Shantel Roberts has always been a “numbers person,” but her love for financial analysis began in her high school accounting class.
Her passion for crunching numbers stuck with her long after that first introductory course. She obtained an MBA with a concentration in accounting from Lindenwood University near St. Louis, Missouri, and decided to pursue a career in public accounting. Unfortunately, she found the day-to-day tasks at accounting firms to be tedious, demanding and monotonous.
On her quest to find a job with a better work-life balance and more fulfilling projects, she stumbled upon Barry-Wehmiller and liked what she saw. She accepted a position as a Senior Tax Analyst eight years ago and was immediately able to see the bigger picture in her work, not only in her tasks but also in the way she was treated by others. She is now a Senior Treasury and International Trade Analyst on the BW Corporate Finance Team.
“I would say it's definitely a healthy family environment,” Shantel said. “A lot of people on my team, they have families, so I think that helps them put into perspective the type of environment they want to set for the rest of the team members.”
Hailing from a close-knit family in rural, southern Illinois, it was important for her to join a company with family values similar to her own. Outside of work, her hobbies include golfing, bowling and motorcycling along the open road with her two sisters.
Shantel has also participated in BW’s internal developmental learning courses. In 2008, we founded Barry-Wehmiller University, a learning program that provides a dynamic educational experience for team members. When Shantel took the “Listen Like a Leader” course, she had the profound realization that she could do a better job of listening to others.
“We had all kinds of different tools that we worked through, and yeah, it was a bit eye-opening because, like, 'OK, well, maybe I'm not really listening to the person that I'm talking to,'” Shantel said. “I think that was probably the most eye-opening thing for me, that I could be a better listener.”
Deep, reflective listening is a core aspect of our Truly Human Leadership culture, and it is one of the ways we show we care for others, inside and outside the office.
“I do feel like it is a very personable place,” Shantel said. “It is a great environment to work in. When I'm just up on the floor that I work on, I'll pass an executive in the hallway, and they'll know my name. I don't feel like I'm just another employee or just a number.”
And while Shantel herself does not feel like a number, she finds her time working with them to be much more rewarding than in her previous accounting positions. Specifically, she enjoys the challenges that each acquisition brings to her team.
Our acquisitions — or adoptions, as we like to say — are a core part of our culture. We view our acquisitions as more than just the financial statements Shantel works on. We see them as people with families and futures. Each challenge the Finance Team works through does more than just help them from a business standpoint; it makes sure their legacies endure for future generations.
We believe that leaders have the duty of giving those in their care a grounded sense of hope for the future. We see the importance of creating human and economic value in harmony. After all, one of the most fundamental ways we care for our team members is through a strong business model that ensures they go home feeling comfortable that they have a strong future with us.
“I would say if you want to work for a company that values you, that genuinely cares about you, then I think Barry-Wehmiller would be a great place,” Shantel said. “It is a company that is growing. We did survive a global pandemic fairly unscathed, and we do acquire a lot of companies often, so I feel like there's good job security, and I do feel like it's a company that will be around for a very, very long time based on the growth that we are seeing now.”
Better Work. Better World. is a video series designed to shine a light on team members throughout the global Barry-Wehmiller organization. Watch the video through the link above for more.