This month SuCo wants to spotlight our very own, Art Landrey. If you look in the dictionary for the word “Resourceful,” you will see a picture of Art waving back at you. He’s a teammate who you can throw anything at, and he’ll get it figured out! In just the past few months, he has been exposed to concepts and terms that he has never had to work on or be exposed to, yet he has handled the transition with such grace. And, quite frankly, that speaks to Art’s greatest quality – no matter what he’s tasked with, he approaches it with a smile, a calm and comforting demeanor and a can-do attitude! Take a minute to learn a little more about Art…
How has SuCo evolved over the years since you first started working here?
When I first interviewed with Suited Connector in 2014, this is what the office at the Centennial airport looked like.
It was a humble but exciting beginning to an amazing career here at SuCo. I saw the company grow from 8 people to 100+ as well as 4 different home office locations. The advancement of our technology stack has been amazing to see and how it has supported the growth of the company. I also have had the privilege to cross over to different areas within the company which has given me great perspective on how critical all the cogs are in this machine, and how truly awesome the people are that keep us moving forward.
If you could instantly master another skill, what would it be and why?
I have always admired the craftsmanship of woodworking and the amazing and functional pieces that can be created by dedication and attention to detail. That would be an amazing skill to obtain instantly. I would be living the Ron Swanson life (I am already pretty good at eating meat).
If your life had a theme song, what would it be?
Tubthumping by Chumbawamba because life can be full of knockdowns, but you’ve got to get up again and again and don’t let anything keep you down, because there is so much good in the world for us all to enjoy.
If you could only listen to one music album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
There are so many good ones that I associate with different moments and situations in my life that I could not narrow it down to one. I would have to sneak a couple extra in…
Songs from the Big Chair – Tears for Fears (first album purchased)
Kick – INXS
Metallica – Metallica
Awake – Skillet
Pyromania – Def Leppard
The Greatest Showman Soundtrack
…. many more …
SuCo Spotlight September ’23 – Matt Crist
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our Account Manager of Insurance Sales, Matt Crist. Since day one Matt has been eager to grow in his role and expand his responsibilities. In a very short period of time he proved to be an enormous asset to the organization and was promoted to a Manager role. Matt is a rock; he is always available and is constantly pushing his buyers into new areas and driving new business initiatives. He never shies away from a challenge and through his exemplary work ethic, he challenges those around him to be better. Take a minute to learn a little more about Matt…
What is your favorite client moment to date and why?
I thought about this one hard and I don’t have a particular favorite client moment. Being on the sales side of the business, I really enjoy establishing a unique relationship with every one of our clients. Each conversation is different and needs to alter based on what their end goal is trying to accomplish. What I enjoy most about that is being able to take clients’ from the prospective phase of not knowing much about one another, all the way through to a long-term partnership where we can establish trust. I also enjoy getting clients out for activities such as sporting events, golf and entertainment where we get to connect on a personal level outside of work.
What is your favorite thing about being in the lead gen space?
One of the best things about being in the Lead Gen space is every day is a new day and you never know quite exactly what you are going to get. This industry allows us to think on our toes and constantly problem solve, which makes it challenging but enjoyable week in and week out. Lead Gen is constantly evolving which provides opportunities for innovation and exploring new ideas to bring to market. Another portion of the industry, being on the client facing side that I enjoy, is the small industry feel. Going out to conferences, strengthening relationships, and being able to turn to your right or left knowing mostly everyone provides a community that I believe sets us apart from a lot of other industries.
Now that football season is back, who is your favorite football team and why?
San Francisco 49ers. I grew up in the Bay Area, Palo Alto, for most of my life before heading down south the last few years in San Diego. My Dad used to take me to games growing up at Candlestick Park where I used to root for players like Jeff Garcia, Kevin Barlow, and JJ Stokes. I also played football growing up all throughout grade school. Most of my closest friends I still keep in touch with today originated from those days, so it’s safe to say, football has played a big part in my life. Now being able to watch the team turnaround and have a real shot at winning the Superbowl this year has been exciting to see unfold. I am excited to go back to the Bay Area for the Bengals game at the end of October and who knows, maybe a playoff game or two in January are in store for the near future. Go Niners!
