Few kids spend their evenings practicing a sales process.
At just eight years old, Elise Rempel was doing exactly that.
Her father Robb, a longtime Haberfeld Consultant, would have her practice Haberfeld’s eight-step sales process at home to show that it was so simple, a third grader could do it—unknowingly introducing her to an industry that would shape much of her future. Long before she joined Haberfeld, long before she worked in a bank, and long before she could even drive, banking was already part of her story.
That early fascination never faded. By age 15, Elise was working as a teller at a local bank, gaining firsthand experience in the industry that had captured her attention from a young age.
While attending college, Elise imagined a future in medicine and pursued a degree in biochemistry. At the same time, she completed second-step editing for Haberfeld and embraced leadership opportunities through her sorority. Those experiences revealed something she hadn’t anticipated: she enjoyed leading people, building relationships, and helping others succeed.
Years later, another influence would reinforce that outlook. Carol Dweck’s book Mindset encouraged Elise to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to avoid. Its message helped shape her leadership style and gave her the confidence to take risks, embrace new opportunities, and continue learning throughout her career.
After graduating from college in 2016, she interviewed with Sean and Karla and accepted a position as Administrative Coordinator. Looking back, it was a pivotal year for both Elise and Haberfeld. Cultivate™ was still a new product, and she became part of the team that brought it to life. From developing content to establishing processes and best practices, she helped build the foundation that would support the program’s future growth.
As Haberfeld expanded, so did the need for a team dedicated to supporting the growing number of products, programs, and moving pieces behind the scenes. In 2021, Client Services evolved into its own department, with Elise leading the way. Today, the team also includes Audrey Wisell and Andrea Koopman.
If Haberfeld were a machine, Client Services would be the team keeping the gears turning. Under Elise’s leadership, the department coordinates countless details involved in launching and supporting client programs. From ShopMetrics and eLearning to Benefits Checking, Plus One™, and Cultivate™, the team works across departments to ensure clients and colleagues have what they need when they need it.
The work requires equal parts organization, problem-solving, and adaptability. “We’ve taken on a lot of new products since 2016,” Elise said. “We have built a team with amazing members, and we are well positioned when we offer new products. We work in tandem to put people’s minds at ease.”
That focus on helping others is at the heart of how Elise approaches her work. One of her greatest strengths is her ability to anticipate challenges before they become problems. She has a knack for asking the right questions, understanding how an issue developed, and finding the best path forward.
“What I love most about my job is when you realize you made someone’s life easier,” she said. “They’re relieved they don’t have to worry about that problem anymore.”
Outside of work, Elise has a hobby that’s every bit as unique as it sounds. She is the curator of the Instagram account @just.napkins, where she shares photos of napkins she has collected or encountered over the years. Linen, disposable, die-cut, or otherwise, she has never met a napkin she didn’t like.
She also enjoys traveling to visit college friends and experience new places. While London remains her favorite city, Slovenia sits high on her travel wish list. When she’s not traveling, she spends her time cooking, creating art, playing the piano, and experimenting in the kitchen. In fact, she cooked more than 60 new recipes in 2025 alone.
In many ways, the qualities that have made Elise successful at Haberfeld are the same ones that shape her life outside of work. Whether she’s solving a complex challenge, planning a trip, creating art, or adding a memorable napkin to her collection, she pays attention to details others might overlook.
It’s a trait that has served her well throughout a career that was set in motion long before she officially entered the workforce. From practicing the eight-step sales process as a child to leading one of Haberfeld’s most interconnected departments today, Elise has always been focused on helping people and making things work better for those around her. And after a lifetime connected to banking and Haberfeld, that passion continues to make a difference for colleagues and clients every day.
