Staff Spotlight: Chris Buurman
- Kathy Drumm
- About FHB
- minute(s)What's it like to work at FHB? Get the inside scoop from our valued team members in this special blog series. Chris Buurman has been a Technical Consultant at FHB since 2022. In this role, he assists our Principal Consultants by educating and supporting clients as they implement process improvements and software solutions. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with an emphasis in accounting. We recently sat down with Chris to discuss his experience at FHB. The following are excerpts from that meeting. Q: What did you do before you joined FHB? A: Previously, I worked for the city of La Vista, Nebraska—doing their accounting and ledgers, financial statements, budget book, a little bit of everything... I [was there for] three years…before that, I was an auditor for RSM here in Omaha. Q: What drew you to FHB? A: I had worked with Darryl [Darryl Parker, CPA, CMA, Director, Solutions Design & Architecture for FHB]. He and I worked one-on-one with Workiva, and... I really enjoyed [it]. As an auditor, working with financial statements all the time, I thought to myself, “Man, this is really neat!” I just thought, for all the clients I had, how this would have benefited [them while] doing their ACFRs or their quarterly reports. After reaching out, I talked with Jamie [FHB President Jamie Black]—which kind of caught me off guard, you never really speak to the owners of companies when you interview—[he seemed relaxed and authentic], he said, “We're not here to run you down..., we don't expect you to work long hours. We just want you to get [the work] done. In the end, we're all on the same team.” So, that really stuck with me, and pretty much sealed the deal. Q: Have you achieved any career goals since you've been here? A: The adjustment, to me, was...learning how to work from home, [to] be productive and not let outside interference deter [me] from my work. It's really helped me and made me grow as a person, to be more...responsible, organized. Another piece I started learning that I never thought I would jump into is...writing structured query language (SQL) and queries...I love doing things where I'm kind of in there meddling and fixing and so it's [expanded] my way of thinking [about] what I do [and] how I do it. And all my years, I was...a thrill junkie, I wanted to be next to life and death. Doing this accounting work and trying to find something that I could...find enjoyment in, it was kind of tough for me. But doing this...[implementing] software...evolving processes, and how we do things...it helps me learn how to adapt my accounting skills into something that I can enjoy...it has been great growth for me. Q: What's your favorite thing about working here? A: The challenges, every client is a challenge...finding out how to give them what they need, with what they have... I like a challenge...it's like, okay, game on, let's do this. And then...working here, I thought maybe I would miss that connection with people. Because I’m old school. So, I don't like text messages. I don't like emails, I like face-to-face conversation...because there's so much that can be lost in translation. I thought I’d miss that piece. But...with technology, I can connect with people. And I find that I know my coworkers better here than I did at my other jobs. [And if] you get a phone call from Jamie, it’s not, “Should I freak out? The boss is calling!” He's calling me like, “Hey, Chris, how are things going?” ...and that's just really nice. This job isn't for everyone. So, I think it is important that [people joining FHB] have [the] type of personality we're looking for...because you do have to interact. [People might think], “Oh, I could sit behind a computer, I could do that,” but there's more to it. The clients want to see your face [and] interact with you. And just like with anybody in life, your clients are going to feel more comfortable...the more they see your face and the more they talk to you—and feel relaxed doing it. I think [we’re] strategic in how we [recruit] people and...[the] culture we have, it's very tight. We're very close and we're very professional...[there are no] office politics...everybody’s open...so it’s a really good environment and culture they’ve set up here. Q: Can you think of a time when one of your colleagues stepped in to help you? A: I reach out to [Darryl] a lot. Because I do a lot with Wdata and queries...that guy is probably one of the busiest people who work here. He's got so much on his plate...but...he's always helping me. I've reached out to Faith [Faith Olanipekun, CPA, Principal Consultant]. [She has] helped me [with organization and] structure. I ask Jill [Jill Moats, CPA, Principal Consultant] for help all the time...as a teacher, she's probably the gold standard... so I get help from people all day. And I do give back; I help when I can...maybe that goes back to the culture of the place, but we're all that way. We all just kind of bounce around helping each other...and it's really amazing. It's really cool. