Our Team

"As the CEO of Essium, I handpick each member of our technology team. I choose the people who I am confident will work well with our clients.  I love working with smart people who help build smart solutions.”

Ben has applied over 20 years of technology experience in founding and creating an innovative HR technology firm called Essium. He earned a B.S. in computer science from Oakland University with a minor in business management. He started his career at a company called Chimes, which is known for pioneering a VMS program for staffing companies in the Midwest region when the technology was completely unknown. Ben led the systems architecture group at Chimes for 12 years. His career was largely focused on the development of workforce management applications, giving him extensive knowledge and expertise in recruiting and retaining talented IT professionals.

Five years ago, Ben recognized that there was an increasing demand for intuitive onboarding technology in the HR world and began to develop the software that is formerly known as PRYDE. Ben established Essium LLC and began to recruit software developers and analysts to help him realize his dream of creating the world’s best HR software solution that is known today as Xenqu. Ben leverages his passion for creating intuitive user experiences by analyzing large data sets and discovering opportunities to automate business processes all designed to facilitate Essium’s mission to generate significant value for its clients.

“I am passionate about helping organizations of all sizes create well-balanced HR automation programs that drive efficiencies and cost savings. Developing relationships centered on customer care helps to achieve that balance.”

Darryl brings over 10 years of Human Capital Management (HCM) experience to the Essium team. He has expertise in multiple areas related to HR Management. Most recently, Darryl’s focus has been in the field of HCM technology. Darryl is passionate about helping organizations of all sizes create well-balanced HR and talent acquisition programs. He strives to find comprehensive solutions that drive efficiencies and create cost savings through AI-enabled, process-driven technology.

Marisa has been with Essium since its inception and is instrumental in collaborating with all the teams within the company as well as the customer to identify and implement ever-evolving improvements to the software.  Her number one goal is to ensure that Essium continues to provide a software that not only meets the needs of current customers but also to build a Roadmap of features to keep the product on the cutting edge of the industry.

Marisa earned a BS in horticulture from Michigan State University where she studied landscape design and construction management. She worked in the field of landscape design for several years, which helped her develop her project management skills and realize her desire to pursue project management as a career. She began her career in payroll & staffing industry in 2010 and moved over to project management in 2014 when she joined the Essium team, later earning her PMP certification in 2017.

When asked what she likes most about working at Essium Marisa says, “I love working at Essium. It is a great group of people that I have a long history with, but also an extraordinary group of minds that excel at problem-solving and creating the best software.”  

“The camaraderie and mutual work ethic shared by my fellow employees makes coming to work every day a pleasure!”

Michelle has over 20 years of experience in Human Capital Management starting with technology leadership and development roles at a company called Chimes, which pioneered one of the first vendor management systems in the Midwest. Michelle’s passion for workforce management applications led her to take a position with a large supplier management company where she created and implemented solutions for data management and system integration. Today, Michelle oversees a team of technical analysts at Essium. Her many years of management and technology experience allow her to excel in this role. Michelle also oversees the customer experience by anticipating problems and finding solutions for customers, allowing them to best utilize the Xenqu system. Her goal at Essium is to apply her extensive knowledge and expertise to help Essium become an industry leader in workforce management technology.

“My favorite part of working with Essium is that the group functions as a team. We are always supporting each other and pushing to make the business and the corporate culture the best it can be.”

David is a long-time member of the Essium team and brings over 10 years of experience in the field of Information Technology to the organization. He holds a B.S. in computer science and a B.A. in business administration. His role at Essium is focused on direct operations and managing budgets in relation to network and security infrastructure. He strategizes new cybersecurity projects and develops policies and procedures based on those security findings. Dave also provides oversight in access management and IT.

Dave’s favorite part about working for Essium is how the group functions as a team. Everyone works together to create business growth while developing a corporate culture that is supportive and collaborative. Dave’s goal is to continue to grow personally and professionally with Essium. As a young company, there are many projects that provide opportunities to develop internal and external growth.

“Essium team has the ability to have fun while tackling complex problems. Pushing boundaries to find new levels of innovation is one of the ways that sets Essium apart from the competition. I am looking forward to see where we go from here.”

Joel has been with the Essium team from the very beginning. His primary role is to design and implement new and improved features on the Xenqu platform. His many years of technical experience gives him the skills to identify complex problems and deliver simple, easy-to-use solutions. He earned a B.S. in computer science and a minor in mathematics from the University of Michigan. Shortly after, he worked for Community Financial Credit Union for four years as a programmer. During that time, he worked on developing reports in conjunction with multiple departments and integrated the system with third-party tools to ensure company-wide compliance.

Joel’s favorite part about working with the Essium team is the ability to have fun while tackling complex problems. “The company culture encourages dynamic problem solving by inviting the entire team to brainstorm ideas to find the best possible solution for our customers. My goal at Essium is to innovate and push the boundaries of what the Xenqu system can do to improve process automation and management.”