Interim Spotlight: Yvonne Berry, CPA, MBA

Interim Vice President for Finance & Administration at Carroll University

What is your interim assignment, and could you tell us a little bit about it?

I’ve been serving as Interim Vice President for Finance & Administration at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin since December, 2017. My assignment is scheduled through June 30, 2018.

I’m serving a new President who is smart, charismatic, and runs at a pace that is energizing, inspiring, and sometimes hard to keep up with. Her commitment to transparency and integrity in all aspects of running the University is a good match to my professional values and personal style.

What motivated you to pursue this particular assignment?

We all have a story. I was a new widow when The Registry sent out the Carroll announcement, so I viewed the potential assignment from a place of what was best for me during this time of vulnerability. I was not ready to serve an institution with serious financial issues, but I was very ready to engage with an institution which desired the breadth of my experience, skills, and character to add real value during my service. The announcement described the institution as financially sound, and the new President as someone who wanted a partner in helping her to create a solid foundation for her Presidency. It was, and continues to be, a near-perfect fit.

What has been the most challenging and most rewarding aspect of your placement thus far?

My greatest challenge has been to scavenge the depths of the financial infrastructure to uncover otherwise unclear policy and financial decisions, and to determine their efficacy in creating a forward financial plan. With the support of a terrific staff – possibly one of the best I’ve ever worked with – we have been able to develop a clear budget for the coming year, and to address policies and practices which will sustain a healthy operating environment. These changes will inform and support the University’s developing strategic plan.

What is something unique about you that you think has prepared you to serve as an interim?

While my contemporaries were moving to the warmer climates of the South, I did just the opposite. A native Floridian who had never seen a snowfall, I moved to Maine in my late 50’s. The simplicity of living in the far north, with its strong sense of community, real seasons and lush, mountainous landscapes, is nourishment for my soul. I also learned that I am adaptable, resilient, and unafraid of the unfamiliar – qualities that are necessary to succeed in new settings.

Have you had an opportunity to explore your new community? What’s been your favorite part of Waukesha?

I’ve never been in the Midwest, so I take the occasional weekend drive to enjoy views of imposing silos that interrupt the beautiful rolling farmscapes of the region. I love good food, the arts, and motorcycles (don’t tell my kids). My proximity to Milwaukee has been a real joy in finding interesting restaurants, the arts, and the Harley-Davidson Museum. And what better place to indulge my taste for good beer than the home of the Brewers. 

My future plans include a weekend trip to explore Chicago, and trips to Green Bay and to Rochester, MN to see friends.