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: Just by reaching out to me all the time, just saying, "How are you doing?" I mean, that's huge. We’re all on the same level, because we're on the same team. And then...I had surgery this year, it was unexpected. I told them I'd be gone for a day. Probably not smartest thinking on my side, but I was like, “I can do this.” And it turned out to be a week. Elaine and Kathy [Kathy Drumm, Manager, Human Resources] just said, “Chris, get better...It's good. The work’s going to get done, just take care of yourself. Don't worry about a thing.” That meant a lot to me, because it wasn't planned, and we had a lot of work going on. And I know people had to pick up my slack. But nobody complained. Everybody [was just] glad to see me come back. Q: What do you think FHB gets right, that a lot of other companies miss? A: It's the personality. Most people are looking at a resume, and they're saying... just check the boxes...they got this degree, this degree, this degree. But I think here and especially [in] the work-at-home environment, you can’t stress enough [that it] takes the right personality. It takes that certain character, where a person is driven to be good, have ethics and morals, buy in. Finding that right personality, that right conviction in somebody is important. You get people with degrees every day of the week, but they're not going to be able to come in here and do what we need to do, and function in a work-[from]-home environment properly, and get the work done. I think that's what [FHB gets] right. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: I'll blame it on Waldo [Waldo Nell, Manager, Development]. He keeps my laptop running. Just the tools of the trade, [so we are] able to do what we need to do, and not skimping on it. The monitors...I have two 27-inch monitors. I'm getting older, so I have glasses, and I hate zooming in on these little laptops...they know our needs and... Waldo is always there to help me get back up and running. The guy's a godsend.
Chris Buurman has been a Technical Consultant at FHB since 2022. In this role, he assists our Principal Consultants by educating and supporting clients as they implement process improvements and software solutions.
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Staff Spotlight: Faith Olanipekun, CPA
- Kathy Drumm
- About FHB
- minute(s)What's it like to work at FHB? Get the inside scoop from our valued team members in this special blog series. Faith Olanipekun, CPA, joined FHB as a Principal Consultant in November of 2021. Her analytical nature and eye for detail are key to solving our clients’ complex challenges. Before joining us, Faith worked on financial and performance audits for government entities at the Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan. She also led process optimization initiatives to strengthen internal controls while saving time and money. We recently sat down with Faith to discuss her experience at FHB. The following is a transcript of that meeting. Q: What stands out as a highlight of your time at FHB? A: A lot of learning and growing... so, I'm learning the software, learning how we work with our clients, learning how [to] consult with clients. Starting as a consultant was a challenge, because I just didn't have that skill yet. And I think that I've really grown a lot in terms of not only consulting, but in terms of my knowledge of software. And my technical skills have really grown and improved. Q: Why did you decide to work here? A: I wanted something new. I was in auditing, and I was not getting joy anymore in the work...it was the same thing over and over, just doing repetitive tasks. So, Elaine [retired FHB Recruiting Manager Elaine Kolenosky] reached out to me and we had a meeting...and she said, “You know what? Let's have a conversation with [FHB President] Jamie Black.” Jamie was very kind and very honest, and direct...he was very helpful in saying, “Faith, you're not a consultant, yes, agreed. But we could get you there. And if you don't want to do repetitive tasks anymore, this is the place for you.” After that conversation with him, I just felt peace...I felt this is where I'm supposed to be. So, I reached back out to Elaine and said, “I think I want to do this!” That’s the story of how I got to FHB, and I've been loving it since then. Q: Do you feel supported by your colleagues? A: That's one thing about FHB, people are very...willing to assist and jump in when you need [them]. All you have to do is just raise your hand and say, “Hey, I'm kind of struggling here.” And people are always willing to help. Q: How does FHB promote work-life balance? A: We have a “Mondays optional” [policy], which I take advantage of. And that means that you work from Tuesday to Friday, if you want to, or you can work Monday to Friday, if