Leadership
Get to know the QPS family.
Executives
Scott Mayer
Founder & Executive Chair of the Board
Category: Executive, Founder, Website Display
Scott A. Mayer, Executive Chair of the Board, launched QPS Employment Group in 1985 from a one-room office in the Milwaukee suburb of Hales Corners. Under Scott's leadership, QPS has grown from one office and two employees to 50+ branches across six states. With an internal staff of nearly 400 and an Associate Employee roster that numbers in the thousands, QPS is today one of the largest independently owned staffing firms in the region.
An avid motorsports enthusiast, Scott has run in the 24 Hours of Daytona and driven in the Indy Racing League. He is a past President of the Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services and is a Board Member of both the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce and Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce.
… Read MoreRyan Festerling
President & Chief Executive Officer
Category: Executive, Website Display
Hired in June 2019, Ryan serves as President & Chief Executive Officer for QPS.
Ryan has over 20 years of experience from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl’s Department Store where he held various leadership roles rising to the position of executive vice president and head of human resources.
Ryan has a track record of utilizing technology to enhance the candidate experience while improving overall efficiencies. He has a drive for building cohesive teams and individuals that are passionate about the work they do. Finally, he loves to use compelling data to tell stories on how to create an engaged workforce for leaders across industries.
Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He also serves on the board of directors at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, as well as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.
Ryan lives in Pewaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, two daughters and a yellow lab named "Lucy" that only listens sometimes. He enjoys doing just about anything outside as well as being a proud "dance dad."
… Read MoreKeith Jochims
Chief Financial Officer
Category: Executive, Website Display
Hired in 2018, Keith Jochims came to QPS with over 20 years of financial and accounting experience. Prior to joining QPS, Keith was the chief financial officer with Encore Repair in East Dundee, IL which specialized in the remanufacturing of electronics. Prior to Encore, Keith held leadership roles at Jason Industries, GE Healthcare, and Dynatect Manufacturing, and started his career with Ernst & Young in the audit and business advisory services practice.
"As a financial leader, I’m passionate about thoroughly understanding our business and industry to help our company and employees achieve both their professional and personal goals.”
Keith is a CPA and a member of both the American and Wisconsin Institutes of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in accounting from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Keith is married with 3 children, has a dog named Josie and lives in Muskego. In his free time, he enjoys spending time outdoors and cheering on his children in their respective sports.
Jeri Meyers
Executive Vice President of Sales
Category: Executive, Website Display
In nearly three decades with QPS, Jeri’s natural ability to build lasting and trusting relationships has allowed her to rise from a sales representative to Executive Vice President of Sales. She’s been involved in every aspect of QPS’ book of business since starting in 1996. She has made a positive impact not just on QPS and her clients, but on the lives of the people she’s helped place while starting and growing QPS’ Professional division.
A graduate of University of Wisconsin - Madison, Jeri is also a member of ROW - Recruiters of Wisconsin, and also serves on the board of NAPS - the National Association of Personnel Services and Wisconsin Association of Staffing Services.
Jeri, along with her husband Marty, spend their spare time fishing, camping, gardening, and hanging out with their 5 children. She also has two dogs that love to take her for a walk.
… Read MoreLisa Cooney
Executive Vice President of Field Operations
Category: Executive, Website Display
Lisa Cooney is executive vice president of field operations and oversees operations in all of QPS’ 50+ locations.
Lisa has over 25 years of experience in the staffing industry, starting her staffing career in a sales representative role for Spherion. Over the years, she has accepted roles with increased responsibility having experienced both operations and sales responsibilities before leaving the company in 2005.
Lisa then joined EmployBridge as Regional President for the South-Central Region and most recently served in a senior vice president role, Sales Excellence.
She currently serves on the American Staffing Association's Women in Leadership Council.
Lisa and her husband Dennis love to cook, travel, kayak and most of all, hike around Austin, Texas with their lab, Eli.
