Jim Groark
Vice President
My decade of experience in banking has taught me to never be satisfied with good enough and I will strive to ensure your complete success.
I too, have worked in a community bank and I fully understand your challenge of juggling several responsibilities at once. My goal is to ensure we provide competent, professional product support with a personal and consultative touch. I have an extensive community banking background in bank operations, financial reporting and software training and I will use that knowledge to better serve you, our client.
Sherri Abufakuseh
Client Support Specialist
I am a Financial Support Analyst at Plansmith, dedicated to helping you meet and exceed your financial and regulatory reporting needs. Beyond supporting your Compass software, I also strive to help you work more efficiently with your ALM model by refining your assumption documentation methodology. Whether you’re working on budgeting or contingency funding plans, let me put my experience as a former FDIC/OCC Regulator to work for you.
Jen Bochonowicz
Corporate Receptionist
In 2010 I made my big move to Illinois, and shortly after, I took my next step through the doors of Plansmith. Plansmith welcomed me aboard, and there I unpacked my years of customer service experience and accepted my Plansmith coffee mug. I looked forward to joining the Plansmith team and their commitment to providing excellence to their clients.
Here we are today, and I am glad for the opportunity to work with a great team and great clients. I enjoy assisting our clients and the opportunity to get to know them, and look forward to the opportunities that lie ahead.
Shawna Brauer
Client Support Specialist
I joined the Plansmith team in 2011 and am excited to work with a group of highly motivated professionals who take great pride in making a meaningful impact on the hectic lives of their clients. As a CPA and former Community Bank CFO who has worked in the banking industry for over twenty years, I am very familiar with the challenges that banks face and the multiple hats that employees wear.
I was a customer of Plansmith for most of my career, and have always been impressed with the Client Support staff's ability to take an intricate topic that is so important – especially in today’s complex banking environment – and provide solutions that are easy to use and understand. I am excited to now use my skills on the "other side" - and look forward to helping our clients meet their needs.
Tom Broadfoot
Client Support Specialist
I began my career in Banking after graduating from Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. At graduation, I took a position with 1st Security Bank of Willowbrook as a management trainee in this de novo community bank. I learned many facets of community banking as I opened accounts, ran a teller window, balanced the General ledger accounts, and even shoveled the snow.
I gained experience at larger community banks, regional and money center banks. I've managed operations & consumer loan departments, worked on due diligence teams with mergers and acquisition, and run retail branches at national banks.
These experiences taught me many lessons, not the least of which is to take care of my customers. At Plansmith, I have community bankers as my customers, but the lessons are the same. Take care of my customer. I listen actively to their concerns, get their questions answered correctly, and help make life simpler if possible.
Sandy Higgins
Executive Assistant
I am privileged and honored to be Executive Assistant to the greatest boss in the world, Craig Hartman, President and CEO of Plansmith. As fulfilling as that is, I also have the opportunity of being deeply involved in Support Services, including the enjoyment of greeting client’s everyday on the phone, project coordination, procurement, accounts payable, and assistance within our Human Resources arena.
Throughout my (many) years of employment experience, none can be compared to the incredible 10 years spent here at Plansmith. This is truly an environment filled with energy, passion, innovation, opportunity, excitement and compassion for all, both within Plansmith and, most discernibly, for our clients.
Karen How
Client Support Specialist
As your Client Support Specialist, I am fortunate to be part of a team of dedicated professionals eager to help you succeed. It is my job to prepare you, so that Plansmith tools can simplify your analyses and you can make sound decisions regarding the future focus of your bank.
It is particularly gratifying for me to coach you through this process since I hale from banking myself. My 15 year background as a community bank executive, with experience managing both operations and lending, makes me mindful of your unique challenges. It is with this perspective that I strive to help you achieve your goals, by using analytics that are easy to understand, to devise action plans that you can implement successfully.
Sharon Hundley
Vice President
In the early 80’s I began my career as a CPA with an international public accounting firm that specialized in banking clients. I went to work for one of the banks and purchased Compass for my ALM (which was only a GAP report then), budgeting and financial reporting needs. I ended up purchasing Compass 5 times (due to bank merger mania) and worked with Plansmith at mid-sized regional banks as well as small community banks. I also have extensive investment experience through working with Raymond James to set up investment centers in 3 of the banks.
I came to work with Plansmith ten years ago as a consultant in the development area. I use my past experience as a CFO to design a system for our clients that has the best balance of ALM, financial reporting, projections and budgeting to fit their needs.
Sue Leverton
Vice President
I began my career in 1979 working for a community bank and had the opportunity to grow with the bank as it acquired other banks, merged the banks into branches, and then ultimately merged with a larger bank. Amidst this journey, I met Craig Hartman and worked with him to implement Plansmith's Financial Compass model. We used the software for all of our planning, budgeting and Interest Rate Risk needs and also incorporated Plansmith’s forward-looking planning philosophy at the bank.
In 1998, I joined the Plansmith team and have been working with community banks ever since to develop models that support this forward-looking perspective and promote greater performance.
Tammy Lockmiller
Client Support Specialist
My background in customer service-related roles - in a variety of industries and with special emphasis on financial analysis - has served me well since I began my role as Client Support Specialist at Plansmith in 2008.
Our approach to client support is unique; we aim to build a partnership with each client through our introductory coaching program and beyond. Our ultimate goal is to ensure that you are comfortable with the results of the rate shock and that you feel confident in explaining - not only to your Board and ALCO but also to examiners - the inputs (data and assumptions) and outputs (financial and interest rate risk reports).
In my role, I have the opportunity to not only provide daily client support, but to expand the working relationship with our existing client base through Financial Compass plan "tune-ups" and data processor conversions, as well as Plan Assumption Reviews.
Jenny Mello
Client Support Specialist
I leverage 6 years of experience on all aspects of Budgeting and Interest Rate Risk needs within your Compass database.
We offer advanced support in the functionality of your program as well as education and review to make sure you are getting the most out of your Plansmith products. Whether you are creating a budget, detailing a forecast or analyzing your Interest Rate Risk, you deserve a smooth, respectful, and personable transaction. At our core, our professional service is founded by your long term financial security and success.
Roxanne Nikirk
Client Support Specialist
When I was in high school, my Grandmother told me that I should get a job at a bank as it would provide for a good future. I did not follow her advice, and the irony that I have ended up in the industry anyway does not escape me.
I spent 5 years in customer service then 6 years in accounting. In 2004 I started with Plansmith and became one of the lucky few who truly love their jobs. Every day is different here at Plansmith and it is always a pleasure to work with you.