Buddy brings over 35 years of business expertise to our clients. For twelve years, he led a national facilities services company with responsibility for K-12 schools and higher education operations across the United States. Buddy delivered results to customers, resulting in high customer satisfaction and company growth with average annual revenues that increased, on average, by 24% per year over eleven years. He founded Southern Building Service in the mid-nineties and served as President of that organization. The company enjoyed exponential growth, again with very high customer satisfaction and references. Buddy and the ESS executive team continue to have a “pioneering” attitude. Buddy graduated from the University of Tennessee with honors and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration.

With over 15 years of experience in K-12 operations, Steve joined the ESS team in February 2017.  He has successfully managed education based operations in excess of $100 million throughout the nation. Steve is accountable for ensuring quality operations and customer centered programs for each and every ESS client.

Steve received his Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Clemson University in 2000 and his Master of Business Administration from Charleston Southern University in 2004. Steve resides in the Charleston, SC area with his wife and children.

John DeVall has 22 years of accounting experience in the service industry. He began his career with Associated Building Services as Senior Accountant and expanded his role to Controller of a subsidiary company. In 2005, John joined GCA Education Division to become the Division Controller. He was an integral part of a management team that increased revenue and EBITDA double digits each year from 2005 to 2014. John oversees all of ESS' financial processes and procedures. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Stephen F. Austin State University.

Bernie Decker brings over 25 years of human resources experience to ESS. His expertise includes recruiting, hiring, training and development, benefits administration, and union negotiations. He joined ESS after spending twelve years previously with an education services provider where he served as Vice President of Human Resources and Training. His current responsibilities include recruiting, hiring, training of management, recruiters, teachers and support staff, as well as, administration of benefit plans, employee relations, training and employee development. Bernie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Relations from LeMoyne College, Syracuse, New York. He has furthered his education through various American Society for Training and Development seminars and attended Wimberly Lawson Labor Law Seminars for eleven years.

Ron Glisk has more than 25 years of sales and sales management experience. Prior to joining ESS, Ron was EVP of Sales and Marketing for Xanitos, Inc., a hospital housekeeping specialist firm. Before joining Xanitos, Ron was SVP of Sales and Marketing for GCA Education Services and, prior to that, SVP of Sales and Marketing for GCA at the corporate level. Ron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University.

Andy knows the inner workings of school systems – knowledge that helps ESS better-serve clients. He joined the company with more than sixteen years of experience directing financial affairs as a school business administrator for public school districts. He leads a multi-state team in performing day-to-day functions necessary for the company’s success.  Andy previously served as school business administrator for Haddonfield Public School District, New Jersey and Gloucester County Special Services School District in Sewell, New Jersey. He also served as Chief Financial Officer of Buhl Electric, Inc. in Sterling, Virginia. He is a member of the International Association of School Business Officials and the New Jersey Association of School Business Officials and serves on the board for the East Coast Migrant Head Start Project. Andy holds a bachelor’s degree from Elon University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Rowan University. 

Thomas Gifford has 30 years of experience in facility management and operations. He has efficiently managed sales in the excess of $120 million annually in K-12 and higher educational facilities. His responsibilities have included management for operations and quality services throughout the Southwest. Thomas received his Bachelor of Science in Education in 1987 at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tennessee. He holds a Registered Building Service Manager designation from the Building Service Contractors’ Association International. Thomas oversees all of ESS' operations in Texas.

In 1970, Acme Building Maintenance was founded by Henry Sanchez in San Jose, California, the heart of the soon to be Silicon Valley. Rick Sanchez began his career with Acme during his high school years and after graduation from college, joined his father’s firm on a full-time basis. Acme grew to be the premier facilities services company in Northern California and employed more than 2,000 individuals. In 2005, Acme decided to become a part of a national facilities services company and during the next 10 years, Rick held the position of Regional Vice President and led the operations in the Western United States. Rick joined ESS in 2016 and manages ESS' Western operations. Rick lives in the Bay Area of California with Carol, his wife of 36 years. He graduated from San Jose State University with a Physical Education and Recreation Degree and from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor's of Science in Business Administration.