… Read MoreDawn Simmerman
Vice President of Human Resources
Category: Executive, Website Display
Dawn joined the QPS team in December of 2021, is our Vice President of Human Resources and is also a member of the Executive Team at QPS. A dynamic and experienced HR executive with over 15 years of experience in the field, Dawn has dedicated her career to creating positive employee experiences and driving organizational success through effective human resources strategies.
Outside of work, Dawn enjoys all things outdoors especially 4 wheeling with her teenage son. Her family is also very active in animal rescue.
… Read MoreLeadership
Kelly Ramirez
Vice President of Shared Services & Business Segment Finance
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Since beginning her staffing career as a Placement Coordinator at QPS’ Milwaukee location, Kelly has steadily progressed her career in operational roles including that of Regional Vice President of Wisconsin branches.
As Vice President of Shared Services & Business Segment Finance, Kelly leads the Shared Services and Accounting Teams. Known for her ability to take ideas from inception to execution, by her process-driven, scalable, and collaborative approach, she has been instrumental in supporting the development of our virtual recruiting teams, our growth playbook, and is highly involved in the overall strategic growth plan at QPS.
Kelly enjoys spending time working out, camping with her entire family, watching her daughter compete in gymnastics and soccer, and taking hikes with her rescue dog, Winter.
… Read MoreJen Wilken
Vice President of Strategic Technology
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Jen Wilken has over 20 years of experience in the staffing industry. As Vice President of Strategic Technology, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise in aligning technology solutions with business goals, ensuring efficient operations, and driving innovation.
Throughout her career at QPS, Jen has successfully led cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration and maximizing productivity. Jen has exceptional leadership skills, coupled with her ability to effectively communicate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
With her strategic mindset and commitment to continuous improvement, Jen has played a pivotal role in driving digital transformation initiatives as QPS continues to invest in their technology stack.
Jen has her bachelor’s degree from Miami University and her MBA from the University of Maryland. In her free time, Jen paddles competitively on dragon boat and outrigger teams and enjoys the shopping, nature, and culture the Portland area provides.
… Read MoreNick Ratelis
Vice President of Marketing
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Nick brings more than 20 years of executive-level experience in marketing and customer loyalty. He has a passion for successfully building teams to compete in complex business environments, while maintaining a high level of collaboration with both the sales and operations teams to develop innovative broad and local candidate acquisition methodologies.
Additionally, Nick is passionate about data and insights, leveraging the information and tools available to develop the right message and collateral to attract and retain clients. His experience continues to help build brand recognition in both established and new markets, as we continue to grow our footprint.
Outside of QPS, Nick’s interests include watching his teenage children compete in sports, working out, and traveling with his wife, Erin.
… Read MoreTony Del Preto
Senior Vice President of Accelerate
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Tony came to Accelerate with over 20 years of experience in staffing sales, strategy, recruiting, and operations with two of the largest staffing organizations in the U.S. He has a proven track record of delivering results and creating innovative service platforms, which will strengthen the Accelerate team as a leader in the industry. Tony has a passion for impacting those around him and watching his peers obtain both their personal and professional goals.
In his free time he enjoys spending time with his family, which involves watching his children play competitive sports and coaching his boys in both soccer and basketball. Tony is very involved with the local community by serving as a Commissioner at the park district and co-founding a local travel soccer program. He is always looking for ways to meet new people, build relationships and have fun with those around him.
… Read MoreJessica Krause
Vice President of Corporate Finance
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Jessica has been in accounting and finance for over 20 years. Her experience in strategic financial planning, risk management, budgeting/forecasting, and financial analytics strengthens QPS' commitment to accounting and finance excellence. She is integral to making sound financial decisions and is committed to streamlining processes and enhancing accuracy through process optimization, integration of new technology, standardization, controls, and financial reporting.
… Read MoreJackie Ishaya
Regional Vice President
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Jackie Ishaya is an accomplished staffing professional with nearly 20 years of experience in the industry.
She has made it a priority to establish and maintain strong relationships with clients and candidates alike. Jackie understands that effective staffing is not just about filling open positions, but about building long-term partnerships with organizations and individuals.
