About Us

Daniel McIntosh
CEO & Partner

Dan, a former Army Infantry Sergeant and CEO, has a diverse background in both military service and talent acquisition. With nearly a decade of experience in the recruiting industry, Dan is becoming a respected leader in the field, known for his employee and culture-focused approach. Dan’s time in the military honed his leadership skills and ability to make informed decisions under pressure, and as CEO, he bring these qualities to the forefront. Dan places a strong emphasis on creating a positive and supportive workplace culture, recognizing that happy employees lead to satisfied clients. Dan is a visionary leader with a passion for guiding his company to success and growth while always putting the needs of his employees and clients first

Tim Maruyama
COO & Partner

A successful entrepreneur in the startup space helping companies establish their systems, services, and culture. Tim has spent the last decade building brands and creating long standing foundations. Having now been on both sides of the recruiting space (from outsourcing to recruiting services, to running HR departments, and to now operating a staffing agency) Tim brings a unique leadership perspective to the Talent Elite Group here in Orange County. Tim is a family man who spends most of his free time on the beach with his kids or coaching beach volleyball.

Joshua Muench
Business Development Manager

As a psychology major with 12 years of sales experience, I bring a unique combination of skills and understanding to my work. My background in psychology has allowed me to develop a deep understanding of human behavior, which I use to build strong relationships with my customers. Over the years, I have honed my sales skills and am dedicated to helping my customers achieve their goals. I believe that success comes from a combination of hard work and having fun along the way, and I always strive to provide a personalized experience for each customer. My passion for helping others and commitment to excellence drive me to always go above and beyond to ensure customer satisfaction.

Elin Lightbody
Recruiting Manager

Elin is a tenured TEG recruiter excels at “connecting elite talent to exclusive opportunity”. She effectively utilizes her degree in Psychology and Masters in Counseling as she excels at matching candidates’ hard and soft skills with specific organizations & environments in which they will thrive. She enjoys guiding her candidates through strategic and purpose driven career progression in order to achieve ultimate professional success and personal fulfillment.

Elin enjoys traveling the world with her family and hanging with her dog, Star and cat, Dolly Pawton.

Ryan Shiroshi
Executive Recruiter

Ryan brings 10 years of recruiting and Organizational Development experience. He strives to exceed client and candidate expectations by providing a reliable, thorough, and personalized experience. He enjoys partnering with his clients as a strategic thought partner with anything talent management, and he appreciates being trusted as a thoughtful career consultant in his candidate partnerships. Ryan is passionate about taking a scientific approach to the workplace, while keeping up-to-date on the latest research and trends on healthy and effective organizations.

Samantha Ortiz
Executive Recruiter

Samantha bings an incredibly high level of energy to the team in addition to her 6+ years of Staffing, Business Development & Internal Operations experience. Her favorite part of the staffing industry is relationship building. She also thoroughly enjoys brainstorming creative staffing solutions whether for clients or candidates. On the personal side she loves being a mother, exploring anything outdoors or diving into a good book.

Johnica Martin
Executive Assistant

Johnica is a dedicated executive assistant with experience supporting team members across various industries. She is skilled at managing schedules, coordinating meetings, and handling administrative tasks with efficiency and accuracy. With a passion for organization and a commitment to excellence, Johnica is an indispensable asset to any team.

We look forward to partnering with you.

The Talent Elite Group was an inspiration born out of a desire to provide a superior experience to the industry today.

The Talent Elite Group has one fundamental principle which is to provide our Employees, Clients, and Candidates a best-in-class, bespoke experience. From the first contact to post-hire check-ins you are provided with white-glove service. Our commitment to our clients is to be available 24/7 to ensure a transparent, efficient, and rapid service.

Talent Elite Group exists to partner with the Office of the CFO & CIO furthering the strategic vision of your company.