A Letter from VP of Marketing and Sales, Mike Mutziger
Hello, everyone!
President John F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” Kennedy very well could have been making a speech today at FSA or NASFAA, and it would have hit the mark with our industry and the ever-changing world in which we work. Ten years ago our industry was going through change and no one knew what to expect with mandated Direct Loans. While that has now become the new norm, we know that change in our world is inevitable and that we must learn from the past, but always continue to look to the future.
So what’s changed for ScholarNet, you ask, and how are we looking to the future?
One of the biggest changes for ScholarNet has been the acquisition of Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. (Great Lakes) by Nelnet. Nelnet is now the parent company, and Great Lakes continues on as an independent business under the Nelnet umbrella. Many efficiencies were gained through this acquisition, but we have maintained the culture and customer service you have come to expect from Great Lakes. This was the perfect opportunity to take ScholarNet and make it a prominent part of our future!
Another change was the shift to a dedicated ScholarNet team. Historically, the Great Lakes team was asked to be a jack of all trades across multiple product lines. The acquisition enabled us to create a team that is singularly focused. We average over 13 years of experience in private loan processing, specifically with ScholarNet. The team knows ScholarNet inside and out and some even helped build ScholarNet as we know it today. This focus allows team members to better serve you and your private loan processing needs. Have a question on processing? This team can answer it.
Has your institution ever gone through a rebranding effort? If so, you understand the excitement, frustration, anxiousness, and planning it takes to launch a refreshed brand. But it was time to give ScholarNet the look it deserved. Our Marketing and Design teams worked together to come up with some great options, and it was a unanimous decision to go with the new brand you see today. They are the same great products, but with a new look and feel, and it really positioned us to declare that: We are ScholarNet!
While many things have changed at ScholarNet, a lot has remained the same—like our customer service, commitment to excellence, dedication to advancing our technologies, and strong industry standing. Our foundation is strong and we will continue to build upon our successes as we look forward. For ScholarNet our future means focusing on the evolution of financial aid and private loan processing.
The future looks bright! You continue to choose ScholarNet as your private loan processing option, and for that we sincerely thank you! Our commitment to providing a lender-neutral platform for your private loan processing needs will not waver. FastChoice will see enhanced filtering options and an updated look in the near future. We’ll continue to build out MyScholarNet.com to support you and your connection to one another. The entire ScholarNet team will remain focused on providing you the best service and experience possible.
As you can see, it’s been a busy year. We have had the opportunity to evaluate who we are and from where we have come. The exciting part is where we are headed. ScholarNet has been a reliable partner in the financial aid office for over 20 years. As we look forward to the future, we have the technology, the platform, and the people to meet your private loan processing needs. We’re proud of our past, we see the present, and we are prepared for the future. We are ScholarNet!
Sincerely,
Mike Mutziger
Vice President, Marketing and Sales