SuCo Spotlight July ’23 – Jeremiah Ware
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our Data Warehouse Manager, Jeremiah Ware. Jeremiah has been with SuCo as a contractor and employee for over five years. Jeremiah has worn several different hats at SuCo, from PHP developer, C# developer, to his current role of managing our Enterprise Data Warehouse Team. Jeremiah was given the task of converting a poorly performing SQL warehouse into a new technology stack and he and his team have done a brilliant job with the conversion! Jeremiah is constantly looking at ways to improve efficiencies and reduce overall tech spend. Jeremiah is a great team player and is always willing to lend anyone a hand! Take a minute to learn a little more about Jeremiah…
How do you keep your tech skills current?
Short Answer – Some people play video games or do hobbies in their free time. I often focus on programming and continual learning in my free time.
What project are you working on now that you can share?
We spent the last year using multiple paid SaaS tools, such as FiveTran and Cloud DBT, to quickly build out our Enterprise Data Warehouse in Snowflake. Using those services, we were able to trade speed for developer time. Now that the data warehouse is fully operational, we can focus on specific ways to reduce costs, improve performance, gain flexibility and ultimately meet the needs of the company. The team I work with is currently working to replace some of these SaaS tools by building our own internal tools building data models.
What makes you smile here at SuCo?
The people here at SuCo have a “Can Do, Will Do” attitude. We try to never let red tape, bureaucracy, things being too difficult, not enough resources or excuses get in our way of getting stuff done.
If you could watch one movie on repeat, what would it be and why?
There are several movies through the years that I could watch on repeat, but as of late, I’d say that there are two in particular. First is Major Payne – my kids think it’s hilarious, and they have recognized that many of my one-liners and how I interact with my boys when I’m trying to be funny, points back to Major Payne. The second is Transformers 4: Age of Extinction, and in my opinion, is the best in the series. From the original cartoons and the first full length animated movie until now, I have always thought of Optimus Prime as the ultimate good guy, superhero and leader.
SuCo Spotlight June ’23 – Courtney Kranz
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our Operations and Data Manager, Courtney Kranz. Courtney has been an integral part of the SuCo team for almost four years now. During her tenure, she has helped as an Office Manager, Ops Leader and Data Manager all the while showing great grit and determination to move our business forward. She is a rock solid performer who dives into all our verticals, is a vital key in managing our data flow to our business partners, always has a pulse on company culture and does it all with a team first attitude. We are thankful for the years of dedication and hard work, for all these reasons and more, we have chosen to spotlight Courtney this month. Take a minute to learn a little more about Courtney…
How has SuCo’s mentorship program helped you with your professional development?
This program and Christina Olver (my mentor) have helped me grow as a leader and given me an opportunity to learn leadership skills that are oftentimes learned only from experience. We’ve covered topics such as delegation, performance management, and communicating up. I joined this program just as I was becoming a leader and having a mentor to work with on the new world of management was so helpful because being a good leader isn’t always intuitive. Part of it is learning through experience and through others so having valuable advice and insight from Christina really helped shaped who I am as a leader. I so appreciate that SuCo offered this opportunity, and that Christina shared her time with me as she runs the Home Services vertical and is absolutely killing it!
What keeps you motivated and focused each day?
My husband and I have a spunky and sassy two year old daughter so most everything I do is motivated by those two. Working at SuCo keeps me motivated and focused for a number of reasons. One is that there is so much to do all the time, so I have a lot to focus on. More seriously, I’m lucky enough to be surrounded by incredible people who keep me motivated and focused by their example and kicking butt every day. One thing I have always loved about SuCo is that creativity and thinking outside the box is always welcomed and encouraged. I love having the ability to make direct impacts–that in itself keeps me motivated.
Who are some of your biggest influences and why?
My Grandmother is one of my biggest influences. She passed away 6 years ago but I strive to be like her–she worked so incredibly hard her entire life and did everything with love and kindness. She also made the best pies so I use her as inspo there as well 🙂 I also just have to mention Taylor Swift (I’m going to her tour stop in Denver in a few weeks!!) as one of my biggest influences because the drive and determination she has is unparalleled.
If you could be any cartoon character, who would you be and why?
Eliza from The Wild Thornberrys because I love to travel and loved that show growing up!