you want to. It's really up to you. Having my Mondays off really helps me create that work-life balance. The second thing is that we work 37.5 hours [per week]. If you let someone know, "Hey, I'm really drowning...I'm probably going to be over by like 10 hours, I might have to work weekends,” people are always willing to jump in and say, "No, no, no, don't work weekends or nights. Take that time off. We can...jiggle things, and make things work for you.” People are flexible and understanding. Q: What is your favorite thing about working here? A: Every single day, I'm learning something new...I'm always constantly growing and learning new skills. Not only hard skills, like technical skills, but even soft skills. When I go into meetings with [FHB Principal Consultants] Jill, Joy, or Jan, and I see the way they act with different clients, I take that back with me. I’m like, oh, I want to try that the next time I have a client...where I'm struggling to explain something to them. Maybe I can think about it in this way and explain this in that way...maybe they will understand it a lot better. So... I'm growing not only in my career professionally, but also personally, in terms of how [I] relate with people. Q: What do you think FHB gets right with its employees that other companies miss? A: FHB is open to feedback, and open to implementing [that] feedback. It's one thing to talk about...this could be improved, and this could be improved...you go to management, and air your grievances, and [they say], yeah, yeah, we're listening to you. And [nothing] ever gets done. [At FHB], you bring something up to management, and they're very proactive in getting things done. [They say] “We're sorry you feel this way. How can we help? How can we make things better here?” ...the tone from the top is really important in a company. And I think Jamie and Joy, and everyone sets a really good tone...and it just makes it a very good place to work. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: So, I'm a Principal Consultant, which means that I have technical consultants working with me. And I have the best technical consultants who are always willing to help out and do the work, ask me questions... if I am explaining something to a client, and the client doesn't really get it, they'll jump in and say, “Let's think about it this way" ...there are times [when] it's nice to have that little assist...that is number one. Number two, FHB is really good at checking in. So, I have a check-in with my manager every month...and we talk about what I've been working on. What do I want to do going forward? Do I like what I'm doing right now? Can I move to something else? What issues am I having? How can we make it better? This is where I would tell [my manager] Joy, the things that I'm struggling with. And then she would give me advice. I think those really [help] me grow as a consultant. Also, Jamie will sometimes check in. So, those things in aggregate really do help make this a good place to work. Q: Have you achieved any career goals since you've been at FHB? A: Since working at FHB, my soft skills have really improved—the way I talk to clients, the way I talk to my colleagues and co-workers. I think I'm more confident and I am a better leader... I'm always constantly growing. [From] the first time I ever spoke to a client [to] now... I can definitely see the difference. That's really been important for me, because consulting [was] not my strongest suit. But I've really taken on the knowledge...and the training and really applied it towards what I do here. Making sure my technical skills were on par—I've really done that as well. [There are] a lot of different goals [I’ve achieved]. And [there are] new goals all the time. And that's another thing. HR meets with you every month [to] keep you on track, to make sure that you're achieving your career goals. Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? A: I think that's where I am right now. So, implementing software for clients. I honestly would like to get to Darryl's [Darryl Parker, CPA, CMA, Director of Solutions Design & Architecture at FHB] level. That would be a dream, [to understand] Structured Query Language (SQL) and all the different software and the different ways that we can...automate things for our clients. And if artificial intelligence (AI) is the new wave, how do we make that work for our clients? Really just being able to help our clients be better and being able to implement any software...[become] an expert on that software...I think that would be the goal. I mean, is it doable? Can I get to [Darryl’s] level? I don't know. But I'll try.
Faith Olanipekun, CPA, joined FHB as a Principal Consultant in November of 2021. Her analytical nature and eye for detail are key to solving our clients’ complex challenges. Before joining us, Faith worked on financial and performance audits for government entities at the Provincial Auditor of Saskatchewan.
