10 Nelnet operations leaders
Jill Leitl, Chief Operating Officer of a Nelnet loan servicing division, heads this list of Nelnet operations leaders, which also includes managing directors and directors of consumer loan, back office and reinsurance operations. A reader can learn how operations leaders work at Nelnet from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Bob Forbrook
LinkedInExperience: Former Director of Operations - Vice President Operations · Nelnet/Great Lakes Education Loan Services
Bob Forbrook is a former Director of Operations - Vice President Operations at Nelnet/Great Lakes Education Loan Services, a role held from 2012 to 2019, based in South St Paul, Minnesota. Bob Forbrook was Vice President Operations at NorthStar Capital Markets Services from 2003 to 2012 and Assistant Vice President at Firstmark Services from 2000 to 2003.
Canice Kobus
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations - Nelnet Transaction Solutions · Nelnet Campus Commerce
Canice Kobus has held Director of Operations - Nelnet Transaction Solutions at Nelnet Campus Commerce since 2014, based in Lincoln, Nebraska, and also lists Vice President - Client Services at Nelnet Payment Services since 2014 and Director Of Client Services at Nelnet Payment Services since December 2020 as current roles.
Christy L. Phillips
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director - Consumer Loan Operations & Client Services · Nelnet Diversified Services
Christy L. Phillips has been Managing Director - Consumer Loan Operations & Client Services at Nelnet Diversified Services since January 2016, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Christy L. Phillips was also Managing Director - Client Services at Nelnet from 2013 to 2020 and Director, Client Services at Nelnet Diversified Services from 2010 to 2013.
Cooper Thomas
LinkedInExperience: Former Director, Deposit Operations · Nelnet Bank
Cooper Thomas is a former Director, Deposit Operations at Nelnet Bank, a role held from January 2020 to January 2026, and has been Director of Deposits at Ford Credit since March 2026. Cooper Thomas was Vice President, Retail Deposits at WebBank from 2019 to 2020 and Deposit Operations Manager at WebBank from 2017 to 2019.
Davi Madeira
LinkedInExperience: Director, Back Office Operations · Nelnet Diversified Services
Davi Madeira has been Director, Back Office Operations at Nelnet Diversified Services since February 2026, based in Mississauga, Ontario, and also lists Director Student Lending Operations at Finastra as a role held since November 2021. Davi Madeira was Sr Manager Operations at Finastra from 2019 to 2021.
Janeen Ortega
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director - Operations Risk Management · Nelnet
Janeen Ortega has been Managing Director - Operations Risk Management at Nelnet since January 2012, based in Fayetteville, Georgia. At Nelnet, Janeen Ortega was also Director Risk Management Fraud Aversions from 2003 to 2011, and was Vice President Loan Services at Nelnet/UNIPAC from 1989 to 2003.
Jennifer Burkey
LinkedInExperience: Former Director - Operations Processing · Nelnet Diversified Services
Jennifer Burkey is a former Director - Operations Processing at Nelnet Diversified Services, a role held from 2002 to 2013, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Jennifer Burkey has also held a Managing Director role at Nelnet since November 2002 and was a Manager at Nelnet from 2002 to 2011.
Jill Leitl
LinkedInExperience: Chief Operating Officer · Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc. a division of Nelnet, Inc.
Jill Leitl has been Chief Operating Officer of Great Lakes Educational Loan Services, Inc., a division of Nelnet, Inc., since May 2015, based in Madison, Wisconsin, and describes duties that include managing operational and systems staff. Jill Leitl was Chief Servicing Officer at Great Lakes Higher Education Corporation and Affiliates from 2008 to 2015.
Nicholas Sattler
LinkedInExperience: Managing Director of Customer Care · Nelnet Diversified Services
Nicholas Sattler has been Managing Director of Customer Care at Nelnet Diversified Services since June 2024, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. At Nelnet Diversified Services, Nicholas Sattler was also a Director from 2019 to 2024 and a Functional Manager from 2010 to 2019.
Nicole Spilker
LinkedInExperience: Director of Reinsurance Operations and Program Management · Nelnet
Nicole Spilker has been Director of Reinsurance Operations and Program Management at Nelnet since March 2026, based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Nicole Spilker was Reinsurance Program Manager at Nelnet from 2025 to 2026, Engagement Manager at Nelnet Diversified Services from 2023 to 2025 and Client Account Manager there from 2019 to 2023.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's area, such as loan servicing, customer care, back office or deposit operations, to the question you bring. Check which Nelnet business the person worked in and whether the role is current before you choose.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you organize servicing operations so that service levels hold during volume spikes?
- 02What changes have you made to back office processing, and how did you measure the effect?
- 03How do you work with compliance and client teams when servicing requirements change?
Reaching Nelnet operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Nelnet operations leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 6 companies, including Nelnet/Great Lakes Education Loan Services, Nelnet Campus Commerce and Nelnet Diversified Services, based on profile data retrieved on October 26, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Nelnet operations leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Nelnet operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.