As we welcome 2025, it’s a great time to reflect, set meaningful goals, and look ahead with intention. At Nelnet, we believe in the power of personal and professional growth to drive success—not just for our businesses, but for the individuals who lead them.
To kick off the new year, we asked five of our leaders to share their resolutions. From professional ambitions to personal commitments, their insights reflect the values and vision driving Nelnet in the year ahead. Let their aspirations inspire you as we all embark on this new chapter together.
Jennifer Mackintosh – Chief Risk Officer, Nelnet Bank
Jennifer Mackintosh has been with Nelnet Bank since 2019, playing a key role in its development before its official launch in late 2020. Based in Utah, she oversees risk governance and management frameworks to align the Bank’s activities with its strategic objectives.
"The new year is like a blank page—write a good one!" I’m looking forward to 2025 and the opportunity to create and bring good things into my life personally and professionally. Many years, my resolution is in the form of a motto/theme which gives me an overall focus for the year. Then I adjust my smaller goals to align with my time and circumstances throughout the year. For 2025, I’ve chosen ‘Be Intentional’ for my theme. Personally, this will help me focus how I spend my time with family, friends, and in the community. Professionally, this helps me focus my energy, daily efforts, and decisions in ways that will impact what is most important to support the Bank and the Company’s strategies and objectives. The vision with this theme for me is to not let ‘busy-ness’ take over my days, but instead be focused and intentional with my outcomes, both personally and professionally, throughout 2025.
Mike Walters – Chief Information Officer, Nelnet Business Services
With 30-plus years of IT experience—10 specifically in education IT support—Mike Walters oversees Nelnet Business Services’ infrastructure, security, incident management, and technical assistance from Lincoln, Neb.
A New Year’s resolution is to get in shape for a planned family hike in Glacier National Park this summer by focusing on cardio, strength training, and hiking prep. I know I’ll still be the slowest in the family, so I’ll willingly 'take one for the team' if a bear gets too close. 😊 On the work front, my resolution is to connect more with team members across Nelnet and take advantage of [University of Nebraska-Lincoln] UNL classes to sharpen my IT skills as the environment continues to evolve with AI and emerging technologies.
Christy Phillips – Managing Director, Consumer Loan Operations and Client Services, Nelnet Diversified Services
Also Lincoln-based, Christy Phillips has been with Nelnet since 1999. In her role, Phillips oversees administration of Nelnet’s consumer loan programs, including the management of client relationships and the seamless conversion and transition of new clients, their loan assets, and borrowers to Nelnet’s platforms and servicing.
2024 was a lot of changes introduced in my life both professionally and personally. I want this New Year to center around intentionality and growth as I settle into all these changes. My resolutions are to:
Adam Rue – Managing Director, Project Management, Construction, Safety, and Operations, Nelnet Energy Services
Adam Rue brings a passion for the environment and other construction management expertise. This Chicago resident’s career included professional rugby, logistics management, and construction experience from custom homes to commercial and industrial buildings to funeral homes and hospitals before he found a home in the solar industry.
The heavy lift at Nelnet Renewable Energy in 2024 with changing the operations structure, sourcing the best talent, and pushing through the completion of a large number of legacy projects required that I spend a little less time with family and on volunteer work than is typical. So, on a personal level in 2025, I am resolving to spend more time with my family, from coaching youth sports again to date nights with my wife to doing homework in-person instead of over FaceTime from a hotel. I also did not have the bandwidth to devote time to a few volunteer organizations that are near and dear to my heart. So the other half of this resolution is to become active again with Friends of The Chicago River and the Greater Chicago Food Depository, organizations that are near and dear to me. On the professional front, during 2024, we restructured the team and made a few key hires to provide some much-needed leadership in operations–a truly amazing group of skilled, high-functioning leaders. In 2025, I resolve to provide my operations team with all of the needed resources, tools, education, and support to push Nelnet Renewable Energy to a place of excellence, joy, and profitability.
Carrie Weber – Chief Audit Executive, Nelnet
Carrie Weber is responsible for overseeing Nelnet’s internal audit function, providing independent, objective assurance and advisory services to the board of directors and executive management. Located in Nelnet’s corporate headquarters of Lincoln, Weber helps ensure the organization operates efficiently, complies with regulations, and manages risks effectively.
One of my personal goals for 2025 is to focus on health in small ways. One health goal I have is to move more during the work day. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what you’re working on and be heads-down focused. However, I know it is so much healthier to take even just a few minutes to get up and take a walk. The benefits of moving more during the workday are immense. It helps clear your mind, increases energy, improves posture, and more. On a professional level, one of my goals is to help my team grow and develop so that we can add value to the organization. As my audit team moves forward with our strategic plan and accelerates our progress, we need to be able to demonstrate we are adding value in new ways beyond the value of a standard internal audit project. Setting each team member up for success will help move us all forward in our strategic goals.
Achieve Your Resolutions for 2025 at Nelnet
At Nelnet, two of our core values are communicating openly and honestly and creating an awesome work environment. We love hearing from our executives about their personal and professional goals for the year because it’s both interesting and aspirational.
Sharing our resolutions with others makes us more likely to succeed in achieving them. Before the year-end, Nelnet associates were invited to share their resolutions for a chance to win company swag.
If your current employer and colleagues don’t encourage you to grow and succeed in accomplishing your goals, come challenge yourself and enjoy #LifeAtNelnet.