Bernie brings to the table an extensive background in business, but also a background and understanding of the educational system and has himself been a substitute teacher. Bernie was raised in a family of educators (mother: teacher, sisters: teachers and counselors, father: superintendent). While working with his father in the operations of Professional Contract Management, Inc., the two realized the need to open additional offices to better serve school corporations. In July, 2006, they opened PCMI West. As Director of PCMI West, Bernie led the company in growth and presence throughout the state of Michigan while maintaining outstanding service levels for client schools. Once he became President of PCMI, he began to expand his leadership in other states providing cost saving programs to school districts. Bernie was recognized by the Greater Lansing Business Monthly publication, as the 2009 “Entrepreneur of the Year” for his many services to public schools. Today, Bernie is an Executive Vice President, for ESS. 

Doug brings over 20 years of experience in the staffing industry to his role as ESS’ Executive Vice President for Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Specializing in educational staffing, Doug has a passion for creating and implementing solutions for school districts that enhance operational efficiencies and provide valuable cost savings. He has the ability to fully comprehend our client school districts’ needs and provide the leadership necessary to meet those needs. Prior to joining ESS, Doug spent eight years as a Senior Regional Manager at Kelly Education, an international staffing agency. Here he developed, motivated, and evaluated staff while providing first-class communication with clients to ensure long-term client satisfaction. He also worked in business development at Willstaff Worldwide, where he focused on effective service delivery for new customers. Doug graduated from Ogeechee Technical College in Statesboro, GA, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing management and a Six Sigma Certification. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Green Briar Children’s Center, the Advisory Board of Ogeechee Technical College, and the Executive Board of the Georgia Employer Committee.

Mike joined ESS in 2018, bringing years of project management experience to his position as Executive Vice President of AL, AR, LA and MS. Prior to ESS, he worked for Crothall Healthcare, a subsidiary of Compass Group USA, as Vice President of Information Technology. During his time at Crothall, Mike created a centralized call center for support services, effectively reducing on-site hospital staffing needs and optimizing staff productivity, and drove real-time decisions through business intelligence to determine patient transportation staffing needs. He continued his career with Compass Group USA in 2014 as Vice President of Field Systems Solutions. In this role he optimized the use of Point of Sale, self-checkout, and order/pay technologies to minimize and reduce labor costs within cafes; and managed a large Professional Services team that delivered over 1000 Point of Sale projects in 2017. In his current role with ESS, Mike has transitioned numerous districts, including some of our largest partners, immersing himself into the local landscape and zeroing in on their unique needs in order to implement a personalized transition plan.

Noelle has 15 years of experience working in human resources, and she is a specialist in identifying, fulfilling, and managing the personnel needs of school districts. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree and is a Juris Doctor Candidate at Nova Southeastern Law School, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Noelle began her career in human resources in 2003 before eventually joining our team in 2010. As Executive Vice President for New Jersey and New England, Noelle’s expertise includes daily operational oversight, employee recruitment and management, customer satisfaction, and collaborative problem-solving.

Wendy grew up in a military family and has lived in Franklin, Tennessee since 1982. She received her bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and a master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University with an emphasis in human resource development. Wendy has over 20 years’ experience working in human resources and operations, including serving as director of training for Whirlpool Corporation. Wendy was recruited by a national staffing company in 2001 and served for 10 years as Director and then Vice President of Operations. In that role, she oversaw the substitute teacher staffing program and led the founding of the Manufacturing Process Outsourcing division (MPO). She has been PHR certified and was a former President of the American Society of Training and Development. She is STEDI certified through the Utah State University Sub Training program. Wendy joined ESS in 2016.

Phil has been a pivotal part of the organization, taking it from infancy to the largest education-exclusive staffing firm in the country. He has been supporting school districts across the country for more than 14 years. He works hands-on with districts, implementing customized solutions to improve their substitute teacher and support staff programs. Phil has personally overseen over 200 school district transitions since he first joined the company. He is responsible for developing an intimate understanding of each school district and creating a unique transition plan designed for their needs. Phil also oversees the Client and Employee Engagement Teams in New Jersey and Florida. When he’s not increasing districts’ fill rates, Phil can be found swinging his clubs on a golf course.

Evan has over 15 years of online K-12 and higher education leadership and sales and human capital management experience. He is also the founder and former president of Proximity Learning Inc., a company that has become an industry leading K-12 virtual teacher staffing solution. The company acts as the human resources backup plan for over 100 school districts nationwide, placing thousands of teachers in vacant classrooms. Prior to Proximity Learning, Evan held a Director level position at Teachscape, managing one of the largest implementations in the country of principal certification and teacher evaluation systems that incorporated student data.