Staff Spotlight

Staff Spotlight: Megan Soles CPA, CA, CIA

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. Megan Soles joined FHB as a Principal Consultant in April of 2021. Along with 16 years of experience in the public sector and accounting firms, she brings as a quick sense of humor and a spark of positivity to our team. We recently sat down with Megan to discuss her experience at FHB. Q: What sort of work did you do prior to joining FHB? A: I identify as a recovering auditor. Prior to working at the government, I was an auditor. And then when I went to my local government, I was brought in to bring our financial statements in-house and started looking at our accounting more internally. I later transitioned to budgets, and then FHB. Q: What made you decide to come here? A: The funny thing is, when I first went to my local government, I actually had a call with Jamie (FHB President Jamie Black), because we were looking at bringing statements in-house and using Caseware. So, I reached out to Jamie. And although we couldn't afford it in our budget at the time, I remember thinking that he had a super cool job. I could totally see wanting to do that. So, when I was considering leaving government, the only career page I went to was FHB’s. And I saw that they were hiring. This was the only place I applied. The thought of saving people from the drudgery that I experienced brings me great joy. So, I am a recovering auditor and now a drudgery demolisher. That has been my journey. Q: How did you come to work in Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)? A: When I was working in local government, I had started the training to become an internal auditor, because I wanted to bring some of that into the work. When I transitioned to FHB, there was potential in that area. And because I am an auditor, I really do enjoy that piece. So, I continued the training and got my designation. That's what brought me into the ERM space. My job now is a marriage of both of my roles in one. I was interested in automating financial statements and budgets for the same reason I like working in the GRC (Governance, Risk, and Compliance) space—because I see some of the tools we can offer and how they can save people some of the slog…so they can see the good in what they do. Q: Can you recall a highlight of your time here at FHB? A: I don't know if there's one particular moment, but it’s when we hear how what we've done has impacted our clients. When you hear that someone didn't have to spend all hours working on their budget or financial statements, and they got that time back with their family, or they could do something else with it. That's what makes me happy. Because I used to be one of those people. So, I feel like I'm bringing joy to my peeps. And that brings me joy! That happens a lot. Q: Can you talk about a time that one of your coworkers at FHB stepped in to help you with something? A: I can honestly say that this is the first job I have had where I feel like when I say that I'm tapped, I actually get support. In some of my other organizations, they didn't always have the means to do it. History had dictated to me that if I said, “Hey, guys, I'm drowning,” I would be given a snorkel that was too short, with a hole in it, and told to just figure it out. Whereas here, when I say I have too much, everyone steps in to see what we can do—move the schedule around, take things on—and it goes all the way up to Jamie Black himself. There was a time when I was really overloaded, so he volunteered to co-present something, because I wasn't able to. Everyone here pulls together; that's one of many examples. When you ask for help, you receive it. Q: What's your favorite thing about working here? A: That I'm the dumbest person in the room. The thing I love about FHB is, I work with people who are brilliant, just absolutely brilliant, pushing the boundaries of things, learning more. And we all come from different backgrounds and different expertise, so you don't get that tunnel groupthink. You get to learn so much from everyone else. I don't ever want to be the smartest person in the room. I'm glad to be here where I can learn from everyone, even in areas that I know nothing about. Like Joe (FHB's Sr. Graphic Designer, Joe Gravel) taught me about whitespace, and how formatting and shading matter when building a presentation. You can really bring yourself to the next level here. Q: What do you think FHB gets right with its employees that other companies miss? A: I can say that they help in a lot of ways. If