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Staff Spotlight: Joy Richardson, CPA
- Kathy Drumm
- About FHB
- minute(s)What's it like to work at FHB? Get the inside scoop from our valued team members in this special blog series. Joy joined FHB as a Principal Consultant in 2018. Her focus is assisting clients as they manage and automate varied and complex financial activities. Joy brings extensive experience as an auditor, local government finance officer, and governmental software consultant (specializing in sales, implementation, training, and support). Having managed budget and year-end financial reporting processes as CFO of a local government entity, she has in-depth knowledge of governmental practices and reporting. Joy has also performed audit and tax engagements of governments and nonprofits, and managed a client services practice focused on small businesses and nonprofits. She holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, a bachelor's degree in accounting, and a bachelor's degree in business administration. We sat down with Joy to discuss her experience at FHB. The following are excerpts from that meeting. Q: What were you doing before coming to FHB? A: So, I kind of laugh and say that I did a circle to get here. I came directly from Questica, who was a partner [of FHB]. And I had gotten to Questica because they had been a partner in my previous employment. So, it just was kind of a natural fit. I had wound up working with Jamie [Jamie Black, President of FHB] on some projects...and I really liked...working with him...so one day I said, “Hey, if you ever happen to have an opening, I'd be interested.” And he said, “When would you like to start?” True story. Q: What is a highlight of your experience here? A: I came [to FHB] with the expectation of learning one software. And then when we started expanding and changing with partners and growing with different technologies, I felt like, being someone in their 50s, I was going to have to learn something new that maybe I couldn't—that it might be a little more challenging. So, to...have the opportunity to learn. Every day is a challenge...and an adventure. I'm never bored here. Just being given that opportunity to learn something yet again, and to still be counted as so important. Because some people think changing careers or learning something new is what happens when you get out of college. And I'm obviously a minute or two out of college. So just being...included and given that opportunity to learn a whole new software...and help move our firm down that next road and help other people. That's a really big personal achievement for me. Q: Why did you choose FHB? A: Oh, that was an easy one. Previously, I'd spent more than 10 years at an organization that was continually buying business units. There might have been 500 people that worked for the corporation when I went there. And over 10 years, we had more than 1,500. So...I had a job path and a career [where] I was always going to be busy, but I didn't really have a voice. [At the time] FHB was a small group...I wanted to be more in a family environment where people knew my name, and knew something about me, and my contribution would count. And from everything that I had seen just by working with Jamie, and...I had done a few things with Darryl [Darryl Parker, CPA, CMA, FHB Director, Solutions Design & Architecture] as well, and hearing how Jamie talked about the firm, I wanted to get back to...doing more implementation and helping clients like I used to...I didn't want to be on the sales side of life. I do like to help others...coming in here, I felt like my voice was heard, and that I could make a contribution and offer some suggestions as far as growth and what we were going to do and those kinds of things. Q: What do you think FHB gets right that other places miss? A: I think the biggest thing we do is pay attention to the client. We hear what their pain points are. [We don’t] just go in and implement software because that's what we do...sometimes the hardest message is, “Well, the software doesn't do that [and there is no workaround.]” Here, we're like, “Oh, you wanted it to do that? Well, it may not do that today. But let's find some alternatives.”...we're going to try to figure out a way to get you an answer. It may be different...sometimes it's just training the client on how to think outside of the box. I feel like we [are] in it for the client. It's that long term relationship. And since I have had some clients move with me to three different companies [over 15 years], they followed me to F. H. Black. That's a huge win for me...I have clients that started out as clients that are really friends, they're friends on Facebook, they're friends when I see him at the conference,...we've gone to dinner, and I've met their family, and those kinds of things. And I think...what we do [is] just much more personable. Q: Can you think of a time that one of your coworkers stepped in to help you? A: Gee, how many times has that happened? I'll go with the most recent. My mother fell and broke her hip last week, I and everybody stepped in—people that I was working on projects with, people that I wasn't working on projects with—I wound up working maybe an hour or two a day and having the flexibility of having my laptop at the hospital. And everybody bent over backwards. When I would check in and say, “Do I need any follow up?” They literally had done everything. So, I could review the status updates, and be caught back up. So, that's the most recent, and...the one that means the most to me right now. Being able to be here with my mom. Q: It sounds like a supportive culture. Is there anything else about the culture at FHB you'd like to speak about? A: Of course, just the fact that it's remote. Maybe that's not for everybody. People think, “Oh, remote work, you're isolated, you don't get to see this or do that.” And that's not the case. Obviously, [we use] video conferencing, teams chats and things like that. But just having the ability to work from home. Some people have the idea that working from home, people don't