Team

Mike Santos

Vice President, Business Development and New Ventures

With more than 15 years of staffing industry expertise, Mike Santos' role as vice president of business development and new ventures at Eplica, Inc. includes responsibilities such as strategy and business development, managing alliance partners, identifying new marketing channels, developing and testing new product offerings, and mentoring minority-owned small businesses through SBA's Mentor Protégé program.

Formerly chief financial officer of Eplica, Mike is intimately familiar with key economic drivers and knows how to structure a transaction to yield maximum client value. Mike has a solid background in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and has successfully completed multiple M&As within the staffing industry-on both the purchase and selling side. During his four years with Eplica, Mike also founded and nurtured Employer Services, an Eplica payrolling subsidiary company, generating $80 million in annual sales after its third year.

Prior to Eplica, Mike was vice president of finance for The TriStaff Group, a full-service staffing and executive search firm headquartered in San Diego, Calif. There, he implemented long-term customer service strategies to improve candidate and employee retention, managed the IT infrastructure and software applications to optimize operations efficiency and was a critical component of the management team when he and others successfully developed five corporations into seven business lines.

Mike serves as secretary for the San Diego chapter of California Staffing Professionals and is a member of the Texas Staffing Association. He holds a bachelor's in finance from San Diego State University, and along with graduate work in accounting, Mike earned a CPA title in the state of California.

In his spare time, Mike spends time with his family, surfs La Jolla Shores, plays music and is currently training for a triathlon.

Seth Stein

Vice President, Business Development

As vice president of business development at Eplica, Seth Stein is responsible for creating and implementing strategies for the advancement of Eplica clients. This includes consulting with businesses nationwide about services that impact the bottom line of clients, while building long-term, mutually beneficial business relationships.

Seth’s widespread knowledge of the staffing industry brings a special perspective to his role at Eplica. Having served as an executive vice president of a $40 million division of a top 100 staffing business, Seth understands the complexities of staffing companies and the importance that creativity plays in the success of this special type of endeavor.

With more than 10 years in the staffing industry, Seth has extensive experience in both sales and operations, including the development and maintenance of on-site accounts. Seth's experience executing long-term strategies in business development, technology, workers' compensation and the expansion of business lines helps keep companies competitive and profitable.

Seth holds a master’s in executive leadership from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s in communications from The George Washington University.

Deborah Mings

Chief Financial Officer

Deborah Mings' role as chief financial officer entails management of all accounting and finance, benefits, workers' compensation and safety for Eplica, Inc.

Previously, Deborah had a similar role with Nelson Staffing, a Northern California-based independent staffing company where she worked for nine years.

Deborah is a frequent guest speaker on panels that address captive insurance, risk management and workers' compensation. She holds a bachelor's in business administration with a concentration in accounting and a minor in economics from San Jose State University and has also earned a CPA title in the state of California.

Deborah is also CFO for Secure Talent, Inc., a 1099 compliance subsidiary company of Eplica.

E. Mark Hanna

General Counsel

As general counsel for Eplica, Inc., Mark Hanna advises senior managers and staff on labor and employment law matters. Additional responsibilities include drafting client agreements and staff contracts, as well as conducting employment law seminars and supervisor training.

Mark was previously employed with a labor and employment law firm for five years in Central California, where he handled a wide variety of litigated matters for the firm, including discrimination cases, wrongful discharge actions, sexual harassment claims, and wage and hour lawsuits in state and federal courts.

Mark's employment law expertise secured him a weekly spot on a Fresno-based FOX news affiliate, presenting question-and-answer sessions on a recurring business segment. He is a contributor on the topic of employment law to a Purdue University textbook and frequently leads roundtable sessions regarding employment law matters.

Mark earned a Juris Doctor from the California Western School of Law in San Diego, an MBA in finance from Bentley College in Boston, Mass., and a Bachelor of Science from Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H. He is an active member of the American Corporate Counsel Association and the American Bar Association.

Mark also serves as general counsel for Eplica's 1099 compliance subsidiary company, Secure Talent, Inc.

Nicole Knox

Director of Marketing-Communications

As director of marketing-communications, Nicole Robbins oversees all marketing, advertising and public relations efforts for Eplica, Inc. Nicole's career background is comprised of consumer and B2B marketing strategy experience, complemented by a strong client services approach.

Prior to Eplica, Nicole served as director of marketing and campaigns for the international non-profit Purpose Driven Ministries, where she led comprehensive marketing efforts for resources, conferences and campaigns that served leaders and affiliate organizations worldwide.

Nicole's 10-year career in travel and hospitality includes six years with the Walt Disney Company in the role of marketing and product development manager. Leading a team of 10, Nicole's primary responsibilities were to create and market vacation packages, including the development of exclusive programs for alliance marketing partners, such as American Express and AAA Vacations.

Nicole earned a bachelor's in public relations and marketing from Texas Tech University, where she was an active member in the Public Relations Student Society of America. Community outreach includes volunteering for more than 10 years with the American Cancer Society, participating in relief efforts for Hurricane Katrina and coaching international mission teams serving Nigeria and other countries around the world. Nicole currently serves as board member of a non-profit teen outreach program.

Nicole is also director of marketing for the 1099 compliance firm, Secure Talent, Inc.-a subsidiary company of Eplica.

Katherine Duru

Director of Corporate Operations

Joining the company upon its establishment in 2003, Katherine Duru is director of corporate operations at Eplica, Inc. Primary responsibilities include managing operational audits for client organizations and directing the on-boarding program for new employees.

With more than 20 years of staffing experience, Katherine's career is comprised of senior-level positions at companies such as The Eastridge Group of Staffing Companies, where she held multiple executive-level roles. Katherine also worked 11 years in branch operation and sales at the national staffing company, Spherion.

Katherine leads ongoing training programs for client companies, speaking on her area of expertise, recruiting and screening. She frequently gives presentations during visits from colleagues of a corporate affiliation program that works to expand understanding between American and Middle Eastern cultures by inviting professionals from the Middle East to tour United States businesses.

Katherine holds a bachelor's in history from the University of California, Berkeley, and is an avid volunteer at San Diego City Schools, where she teaches fine arts to students at the elementary level. Katherine has also volunteered as an advisor for the San Diego State University sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta.