What makes us SMART.
It’s the people. We’re a tech staffing company made up of a crew of people that really care about how to make sure we find the right fit for your company or career.
Who is Smart?
Smart Solutions was founded in 1996 by Jackie Mortell and Joel Fangmann. At the core of the company’s beginning was a desire to help people be successful. We started as a small shop that throughout the years has grown to a team of 100+ consultants.
Today Brent Mitchell is the sole owner and President of Smart Solutions. That original desire to help people is still at the forefront of everything we do. We believe that by cultivating quality, happy and engaged people we can foster success! We work with start-ups, mid-size businesses, Fortune 500 companies and exceptional IT talent in the greater Madison metropolitan area and beyond. We work to identify business needs, understand a company’s culture, and ultimately connect the right talent to the right opportunity.
Our purpose is to cultivate quality, happy, and engaged people.
Meet the Team
Brent Mitchell
Brent Mitchell, President and Owner of Smart Solutions, has over 30 years of IT experience and has been in many roles including developer, trainer, project manager, technical resource manager, account manager, Vice President and CEO. His goal at every opportunity is to add value and help others achieve success, whether they are the client or consultant. His broad background brings depth and understanding to his relationships. He is passionate about running a people first business that focuses on connecting companies and people for success!
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family (as well as he should since he has nine children.) drinking fine tea, reading and playing music.
Brent Mitchell
President/Owner.
Brent has over 30 years of IT experience and has been in many roles including developer, trainer, project manager, technical resource manager, account manager, Vice President and CEO. His goal at every opportunity is to add value and help others achieve success, whether they are the client or consultant. His broad background brings depth and understanding to his relationships. He is passionate about running a people first business that focuses on connecting companies and people for success!
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family (as well as he should since he has nine children.) drinking fine tea, reading and playing music.
Mandy Basham
Human Resources Manager.
Mandy’s background includes work in the logistics and healthcare fields with experience in benefits, recruiting & employee relations. She received her bachelor’s degree in human resource management from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, along with a minor in communication. She strives to balance the needs and goals of both the company and its employees, to maintain consistent employee engagement; and to serve as a Strategic Partner by bringing HR knowledge, ideas and innovations to Smart Solutions.
Mandy is involved in the Greater Madison Area SHRM chapter and volunteers as a committee member on the Membership Committee.
Outside of work, Mandy enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, crafting and baking delicious treats!
Mary Jo Solowicz
Senior Account Manager.
Mary Jo connects clients with the right IT talent to move projects forward, provide solutions and meet goals. She is an ‘avid listener’, understanding that the key factors to a successful match aren’t only found in a company’s job description but in a deeper knowledge of their story, challenges, values and culture. Mary Jo joined Smart Solutions in 2012 and brings career experience in staffing, resource management, human resources and business management. She has partnered with a diverse industry group including Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, government and education.
Paula Holden
Senior Account Manager.
Paula has over 20 years of experience working with IT consulting firms. In addition to her sales experience, Paula’s background includes marketing, recruiting, and also ten years of resource management in the field. She has spent all of her professional IT consulting career in the Madison market and strongly believes in relationship-based sales. Her industry experience includes utilities, telecom, financial services, insurance, healthcare and consumer products. Paula holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from UW-Whitewater and a Master’s degree in Human Resources from Marquette University.
James Windisch
Account Manager / Business Development
James brings 15+ years of sales and business development experience with him from various technology sectors. He enjoys hunting for new business and building relationships with his clients. He is excited to be part of an organization that brings opportunity to its employees and consultants and adds to the vibrant growth of the Madison Metropolitan area.
Kimberly Grazzini
Technical Recruiter
Kimberly is a recent addition to our recruiting team after recently relocating to the Madison, WI area. She brings 7 years of corporate and agency recruiting experience along with several years of human resources experience. She is passionate about the “human side of recruiting” and truly connecting with candidates to find them the best positions possible. While Kimberly has lived all over the US from Oregon to Texas to Massachusetts, she is enjoying her time exploring the Madison area. She also enjoys spending her free time with her fiancé, discovering state parks, trying new restaurants, and spoiling their two cats, Taco and Simba.
Dennis Engle
Career Advancement Specialist
Dennis has 20 plus years of experience in IT recruiting and staffing. He and his family are originally from Illinois and they found a way to migrate north to Madison in 2003. He is a tech junkie at heart and loves deep conversations about technical topics.