work a full load. My struggle has always been that working from home, I'll do more work than I would have if I was in the office, if I had to commute and dress and take a forced phone lunch and all of that. [And] obviously, the teamwork, the whole orientation of “we're all here to help each other.” And we do that. I've got a client right now that is due to go live and be closed, and all of this [with my mother] has happened. And other people have just stepped in to help on my projects to make sure that we still meet those timelines. Q: How do you think we've ended up with such a positive culture? What do you attribute that to? A: I always blame Jamie Black. I tell him all the time that he is the master of puzzle pieces. He looks at each one of us. As he's talking to us, he finds your skill set. He doesn't look for that perfect person to fit in that perfect hole. He looks at, here's the fuller puzzle...he can see that big picture. He sees skills and talents in each one of us that we might not recognize. I know he's done that for me. And he has just been able to bring your best assets out, he gives you that opportunity to shine. And...maybe you want to do this, but that's not on the agenda or in the plan immediately. He remembers that. And he communicates clearly, “We're not there yet. But when we are, we'll get back to that.” So, I think that's the biggest piece of this is just looking at that whole big picture and always looking forward. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: Well, obviously, the tools. Not just the software and the laptop, but the education as well. Being a CPA, we all have required hours that we have to do. But we're allowed to focus and direct that as well, on where our talents are, what our requirements are, that type of thing. So, for example, I work largely with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) projects, and our GASB Lite tool. So, the majority of my continuing education, for the last two years, has been related to all the GASB pronouncements. So...being included, being in the communication, being in the meetings, having a vote, understanding where we are, where we're going, all of that ties together, for me. Q: Tell me about your role as a manager and mentor for your FHB teammates. A: Well, that's one of those skills that I didn't know I had, that Jamie Black saw in me...and it's been great. With anybody starting a new job, I feel like you need a coach or a mentor to help navigate so that you learn how things are. I tell everybody, it's like being a senior in high school, and you know the lay of the land, you are the king and queen of the prom. And then at the end of the summer, you start college, and you don't know where the ladies' room is, you don't know where the cafeteria is, and you don't even know where to park. Anytime you start a new job, it's that way. For me, it's not just about teaching people technical skills. I like to show them the tools that we use, why we use them, because I'm a very big, "why" person... there's nothing like getting somebody through their first 90 days. And they're as excited if not more so at 90 days to have this new career and this new job with us than they were on day one...I'm their cheerleader, I'm their coach. Everybody needs a buddy until they...get to know other people and start to grow within the family. Q: What is your favorite thing about working here? A: It's just knowing that I can make a difference every day. It's not the easy things, like all the flexibility, and I can wear shorts, as long as I have on a decent work shirt, or those kinds of things. I have clients that smile when I start a client meeting, and they're happy that we're doing something. That makes a difference. Knowing that if I'm not there, somebody is going to say, “Is something wrong?” And then, of course, if I need somebody they're there, which everybody has proven once again. I told Jamie at five years, “I've been here five years. And you’re kind of stuck with me, because I'm looking to retire. This is my home.” I knew that years ago. But like with many people, you go through a phase of getting burned out or getting tired or thinking you're stuck in a rut, and I hit that bump in the road [after] about three years here. For the first time in my career, I reached out and said, “This is kind of where I'm at.” And Jamie stopped and listened [and said], “What do we need to do?” So...we worked on work/life balance and, “What do you like or not like? What could we change?” And of course, it was within reason. But just to have someone hear me made all the difference in the world. And I reached inside and found out that I too could change. If he was willing to be open and helpful and make that investment in me, then that really just sealed the loyalty, so he's stuck now. Loyalty for life. Q: How important do you think it is to our clients that the people who work here have actually done what they do, and I can relate to what they're going through? A: Oh, I think it's 100%. I do. If I were on the other side still and there were options of people that had never done my job versus the ones that had, I'd sign up with the ones that had. Every day of the week. Because we understand that sometimes you just can't make your deliverables. There's a lot going on, it's a busy season, and we need to postpone something, or we need to work overtime that week—or whatever the stresses are, working with government. Sometimes it is just a matter of [having to] meet deadlines for council meetings or public engagements or whatever the case is. And there are certain things that you can't change. We can offer all the great ideas in the world, but sometimes people are trapped, just simply because that's "the way it's done here." You have to understand that and know that not every suggestion is going to be taken. But most people are willing to listen to our best practices, especially when they come to us and [say], "So, you've done this a couple of hundred times, and you used to do this job. What do you have to offer or suggest?” It's just a case of being heard. I think it's huge to clients.
