Our Leadership Team
Todd MeierPresident | CEO
After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Business in 1980, Todd opened Madison branches for three information technology consulting companies. Two decades later, Todd decided he wanted the freedom that came with running his own business, so he started Beacon Technologies in 1998.
In the beginning, he leveraged the relationships he had established over the years to attract local IT consulting professionals to Beacon, building up a staff of 20 associated within the company’s first year.
Beacon Tech, headquartered on the west side of Madison, has grown to operate in Milwaukee and the Fox Valley, employing 100 associates averaging 12 years of experience.
Todd describes Beacon as an extension of its clients’ workforce planning, rounding out their teams with temporary staffing and contract-to-hire resources, project solutions, executive searches, and full-time hiring. Beacon helps clients enhance their teams’ productivity, improve business processes, and optimize resources for short- and long-term project and staffing solutions and staffing needs.
Stemming from Beacon’s brand of quality talent that Todd has built, he says his clients have increasingly hired Beacon employees to their own payrolls. While most consulting groups would be concerned over losing talent, he considers it both a compliment and an opportunity.
He believes these hires help Beacon maintain stronger client relationships, while often resulting in new business relationships as former Beacon employees sing the company’s virtues to their new colleagues and managers. But the relationship doesn’t end there.
“It’s always been Beacon’s philosophy to maintain strong relationships with current and former employees,” Todd says. “Beacon’s core values instill a passion to encourage a loyalty and community amongst those that cross paths with us.” Todd encourages these relationships through community and charity involvement, golf outings, holiday gatherings, and ongoing interaction.
Todd also prides himself on a powerful staff of recruiters that leverage an innovative approach to keep Beacon’s talent pool full. “Having a seasoned recruiting team creates an advantage, building trust with the resources and anticipating our client’s resourcing needs,” he says.
Through competitive benefits, continuing education, and career development opportunities, Beacon Technologies strives to separate itself from other local IT consulting companies.
“Our clients’ feel well-served because the professionals we send to them are impressive, highly capable individuals who love what they do,” Todd states. “I believe in Midwestern values. Focus on the employee, focus on the customer, and everything else will take care of itself.”
“In these days of expediency and shortcuts, I have been accused of being ‘old school.’ But this is the best way I know to do business in an economic climate no matter how much technology changes. The return on your investment in people will always be a good one.”
Kristen Suttle-EbertVice President, Operations and HR
Kristen has been in the IT consulting industry for 20+ years. She has been with Beacon Tech for 14 years and has held a variety of roles. Currently, Kristen performs the roles of Human Resources Director and Account Executive. She values and works hard to foster a collaborative work environment where staff and consultants work together to grow careers and provide outstanding service to customers.
Kristen has a BA degree from UW-Madison. She also holds PHR and SHRM-CP certifications. Kristen is married with three children. When not working she enjoys spending time with her family and being actively involved in her kids’ school and outside sports/activities.
Our Sales Team
Delight OelerichVice President, Business Development
Delight got her start in the professional world working for a major association in Washington DC that worked with the federal government. This led to Delight working for other organizations in the federal government or that worked closely with them. During this time, she found her knack working for a small staffing company in a sales role.
Delight’s focus on IT staffing and IT consulting began in 1997, and she has remained focused on this type of work since that time. Delight joined the team at Beacon as Vice President of Business Development in early 2017. You will typically find Delight out of the office, meeting with clients or consultants. Delight has found that networking and timing are crucial in her role. She is constantly trying to understand the challenges, culture, and needs of the companies she comes across in hopes that she can find the right fit, beyond just the technological skill sets found in requirements.
Delight grew up in New England and received her Master’s Degree in Human Resource Development, Training and Instructional Design from Marymount University. While she loves spending time by the water, actually getting in it isn’t her favorite thing to do. She found she loves playing tennis and worked her way up all the way to a USTA 4.5 rank and even went to nationals to compete. She plays occasionally still, but more of her time is now dedicated to attending her two sons’ sporting events and activities with her husband. Delight has always had a desire to give back through philanthropic causes in the Madison area including: raising funds for the Madison Children’s Museum and the American Heart Association; giving back to the Salvation Army and Juvenile Diabetes; and dedicating time and effort to support local breast cancer awareness causes and the Clean Lakes Alliance.
