Our Story
Summit Staffing was founded in 1986. One office. A clear purpose. Forty years later, we are one of the largest privately held staffing firms in the region, with branch locations across Illinois, Indiana, and a growing national reach. We have placed workers through market shifts, recessions, and every kind of challenge the labor market has produced. That track record is earned one placement at a time, over four decades, with clients and talent who keep coming back.
Experience And Expertise You Can Trust
Summit is the first choice for hundreds of companies across our markets, from regional manufacturers to publicly traded corporations. We’re trusted because we deliver proven results. Summit’s employer relationships are built on the understanding of what success looks like in your operation, and our talent network has the right skills to advance your business.
Our Leadership Team
Frank Auriemma
CEO
Analisa Gutierrez
COO
Analisa Gutierrez is the Chief Operating Officer of Summit Staffing and a Co-Founder of TalentCraft, an IT and Life Sciences staffing firm. Analisa quite literally grew up in the business as Summit Staffing was founded by her mother, Fiorella Auriemma in 1986, only a few months after Analisa was born. Now a second-generation family-owned and operated business, Summit Staffing supplies light industrial staffing services.
Analisa began her career at Summit Staffing, working as an on-site recruiter within client facilities during summers off from DePaul University. After college, Analisa worked with a corporate travel incentive company before coming back home to Summit and joining the sales team in 2009. Throughout her career, Analisa has worked in many different roles, gaining both a comprehensive knowledge of the industry and Summit Staffing.
In 2018, Analisa, along with her family and business partners, founded TalentCraft, an IT staffing firm, and expanded the business into the Life Sciences sector in 2023. Following in their mother’s footsteps, the desire to grow, build, and learn within different verticals of the staffing industry has proven to be the largest and most rewarding challenge for the entire family.
Today, Analisa spends much of her time focused on Summit Staffing’s growth, culture and creating cohesion amongst their operation. The most rewarding aspect of the job remains the same: putting people to work every day and extending the sense of family at the root of their businesses to both associates and clients alike.
Jim Kwit
CFO
Jim Kwit is the Chief Financial Officer at Summit Staffing. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Lindenwood University and has over two decades of experience in corporate Finance and Accounting. His background spans both the public and private sectors, with a focus on the consulting and software industries.
During his time at Summit, Jim has most enjoyed working with his colleagues, finding the Summit team to be the most enjoyable aspect of his experience. He looks forward to further collaborating with the Summit family and helping to lift the company to new heights together.
In Jim’s free time his primary focus is always on his family and friends, as he finds the most joy in spending time with those that are close to him. He also enjoys going out for a round of golf, traveling, and making memories whenever he can.
Andres Gutierrez
VP of Sales & Marketing
Andres Gutierrez is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Summit Staffing, where he leads initiatives to drive growth and elevate the company’s visibility across the markets they serve. Since joining Summit in 2016, he has played a key role in building lasting relationships with clients and communities, something he considers central to the company’s continued success.
Andres earned his degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from the University of Houston’s Hilton College. Before transitioning into staffing, he spent over a decade rising through the ranks of the hospitality industry, ultimately serving as a Director of Food and Beverage. His background in service and operations laid a strong foundation for his leadership role in staffing.
Outside of work, Andres is a passionate supporter of Houston sports and stays closely connected to his alma mater. He enjoys playing golf whenever he can, but what matters most to him is spending meaningful time with his family.
Cindy Lopez
VP of Operations
Cindy Lopez is the Vice President of Operations at Summit Staffing, overseeing daily operations, strategic expansion, and client partnerships across Summit’s growing footprint. With over 20 years of experience in the staffing industry, Cindy has led high-performing teams through every market condition imaginable. She uses her experience in operations, business development, and workforce strategy to drive results.
Cindy has been at Summit since 2024, helping cultivate strong teams and assisting those around her to grow into their full potential. She enjoys achieving results while remaining grounded in her relationships. Cindy brings her personal professional belief, which is that consistency wins, but only if your team believes in the mission. She is also consistent in building her reputation outside of the office, as she is active in regional business leadership circles and is always on the lookout for ways to elevate staffing as a profession.
Cindy loves her work because Summit staffing moves fast, stays grounded, and always keeps people at the center of what is done. She’s also known for her passion for organizing and takes any opportunity to bring order to a space. Outside of work, Cindy is family-oriented and loves to take the occasional spontaneous weekend trip with her family. When not traveling, her family enjoys trying new hot spot restaurants in their local community.
Annette Milan
VP of Human Resources
Annette Milan is the Vice President of Human Resources at Summit Staffing, and she is passionate about fostering a positive workplace culture, optimizing talent management strategies, and ensuring a smooth employee experience from hiring to career development. Annette has been a loyal member of Summit’s team for over three decades, lending her skills to various roles within that time.
In her time at Summit, Annette worked as Vice President of Operations, a position consisting of a blend of vast and complex systems that encompassed customer service support, safety and risk management, and human resource management. This position gave her the opportunity to work with her team to create measurable value for Summit’s clients and employees.
Annette’s personal work goal is to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, empowered, and equipped to succeed. She enjoys being able to work in a culture that blends professional and results-oriented service with a friendly, fun-loving environment. This culture aligns with her personal belief that at the heart of every successful organization are its people.
When she isn’t working, Annette enjoys spending her downtime reading and journaling. She also enjoys getting outside, as she likes to garden and hike. But when she finds herself having the most fun is when she is with her family.
One of the fastest-growing privately owned staffing firms.
40 years
of proven experience and still climbing.
Providing Workforce Solutions Across The US
Want to know more?
We are happy to answer any questions you may have!