SuCo Spotlight May ’23 – Ken Leung
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our Associate Director of Marketing, Ken Leung. Ken joined the SuCo team a little over two years ago and has made a tremendous impact on our Owned & Operated suite of products. Ken has become an expert in all-things Insurance marketing and is now recently diving into the deep end of Home Services marketing. Ken is always willing to lend a helping hand and provide valuable and actionable insights. One recent example was providing great creative advice to a team member based on data he was seeing, which was quickly implemented and allowed her to continue to scale her campaigns to new heights. Take a minute to learn a little more about Ken…
What has been your most meaningful accomplishment so far at SuCo?
Early on, we spotted a trend towards user generated content and took a big swing towards that. Though this was something I didn’t have prior experience with, it was exciting and different, and we needed some kind of validation of proof of concept. I started to create original content where I would act, film, edit, and produce ‘TikTok style’ ads. I believe we were one of the first movers within our verticals to do this style of advertising and that bet paid off big time. Today we use the learnings and data from those tests and use that to guide how we approach creative strategy.
What do you enjoy most about your role here at SuCo?
Hands down, the people. I’m fortunate to work with so many talented, humble, and collaborative co-workers across multiple business units within the company. In the last two years, I’ve worked with teams within home services, insurances, product, analytics, operations, tech and everybody that I have worked with has been so approachable, personable, and passionate about what they do – and that really makes working at SuCo enjoyable.
If you could pick any superpower, what would it be and why?
Time travel would be pretty cool. I would love to go back in time and win the lottery in the future.
What is your favorite quote or motto?
Everything starts with the belief that you can do it. You’ve got to believe in yourself first.
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our talented Content Marketing Manager, Anna Crochet. Initially joining SuCo as an email marketer, it quickly became abundantly clear that her skills and experience were needed for a project with a larger scope. Anna is now managing content generation and organization as part of our new Content Team. She’s building out new customer journeys within our new branded websites launching in H12023, creating new opportunities in our home services, insurance, and mortgage verticals. Anna’s creativity, can-do attitude, diligent work ethic, and eye for opportunity will continue to be potent fuel for SuCo’s continued success. Take a minute to learn a little more about Anna…
How has your role evolved since working at SuCo?
I joined the email team last May and since then have pivoted to working alongside Jay Knight on the content team – which has been such an incredible experience! Since working in content, we’ve gotten to work with teams across the company to build 2 new branded websites, with 4 more in the works. It’s been really rewarding seeing these projects come together from start to finish! I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to jump back into the world of content, and to have the freedom to be creative and bring new ideas to the table.
What inspired you to join the SuCo team?
SuCo was hands down the best interview process I’ve ever been a part of. From the start, the team made me feel valued and I could tell the team was full of amazing, hardworking people. In the past year working at SuCo, everyone has been incredibly willing to help and encouraging. The people are what make a great work culture – and SuCo has some of the very best!
What would a perfect weekend look like for you?
Anything outside! I love spending time in the mountains with friends hiking, skiing, brewery hopping (extra points if there’s a good happy hour) or seeing live music.
This month SuCo wants to spotlight the leader of our Compliance team, Heath Clinger! Heath hit the ground running day one with demonstrating a keen understanding of how to partner with the business, while shouldering the responsibility of managing risk across the organization.
Behind the scenes, Heath manages licensing requirements, tracks marketing efforts and new engagements to mitigate risk, fosters strong relationships with internal teams as a trusted business partner, and manages regulatory and customer care processes.
Heath is not only a welcoming and friendly presence at SuCo, but also one of the kindest individuals you will meet. His commitment to taking on the most daunting of challenges and saying, “I can figure this out,” is truly commendable. Take a minute to learn a little more about Heath…
What is your proudest accomplishment at SuCo?
My parents taught me to be humble and I generally try to view progress in terms of setting new baselines rather than reaching a goal but, since you asked, I have to say that the team’s efforts in Medicare last year was a proper uphill climb. Everyone really rallied around the cause, and I was glad compliance could contribute. Of course, there’s more climbing to do this year!
What do you find most rewarding in your role at SuCo?
Our Legal and Compliance team has its hands in just about everything. I never feel better than when I’m able to help a team member move forward with a better understanding of the “why” that guides a decision. I have a diverse background and a natural inclination to really understand the nuts and bolts of how things work. When my job and my interests come together to help a teammate, that’s a good day!
What advice would you give to someone who might want to join our team?
