Here are your three candidates and their statements for the 2024 Board of Director Election. Please note the election ends on Monday. You should have already received your ballot. If you have not, please email me asap.
Deadline: February 19, 2024, at 5:00 pm PACIFIC
Steve Iwanowski (serves on the Membership Committee and Content Library Steering Committee)
From the industrial wasteland of Reading, PA but now living in the Amish metropolis of Lancaster, PA, Steve Iwanowski is a 10+ year member of 90Minds and Partner at NextStep Technology Advisors.
As a long-time IT/SQL guy who was tricked into joining the ERP consulting dark side nearly 20 years ago, Steve loves to dig into the technical guts of Sage 100 and Acumatica to discover insights for eager end-users or use scripting to make the data dance in user-pleasing ways. While most of his knowledge comes from making really poor choices, blowing time/cost budgets or utterly failing at implementations, Steve also passes vendor certifications and convinces small schools to provide degrees, such as a Bachelor's in Business Computing from Elizabethtown College and Master's in Business Intelligence from St Joesph's University.
For 90Minds, Steve is currently not doing much on the Membership and Content Library committees and has previously served on the Board Nominating and Platform committees, where Steve helped select Higher Logic (sorry….) and imported all the conversations from SocialCast. When he shows up to Meeting of the Minds, Steve is a frequent speaker and panelist, and has even taught an all-day Pre-Conference session on SQL and Sage 100 Premium best practices that people not only showed up for but also returned for more after lunch.
At home, Steve is married over 20 years to his amazingly-tolerant wife, pets his oversized labradoodle, enjoys chauffeuring his tweenage children to soccer and basketball practices, and commonly misuses the word 'enjoys'.
Doug Higgs (Currently serves on the Education Committee)
There was a chapter titled "Auditing Through the Computer" in my college auditing class. I asked the professor if computers would replace the work of accountants someday. He replied "The computer will never completely replace the accountant's work, however it will replace many of the tasks.". That was the moment I decided I needed to "learn computers" or I may someday be out a job!
I started my career in public accounting with Main Hurdman, a national accounting firm that eventually became KPMG. While working in public accounting I was taking computer science courses at night. My hope was to eventually transition from auditing and taxes to systems consulting.
In 1989 I was hired by Information Science Associates (ISA), a MAS90 and Open Systems Master Developer. At that time it was ISA and Hightower doing most of the MAS90 consulting in Chicago. In late 1992 I started my own company and 30+ years later I am still in business!
My business philosophy is to listen to the customer and to not let my advice be influenced by profit margin. I try to bring a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and sound decision-making to all engagements.
90 Minds
I have been a member of 90 Minds for eleven years and have served on the Education Committee for four years. 90 Minds has been one of the best investments I have made in my business. In addition to the tech support help and what I learn from the other members, the quality of the people I have met has been the biggest benefit.
Education
Master of Science in Computer Information Systems from Boston University
Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Illinois State University
Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the State of Illinois
Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP)
Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA)
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
Personal
Grew up in a town with a population of 2000 in central Illinois. Moved to the "big city" after graduating from college.
I met my wife on Match.com. Neither of us had ever been married and she was living in Mexico City, where she grew up. When I visited her family in Mexico City for the first time, they had a party and were serving tacos and margaritas. There was a pinata and a mariachi band. I was sold.
Our only child, Sprinkles, is a spoiled, six-year-old German Shepherd dog. She loves to play Frisbee with me every day after work. In my spare time I love to cook on the grill or smoker, play golf when the weather permits, and sit on the back porch and look at the birds. Best regards, Doug Higgs
DANA YOUNG
I am thrilled to lead our ERP consulting team at Lehman, Wesley, & Associates, where I've had the privilege of shaping our approach to implementing, maintaining, and consulting on accounting functions using Sage 100/100c, Sage 300/300c, Sage CRM, and Acumatica ERP systems. My journey in ERP consulting began in 2011 when I joined the firm, and I'm proud to have risen to the position of partner in 2022.
Before transitioning to consulting, I spent over a decade as a Controller and MAS90/Sage administrator, gaining invaluable hands-on experience across various industries including service, distribution, retail, and manufacturing. My tenure in these roles instilled in me a keen attention to detail, which has proven invaluable in system implementations, troubleshooting, and project management.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting, with a specialization in Computer Information Systems, from Walsh College. This unique educational background has equipped me with a comprehensive understanding of both financial principles and technological systems, allowing me to bridge the gap between accounting requirements and software functionality seamlessly.
Beyond my professional endeavors, I am passionate about building connections within the ERP community and staying informed about the latest industry trends and innovations. Networking with fellow professionals in the ERP space allows me to exchange insights, collaborate on solutions, and continuously elevate our practices.
Outside of work, my greatest joy comes from spending quality time with my husband, three children, and our newest addition, a playful pup. As a Michigan native, I cherish the warmth of summer and enjoy activities such as golfing, engaging in card and board games, exploring new destinations through travel, and unwinding with a glass of wine on my back deck.
I am excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to further contributing to the growth and success of our clients and our team.
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Anne Sawyer
Executive Director
90 Minds Inc.
Sunset Beach CA
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