Joy joined FHB as a Principal Consultant in 2018. Her focus is assisting clients as they manage and automate varied and complex financial activities. Joy brings extensive experience as an auditor, local government finance officer, and governmental software consultant (specializing in sales, implementation, training, and support).
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Staff Spotlight: Jan Brewer, CPA, CGMA, MBA
- Kathy Drumm
- About FHB
- minute(s)What's it like to work at FHB? Get the inside scoop from our valued team members in this special blog series. Jan joined FHB in 2022. As a Principal Consultant, she trains, guides, and supports our clients throughout their projects. Her experience includes 30+ years in the finance industry, including 20 years in a government setting. She holds a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, is a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. We recently sat down with Jan to discuss her experience at FHB. The following are excerpts from that meeting. Q: Before you came to FHB, what were you doing? A: I was the CFO and Deputy County Administrator for Manatee County, which is in Bradenton, Florida. [It has] a population of about 400,000. Q: What is a highlight of your time at FHB? A: For me, professionally, it [has] pushed me beyond the barriers of where I was, as far as my knowledge in Excel, and also in the use of Workiva. Because [at FHB] I primarily work in Workiva. Even though I was the CFO of this big county, I had not heard of it [before joining FHB]. And it is life changing...I feel like we're really helping these people who [are where I once was]. They can have [their] life back. They can actually go home when [they're] supposed to go home. [They] don't have to work holidays and [they] actually get to go on vacation without taking [their] laptop with them. So, for me, that's the most life changing event that I've had in this last year. Q: Do you think our clients appreciate the fact that you have that similar experience, that you can relate? A: I think the clients—when we're going through the process and [at] the end of the implementation—they realize I've been there in the trenches, and they understand when they bring up something and I [say], "Yeah, I used to do that. Here's an alternative we used to do...” I think it helps because they know you've been there. You've been the boots on the ground, you understand how it works, and you've been in their shoes. So, [now] you're the cheerleader trying to help them get to a simpler life. Q: Why did you choose F. H. Black? What made you decide to come here? A: I had an employee [who] had moved on in her career and had called me up. And she said, “Hey, this is what you need to do. This makes a difference.” The timing of it all was just right when she contacted me. And then of course, Elaine [former FHB Recruiting Manager Elaine Kolenosky] contacted me, and I fell in love with Elaine. And then I got to talk to [FHB President] Jamie [Black] and just loved his leadership style and where he was headed. For me, it's also about the leadership—who I'm following. It's not really a job. It's the mission I'm on...I have to agree with the person at the top and how their leadership style goes...I love Jamie Black's management style; I think he is dead on in all of his analysis and all of his implementations. So, for me [the timing] was [right]. [My former colleague] recommending it, and then meeting the leader. And then I knew [this is] where I wanted to be. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: I love that I could reach out to anybody, and they would help me. I feel like that is probably the biggest characteristic I love of this organization...its teamwork. There's always somebody there to help you. And, I call it positive competition, where everyone comes to work every day, they're just trying to be the best that they can be. And it inspires you to be the better part of yourself. It's not negative, there is no negative competition. But it's that positive environment. And I really thrive in that [environment], where you're trying to be better than you were the day before...I could reach out to anyone and say, “Can you help me? I'm just not understanding this.” You don't find that very often, not in an organization...this has to be one of the healthiest environments I've ever been in. Q: How do you think we ended up here with all of these great people who have low ego and help each other? A: That comes from the top down, that comes from the leadership style and...it comes from what the leader values. The leader values family. I love seeing that a lot of my teammates have children, and they get to take the time with the children that they need. I mean, that's just second to none. And I feel like Jamie Black is setting the pace...if I have an issue or a difficulty with a client, or I'm hitting a wall with a problem...he is the first one to reach out and brainstorm with you. “How can I help you? How can I make this move?” So, I think that teamwork is literally from the top down. That's why it's been infused. I think it's been purposely cultivated that way. And it stays that way. It's phenomenal, it really is. I've enjoyed it. Q: Can you tell me about a time that a coworker stepped up to help you on a project? A: Yes. [There are] three ladies that I truly love working with: [Principal Consultant] Jill Moats, CPA, [Principal Consultant] Amy Manthey, CPA, CITP, CISA, and [Principal Consultant] Joy Richardson, CPA. Each of them, on different projects, has always stepped