Denise OlsonSr. Account Executive
Denise is an experienced IT professional, performing in roles such as Application Developer, Business Analyst, Project Manager and currently serving in the role of Client Manager, Business Development & Resource Manager at Align Healthcare and Beacon Technologies, Inc.
Her specialties include Technology and Healthcare sales, staffing solutions, contract negotiation, and vendor management. She maintains effective relationships with clients by applying industry-specific knowledge and expertise, understanding organizational and strategic direction, recommending and coordinating the delivery of specific industry resources, and facilitating the development, enhancement, and maintenance of a customer’s business systems, processes, and products.
Mike SaundersSr. Account Executive
Mike has been working in the IT consulting industry in Madison, WI, since 2008. He started as an IT Recruiter and moved into an Account Manager role in 2014. He started working with Beacon Technologies in 2018 as a Sr. Account Manager. “I really enjoy client relationship management, as well as recruiting, and I’m able to help out in both capacities at Beacon. The team at Beacon works very collaboratively and everyone is very willing to jump in and help out wherever needed.”
Mike moved to Madison in 1995 to attend UW-Madison, where he graduated with a degree in Sociology. “I knew that I wanted to work in a profession where I’m helping people. I had no idea that I’d end up in IT consulting, but I really enjoy working with people from a variety of cultural and technical backgrounds. It gives me a sense of pride when I’m able to place someone in a great job opportunity. I also really enjoy working with the internal staff at Beacon. It’s a fun, hard-working group that truly cares about the well-being of our consultants and the clients that we support.”
In his free time, Mike enjoys spending time with family and friends. In addition, he enjoys outdoor activities, such as biking, hiking, and attending the many outdoor music festivals in the Madison area. He also coaches youth basketball and enjoys seeing his daughter and her friends playing the game that he loved to play as a kid.
Tom BreySr. Account Executive
Tom has been an Account Manager in the IT Services industry for 20 years and started working for Beacon in 2015.
He enjoys finding quality people and successfully filling niche client needs. He says he likes to find a successful solution for his clients; it does not always have to be a billable resource. Pure information or customer service goes a long way.
What Tom likes most about his job is the everyday challenges and the people, both clients and peers. People would say Tom is a hard worker and a team player who delivers positive results.
Tom grew up in the Green Bay area and still lives not far from the house he lived in during his youth. He enjoys watching his kids grow up and evolve as they tackle life’s challenges. He also loves watching his kids participate in sports, both as an observer and participating with them. Tom coaches youth football and baseball. On Sunday afternoons he can be found golfing or with his family. Tom studied at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and has a BBA. He has completed graduate studies at Cardinal Stritch toward an MBA.
Eric OelhafenSr. Account Executive
Eric has been working in the IT consulting industry for over 25 years and has experience as recruiter, account executive and managing director. He got his start in Minneapolis and also worked in Milwaukee before moving back in Appleton in 1998. What he enjoys most about his role is helping people, whether they have a role that is especially hard to fill or a candidate that is looking for their dream job.
Eric grew up in Appleton, and he and his wife Amy have 3 active teenagers. Most of his time outside of the office is spent coaching or watching volleyball, football, basketball, or baseball games. Once in a while he makes it to the golf course with one of his boys or rides his road bike.
The Fox Cities is a great place to live and raise a family, and Eric is very involved in his community serving on several committees and boards including the Fox West YMCA and the United Way Fox Cities.
Mary Jo SolowiczSr. Account Executive
Mary Jo has a passion for connecting people for success. As a Senior Account Executive, she collaborates with IT and business leaders from the area’s top employers, helping them solve today’s Information Technology challenges by delivering the right technical resources to get things done. Mary Jo has spent her entire career in Staffing and Consulting. She offers expertise in IT Staffing, Resource Management, HR, and Business Management. Outside of work, it is family first and friends a close second. She enjoys spending her time with her favorite people. She also has a love for travel, both near and far, which includes exploring the local restaurants and wines. She also appreciates a good day at home, trying new recipes, or tackling a home improvement project.
