Executive Team

Taryn R. Owen assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer and was appointed as a Director of the Company in September 2023, after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of TrueBlue since 2022. Over her 13-year tenure, she has led TrueBlue through significant periods of growth, was instrumental in its pandemic response and recovery, spearheaded its digital transformation strategies, and successfully led several acquisitions and substantial international expansion.

Previously at TrueBlue, Owen served as Executive Vice President of TrueBlue and President of PeopleReady and PeopleScout from 2021 to 2023, Executive Vice President and President of PeopleReady from 2019 to 2021, and Executive Vice President and President of PeopleScout from 2014 to 2019. Prior to these roles, she served as Senior Vice President of Global Operations and as Vice President of Client Delivery at PeopleScout.

Owen has more than 20 years of talent acquisition experience. Before joining TrueBlue, she was an Operations Director at Randstad Sourceright Solutions, where she led global RPO engagements. She formerly served as a member of the Board of Advisors of HRO Today and as a member of the Human Capital Industry Advisory Board for Wharton’s Center for Human Resources. Owen has been recognized for her industry leadership, including annual appearances on the Staffing Industry Analysts' (SIA) Staffing 100 and Global Power 150.

Derrek L. Gafford has served as the Company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2006, after serving as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since 2005. Mr. Gafford is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive) and joined the Company in 2002. Mr. Gafford is a Director of Heritage Distilling Co. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Gafford served as Chief Financial Officer for Metropolitan Market, a grocery retailer, and held various management positions with Deloitte & Touche LLP and Albertsons, Inc.

Garrett R. Ferencz has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Company since July 2020, after serving as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer since December 2019. Prior to these roles, he served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer since April 2018, and served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Litigation since July 2014. Mr. Ferencz joined the Company in January 2007 as Senior Director of Litigation, Assistant General Counsel. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Ferencz practiced litigation at The Blankenship Law Firm, P.S. and Perkins Coie LLP. Mr. Ferencz has served as a Director on the American Cancer Society’s Board for Washington State since 2017.

Rick Betori has served as President of PeopleScout since March 2023. With TrueBlue since 2011, Mr. Betori most recently served as Managing Director of the Americas for PeopleScout. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President of Operations and Innovation for PeopleReady. From 2011 to 2015, Mr. Betori served as President of former TrueBlue operating brand, StudentScout. Prior to joining TrueBlue, he served as President of Wonderlic, Inc. from 2007 to 2011 and before that as the President of an independent Management Consulting firm.

Carl R. Schweihs has served as Executive Vice President of the Company and President of PeopleManagement, TrueBlue’s staffing business that is made up of Staff Management | SMX, SIMOS Insourcing Solutions, and Centerline Drivers, since June 2019, after serving as Senior Vice President of the Company for Strategic Accounts since June 2017. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Finance for the Company since November 2015, after serving as Controller since June 2014. Mr. Schweihs joined the Company following its acquisition of Seaton in 2014. Prior to joining the Company, he served in a variety of financial leadership roles at Seaton and Grant Thornton.

Kristy Willis has served as President of PeopleReady since March of 2023. With TrueBlue since 2018, Ms. Willis most recently served as Chief Sales and Operations Officer of PeopleReady. Prior to that, she served as PeopleReady’s Chief Sales Officer. Before joining PeopleReady, Ms. Willis had a nearly 20-year career with the Adecco Group, most recently serving as Senior Vice President for the Western Division with responsibility for leading sales, service delivery, fulfillment, operations and financial management. Prior to that she held various senior leadership roles with Adecco.

Jeff Dirks has served as Senior Vice President, Chief Information & Technology Officer of the Company since December 2021, after serving as Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer since April 2019. Prior to these roles Mr. Dirks served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Technology since November 2018, after serving as Vice President, Infrastructure and Operations since May 2018. Prior to joining the Company,  Mr. Dirks served in several private equity and public company senior executive roles, including Chief Operating Officer at Talyst, acquired by Swisslog, and as the Corporate Chief Information Officer for Outerwall, which was acquired by Apollo Global Management. Prior to Outerwall, Mr. Dirks spent over two decades in the venture capital scene, including senior leadership roles as President & COO of CapitalStream and CEO of SchemaLogic, both also acquired. Mr. Dirks has more than 30 years of experience in the Seattle technology community. He is also a U.S. Army Intelligence veteran.

Caroline Sabetti has served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer of the Company since March 2023. With TrueBlue since 2002, Ms. Sabetti most recently served as Chief Marketing Officer for PeopleScout and PeopleReady, and Senior Vice President of Communications for TrueBlue. Over her tenure, she has supported each of TrueBlue’s business segments. Prior to joining TrueBlue, Ms. Sabetti spent five years at Kelly Services where she gained experience across all aspects of staffing operations and sales.

Anthony Brew has served as Chief Diversity Officer of the Company since January 2023, after serving as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion since January 2021. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Brew served in a variety of human resource and diversity-related positions at BlackHawk Inc. and Sovereign Security LLC.