you are having a personal issue, they will step up, and not just help you in work ways, but also help you sort out your problem, volunteer to do other things. The other thing we do well is, I love our culture here! We have a culture where we don't take ourselves too seriously, where it's OK to make mistakes and break things and figure things out. We're in a culture where you can share your experiences, everyone gets to give feedback. And there's no ego here. I noticed that one time when we did see an org chart, it was what I would consider inverted. Jamie was at the bottom of the org chart, and everyone else was above him. And that's not typically what you see. It's a subtle thing. But I think it speaks volumes. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: By surrounding me with people who have expertise and knowledge, who you can bounce ideas off. Another one is giving you the right leverage to do your own thing but being available when you need help. And another way is, we have goals, and we get to be involved in what we want to do here. I'm never told what I'm going to do; I’m asked, “What areas are you interested in? Where do you want to develop?” So, you get to give some feedback, to pick the direction you're going in. I think that helps me. Because you're going to excel in something that really interests you. Q: Where do you see yourself in five years? A: I honestly don't know. And I think that's a great thing. Because we're changing so much, I don’t even know where FHB is going to be in five years. If I think about the stuff that I have done since I started, I was originally hired on with budgets and financial statements. I've done a procure-to-pay implementation, I've done business process reviews, I'm doing this new GRC side. I just assume that whatever I'm doing will be pushing limits and demolishing drudgery—I just don't know in what context. Q: What's it like working for Jamie? A: It's inspiring, I would say. Because you can tell he's very passionate about what he does. That goes a long way for me. I need to know that I'm making a difference. And I don't have to be saving the world. But I do need to know that my work has meaning. You can see it when he speaks, he truly believes in what we do. And I feel like he's very thoughtful in his approach. He’s good at asking for feedback. You're able to give ideas and contribute, and he takes them seriously. He is one of the better leaders I have had. He's very thoughtful and careful in the words he uses. And he thinks about how things will be perceived and doesn't do things off the cuff. Even in some of the difficult conversations we have in staff meetings, I feel like they're very fair and thoughtful. And he has done his best to communicate the message in a way that will hopefully land well with everyone. Q: Tell me about a way in which you've grown or learned something at FHB that really stretched your capability. A: Where to begin? One of the things that interested me when coming here was learning more about technology and software, and how to write the rules, and the mechanics of how it works. Since coming to FHB, I have learned a lot about that, which is super cool to me, because it is a side interest. So, for example, in the GRC space, I'm learning how to write some of the code to make the software look the way it needs to and add the data. I've been learning how to write queries, and that's really interesting to me. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: In lots of ways. People send you little messages, even in meetings, just checking in on you. Or I've had some personal challenges, just with my family, my parents over the last year, and everyone is reaching out and checking in to make sure I'm OK, and following up, which is super nice. If you ask for help, if people can swing it, they'll help you right away. Or even if you just need to have a chance to chat and vent, people are available for that. So, there are lots of ways. Q: How do you strike work/life balance? A: I do like the work from home piece, because even when you are working a lot of hours, you're already at home. And that makes a big difference. So, on my lunch break, I can unload the dishwasher. Or I can put that laundry away that I should have put away like a week ago. You can tackle little things like that. And I get to spend the day with my dogs! Not everyone can say that. And they honestly bring people joy. People look for my dogs now more than they look for me. They don't even care what I have to say they're just here for the dogs.

