Employee Spotlight: Jason Schleiger

At Tandym, we know that success is a team sport, and every month, we take a moment to recognize one standout player who goes above and beyond. Our Teammate of the Month isn’t just someone who gets the job done; they embody our values, uplift those around them, and make a lasting impact. Get to know Jason Schleiger, one of Tandym’s Senior Managers on the Consulting Solutions team and Tandym’s Teammate of the Month for May  2026!

Who are you?

I’m a family guy first and foremost. My wife and I have a blended family with six kids, ranging in age from 21 to 30, and four grandchildren. All 4 of those grandkids are under the age of 4, so life is still plenty busy, just in a different way than when we were raising our kids. One of the perks of being grandparents is that we get to spoil them for a week or two and then send them back home.

About a year and a half ago, my wife and I moved from the Bay Area in Northern California to Surprise, Arizona, where we’re now enjoying life as empty nesters. With all of our kids grown, I’m finally trying to pick up a few hobbies. I’ve started taking golf lessons and even some shooting classes, which has been a fun change of pace.

Professionally, my career started a little differently than most. I attended a high school in San Jose that offered an engineering program that offered engineering internships, and at 16 years old I landed an internship with Hewlett-Packard that ultimately launched my career. That experience turned into a part-time role and eventually a full-time career where I spent 14 years which included multiple spin-offs (Agilent Technologies and Avago Technologies, which later acquired Broadcom). Then for the next 18 years I moved into Financial Services working on large scale financial transformations and ultimately advanced to an IT Senior Vice President in Banking responsible for Enterprise Analytics and Enterprise Applications. Although I took some college and management courses along the way, I often say my real education came from hands-on experience – learning from engineers, leaders, and mentors who continuously pushed me to grow from an early stage in my career.

Over the years, I have worked across engineering, technical writing, IT, software and application development, consulting, and enterprise technology leadership roles. I spent time supporting global organizations, leading large-scale implementations, and helping businesses solve complex problems before eventually joining Tandym two years ago.

One thing that has remained constant throughout my career is that I’ve always been a sponge. I love learning, whether it’s from a manager, a teammate, a client, or a new challenge. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy Tandym so much. Every client has different goals, different challenges, and different ways of thinking, which keeps me learning and keeps my creative side engaged.

At the end of the day, seeing a solution come together and helping clients achieve success is incredibly rewarding. That, along with spending time with my family and grandkids, is what keeps me motivated every day.

If a regular workday for you had a theme song, what would it be and why?

It would have to be “I Gotta Feeling” by Black Eye Peas. It truly captures the daily hustle when working with many clients building out solutions and relationships but celebrating each and every client success with a “Mazel tov / cheers” and then … do it, do it, do it and do it again…

Who were your heroes / role models / inspirations growing up?

Growing up, my biggest hero was Neil Armstrong. Like a lot of kids, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut and was fascinated by space exploration. For a long time, that was the path I thought I would pursue.

As I got older, life took me in a different direction, and my role models started to shift. Since I began working professionally at such a young age, many of my inspirations became the leaders and mentors I worked alongside. Whether it was a team lead, manager, or division head, I was constantly learning from the people around me and looking to them for guidance.

Looking back, though, my dad was probably my biggest influence. He helped build the foundation for who I am today. He taught me the value of hard work, curiosity, and always being willing to learn. At the time, I remember thinking I’d never want a career that looked anything like his. He was always heading into the office, coming home, and working some more. Somehow, I ended up following a very similar path, and I absolutely love it.

Today, I continue to be inspired by people who push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking. Elon Musk is someone I admire because of the way he approaches innovation and engineering. Having started my career in an engineering environment, I’ve always been fascinated by people who are willing to tackle big problems and rethink what’s possible.

At the end of the day, though, the people who have had the biggest impact on me have always been the ones I’ve been fortunate enough to learn from directly, whether at home or throughout my career.

Build me your ultimate Tandym trivia team (4 people total).

My first pick is easily Chris Kaldrovics. I’ve actually seen him in action at trivia nights when I’ve been in Atlanta working with clients, and it’s honestly impressive. The guy somehow knows the answer to the most random questions imaginable. Half the time I’m sitting there wondering, “How do you even know that?”

My second pick would be you (Eddie Rivera)! Between sports, pop culture, and just a seemingly endless amount of knowledge about random topics, I feel like you would be a huge asset to any trivia team.

For my third pick, I’d go with Julie Rafalovitch. She’s traveled all over the world, so I’m counting on her to handle all the geography, history, and international questions.

Between Chris covering the random facts, you handling sports and pop culture, and Julie taking care of anything global, I feel pretty good about our chances.

Do you have a hidden talent?

With six kids and four grandkids, I’m not sure I’ve had enough free time to develop too many hidden talents. If I had to pick a couple, I’d probably say barbecuing and photography. I take a lot of pride in my BBQ. I can make a pretty mean rack of ribs, a great steak, and just about anything you can throw on a grill.

I also enjoy photography, especially landscapes and sunsets. I’m the guy who will spot something interesting while driving down the road and immediately want to pull over, or stick my head out the window, to grab a photo because the scenery just looks too good to pass up.

Nothing too fancy, but those are probably the closest things I have to hidden talents.

What’s the best piece of professional advice you’ve ever received and how have you put that to good use?

The best advice I ever received was to be a sponge. Stay curious, ask questions, and never stop learning. That mindset has shaped my entire career. If I don’t understand something, I ask. Whether it’s talking to an expert, doing research, using AI tools, or simply digging deeper into a process, I’ve always believed that curiosity leads to growth.