When I think about a “good fit” at SuCo, it really has to be someone who is excited about coming to work to make a difference. That’s so cliché, but I’ve worked places where simply suggesting process improvements makes you an outcast. It’s like that scene in the movie Big when Jon Lovitz tells Tom Hanks to slow down because he’s making everyone look bad. With the amazing team at SuCo, I think there’s not only an openness to improvements but there’s a standing green light to implement them. Nobody here holds you back from a good idea!
What’s on your bucket list this year?
(Aren’t bucket lists things to do before you die?) I really like challenging myself with DIY projects. My wife thinks (and a photo of my garage supports) that maybe I like starting them more than finishing them, but the truth is that I don’t have a lot of free time, so I’m only interested in the part that’s hard to figure out, then I move on. Google Photos reminded me of an electronics project that turned 2 years old last week. Maybe I’ll resolve to wrap that up.
This month SuCo wants to spotlight the Queen of all-things 3PO, Jennifer Kingston! Jenn joined in June of 2021 originally on the Mortgage Lead Buyer team where she worked for almost a year. After an opportunity opened to oversee the 3PO side of the Affiliate Team, Jenn rose to the challenge! It was a perfect fit, given her extensive background in the role previously. She continues to find new, creative ways to collaborate both with internal and external marketing channels to find incremental wins. Not only does Jenn excel in 3PO but she has been paving growth in verticals like Debt Consolidation, Home Services, Mass Tort, Credit Reporting, and more. Her versatility has been a huge asset for her, and SuCo is a stronger company because of it. Big props to “Lead Jenn” for all her hard work! Take a minute to learn a little more about Jenn…
How does your role impact the overall success of SuCo?
My role directly opens additional verticals for our traffic partners enabling us to provide an extensive catalog of opportunities for them to explore. I help with improving the bottom line, through the ability to further monetize our data, and act as a vehicle for SuCo to expand our buyer partnerships and explore other digital marketing opportunities.
What motivates you to give your best to SuCo every day?
I grew up in a working-class town where so many people never had a chance to realize their dreams or have a career or go anywhere for that matter. That could have easily been me. This will forever fuel me to be the best I can be anywhere I am given the opportunity to work, share my knowledge and be part of a team. With that said, I am so grateful to have been hired to be part of the Suited Connector team in 2021. The team here has further motivated me to push myself to go above and beyond. My co-workers here at SuCo are easily some of the most talented, forward-thinking, knowledgeable and humble people that I have had the pleasure of working with. It’s like – when you are in the presence of greatness, you too are inspired to be great!
This month SuCo wants to spotlight our veteran technology beast master, who also just celebrated his five-year SuCo anniversary, Andrew Smith.
When Andrew first arrived at SuCo, he was welcomed with the task of re-architecting our entire system. This was not an easy task, especially since we had to maintain rapid growth, yet build something that could scale into the future. But Andrew did just that! Not only was he an integral part of the design and development, but he was also building a team that could (and can!) support the system going forward. Andrew has extensive knowledge, experience and is a leader you can always count on. Anyone who wants to know anything about our entire software stack or technology in general knows who to go to, Andrew. Take a minute to learn more about Andrew…
What is the most unique part about working at SuCo?
SuCo is a dynamic and highly agile workplace with plenty of project diversity and challenge. I really love to be busy and fully engaged and SuCo provides that on a daily basis. I enjoy being able to constantly grow and work on new and challenging projects.
What projects are you most excited about working on at SuCo in 2023?
No one project stands out at the moment, but all of our projects have their own excitement and challenges. I am, however, excited to be in a role where I can leverage my experience to assist our Technology team and support our business partners. I really enjoy bringing our various teams together on projects and translating business requirements into detailed technical requirements. It is very important that all our teams have a common understanding of what each project entails so that we succeed as an overall team in delivering value to the business.
What is your favorite part about being a leader at SuCo?
I enjoy being able to help our excellent team of engineers and support staff in any way that I can. It is fulfilling to see younger team members maturing and moving up in the organization. I fully believe that it’s much better to share knowledge than to keep it to yourself.
What do you like to do on the weekends?
My wife and I enjoy meals out at restaurants and watching TV and traveling. I enjoy playing video games and occasionally a good sporting event. We love to get together with our 2 sons Bryden (26) and Ian (21) and share a meal or watch a movie or play a game.