Secure Talent Team
Jeff Phelps
President and Founder
As president and founder, Jeff Phelps brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to Secure Talent. With more than 10 million independent contractors providing services in the U.S., and tremendous scrutiny by legislators and government agencies regarding their use, Jeff recognized the need and opportunity to provide simplified compliance and management solutions to improve the work life of business professionals.
Prior to his role at Secure Talent, Jeff was president of WorkforceLogic/ABE Services, one of The Nelson Family of Companies, where he spearheaded the expansion of the company throughout the U.S. and into six Canadian provinces. During his tenure, he championed the company to unprecedented growth and profitability. Jeff held additional executive positions with The Nelson Family of Companies, including leading Accountants Plus (now Nelson & Associates) and heading the human resources organization that served each of the companies within The Nelson Family. Jeff was also a career executive at Pacific Bell (now AT&T), responsible for an organization representing a revenue stream of more than $3 billion annually.
As an industry expert, Jeff conducts employment law seminars and has been published in numerous periodicals addressing risks associated with the misclassification of independent contractors and co-employment and how to mitigate these risks. Jeff also appeared on CNN Financial Network's "Maverick of the Morning" to address extreme financial risks American businesses face with growing utilization of independent contractors.
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E. Mark Hanna
General Counsel
As general counsel for Secure Talent, 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.
Previously, Mark was 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 a question-and-answer session 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 acts as general counsel for Secure Talent's parent company,
Eplica, Inc.
Deborah Mings
Chief Financial Officer
Deborah Mings' role as chief financial officer entails management of all finance, employee benefits, Workers' Compensation and safety for Secure Talent.
Previously, Deborah was CFO for 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 also serves as CFO for
Eplica, Inc., Secure Talent's parent company.
Nicole Robbins
Director of Marketing-Communications
As director of marketing-communications, Nicole Robbins oversees all marketing, advertising and public relations efforts for Secure Talent. Nicole's career background is comprised of consumer and B2B marketing strategy, complemented by a strong client services approach.
Prior to Secure Talent, Nicole worked 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 Secure Talent's parent company,
Eplica, Inc.
Kay Ring
Business Development Managing Director
Kay Ring joins Secure Talent with eight years in contingent workforce management and nearly 20 years in business development and sales. As business development managing director for Secure Talent, Kay is responsible for new client acquisition and development.
Prior to joining Secure Talent, Kay was business development manager for Collabrus Inc., where she developed and executed multiple campaigns and events that grew business prospects. Previous to that, Kay was a sales executive at WorkforceLogic/ABE Services. There, she exceeded revenue goals annually through new business and increased revenue by nearly $100 million in four years.
Other experience includes account executive and management in the technology industry, where she served multiple leadership roles for computer hardware and software companies, IT recruitment and IT services.
Kay began her education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and continued it in California at the University of Phoenix, where she graduated with honors with a bachelor’s in business management. As a leader in her industry, Kay has also garnered several employer-awarded honors for exceptional performance.
Aaron Chavez
Senior Compliance Analyst
As senior compliance analyst, Aaron Chavez brings nearly a decade of 1099 compliance and risk mitigation expertise to his role at Secure Talent. Primary responsibilities consist of independent contractor evaluations, including management and implementation of Secure Talent’s SPECS system, and serving as consultant to clients on current worker classification trends and legislation.
Prior to joining Secure Talent, Aaron was compliance manager for WorkforceLogic/ABE Services where he performed more than 2,000 independent contractor evaluations for numerous Fortune 500 companies. In this role, Aaron’s successful 1099 compliance processes earned him a pristine record in which none of his recommendations were ever overturned during his eight years with the company.
Additional career experience includes several years at Nelson Staffing, recruiting for positions in industries such as accounting, finance, light industrial and technical.
During the span of his career, Aaron has garnered four employer-awarded honors for outstanding professional achievement within his roles. Aaron holds a bachelor’s in management from Sonoma State University.