Outside of work, Dennis unwinds with the help of Wisconsin’s beautiful Northwoods. Whether spending time on the water or out in the woods, he finds nature to be the perfect balance to technology.
Shelley Udell
Senior Technical Recruiter.
Shelley has over 20 years of experience in the Madison market as a Recruiter and Account Manager. She graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Sociology and a minor in Spanish.
In her spare time, Shelley takes care of her dog – a Bull Mastiff/Boxer mix. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren; college basketball (especially the Badgers!); finding bargains at area thrift stores; reading and listening to music. She enjoys traveling when time and the dog allow.
She says, “The best part of being a recruiter is helping people find new and interesting challenges to further their careers.”
Robin Marsh
Technical Recruiter
Robin is a recent addition to our recruitment team. He brings 20 years’ experience having worked for a consulting firm, agencies and even IBM. His focus has been providing experienced IT professionals to clients in the healthcare, commercial and government space across the nation. Robin is originally from Southern California. He has recently relocated to Eau Claire, WI with his wife and daughter where they have family. He enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking and his dog Dave a Pug/bulldog.
Jackie Falch
Senior Technical Recruiter.
Jackie is proud to have been born and raised in Madison, and can’t imagine ever wanted to leave this wonderful community. She is a seasoned Technical Recruiter who brings 15+ years of professional recruitment experience. Jackie works hard to facilitate a strong partnership that will benefit her candidates as well as Smart Solutions. And she prides herself in going above and beyond when working with our candidates.
Outside of work Jackie’s passion is spending time with her large extended family and friends. She loves to be outdoors whenever she can either taking walks, hanging out by a lake, or sharing a good bottle of wine. She belongs to a group called “Desserts First”. This group goes out to eat five times yearly, and they always order and eat their dessert course first! She’d welcome tips about restaurants you’ve been at with great, or unusual, dessert selections.
Kirk Dennison
Operations Manager.
Kirk has 8+ years of analytics, consulting, and operations experience in the Madison area. He thrives on creating greater operational efficiencies and helping others be more successful. His industry experience includes healthcare, IT, and consumer products. Kirk has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Marketing from John Brown University.
Outside of work, Kirk loves spending time with his wife and two kids, playing (and creating) board games, and playing tennis.
Michelle Herring
Administrative Assistant.
Michelle continues to apply 15+ years of Administrative Assistant experience. She has always enjoyed the behind-the-scenes work in the IT industry, where she has organized and assisted in many roles, such as HR support, facilities and event management while continuing to always assist and organize where ever needed.
Outside of work, Michelle enjoys time spent with family and friends.
Betsy Kraft
Payroll Administrator.
Betsy brings 12+ years of experience working as an Accountant throughout the Dane and Sauk counties. Betsy has spent more than half her life specializing in payroll! She strongly believes accuracy and attention to detail are keys in her role, as well as her day-to-day duties. While working full time and attending night classes, Betsy obtained her degree in Accounting – even achieving Dean’s List for several semesters.
Outside of work, Betsy and her husband, Andrew, have 2 children, Calista & Jameson, as well as a lovable dog, Dax! She enjoys spending time in Mercer at her husband’s family cabin and traveling the U.S. to experience all the beauty and joys it has to offer.
Other hobbies include walks with her family, yoga with her girlfriends, and hunting with her brothers.
Alyssa Brant
HR Assistant
Alyssa tackles her day-to-day duties as our HR Assistant and Marketing Coordinator. She thrives in the HR realm with experience in on-boarding, benefits, recruitment, and employee relations. When not in the office, she is cherishing time spent with family and friends, reading, or soaking in all of Madison’s beautiful, scenic views.
smart events
As part of helping companies and talent navigate how quickly tech is changing we host local events to share the latest and greatest and skills that are relevant. Check out our upcoming and past events.
Sign-up to be notified via email with any upcoming events that we will be hosting.
More Than Just Tech Staffing
Being active in Madison and our surrounding communities is important to us. We encourage our team to get out and involved, and share with us the organizations and causes they are passionate about. We are proud to be part of this community and to offer support where we can.
Knowing what it takes to succeed.
The Plus Program provides support, training, and development opportunities to help ensure success.