She has worked with organizations of all sizes, from small startups to large corporations and takes the time to understand their unique needs and develop tailored staffing strategies to meet them.
Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a commitment to empowering her team members to reach their full potential and driving organizational success through effective leadership. Her focus on collaboration, communication, and continuous learning has made her a respected and effective leader in the staffing industry.
When she's not working, she enjoys cooking, Netflixing, and spending time with her family.
… Read MoreRhonda Torres
Regional Vice President
Category: Leadership, Website Display
As Regional Vice President of Operations for Wisconsin, Rhonda has over 20 years of experience in the staffing industry. Rhonda is an expert in identifying top talent and building strong internal teams that deliver results. Rhonda has a strong financial acumen and has helped numerous organizations optimize their staffing budgets while maintaining high levels of performance. In addition, Rhonda has a proven track record of building lasting relationships with clients and prospects and is known for her ability to connect with people and build trust.
Rhonda is deeply committed to the community and has strong ties to local organizations. Rhonda is married to her husband Marty and is the proud mother of two grown children. She enjoys visiting her family and spending quality time with them. Rhonda is a sports enthusiast who enjoys staying active and participating in a variety of athletic activities.
… Read MoreNicole Williams
Regional Vice President
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Nicole has been with QPS since 2013. During this time, she has become very passionate about helping companies grow and succeed. She has developed strong relationships with her clients while being their consultant partner on staffing. She strives to be the best resource for employers in the community on both recruitment and retention.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Wausau Region Chamber of Commerce.
Before coming to QPS. Nicole was a business owner as an independent insurance agent. She is a veteran of the United States Army having served for 8 years, as well as a graduate of UW Oshkosh with a degree in Business and Finance.
Much of her time is spent with her family. She is married with two girls at home and enjoys gardening, doing home improvements, and maintaining their homestead. Her extra free time is spent reading, being active outside, fishing, and traveling.
… Read MoreScott Olson
Regional Vice President
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Scott Olson is a leader with more than 22 years of experience in the staffing and recruiting industry. He has successfully led and managed teams of recruiters, account managers, and business development professionals across various sectors and regions. He has a proven track record of delivering high-quality talent solutions to clients, exceeding revenue targets, and fostering long-term relationships with stakeholders.
Scott is passionate about helping people find their ideal career paths and creating a positive impact on the workforce. He is also committed to continuous learning and professional development, as well as mentoring and coaching others in the industry. He is currently a Regional Vice President, where he helps to oversee the strategic direction of the region.
… Read MoreTrisha Lueck
Regional Director
Category: Leadership, Website Display
With more than 15 years in staffing and over 25 in customer service, Trisha is a firm believer that the key to success is communication. Her commitment to her clients and her team are what continue to ignite her passion for the staffing world.
With an impressive career spanning over two decades, Trisha has consistently demonstrated a passion for sales excellence, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire teams to achieve extraordinary results.
Whether it’s the chaos at home with her two boys, two dogs, and ornery husband or filling that last minute client request with her team—Trisha does it with a smile and a servant’s heart.
… Read MoreMatt Zadeh
Regional Director
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Matt came to QPS with 12 years of management experience in hospitality and driver staffing industries. He loves the challenge of building and developing great teams, as well as building relationships with business partners.
In his spare time, he can be found in the kitchen, on the golf course, or enjoying time with his wife, three kids, and two dogs. GO CHIEFS!
… Read MoreKelby McElroy
Regional Director
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Kelby has over 15 years of experience in the staffing industry. During that time, he has been known for going above and beyond for customers, associate employees, and his internal team. He strives for excellence and looks forward to navigating difficulties in recruitment/retention. This is done by building lasting partnerships with customers, associates, and amongst the community.
Before QPS, Kelby was a training specialist for Midwest Airlines where he helped several employees grow in their careers. He has taken this approach in his leadership style and continues to use it today.
