Sheri Yuschak, vice president and controller at Goodroot, has been named to the Hartford Business Journal 40 Under Forty Class of 2024. Sheri joined Goodroot in 2020 and earned a promotion to controller within her first year, later adding the title of VP. The company has more than quadrupled in headcount since she came on board.
The HBJ wrote, in its introductory note to this year’s 40 Under Forty list, “There continues to be a talent war in Connecticut as employers compete for top performers amid a tight labor market. Up-and-coming young professionals remain a key recruitment focus for companies. While Connecticut struggles at times to retain newly-minted college graduates, the state still has a strong cohort of young professionals making a difference at their respective organizations and within the broader community.
“It’s important to put a spotlight on them to show others that starting a business or launching and making a career here can pay dividends, both professionally and personally.”
Sheri has been in finance for more than 15 years, and at Goodroot she steers all accounting operations and risk mitigation for the company and its affiliates. In addition to her role at Goodroot, she serves as treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of the Connecticut Technology Council, the leading tech trade association in the state. Her leadership has directly supported entrepreneurial growth and sustained financial health across multiple business sectors.
Sheri shared many of the highlights of her career in a Q&A with Hartford Business Journal.
Early on, Sheri recognized the importance and necessity of Goodroot becoming more autonomous and she was instrumental in making it happen. Sheri has been a leader in streamlining business operations through new systems and technologies, and often conducts the training on those systems.
Goodroot holds an annual retreat at which awards are given to five employees — one each in five different categories from nominations submitted by peers and company leaders. Sheri is the latest recipient of Goodroot’s Mentorship Award. She earned this honor not just by going out of her way to ensure new members of our finance team succeed, but also by being a great role model for all employees with her dedication and entrepreneurial spirit.
A coworker nominated Sheri for the award and wrote, “Sheri works tirelessly to support the finance team and all affiliate companies. While a lot of her work is behind the scenes of the day-to-day business for Goodroot, every aspect of her position is vital to the success of our community of businesses. Sheri is knowledgeable and beyond willing to share that knowledge to anyone who asks. Her dedication and entire attitude towards work is admirable, and we’re proud to have her on our team.”
“Spending summers at my father’s repair shop,” Sheri says, “I learned to fix just about anything.” That extends to snowmobiles, cars, household appliances or the infrastructure of a business. She built her first race car at 15 before she was legally allowed to drive and regularly rides snowmobiles and jet skis, which she repairs and maintains herself. Sheri can also hang drywall, run electrical and install plumbing.
She comes from an entrepreneurial family, which greatly influenced her career path. She always had a part-time job as a kid and studied small business operations and took entrepreneurial-related courses with a minor in accounting while at Western Connecticut State University.
The accounting aspect has always been the favorite part of any job for Sheri. She loves being able to “make it make sense.” Her motivation and drive comes from the satisfaction she feels from accomplishing a goal. Sheri strives for perfection in everything she does while also having the awareness and humility to create space for others to succeed.
