Bob Barrett
CDIA+, MCIWD, ECMp
CDIA+, MCIWD, ECMp
For the past 6 years, I was a SAP Specialist at Hyland Software, installing, configuring and supporting the SAP integration at many multinational companies. I really love the customer interaction and working with them one on one. I really enjoy the feeling when I see the looks on their faces when everything was done and I knew that somehow the lives of the users was about to become a little bit easier by being able to automate those processes that were at one time manual and labor intensive. Since making the transition to the AFRM® team, I have been exposed to folks in accounting departments and realize that many accounting teams use the same manual process and simple tools with limited automation and evolution. Seeing them light up with excitement at the prospect of having a complete solution created just for them has been priceless! I have never, in my 30-year career, had so many people use the word “WOW” after seeing the solution we were about to implement for them. They are really excited to see that technology has finally arrived to help them with that stressful close period which always occurs each and every month. I get a real kick out of the users who say to me “Wow, I can finally go to my kids school events during the first part of the month. I had nearly given up on the idea of ever doing that.” Those are the kinds of conversations that keep me energized and excited about my job. I may not be saving lives, but I am making the lives of many accounting department staff members a lot easier and that is very satisfying. I go home at the end of the day feeling pretty good about myself, and to my family and me – that’s priceless!

Mark Suomala
MBA
MBA
Over my vast 25+ years career in financial management positions, I have seen many products come and go. I have worked for a Big 4 accounting firm (Deloitte & Touche), several multinational technology companies (DEC, Banyan Systems, Shiva, Intel and Symbol Technologies) and more recently providing consulting services to public and private companies around the globe at my own independent firm . I spent over 15 years of my career involved in the monthly close. It is with great pleasure that I share my business experience with our customers and am excited to be part of the Silicon Valley Accountants team; leading implementations and working with a world class solution like AFRM®.
My current role as the Senior Director of Implementation and Services has been the most challenging and rewarding position I have had to face. When I am on site working with our customers, there is nothing more satisfying when the “light bulb” goes on and I see the user understand. When I hear their stories and experiences with the AFRM® solution, I take great pride knowing we have listened to them, heard what they have said, trained them and implemented a solution in their environment that is changing individuals lives. A user walked up to me and said, “I have just gotten my close to 100% paperless” and we’re extremely excited about having been able to do so.
We make a difference and have an exceptional solution to help businesses improve what they are doing and how they are doing it. Our team brings best practices and expertise to the customer experience to make it the best it can be. We take the time to work with every user to ensure they are proficient with the solution, understand how to use AFRM® and get the maximum benefit out of the solution.
Watching our users grow each month using AFRM® is another great reward for me, knowing we make a difference. Through increased accuracy, visibility and actively managing the close, our customers are improving one of the most critical processes a company has to manage. I am proud to be part of the SVA Team and making a difference each and every day to our customers’ experiences.
MJ Ogrean
CPA
CPA
I have 20 years of experience in corporate accounting, finance, and internal audit and have spent over 10 years working directly with the month end close and reporting processes. I am very familiar with the challenges faced by accounting groups in all types of organizations. I love my role as an AFRM® implementer as I enjoy being an agent for change. Working alongside accountants as they learn a new software tool, a new mindset about their close process, and empowering them to take up their own game is very rewarding for me. In my free time I enjoy being with my family, camping, and gardening. I am an Ohio native, but have lived in Phoenix and Denver and enjoy a change of scenery as well as meeting new people.
Rodney Bogucki
After many years of experience in accounting, I changed jobs to work with a software company. The best aspect of this change is to be part of a team that created and installs a solution for the financial close. There are so many great things attached to this solution that I can see the changes in our clients’ processes and compliancy standards as they would like for them to happen and not because of some vague mandate from the software. When the people we train actually take control of the work they do and feel re-energized, I see the payoff for all involved. Customer satisfaction is important to me and thus, I love to be part of training and to show off the solution. I bring fun and an open attitude to training.