up to offer any help they could give, and great guidance. Jill was one of the first ones I worked with. We were [helping] a very large client. And [I was] new, I wasn't sure. And just the kindness and guidance of working with her was wonderful. And Joy and Amy have just been tremendous...giving me good guidance...to get better at my craft, and better at what I want to accomplish, and doing it the “F. H. Black” way—with the highest [standard of] quality we can. That—I should've mentioned that earlier. To me, that's critical. [FHB] always strives for the best quality. And that makes a difference. That makes a difference for your client, too. Q: Can you give me an example of a time when FHB helped you strike work/life balance? A: Yes. I think they do it all the time...for me, it's important, because I came from a world where it was very unbalanced. [I worked] excessively long hours. And...there was no work life balance. But coming to FHB, they really push holistic balance, because they want you mentally healthy, physically healthy. And then you show up being your best self. It took me months to...get out of that unbalanced state, to get back to balance. But the whole time, everyone at FHB was encouraging it. They encourage you to make sure you take the vacation days you're supposed to be taking. They watch over you to make sure you're not working excessive hours...just the other day, we had one team member that had a personal crisis in their life. So, I took the load for a week to help. But I had someone else call me and say “Hey, I understand you're doing this. So, do you need me? I can step in.” That's just amazing. You don't get that very often. Q: What is your favorite thing about working for FHB? A: In my career, I never intended to be in government, ...yet here I spent 20 years of my life. But [in government] I felt like I was doing my little piece to help the whole...to keep it moving. My... public duty. Working with FHB, I feel like I still am, because I'm helping those people [who] are carrying on for government. I'm not in government, per se. But boy, are we helping the ones that are still trying to carry out the duty. I feel like Workiva shifts where you're spending 90% of your time...manually making sure the numbers work...it allows you to shift it to almost 35-40%...the rest of that time now those people get to spend it on doing analytics, and that's [how] you best serve your administrator or your councilman...so, that, to me is my favorite thing. I feel like we're still helping everyone...it's not just [helping people] figure out a software...this is life altering, because you are freeing up their time. I love [the faces] on the clients, when they really see it [working] with their own numbers. Tremendous. And that's a reward. And that makes me feel good. That's a good mission. Q: If I am working in government, and this tool called Workiva is fabulous, why do I need F. H. Black? A: In the cities or counties or states, right now, there's not enough hours in the day to do the workload that you have. The cities and states all took a downturn in 2008 when the economy [declined]. And I truly believe...they've never scaled back up, because they've had such fear of it happening again. So, learning Workiva is a journey in itself. And for the average person [who's] wearing two or three hats... it is amazing to have someone [like FHB] come in. They know how to do it. They know how to implement it; they'll guide you through it. And then [you have] the product on the other end. You're not struggling to create it. Now you're just using it. And that's a different learning mechanism. And I feel like FHB shortcuts that—I would say by a year or so. [They] come in...walk alongside you, create the document for you. [They] show you, help you walk through...now all you have to do is just [make] sure you're using the software appropriately, not learning to create. That's the difference. Q: What do you think FHB gets right with its employees that other companies miss? A: I feel like, not only in government but in private companies as well...it's easy for management to be worried about the result of whatever [they're] doing. But the difference is, I see that FHB balances that result...they want the quality, they would like [the result to come out] the way [it] should be, they want to be the best at what they do. And that clearly echoes throughout the organization. But the difference is, they temper that with—they're not going to risk you as an employee, risking anything about your health, your family, your life. They're not doing that. And oftentimes, you don't see that. It's more just about the result. So...that, again, is leadership down, top down. And I think that's also what makes people very loyal, because they realize you're going the extra mile for them [so] they're going to go the extra mile. [It’s] just a positive loop...I really think FHB does it right. You can find another company that is trying to be number one at what they do. But they're going to risk everything to make themselves number one. This company cares about you...you feel valued, you feel important. And you feel you’re a team member, you're not just an employee number, you're actually a person. So, I can't say enough good things about this company.
Jan joined FHB in 2022. As a Principal Consultant, she trains, guides, and supports our clients throughout their projects. Her experience includes 30+ years in the finance industry, including 20 years in a government setting.
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