Meet The Team

Joe Bellante

Owner

Jerry Querio

Owner

Eric Larsen

Technology Services

Andrew Kuttler

Risk & Compliance

Michele Bellante

Client Relations

Bill Verbos

Operations

Crystal Giles

Human Resources

Steven Rios

Information Technology

Diane Schmidlin

Business Development

Liz Agoudemos

Project Management

Jenni Kelly

Project Management

Barbara Barkhaus

Accounting

Janet Bollmann

Accounting

Joe Bellante

In 1980, Joe began his career in the financial services industry. His past leadership roles and responsibilities drove Joe, and his business partner Jerry, to open Sand Castle Field Services in 2003. Their vision of running a customer-centric field service company that proactively provides solutions to its partners was created, and has continued to evolve to stay ahead of the industries it serves.

What was your first job?

My first job was when I was 12, in 1967, as a paper boy on Summit Avenue in Milwaukee. In December each year, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel gave away calendars. These were my favorite to deliver because I would receive tips from customers. It was during this job that I met one of the main professional influencers in my life - a property developer that would talk with me about business when I delivered the paper.

If you could meet one person, dead or alive, who would it be?

Warren Buffet and Rodney Dangerfield

Jerry Querio

Jerry began his career in the financial services industry in 1990, serving as Vice President in various roles. This led Jerry, and his business partner Joe, to open Sand Castle Field Services in 2003.

For more than 15 years, Sand Castle Field Services has served its clients by providing the most customer-centric field service experience. The company's ability to be at the forefront of its clients' unique needs stems from Jerry's and Joe's past experiences, and evolves each day from our team's visionary mindset and methods.

What are your keys to being efficient?

My keys to efficiency include listening, observing, and building teams by selecting, retaining, and empowering talented people. Also, gaining consensus decisions, being around forward thinkers, staying mentally and physically active, and observing or learning something new each day.

What are your favorite activities?

Visiting unique places, sports and competitive activities, and exploring new areas.

Eric Larsen

Driving technology, system, process, and automation changes as the leader of our Development, Information Technology (IT), and Management Information Systems (MIS) teams is Eric Larsen, Senior Manager of Technology Services.

To be efficient in the workplace means surrounding himself with, and listening to, people who are subject matter experts. Seeing others achieve success, and helping along the way, is his favorite part of being in management. Eric has been with Sand Castle for almost 10 years.

What was your first job?

I painted a neighbor's house when I was 12. My first real job was detailing cars at an auto body shop, when I was 14.

What college did you attend?

University of Wisconsin

Andrew Kuttler

Risk and Compliance Manager, Andrew Kuttler, has been with Sand Castle for over five years. He attributes planning ahead as his key to managing our compliance needs and for mitigating any perceived risk.

On his free time, Andrew volunteers with ACTS Housing and Broadscope Disability Services, and coaches soccer at an area high school.

Who do you look up to career-wise?

Mark Cuban

What is your favorite quote?

"Only a life lived for others is worth living." - Albert Einstein

Michele Bellante

Client Relations Manager, Michele Bellante, has over 17 years of experience at Sand Castle. Michele's focus is on our clients, ensuring each client's services help them reach their goals and that expectations are exceeded. Her favorite part about being a manager is helping, training, and guiding others to help them obtain their goals within our company.

Outside of the office, Michele's favorite way to spend her day is with her daughter Karlie, her eight nieces and nephews, and the rest of her family. She enjoys going to the movie theater and also going out for dinner.

What is your favorite sport to watch?

Gymnastics

What is your favorite book?

Anything Science Fiction

Bill Verbos

Bill joined our team in November 2018 as our Real Estate Services Manager and currently serves as our Operations Manager. He holds over 30 years of experience in financial services, with previous responsibilities and challenges that many of our clients have today.

Streamlining processes to encourage others to work productively and comfortably is his key to efficiency in the workplace. Helping employees hit goals, accomplish tasks, and achieve results are his favorite parts about being a manager.

What is your passion in life?

Staying young and healthy

What is your favorite way to spend a day away from the office?

Fishing and golfing

Crystal Giles

Human Resources Manager, Crystal Giles, supports our team to achieve career aspirations and strategically helps others fit into ideal roles for personal and professional growth, aligning individuals' strengths with company vision. Crystal builds relationships and helps others build connections to encourage and support collaboration and camaraderie.