Principal Consultant Megan Soles, CPA, CA, CIA shares what she loves most about working for FHB.

Staff Spotlight: Michael Spurlin

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. Michael Spurlin has been with FHB for four years. He started as a Solutions Advisor, then departed to accept another opportunity. He soon realized “how good things were” at FHB and returned to accept a new role. The rest is history. Q: What did you do before you joined FHB? A: I started out building learning systems and knowledge-management systems for a telecommunications company. Then I went into sales...mostly things you can't touch, like services. I actually worked for Workiva, one of our solution partners. At F.H. Black we’re responsible for opening the government market in the United States for Workiva. I came here initially in a Solutions Advisor role, helping FHB to grow that space. Q: I know your role has changed quite a bit and you’ve been focusing on demos, client Capstone trainings, and such. Do you feel like you’re cut out for a sales role or more of what you’re doing now? A: In a world of specialists, I'm a generalist who has the ability to excel in either role. There are days when I love selling, I love being in front of clients. And my role now is to be in front of the pre-sales process and do demonstrations or Capstone training, to be client-facing. Having so many years in a sales role, helping people solve problems, has helped that. And it also helps me with projects, so that I'm able to help our clients be successful. Recently, I began demonstrating implementation of Workiva for government reporting automation as part of our bi-monthly webinar series. I’ve also worked on demos for a new product offering we’ve developed. Q: What has been a highlight of your time at FHB? A: You know, it's not a highlight; it's a recurring highlight. I talk to a lot of people who, on Sunday night after dinner, start dreading things because their job stinks. And they are not looking forward to Monday morning. I've never had that feeling on a Sunday night at F.H. Black. So, it's not a pinnacle moment. It's a “my job is better than their job” moment. Every week. Q: Why did you choose FHB—twice? A: The first time, I had a trusted friend who said, “You’ll want to talk to these people at F.H. Black. They're your kind of people.” Jamie Black, FHB President and founder, is one of the brightest people I've ever met. He's very forward-thinking, has a long-term vision. He cares about clients being successful and his employees growing and succeeding. So, that was what attracted me here. When I came back later, the company I rejoined was even better than when I left it. The benefits available, the opportunities for growth, the areas that the company was expanding and growing in, had improved—even in just seven months. There's that constant growth and realizing we can get a little bit better, one percent better every week. And I'd be a fool to pass up a chance to work with Jamie again. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: We have a great people leader here—I don't think we have HR here, I call Kathy (Kathy Drumm, Manager Human Resources, Performance & Development) my people partner. She has demonstrated that she cares about me being successful. My leader Darryl (Darryl Parker, Director, Solutions Design & Architecture) cares about me being successful. Jamie Black cares about me being successful, and colleagues that are lateral or above me care about me being successful. So, it's not the pinnacle moments. It is every day, day in and day out, this company demonstrates that they care about their people—not just me, but everybody. They might not get it right all the time, but when they don’t, they fix it. Q: Can you give me an example of a time when FHB helped you strike work-life balance? A: Having the option to not work on Mondays, having PTO and vacation time, the ability to, within guidelines, manage my schedule with a project as long as I finish my deliverables, and having the tools in place to communicate where I am with project leaders and see what's next—all of that gives me work-life balance. I can work flexibly. There’s no one asking if I’m here at eight o'clock in the morning. And there's no one asking whether I’m here at 10 o’clock at night. We focus on what's right for the client, what's right for the company, and what's right for the employee. That's why FHB isn't a place for everybody to work. It's for people who have to be responsible, who like to solve hard problems with smart people. Those are the kind of people who are successful here. People who are curious, ask questions, can communicate well, and have been successful in other places. So as far as work-life balance is concerned, part of it comes from being with a mature, strong company. And part of it is, I earn that work life balance by being an employee who delivers. Q: We have a unique culture here, and I would say that it's pretty remarkable given that we're all remote workers. So how do you think FHB has managed to assemble such a great team? What do you attribute that to? A: I think the culture doesn't tolerate mediocrity. If you think you're good, but you're not good, you're not going to last here. I've seen people come here who were very good in their pre-FHB roles and they get here and realize that they're with people who are really, really good at their jobs. Some people see that and say, “This is awesome! I'm not the smartest person in the room, but I have a chance to get smarter.” And they roll up their sleeves, ask questions, and get to it. However, some people’s egos are so tied to their job that they can't handle it. And they don't. And FHB is not the place for them. Being a remote culture allows us to attract the best of the best. I've worked a long time and at a lot of different companies, and I'm really good at what I do. And I only want to work with people who are really good at what they do. And I'm okay with people growing. They don't have to be at the top of their game yet. But they have to be ready—they're going to be better in December than they were in January. Those are the kind of colleagues I want. Those are the kind of colleagues I get to work with at F.H. Black. Q: What's your favorite thing about working here? A: I roll into my home office, it's a commute of about 10 steps after I take the dog for a walk. I’ve got me a little tumbler here full of hot cocoa. I can look out my window over here and see the sun rising. I flip on my computer, and I get to solve a cool problem. I get to do that every single day of the week. Elsewhere, there are people who have to fill out some stupid report or do some kind of bureaucratic mess that they're not engaged with and don't love. I get to walk in the door every single morning and help some government financial reporting team solve a problem that they've had for years. And I get to do it with the best people in North America, day in and day out. So that's the best part of my job. Q: What do you think F.H. Black gets right, that a lot of other companies miss? A: Having the leadership whose thought process, decision-making, and strategy have evolved...to be even more relevant than we were 25 years ago. Leadership, thought leadership, the art of long-view thinking—that is huge. Being one of the first people on the bandwagon to say “remote work first” is a value. Knowing to hire talent over title, no matter what. Our recruiting process is good at finding the right person. It's somebody who has something unique and valuable to offer. And knowing that we can hire somebody now, but they're going to actually deliver in 18 months from now—Jamie’s vision for growing this company and seeding individuals into roles so that they grow. It's the culture of evolution and thinking and being relevant. It's the hiring process. It's the remote work first. And it's being so focused on helping government financial reporting teams solve the eight key problems day after day and doing it in the best way. And every client who works with us leaves us happier and better and has an improved process. Those are the things that F.H. Black does, and that separates it from other companies. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: I’ve got two monitors in front of me, I’ve got a kick-ass laptop, I’ve got the equipment to do my job. And I work with really smart people. And if I want to go find something new somewhere else to learn about, I get the resources to do it. I'm going to get continuing education to get smarter, I’ve got benefits so I can go and join the health club and be reimbursed. Whether it's physically, mentally, doing the job properly... I have what I need. It's up to me to show up and just do a killer job. FHB gives me the framework, the scaffolding to be successful, whether it's from technology, benefits, or having great team members to work with. That's what I get.