A lot of people are satisfied with knowing what to do. I’ve always wanted to understand why it’s done that way. The more you understand the reasoning behind a process, a solution, or a business challenge, the more valuable that knowledge becomes because you can apply it elsewhere.

That’s especially important when working with clients. By asking questions and truly understanding how a client operates, you’re not just solving the problem in front of you. You’re building knowledge that can help solve future challenges as well.

For me, curiosity has never been about finding answers. It’s about continuously learning, improving, and discovering better ways to help the people around you succeed.

Did you find Tandym or did we find you?

Tandym found me! Before joining Tandym, I had actually worked with Chris Kaldrovics years earlier when I was on the client side and he was a partner supporting a large financial transformation initiative. We worked closely together throughout that project, and over time we built a strong professional relationship. Even after the project ended, we stayed in touch for nearly a decade.

When Chris joined Tandym and began building the Consulting Solutions practice, he reached out to me at a time when I was considering a transition myself. The timing was perfect.

What really drew me to Tandym was the model. Coming from the industry, I had firsthand experience working with traditional consulting firms and understood both their strengths and limitations. What stood out to me about Tandym was the ability to provide project-based expertise while also creating long-term opportunities for clients to build and retain great teams after the project is complete.

I believed in that approach, and I believed in the vision Chris was building. The opportunity to help create and grow a consulting practice within Tandym was exciting, and it felt like the right challenge at the right time. Joining the team was an easy decision.

What’s one food opinion that might get you kicked out of a group chat?

I’m actually pretty plain when it comes to food, but I do have one story that might get me removed from a group chat.

Years ago, one of my mentors invited me over for dinner while his mother was visiting from Mexico. He asked if I had ever had goat before, and when I said no, he told me I was in for a treat. What I wasn’t expecting was for his mother pull a full goat head out of the oven and place it on the table.

Apparently, the traditional way to enjoy it is to crack it open and eat different parts, including the cheeks and, for the adventurous, the brains. I’ll admit, I tried it. The cheeks were actually pretty good. The brains, however, were where I drew the line.

So, if there’s a food opinion that gets me kicked out of a group chat, it’s probably admitting that I’ve willingly sat down in front of a full goat head and given it a shot. Once was enough, but I can officially say I tried it.

What was it like to hear you won Teammate of the Month for May 2026?

I was completely caught off guard. I was sitting there working and listening to the Town Hall when my name got called, and my immediate reaction was, “Wait, what?” I could literally feel myself turning bright red. Thankfully, I wasn’t on camera because I’m pretty sure I would have looked like a tomato.

Once it sank in, I was incredibly honored and excited. My heart definitely started beating a little faster. It’s always meaningful to be recognized by your peers, especially when you’re focused on just doing the work and supporting the people around you. It was a great surprise and a really special moment that I genuinely appreciated.

If you could only have 3 movies on rotation for the rest of your life, what are they and why?

First of all, this is a terrible question for me because I hate rewatching movies. Once I’ve seen a movie, it’s permanently stored in my brain. My wife is always saying, “Let’s watch this,” and I’m like, “We already saw it.” Sometimes it was ten years ago, but I still remember it.

That said, if I had to pick three, The Bourne Identity would definitely make the list. I love action movies, especially anything involving espionage, military operations, conspiracies, and all the twists and turns that come with them.

My second pick would be Iron Man. I’m a huge technology guy, and what I love about that movie is how much of the technology that once felt futuristic is becoming reality. I actually used an Iron Man clip recently while talking to our consulting team about AI and how quickly things are evolving. Anything involving innovation, technology, and pushing boundaries is right up my alley.

For my third pick, I’d have to go with Top Gun. Actually, let’s call it a tie between the original and Top Gun: Maverick. The original is pure nostalgia, and the sequel somehow managed to live up to the hype. Between the action, aviation, and iconic soundtrack, it’s hard to beat.

What are your Tandym goals for 2026 and beyond?

My primary goal is to continue growing and strengthening our Consulting Solutions practice. We’ve spent the last two years building the foundation, and now it’s about continuing that momentum by expanding our client base, growing revenue, and most importantly, delivering successful outcomes for our clients.

What excites me most is seeing a project evolve from an initial engagement into a long-term partnership. We’ve already seen examples of that with clients where we started with a relatively small scope and, through successful delivery and strong results, earned the opportunity to take on additional work and expand the relationship.

That’s really the model I want to continue building. We go in, understand the client’s challenges, deliver great talent and solutions, and demonstrate the value of the Tandym Consulting approach. From there, we earn the trust to support additional initiatives and become a true partner rather than just a vendor.

As we move through 2026 and beyond, my goal is to continue growing our portfolio of consulting engagements, expanding existing client relationships, and helping establish Tandym as a go-to partner for organizations looking to solve complex business and technology challenges. The more success we create for our clients, the more opportunities we create for continued growth.

If you had unlimited PTO and one plane ticket, where are you going?

Normally, I’d say Mexico without hesitation. I love the beaches, the weather, and the fact that it’s a relatively easy trip. I’m definitely a beach guy at heart. But if I had a plane ticket anywhere in the world right now, I’d probably choose Dubai.

A lot of that comes back to my love of technology and innovation. I’m fascinated by how Dubai has transformed itself into one of the most advanced and architecturally impressive cities in the world. From the technology integrated throughout the city to the incredible engineering and design behind its buildings, it feels like a place that’s constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

I’d love the opportunity to experience that firsthand, explore the architecture, and see how they’ve built something so unique. It would be a completely different world from what I’m used to, and that’s a big part of the appeal.