensures our clients’ competitive success by providing highly skilled talent and talent services within the information technology, engineering, finance, and professional placement specialties. He has a genuine passion for helping clients thrive by crafting innovative solutions to meet their specific needs.

Full Bio

As SVP of technical and professional services team, Eric is responsible for ensuring our clients’ competitive success by providing highly skilled talent and talent services within the information technology, engineering, finance, and professional placement specialties across North America. Throughout his career, Eric has been driven by a genuine passion for helping clients thrive by crafting innovative solutions to meet their specific needs. He joined Staffmark Group in 2020 to lead the Professional Services group, where he has made a significant impact with his experience and strategic vision.

In his more than two decades in the staffing industry, he has held a diverse range of roles, and his experiences as a recruiter, account executive, branch/regional management, RVP, and Strategic/Global Programs VP has equipped him with invaluable insights into the industry and a unique understanding of what it takes to succeed.
Eric plays a pivotal role in shaping Staffmark Group’s market strategy, ensuring client retention, and overseeing the seamless deployment of cutting-edge solutions to ensure every client achieves their desired outcomes.

Eric attended Webber International University and earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management

Melissa
Bowman-Miller

Senior Vice President, Risk Management, Staffmark Group

As Senior Vice President of risk management, Melissa is responsible for property and liability insurance, safety, and workers’ compensation claims management, with past responsibilities including employment screening and unemployment. Her successful oversight of these areas has been integral to the organization’s success. She is also a national speaker on staffing and risk-related topics.

Full Bio

As SVP of risk management, Melissa is responsible for property and liability insurance, safety, and workers’ compensation claims management, with past responsibilities including employment screening and unemployment. She has nearly three decades of staffing and risk management experience, and her successful oversight of these areas has been integral to the organization’s success. Melissa holds a M.S. from Clemson University in industrial/organizational psychology and a Certified Staffing Professional designation from the American Staffing Association (ASA). She has been published in various risk and staffing periodicals and is a national and regional speaker on staffing and risk-related topics. Melissa is a Risk Insurance Management Society (RIMS) Board member, RIMS National Delegate, past President of the Ohio River Valley Chapter of RIMS, and past Chair of the ASA Workers’ Compensation Committee.

Travis
Smuckler

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Staffmark Group

Full Bio

As Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Travis oversees the company’s legal team and provides strategic leadership on legal, risk, and compliance matters. He works closely with executive management and the CEO to ensure the company’s legal strategies support its broader business objectives and safeguards its people, clients, and operations. Travis is an accomplished attorney with 15 years of experience spanning private practice and in-house roles. Before joining Staffmark Group, he led U.S. Commercial Legal for The Adecco Group, where he navigated a broad spectrum of legal matters, including employment law, privacy, and commercial agreements. His expertise is matched by his commitment to fostering strong business partnerships—he believes that legal strategies must align with business goals to drive real success, and he’s not afraid to get in the trenches to make that happen. Travis is a proud alumnus of the University of Tennessee, where he earned both his undergraduate degree and law degree.

Karen
Waldrop

Senior Vice President
Workforce Solutions, Staffmark

Full Bio

With an unwavering dedication to understanding clients’ operational needs, Karen spearheads the development of Onsite partnerships and performance management solutions throughout the U.S. Her and her team’s expertise lies in crafting comprehensive service plans and implementing tailored solutions for Onsite staffing programs that span from 50 talented individuals to over 2,500. She has successfully overseen the establishment of 240+ Onsites and performance management/engineered labor programs, including everything from large-scale recruiting strategies to effective onboarding and retention tactics.

Prior to joining Staffmark as Senior Vice President of Workforce Solutions, Karen served as Partnership Process Manager for AccuStaff, which was acquired by Randstad. There she specialized in Onsite operations, supporting the field with implementations, sales, and operational improvements.

An avid traveler and concert enthusiast, Karen enjoys beach time, spending quality time with family – including rescue dog, Rudy. She is also active in her local church, rescue organizations, and volunteers in her community.

Trailblazers, Visionaries, Game-changers

Trailblazers, Visionaries, Game-changers

Stacey
Lane

Chief Executive Officer, President, Staffmark Group