Technical Consultant Michael Spurlin has been with FHB for four years, though not in a row. Learn what he says FHB gets right that other companies miss.

Staff Spotlight: Rachel Raymond

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. Rachel has been with FHB for nearly seven years. She brings more than 24 years of experience in public accounting and customer relations to our team. As Client Services Manager, she focuses on client recognition and retention. She also works on accounting processes, finding new ways to increase finance department efficiency, effectiveness, and accountability. Q: Before you came to FHB, what were you doing? A: I was a staff accountant at Critical Control Energy Services in the Calgary, Alberta oil and gas industry. I was in charge of their accounts receivable department and invoicing for seven different products and seven different managers, which probably totaled about $11 million a year. I lived by the calendar. I had to complete month-end by the third day of the next month. So, I could never take any vacation. And I did that for many, many years. Q: What is a highlight of your time at FHB? A: One is coming on as a marketing administrator, which was very much out of my wheelhouse. But FHB gave me the opportunity to learn a whole new industry and work with great people. The second is being promoted to the client success manager role. I think it's a perfect fit for my personality and experience. Q: What's the best part of your job? A: The best thing about my job is working with the people here and working with my clients. Q: Tell me about a time a coworker stepped up to help you on a project. A: It's not a specific project. I receive ongoing help and support from our project management team and consultants on a daily basis, with ongoing projects and especially with our support site. That's the beauty of great team support from all over. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: The continued check-ins from HR and management, providing guidance and assistance, allowing flexibility to do my job, allowing me to outline my job duties and go to them with anything that I have issues or trouble with. They're very supportive. Q: Do you feel like they trust you to do your job? A: Yes, I feel they do trust me. They have given me many responsibilities. I have access to a lot of systems, software, platforms. I work with everybody in the company. So, I get to learn a lot. Q: How do you think we've ended up with such a great culture and great group of people? A: I think it’s management mainly, they're always open to suggestions. It's never “No,” it's always well, let's talk about it. Things like that. And I think Jamie (FHB President Jamie Black) is very knowledgeable about finding out what's the best thing for his employees. What are other organizations doing? What are they not doing? Q: What opportunities have you had at FHB to learn and grow? A: Working with the project management team and through all the implementations we've been doing. We've had such a variety of implementations and a variety of clients. I think wearing many hats and doing many things helps a lot in my role. Q: What the most rewarding part of your job? A: When we complete an implementation and get to tell a client’s success story, that makes me the happiest. Q: How does FHB allow you to strike work/life balance? A: Being allowed to work remotely, but also being allowed to work anywhere in the world. It's allowed me to travel, spend more time with my family that lives far away. To me, that's the most gratifying thing I could say about my job...it just means a lot that they trust you to be elsewhere. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: I always feel that I have support from the different teams at FHB, which allows me to do a better job when it comes to communicating with clients and resolving client issues. I get a lot of feedback from the Principal Consultants, whether I’m taking care of new clients or existing clients. There's so much history to learn and gain from our large list of clients. Q: What do you think FHB gets right with its employees that other companies miss? A: Keeping the staff engaged across all the departments and addressing issues, challenges. And then getting resolutions as a whole. A decision is not always made by one person. We chat a lot about it within the departments, and then as a whole. For instance, with company goals, at the end of the year, we talk about what we've accomplished and what we're striving to do for the next year. I think keeping us all engaged, all at the same time, is good. Q: Where do you want to be in five years? A: In five years, I can see myself heading a large client success department at FHB. Q: Is there anything else you'd like to add? A: It's a great place to work. I like the people. I like my job. I look forward to going to work every day.

Client Success Manager Rachel Raymond brings decades of experience to her role. Learn what's important to her as FHB's face to the customer.