Alex GibsonSr. Account Executive
Alex has over 25 years of experience in technology consulting. He has worked with both small and large organizations across various sectors, providing tailored technology solutions to meet their specific needs. With an understanding of emerging technologies and their impact on business operations, Alex has helped clients optimize their IT systems to enhance efficiency and scalability. Alex is also a skilled communicator and collaborator, adept at building relationships with stakeholders and guiding them through complex technology initiatives. Outside of work, Alex enjoys spending time with his wife and five daughters. He’s currently coaching Special Olympics Basketball and Track & Field and enjoys seeing the athletes reach new goals. Alex loves the outdoors, hiking with his dog Mackie, biking, boating and golf.
Our Recruiting Team
Rebecca RosenthalDirector of Recruiting
Rebecca is a Senior IT recruiter with 17 years of experience supporting the Fox Valley/Green Bay/Central WI markets. She has also done some recruiting for Madison and Milwaukee. Rebecca has several years of experience working with the large, national recruiting giants, but loves the feel of the small company with Midwest-based ethics and business practices. Rebecca joined Beacon because of their reputation throughout the state, the strong sales, recruitment and management team, and their commitment to taking care of consultants.
Rebecca likes that Beacon Tech has a family type environment that allows her the flexibility to do her job effectively, build relationships with top IT talent, and truly help them to reach their career goals. She also has the flexibility to take care of her large family which includes three boys (four if you include the husband) and a puppy. She likes to stay active in the IT community in Northeast WI, and you’ll see her face at many of the IT user groups and related events.
Leslie DobbratzSr. Recruiter
Leslie has over 12 years of recruiting experience along with 13 years of sales experience. Leslie has done both agency and corporate full life cycle recruiting for large corporations. Leslie heard great things about Beacon and wanted to work for a smaller, locally owned company with a great reputation where she could use her skills to be a valuable team member.
Leslie is passionate, dedicated, and hard-working. What she finds most compelling and interesting is building and nurturing relationships while remaining challenged to find that perfect candidate in today’s competitive talent market. She listens to the needs of the hiring teams and most importantly listens to the needs of the candidates. She believes in aligning one’s values, desires, and skills to an organization. She loves making a difference!
Leslie has lived in the Fox Cities area for over 25 years. She is married with 3 children and has an adorable golden retriever. She loves gardening, boating, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Tyler EricksonSr. Recruiter
Tyler is a Senior Technical Recruiter who has been focused on IT recruiting since 2010 with a focus on application development, business analysis, and project management recruitment. He’s passionate about building lasting relationships with the people he works with. “I want to be the guy people think of whenever they are considering making a career move.”
In his spare time, Tyler is a huge fan of watching movies in all genres. He also loves playing basketball, softball, and going to several events around Madison.
“The best part of the job is the people. I like the people at Beacon Technologies, and I really enjoy all the IT professionals I work with. It’s great to know I’ve helped so many people, families, and companies over the years and hope I get a chance to help many more.”
Keegan O’BrienSr. Recruiter
Keegan spent the first dozen years of his career working in Appleton as a high school marketing teacher and DECA advisor. In 2015, Keegan transitioned to the private sector, working in marketing for the IT staffing and consulting industry. He joined Beacon in 2018 to bolster their marketing and social media efforts and to assist in recruiting efforts in the Fox Valley and Central Wisconsin markets. In 2023, his role at Beacon shifted to focus solely on recruiting. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Marketing Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.
He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and moved to the Fox Cities in 1989. He makes his home in Appleton with his wife and three children. In his spare time, Keegan enjoys watching sports, with a special interest in his favorite teams: the Green Bay Packers, the Boston Red Sox, and the Detroit Pistons. He is a self-described concert junkie and estimates that he sees at least 50 shows a year.
