Passionately Serving Our Clients Since 1995

About Us

Filling an Important Niche

 
Next Step started as a conversion management company and clients quickly saw the value of applying our unique perspective and expertise to avoid risks during vendor selections.

Founded on Experience

 

Next Step was founded in 1995 by banking technology veteran Peter Jeye to fill the service gaps between technology vendors and financial institutions during major system conversions. With insight gained through 15 years experience working on the vendor side, Peter recognized the need banks and credit unions have for an experienced conversion project manager on their side. A strong professional to oversee the numerous internal conversion and implementation responsibilities, all while ensuring no negative impact to customers/members. Next Step now has 30+ associates in the firm.

Full Suite of Specialized Services

 

Clients quickly realized that Next Step’s unique conversion perspective would bring tremendous value during vendor selections, helping prevent problems from ever starting. In response, Next Step developed an enhanced process for vendor selections which was quickly embraced by banks and credit unions as a better approach to such high profile, costly projects. The company now offers A-Z services for institutions going through a system change, covering vendor comparison/selection, contract negotiations, conversion/implementation, and process improvement.

Integrity is Always Upheld

 

The corporate vision has always been to serve as an advocate that would be focused solely on the best interests of the financial institution. Admittedly, this central value requires us to say “no” to vendor requests for speaking engagements, requests for sales assistance, "go to market" analysis assistance, etc. However, we strongly believe we must never do anything to cause our clients to question our allegiance. We are told our steadfast position on integrity and vendor relationships is very rare in this industry.

Executive Team

  • Peter Jeye

    President & CEO

    Peter has amassed 30 years experience working with system conversions, including personal involvement in over 200 enterprise wide technology initiatives. His career started in the vendor industry, where he quickly moved up the ladder at two software companies, carrying executive management responsibilities for conversions, professional services, client support, training, quality assurance, and user group relations. Peter has been President & CEO of Next Step for 25 years and continues to be personally involved in every client engagement, providing day-to-day guidance to financial institutions and leading Next Step’s teams of expert onsite consultants. He is driven by one goal: to ensure every Next Step engagement surpasses client expectations. Peter holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Communication.

    Peter Jeye

    Peter Jeye

    President & CEO

    Peter has amassed 30 years experience working with system conversions, including personal involvement in over 200 enterprise wide technology initiatives. His career started in the vendor industry, where he quickly moved up the ladder at two software companies, carrying executive management responsibilities for conversions, professional services, client support, training, quality assurance, and user group relations. Peter has been President & CEO of Next Step for 25 years and continues to be personally involved in every client engagement, providing day-to-day guidance to financial institutions and leading Next Step’s teams of expert onsite consultants. He is driven by one goal: to ensure every Next Step engagement surpasses client expectations. Peter holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees in Communication.

    President & CEO

  • Linda Vick

    Executive Vice President

    Linda has been with Next Step since it was founded 25 years ago. Linda brings a wealth of hands-on financial services experience to Next Step, having held key positions with a number of prominent financial institutions and consulting organizations throughout the U.S. She was pivotal in developing and defining the company’s unique 11 point risk management methodology that is a fundamental focus in managing every client initiative. Linda also continues to be directly involved with clients from start to finish, ensuring ongoing client satisfaction throughout every phase of their project. Linda also carries the responsibility of ensuring continuous improvement throughout Next Step, making sure our methodologies always increase in effectiveness based upon experience.

    Linda Vick

    Linda Vick

    Executive Vice President

    Linda has been with Next Step since it was founded 25 years ago. Linda brings a wealth of hands-on financial services experience to Next Step, having held key positions with a number of prominent financial institutions and consulting organizations throughout the U.S. She was pivotal in developing and defining the company’s unique 11 point risk management methodology that is a fundamental focus in managing every client initiative. Linda also continues to be directly involved with clients from start to finish, ensuring ongoing client satisfaction throughout every phase of their project. Linda also carries the responsibility of ensuring continuous improvement throughout Next Step, making sure our methodologies always increase in effectiveness based upon experience.

    Executive Vice President

  • Trisa Wetzel

    Executive Director

    Trisa has been with our company since our inception in 1995 and also brings a dozen years experience working for banking software companies, and five more years working in banking. Trisa is a veteran project manager and executive recognized for successful banking technology initiatives, including vendor evaluations, core system conversions, acquisition and merger projects, and process improvement. She has been the Project Manager for 25+ system conversions which provides a depth of experience, expertise, and insight that is invaluable to any organization facing a major technology initiative. All Next Step conversion initiatives report into Trisa. Due to her unmatched experience and insight, she also serves as our lead contracts negotiator on behalf of our clients.

    Trisa Wetzel

    Trisa Wetzel

    Executive Director

    Trisa has been with our company since our inception in 1995 and also brings a dozen years experience working for banking software companies, and five more years working in banking. Trisa is a veteran project manager and executive recognized for successful banking technology initiatives, including vendor evaluations, core system conversions, acquisition and merger projects, and process improvement. She has been the Project Manager for 25+ system conversions which provides a depth of experience, expertise, and insight that is invaluable to any organization facing a major technology initiative. All Next Step conversion initiatives report into Trisa. Due to her unmatched experience and insight, she also serves as our lead contracts negotiator on behalf of our clients.

    Executive Director

  • Steve Wildman

    Managing Director

    Steve joined Next Step in 2012. Prior to his coming on board, Next Step had the opportunity to work with Steve for seven years on mutual client projects. He brings to our company 25+ years’ experience in the financial software and consulting industry as a senior-level advisor and manager of software development, core conversions and best practice/process improvement implementations. With his extensive background, Steve truly understands the challenges involved in developing and improving lines of business for financial institutions. Steve meticulously directs vendor selection engagements and our process improvement practice, guiding clients through the initiatives from beginning to end. Steve also helps identify redundancies, manual and paper intensive procedures, automation opportunities and interdependencies in existing business processes, ensuring improved efficiency, reduced costs and increased ROI.

    Steve Wildman

    Steve Wildman

    Managing Director

    Steve joined Next Step in 2012. Prior to his coming on board, Next Step had the opportunity to work with Steve for seven years on mutual client projects. He brings to our company 25+ years’ experience in the financial software and consulting industry as a senior-level advisor and manager of software development, core conversions and best practice/process improvement implementations. With his extensive background, Steve truly understands the challenges involved in developing and improving lines of business for financial institutions. Steve meticulously directs vendor selection engagements and our process improvement practice, guiding clients through the initiatives from beginning to end. Steve also helps identify redundancies, manual and paper intensive procedures, automation opportunities and interdependencies in existing business processes, ensuring improved efficiency, reduced costs and increased ROI.

    Managing Director

We Have a Passion for This Business

True Specialization

We are not all things to all people. All of our consultants are focused on the following services every day:

  • Strategic technology assessments
  • System selections
  • Vendor contract negotiations
  • System conversions and implementations
  • Merger and acquisition technology conversions
  • Process improvement
 

Seasoned Professionals

Next Step consultants are not rookies. Our staff has a combination of technology, conversion and banking backgrounds that enables us to bring unique knowledge and insight to your initiatives. Our team approach to engagements gives our clients the benefit of our entire company.

We are experienced in core systems as well as teller/platform systems, contact center automation, online and mobile banking solutions, loan origination solutions, general ledger systems, debit processing solutions and key ancillary products.

 
Financially Stable
From the very beginning, we have been a well-capitalized company following a conservative operations model. This strategy continues to give our clients the peace of mind that Next Step has the wherewithal and stability for a long-term partnership.