For over 20 years, Campus Partners has benefited from the extraordinary talents of Sharon Swaim, Manager of Product Development. Sharon has worked as a forms analyst, answered borrower calls and processed correspondence in Borrower Services, been a team leader, a Customer Service Representative and a Business Analyst. Her ability to expertly master each of these areas resulted in her constant promotions to her current position. Her knowledge of our servicing systems and customer needs is virtually unsurpassed and thus enables her to be impressively successful as the leader of our Product Development team.

Brad Resler, National Sales Manager says of Sharon, “Working with Sharon is truly a pleasure. Her extensive system and product knowledge, combined with her approach of paying close attention to details and being ultra-responsive, makes Sharon a primary ‘go-to’ person in the company.  Just as importantly, she has a genuine interest in constantly learning more about what services our customers want and how they want them delivered, which is critically important as Campus Partners continues to improve its value proposition for the higher education Business and Financial Aid Offices.”

Sharon says the most important aspect of her job is “making the workload lighter for our customers.” Under Sharon’s leadership, the Product Development team has already lightened the workload of our customers by implementing invaluable, highly successful Campus Partners’ products such as myReports, E-Exits, iPROMise and document imaging. The team is currently in the final testing phase of implementing online credit card payments for borrowers, which will be available in the coming months! “It’s very rewarding when we deliver a solution that helps our customers do their job more efficiently and it is widely accepted,” Sharon states of her job duties. She is especially pleased with the recent release of the printable Loan Verification Certificate, which has been well received. “Everyone loves it!” she says with a well-deserved sense of satisfaction.

Sharon and the Product Development team are not only responsible for developing new products and services, but they also support Ad-hoc reporting and changes to the mainframe, provide company-wide technical support, support portfolio transfers, develop Web-sites, perform Quality Assurance testing and write all required documentation to support new products and enhancements. “Our department does a tremendous amount,” Sharon explains, but she says, “I am fortunate to work with a wonderful team of long-term, knowledgeable employees” whom Sharon says she likes to lead by example.

Working in Product Development seems to be a perfect fit with Sharon’s personality because she likes to see results originate from mere ideas. “I love to nurture things from the very beginning,” Sharon states, and being a mother is her greatest joy. She and her husband Ron have two children of whom they are extremely proud, Marissa, 23 and Justin, 20. Marissa graduated valedictorian from her high school class, Summa Cum Laude from High Point University and is currently enrolled in graduate school at Appalachian State University. Justin is also in college studying Mechanical Engineering Technology and recently went on his first corporate interview and got the job. “I have personally made my contribution to multiple institutions of higher learning!” Sharon laughs.

At home, Sharon loves to work in her garden where she grows an assortment of vegetables and herbs. She likes television shows that make her think, like “House” and listens to a variety of music. “I really enjoy jazzy stuff like Norah Jones,” and one of her favorite movies is “The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.” Two facts about Sharon that are not widely known are that she has been playing the piano since the 6th grade and she thinks the Wendy’s frosty is one of the greatest creations ever!

While her list of successes is already quite impressive both inside and outside the office, the biggest challenge Sharon says she faces on the job is trying to develop solutions to meet everyone’s needs. To some, this task may seem impossible, but with Sharon’s experience, dedication and determination, we know it’s only a matter of time.