our culture

Nikki Clark is a Senior Consultant in our Oklahoma City Development Center who has worked in technology for ten years. She loves having the chance to work in different types of project manager roles and says she’s never worked anywhere as colleague-centric as RSI.

Nikki is extremely creative and over the years she’s designed everything from birth announcements to wedding bouquets to company logos! Outside of work, Nikki loves to play video games and go to comic conventions with her sons. “My kids and my career are what drive me. They keep me centered and focused and striving to be my best continuously. Other than that, I’m a goofball.” Thanks, Nikki, for making RSI a great place to work!

Fun Fact: After completing a doctoral program, Nikki wants to reward herself with a full-sleeve tattoo.

Brett Harper is the co-chair of the Veterans Colleague Resource Group (CRG) and is a Senior Consultant based in Oklahoma. He served in the US Navy for six years, where he was a certified nuclear machinist mate. Brett has worked in technology for 17 years and specializes in Java. He says that Rural Sourcing is a great place to work for Veterans because “RSI is very open to making accommodations for its colleagues who may have different needs. Setting up the CRG was a way for us to ensure that if we have something that is impacting our Veteran colleagues that we have a support group in place for them.”

Brett is married and has a 14-year-old child and a 21-year-old step-child. Outside of work, he enjoys target shooting and playing video games (he’s actually a former video game designer!) He’s also a great baker and loves making confections and pies. Thanks, Brett, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work.

Fun Fact: Brett is a PADI certified scuba instructor.

Before joining Rural Sourcing in 2015 as a Consultant in our Augusta Development Center, AK worked as a Micro Lab Analyst for multiple companies. His scientific background has served him well, as he’s spent his nearly five years here focusing on LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System and Functional Quality Assurance). “I chose to work at Rural Sourcing because of their principles of doing the right thing and changing the experience, along with their core value of continuous improvement for colleagues, clients, and community.” He also loves the “family-like” atmosphere he’s found in our Augusta Development Center.

Whether his day consists of playing sports, reading, or traveling, AK starts all of them the exact same way: by reading the Bible. “I truly believe that one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. You may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but you can control your attitude and how you deal with it.” Thanks, AK, for making Rural Sourcing a #greatplacetowork!

Fun fact: AK has held the record for most goals scored in soccer at his Ghanaian high school since 2002!

Sarah Falzone is a Talent Acquisition Consultant based in our Buffalo Development Center. She’s been working in the tech industry for four years and loves helping people find careers that fit their interests and passions. Her favorite part about working at RSI is the culture. “Everyone is so welcoming and down to earth here!”

When she’s not working, Sarah loves to work out and has run two half marathons in the past! She also enjoys traveling and one of her bucket list items is to get to all 50 states. Thanks, Sarah, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work!

Fun Fact: Sarah has mentioned how lucky she was to grow up with all of her parents, grandparents and even great-grandparents. Her great grandparents lived to be 102, 99, 96 and 88!

Buxees Singh is a Senior Consultant based in our Buffalo Development Center, who started at Rural Sourcing in early 2022. He has many areas of expertise including Java, C# and DBA. Buxees loves the collaborative nature of his colleagues and how people are willing to help each other across the company. He says the best part about his job is the work-life balance and the engagement from our management team.

Outside of his role at RSI, he loves playing chess and doing math contest problems for fun. Thanks, Buxees, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work!

Fun Fact: Buxees loves to do karaoke and it’s actually where he met his wife!

Jen Kupka is a Senior Consultant located in our Buffalo Development Center. She’s worked in technology for over 20 years and has many areas of expertise including project management, business analysis and testing. She joined Rural Sourcing so she could work on a wide variety of projects and loves feeling listened to and valued as a person and colleague.

When she’s not working, Jen loves being outside, whether it’s walking her dog Bailey, heading to her neighborhood park or gardening. She also enjoys going to festivals and craft fairs, trying different fitness classes and watching true crime shows. Thanks, Jen, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work!

Fun Fact: In high school, Jen played alto saxophone and was selected two times for the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) after playing solo music on alto and baritone saxophone.

Joe Obergfell is a Senior Consultant in our Buffalo Development Center. He’s worked in tech for 16 years and has expertise in Database, C#/VB, Powershell and Batch. He joined RSI in 2021 and chose to work here because of the ability to work from home, the strong culture and growth opportunities. Joe loves being able to converse with and learn from so many different developers across the country.

Outside of work, Joe loves playing Switch and despite avoiding learning a foreign language by taking programming classes in school, he’s proud to say that he actually married someone that can speak multiple languages AND has a degree in programming! Thanks, Joe, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work.

Fun Fact: Joe set five pool records his senior year of high school.

Kathy Merten is a Senior Consultant in Rural Sourcing’s Baton Rouge Development Center who’s currently working as a business analyst for one of our multinational logistics clients. She’s been in technology for over 20 years, having started as a developer for JCPenney, before transitioning to becoming a business analyst. Kathy joined Rural Sourcing in 2021 and says that the best part of her job is working with “amazing, smart, motivated people who actually have the best of intentions. People actively try to lift each other up and strive to make RSI a better place to work.” She adds, “I absolutely love RSI’s motto of bringing your whole self to work. I love that RSI welcomes colleagues’ input into many aspects of day-to-day work and life.” Kathy is also the chairperson of Rural Sourcing’s Equity Inclusion & Diversity (EI&D) Council and started the disAbility Allies Colleague Resource Group to give a voice to disabled colleagues.

Outside of work, Kathy’s passion is rescuing and fostering kittens until they’re old enough and/or healthy enough to be adopted into their forever homes. “It’s an immensely rewarding experience and I encourage anyone to find a local shelter or rescue and volunteer in some way.” Kathy’s also a voracious reader and likes to cook, crochet and knit. Thanks, Kathy, for making Rural Sourcing a great place to work!

Fun Fact: At one point, Kathy had four of her own cats plus seven foster kittens of various ages in her two-bedroom townhouse. “My home was never so much fun!”