Staff Spotlight: Michael Hawley

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. Michael Hawley joined FHB four years ago, bringing more than 10 years of consultative and strategic solution-selling experience with state and local governments. He takes a client-first approach, helping governmental finance and budget teams to identify, implement, and maintain the best available technology to meet their needs. Q: Before you came to FHB, what were you doing? A: I worked for one of our business partners, Questica, which is a point solution for budgeting. Prior to that, I worked for Workiva, another one of our business partners, which has been very helpful in my role at FHB. Q: Why did you join FHB? A: I had the opportunity as a business partner to work with Jamie (Jamie Black, FHB President). When I would talk to organizations about their implementation and how it went, they would always say, "We just love the budget book," which was done by Jamie and FHB. And I would think, “What about my stuff?” The first thing they would bring up was their experience with F.H. Black. Sooner or later, I figured out, I can't beat him. So why don't I join him? Q: What is a highlight of your time here? A: The highlight is definitely the people, the culture. We're all trying to create that positive client experience. We're all rowing together. I mean, we laugh together, we cry together, we work together, we don't point fingers. It's just that culture. Q: Is there anything that you've learned here that you didn't anticipate learning? A: It's interesting. Typically, when you're coming from the software side of the house, and you're selling a subscription or a license, you don't realize the number of details that go into a proper implementation. At FHB, we try to do everything we can to set clients up for success. And still, sometimes there are hurdles. Maybe the client loses a team member or maybe something happens on our side, like (God forbid) COVID, those types of things. Just seeing how much effort and attention to detail it takes to make sure we're hitting the mark—I wasn't exposed to that at other organizations. Q: For organizations that choose to self-implement solutions rather than partner with FHB, what are they missing out on? A: They don't usually hit stride until year two or three. Whereas if they work with us, and meet us halfway, we can hit it out of the park in year one. Not to say that they can't get there on their own. But they’ll still oftentimes miss out on a lot of functionality. And it's unfortunate because they're paying the full price. Q: How has FHB demonstrated that they care about you as a person? A: It's every day. It's how we work together, how we work as a team. We're a big family here. And you see it when folks have challenges, or something comes up—life—we all come together and figure out how we can help each other out. I've been lucky, I've had good health. I've haven't had that challenge. But if something were to come up, boy, Jamie would figure out how to make something work long-term. Q: Can you tell me about a time that a coworker stepped up to help you on a project? A: Yeah, right now. And it happens all the time. If I'm double-booked or have a challenge, if I'm going on vacation, I can always reach out to my fellow Solutions Advisors—Justin, Flavin, or Dustin, for support. Right now, I've got a project where I can't meet with eight people all at once. So, I'll say “Hey, Flavin, can you help me out?” We know we're on the same page; we collaborate, we talk to make sure we make it work. With other organizations, at the executive leadership team level, that support kind of falls off. But here, we have it not only at our colleague level, but at the executive team level as well. Jamie will jump in; if I need something, he will help out to make it happen. Darryl (Darryl Parker, Director, Solutions Design & Architecture)—I mean, the entire team, across the board, everyone will help you out in any way they can. Q: What's your favorite thing about working here? A: It's the people. It's the culture. Like we said, we're all in one boat. We're rowing together, committed to client success. We're all remote. But it seems like I know people better here in different departments or areas, because we're not siloed. You could go to a brick-and-mortar building, and a colleague could be right behind you, and you don't even know who they are. Whereas we're on the phone working with each other as a team. It's almost like we know each other. Q: How does FHB support you to do your best work? A: It's always having the CPAs, our Principal Consultants, to reach out to for support, based on the type of implementation or technology we're discussing with organizations. If I need a Principal Consultant on a call to provide their particular expertise, they're always happy to jump on board just to make sure that we're setting the right expectation, and we can hit the mark. Q: What do you think FHB gets right that a lot of employers miss? A: It’s just treating people like people. No one's a number here. There's a heavy investment to get employees up to speed. What we do is kind of unique. We're not selling software, but we kind of help software vendors sell their software. We focus more on the implementation. Basically, our name means everything. One failed implementation is horrible. Whereas other vendors don't really care about meeting or exceeding client expectations. Huge difference there. And that's where I think most companies miss it. If they're publicly traded, come hell or high water, they've got to hit their number. They don't care how they get there; whereas we're always trying to set the right expectation.

Solutions Advisor Mike Hawley brings 10+ years of state & local government solutions experience to his role. Learn what he enjoys most about working here.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Beyond Job Descriptions: The Team Behind FHB's Success