At VPCS, we continue to enjoy steady, carefully managed growth as we approach our thirtieth year in business. Just a decade ago, we had ten active clients. Today, we’re supporting nearly 25 PreK-12 districts throughout California and boast an employee roster of more than 50 talented professionals. Those numbers will only increase as we maintain our strategic momentum.
We recently made some personnel adjustments on our leadership team to accommodate this expansion. First, Kelli Van Pelt Jurgenson and Eric Van Pelt both now hold the title of executive vice president, continuing to collaboratively guide the company towards its future. We could not be in better hands.
Additionally, these valuable team members have been promoted:
Christine Scheffer to Vice President of Operations. One of our first-ever employees, Christine Scheffer has worn a lot of VPCS hats over the years. The bulk of her responsibilities now focus on HR and finance, which are key functions as we continue to add to our employee roster. “Our company culture has become so well defined in recent years,” said Christine. “Now that we have more than 50 employees, it changes things – not only with regard to how we adhere to California employment laws, but it means that more of our people can specialize. When we were a smaller operation, our people wore a lot of hats. Now we can focus on specific roles, which helps us do an even better job for our clients.” Christine has recently added some credentials next to her name, having secured PHRca (Professional in Human Resources – California) and SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional) certifications. “Studying for these certifications has given me important new tools that help ensure we’re complying with state regulations now that we’ve grown to the 50+ size,” she said. Kelli Van Pelt Jurgenson sums up how valuable Christine is to the company by saying, “Christine is our unsung hero. She does things every day that support every single person in this company.”
Jennifer Gibb to Vice President of Business Development. In her time with VPCS, Jennifer Gibb has made an indelible mark on our business, helping to broaden our reach into new districts and new regions throughout California. “I’m really proud of how successful we’ve been in recent years to bring our specific brand of customer service – what we call the Van Pelt Way – to so many new communities around the state,” said Jennifer. “As we continue to grow, and grow thoughtfully, I’m looking forward to helping our executive leadership meet this company’s expanding goals. Plus, we’re always mindful about supporting our own employees as we add to the roster, managing growth in a way that supports our clients and personnel equally.” Kelli Jurgenson noted that Jennifer possesses particularly valuable relationship-building skills, both within VPCS and in the industry, which makes her especially good at her job. “Having someone who is so future-minded be involved in the discussion about the company’s strategic trajectory is going to be so important going forward,” said Kelli.
Please help us congratulate all of these VPCSers.
September 23, 2024