David WaiteSr. Recruiter
David has been working in the IT consulting industry since 2012. He started off recruiting and moved into account management in 2017 and returned to recruiting in 2022. Dave really enjoys working with both candidates and customers to help solve business problems. Dave grew up in the Pacific Northwest and spent 4 years in the United States Marine Corps before moving to Wisconsin in 2007. David is a graduate from UW Madison with degrees in political science and history. He enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids and watching their many activities. In his spare time, Dave enjoys reading, softball, listening to podcasts, and watching Badgers sports.
Shelley UdellSr. Recruiter
Shelley has over 20 years of experience as a Technical Recruiter. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sociology and received her Technical Services and Certified Staffing Professional certifications from the American Staffing Association. Shelley’s recruiting expertise ranges from project management, change management, user experience design, business analysis, infrastructure, quality assurance, development, engineering and more! She says, “the best part of being a recruiter is helping people find new and interesting challenges to further their careers.” Shelley is owned by her two dogs – a Bull Mastiff/Boxer mix and an Irish Wolfhound. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren, college basketball (especially the Badgers!), finding bargains at area thrift stores, and listening to music. She enjoys traveling when time and the dogs allow.
Our Office Team
Jean BurkeSr. Accounting Manager
Jean has been in the accounting industry for thirty years. She spent twenty years with a public accounting firm working with clients from many different industries. In 2010, she made the move to private accounting, accepting an accounting manager position with a growing construction contractor that had been a client for many years.
Jean joined Beacon in 2018 and serves as the accounting manager. What she loves most about Beacon is the collaborative environment and the “people first” attitude. Her favorite parts of the job are problem solving and implementing solutions to improve processes and reporting.
Jean is married, has two sons, and two young grandchildren who are her pride and joy! In her spare time, she loves spending time with family and friends, following the Badgers, and traveling.
Krista FandekMarketing Manager
Krista is an experienced writer, editor and collaborator who has worked within the marketing field for over eight years. She excels in writing compelling, timely content that is well-executed in format and language. Her marketing knowledge spans the healthcare software and retail industries. Krista is a graduate of UW-Whitewater with a degree in Journalism. She lives in Sun Prairie with her husband, their three children and dog. Krista loves spending quality time with her family at home, especially with a backyard bonfire! She enjoys outdoor activities, including visiting state parks, kayaking and paddleboarding. Krista also has a passion for running, having completed several half marathons and her first full marathon at Walt Disney World in January 2022.
Kelsey KelleyOffice Manager
Kelsey has over 15 years of office management and administration experience. She earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Management from Madison Area Technical College and started working for a small structured cabling contractor before moving into the IT consulting industry in 2011. Kelsey enjoys taking on day-to-day operations and working behind the scenes to help Beacon reach its goals.
Kelsey grew up in De Forest and currently lives in Madison with her family. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends and being active in her various sports leagues.
Sherri LawingerOffice / Accounting Assistant
Sherri has been in the accounting industry for 20 years. She spent 20 years at a public accounting firm starting at an office assistant and moving into the accounting services department where she handled many different clientele and duties from payroll to financial work.
Sherri joined Beacon in November of 2021 and serves as an office manager and will settle into the accounting assistant role once fully trained. Beacon has been very welcoming, and she is looking forward to a long career with the company.
Sherri is married and resides in Mineral Point with their two sons, Leyten and Braxton, who keep her very busy with many sporting events. She also loves spending time with her family and friends and spending time in the kitchen baking.
Brent MitchellAdvisor
With a dynamic career spanning from developer to President, Brent’s passion lies in empowering both our clients and employees to achieve their utmost potential while fostering an atmosphere of enjoyment and growth every step of the way. Brent has learned throughout his tenure that listening to the client, cultivating authentic relationships, and valuing people’s needs are the cornerstones of successful business endeavors. In his free time, Brent enjoys spending time with cherished family and friends, drinking fine tea, and making music.