Meet Our Team
Jenny Sanford, AFC®, has worked at Neighbors since 2018 and previously worked as a secondary school educator. She provides one-to-one counseling, teaches classes and assists in skill-building to improve the community’s financial well-being. Jenny holds a B.A. in History and Secondary Education from Luther College. She enjoys spending time with her family and dog Oreo.
Melissa Burrola has worked at Neighbors since 2021. She provides hospitality to guests in the Financial Empowerment Center and facilitates support in both English and Spanish. She enjoys sports, karaoke, playing bingo and hanging out with her dog.
Susan Schroeder, AFC®, has worked at Neighbors since 2018. As the Associate Director, Susan is responsible for the development of our Financial Empowerment Program and the supervision of the team. She has degrees in Business Management and Communications and has been a financial counselor since 2014. When she isn’t working, Susan loves spending time with family, camping and reading.
Tara Grover has worked for Neighbors since 2000. She has an Associates in Applied Science Degree and over 20 years experience in social services. Tara has an abundant knowledge in community resources and has a talent of making people smile. She enjoys spending time with family and friends, attending outdoor events, bowling, archery and 4-wheeling.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is personal financial counseling?
Personal financial counseling is a confidential one-on-one relationship with a knowledgeable counselor who can help you take action to reach your financial goals.
Who is a financial counselor?
Our counselors are Accredited Financial Counselors® who have met the education and experience requirements of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE) ®. The AFCPE certifies to the highest standards in the field of financial counseling, training and education. Our program is a teaching program; you may meet with an AFC candidate.
Am I eligible?
Anyone with a financial goal and living in our service area may receive Financial Empowerment Services. There are no income restrictions for counseling and visiting our Financial Empowerment Center.
How does it work?
Our counselors can assist you by phone, video chats or in person. All services are free and confidential.
What should I bring?
You are not required to bring any documentation to meetings. However, documents such as pay stubs, account statements, bills and other relevant financial documents can be helpful.
Is Spanish available?
Yes!