Our Team
Kirnjot Singh, MD, President
Dr. Kirnjot Singh is a retired spine surgeon and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in healthcare leadership. He has contributed to multiple startups, acquisitions, partnerships, and organizational turnarounds, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to growth. Dr. Singh has led initiatives in surgery centers, imaging, physical therapy, hospital operations, and behavioral health. He specializes in medical staff engagement, strategic hospital initiatives, and patient care. Dr. Singh completed his medical education at the University of Texas Medical Branch, followed by orthopedic residencies at Hospital for Joint Diseases and Indiana University.
David Bell, Chief Operating Officer (COO)
David Bell is an executive leader with extensive experience in the Staffing and PEO industries, known for driving large-scale change management in multi-site, employee-intensive environments. Specializing in M&A, turnaround, rapid growth, and realignment, he has led organizations from $10M to $2B in revenue. With expertise in Enterprise Risk Management, Human Capital Management, Workers’ Compensation, and Safety Management, Mr. Bell enhances profitability and performance for both Fortune 500 and middle-market companies. His leadership roles include CRO, CCO, COO, and CHRO at top firms like Kelly Services, ABM Industries, and Vincam (now ADP TotalSource).
James Terris, Senior Vice President, Operations
James Terris is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in the Professional Employer Organization (PEO) industry. He has successfully managed payroll operations exceeding $1 billion annually for both boutique and large regional PEOs. James excels in collaborating with operations teams to create value for small and mid-sized businesses, focusing on human capital management and core operations. His expertise includes HR, client services, account management, payroll, implementation, and sales support. James has driven growth, improved efficiencies, and fostered a positive team culture.
Lingyi Zeng, Vice President, Accounting
Lingyi Zeng brings nearly 30 years of finance and accounting expertise and joined Zynergia in 2023 as Director of Accounting. He began his career as a loan officer and bank manager at China’s largest commercial bank. After earning an MBA in Finance from the University of Houston, Mr. Zeng advised minority businesses as a Financial Consultant with the Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center. With over 14 years in the PEO industry, he specializes in monthly closing, tax reporting, audit compliance, and budgeting. Holding an MS in Accountancy, Mr. Zeng is known for his leadership and dedication.
Mitchell Pirtle, Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
With over 20 years of experience founding companies and leading FOSS projects, Mitch Pirtle is an expert in hyper-growth startups. He specializes in building infrastructure, processes, and teams to support rapid growth, ensuring long-term success. Mitch has contributed to major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Starbucks, and MongoDB. Known for founding Joomla!, he is skilled in Go, JavaScript, Python, and other technologies. Mitch is also a sought-after international speaker on automation, growth, and organizational change.
Sarah Bjork, Senior Dir., Implementation, Client Experience, and Special Projects
With over 20 years of experience in the payroll industry, Sarah Bjork is the Director of Implementation, Client Experience, and Special Projects at Zynergia. Specializing in Project Management, she has deep expertise in process improvement, client solutions, and team leadership. Holding a Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt, Sarah is committed to operational excellence. Known for her mentoring and leadership, she creates a high-performing teams and drives innovation to enhance client experiences and ensure long-term success.
Kenneth Forde, Senior Dir., Compliance Operations
Mark Hicks, Director of Risk Management
Mark Hicks is a seasoned claims professional with over 35 years of experience specializing in workers’ compensation. Known for his hands-on approach, he excels in litigation negotiation, cost containment, return-to-work strategies, and building strong relationships with clients and vendors. A certified mediator with the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission, Mark holds a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, along with the Associate in Claims and Associate in Management designations. A former Founding Board Member of Kid’s Chance of North Carolina, Mark is also dedicated to community service, mentoring through Big Brothers/Big Sisters and tutoring at Windings Springs Elementary School in Charlotte.
Gretchen Steelman, Dir., Underwriting, Sales, and Marketing
With over 23 years of experience in the insurance industry, Gretchen specializes in Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs). She holds a BA in Psychology from The State University of New York at Binghamton and earned her Certified Insurance Service Representative Elite Designation in 2019. Previously Director of Underwriting at a leading PEO, Gretchen has 15 years of expertise in developing guidelines, analyzing trends, and assessing risk. She excels in building relationships with agents, ensuring compliance, and mentoring junior underwriters. Passionate about risk research, Gretchen is dedicated to driving innovation and excellence in the industry. Outside of work, she enjoys fitness, spending time with her family and two pugs, and indulging in reading, traveling, and lattes.
Samantha Peake, Associate Director of Benefits
With over a decade of experience in payroll and benefits administration, Samantha currently serves as the Associate Director of Benefits at ZynergiaHR. Known for her meticulous attention to detail and ability to manage complex, high-volume operations, she has led initiatives in benefits strategy, vendor negotiations, system implementations, and multi-state payroll processing.
Her background spans a variety of industries and systems—including ADP, Kronos, iSolved, Workday, and more—where she has streamlined processes, led teams, and driven compliance across all levels. Samantha brings strong mentoring, communication, and organizational skills to every role and thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments.
Stacy Tillman, Senior Dir., Payroll
Stacy Tillman is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in the PEO industry. Currently overseeing payroll operations and client satisfaction, she has contributed to both large-scale PEOs and startups.
Ms. Tillman has progressed through various roles in payroll, starting as a specialist and advancing to supervisor, manager, and director. She has gained valuable insights into diverse industries while maintaining a client-focused approach and strong self-sufficiency. Stacy creates cross-departmental partnerships to anticipate client needs and has received multiple accolades, including Employee of the Quarter and Employee of the Year.