Kelby and his wife, Melissa, love to watch the Green Bay Packers play football on Sundays, travel, boating, and enjoy the small things in life—including their Irish Doodle, Curly.
… Read MoreEmmanuel Beltran
Regional Director
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Emmanuel has more than 16 years of experience in the staffing industry, helping the businesses in his territory grow exponentially. He provides comprehensive strategies and solutions to help solve the problems his customers face and is proactive at identifying issues before they arise. Emmanuel is very passionate about developing the people he partners with and enjoys growing alongside them.
He loves spending the time raising his daughters and is very supportive about their passions.
… Read MoreJohn Lampe III
Director of Shared Services
Category: Leadership, Website Display
John has been with QPS since 2005. He started as a skilled recruiter and then a Branch Manager before helping to create and manage “The Experience Center” (TEC), which is QPS’ call center. As Director of Shared Services, John oversees TEC, the remote recruiting team, Safety, Workers’ Compensation, Unemployment, Compliance, and our Rideshare Program. John is an adept people leader who creates loyalty from his team and is able to execute plans, process, and strategy at an exceptionally high level. He is extremely passionate about creating the best possible experience for all, helping to create efficiencies, while placing the right work in the right places.
John is married with two children and a dog. In his spare time, he enjoys doing anything outside, cooking, watching live sporting events, golfing, and spending time with his two daughters.
… Read MoreDan Burnett
Director of Talent Development
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Since joining QPS in 2020, Dan has been expanding continuous learning and development opportunities that impact the company’s bottom line. A workplace learning professional with over 20 years of experience, he enjoys helping others realize potential and experience success.
Dan has a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in management and leadership. He is the author of the book “I Am CXO, Now What? A Job Description for Living a Life of Purpose and Meaning.” Westbow Press, 2017.
Dan and his wife, Denise, have two grown children and reside in Oconomowoc, WI.
… Read MoreChris MacLean
Director of Sales
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Chris is passionate about matching talent to excellent employers. He works to positively impact companies, operations, and bottom lines. Chris partners with Wisconsin area companies to provide staffing solutions from the production floor to the C Suite. He brings more than 16 years of experience working with Wisconsin businesses to help increase revenue and positively impact operations. Chris possesses a strategic mindset and utilizes data-driven insights to develop and execute effective sales strategies.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, who are very active in sports and the arts. Chris used to work in professional baseball and currently coaches youth baseball. He also owns a baseball/softball academy. He’s been to 25 out of the 30 MLB stadiums and has plans to visit the last 5 very soon.
… Read MoreGreg Brey
Director of Sales
Category: Leadership, Website Display
Greg has 17 years of experience in Commercial/Light Industrial Staffing. Greg is a dedicated staffing professional with a passion for operational delivery and growth. He is resilient in maintaining client relationships and delivering unparalleled service in all that he does. What is most rewarding to Greg is the fact that each day he gets to connect people to opportunities and be in the service of others. Greg is experienced in providing unique staffing solutions that drive productivity and build strong lasting partnerships.
Outside of work you can find Greg on the golf course, at a sporting event, or enjoying the local restaurant scene. He also enjoys traveling with family and is especially fond of exploring various locations in Mexico.
… Read MoreTake Your Search to the Next Level.
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Ryan Festerling
President & Chief Executive Officer
: Executive, Website Display
Hired in June 2019, Ryan serves as President & Chief Executive Officer for QPS.
Ryan has over 20 years of experience from Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based Kohl’s Department Store where he held various leadership roles rising to the position of executive vice president and head of human resources.
Ryan has a track record of utilizing technology to enhance the candidate experience while improving overall efficiencies. He has a drive for building cohesive teams and individuals that are passionate about the work they do. Finally, he loves to use compelling data to tell stories on how to create an engaged workforce for leaders across industries.
Ryan earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He also serves on the board of directors at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, as well as the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation.
Ryan lives in Pewaukee, Wisconsin with his wife, two daughters and a yellow lab named "Lucy" that only listens sometimes. He enjoys doing just about anything outside as well as being a proud "dance dad."