Crystal has been with Sand Castle for over 10 years, with previous experience in the banking industry.

Outside of the office, you won't find Crystal watching sports, but you will find her spending time with her passion in life - her family, and continually learning and living the best life.

Are you a sunrise, daylight, twilight, or nighttime person?

Sunrise

What's the one piece of advice you would give others about life?

Don't take life too seriously.

Steven Rios

Prior to running Sand Castle's Information Technology team as our IT Manager, Steve worked in the banking industry, helping drive collection efforts and working as a programmer at a financial services organization.

Steve has been with Sand Castle for almost 15 years, and enjoys being part of office expansion projects, building operations, technology implementations, vendor relations, and security practices.

What are two things you would bring to a deserted island for three months?

A volleyball and an all-inclusive resort

What drew you to work at Sand Castle?

The owners had a vision for conducting field services that emphasized customer service in a way that its competitors were unable to duplicate. I felt strongly that their approach would lead Sand Castle to excel, doing it in a way which I could believe in and lend my full support. I'm happy to see, over the years, the steady growth that comes from this vision.

Diane Schmidlin

Senior Manager of Business Development, Diane Schmidlin, has over 10 years' experience and directs Sand Castle's business development strategy, aligning it with the company vision and objectives.

Working with strong leaders, planning for the future, and seeing all of the cool, successful things the team creates are her favorite parts about being a manager. Being efficient in the workplace means focusing on others' skills, listening, and supporting personal and professional growth and development.

Being active, learning, spending time with family and friends, and meeting new people are Diane's favorite ways to spend her time away from the office.

What are two things you would bring to a deserted island for three months?

A survival book and a water bottle with a filtration system

Are you a sunrise, daylight, twilight, or nighttime person?

Sunrise

Liz Agoudemos

Project Manager, Liz Agoudemos, understands processes - what is currently, what can/should be, and how technology can be leveraged to get there efficiently. She has been with Sand Castle for over 10 years, and throughout her time here, she continues helping drive many process changes, and improving efficiency and quality.

Helping others meet and exceed their goals is one of Liz's favorite management responsibilities.

Her passions in life are cooking and her family, and combining the two can't be beat!

What is the most memorable place you have traveled?

Amsterdam

What is your favorite way to spend your day off?

Getting in a good workout, grocery shopping, and spending time with family.

Jenni Kelly

Project Manager, Jenni Kelly, helps our initiatives move forward each day by facilitating collaboration, aligning projects to company-wide goals, and using planning methods.

Jenni enjoys the daily opportunity to use her skills and experience to make things just a little bit better for everyone. With over 10 years of experience at Sand Castle, Jenni has helped advance many processes, and improved overall team efficiency.

Spending a day in the north woods of Wisconsin at their family cabin, getting in a morning of work, followed by an afternoon on the lake, and ending the night around the campfire is the ideal day outside of the office for Jenni.

What is one food you cannot live without?

Pizza

What are two things you would bring to a deserted island for three months?

A flint and a machete

Barbara Barkhaus

Driving ongoing development of accounting policies and procedures, with a focus on strategic financial planning, is our Senior Accounting Manager, Barb Barkhaus. Barb holds over 30 years of accounting experience with close to five years with Sand Castle. The company's strength, growth, and future projections attracted her to join our team.

Away from the office, Barb enjoys travelling and puts Ireland at the most memorable place she has been so far!

What is your favorite quote?

"Move out of your comfort zone, and you can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - Brian Tracy

If you could be an expert in one thing right now, what would it be?

Veterinary Sciences

Janet Bollmann

Janet Bollmann, Accounting Manager, has been with Sand Castle for more than 10 years and has more than 20 years' experience in banking and financial services. Today, she supervises accounting operations, including accounts payable and receivable. Before re-directing her career, Janet studied in Austria and taught English and German at a local high school.

Outside of the office, Janet volunteers at her church and the Hunger Task Force. She enjoys traveling, and believes Florence, Italy is the most memorable place she has visited yet!

What would your superpower be?

The ability to travel to the past

What's the one piece of advice you would give others about life?

"Chocolate is the answer; the question is irrelevant."