Elise Tvrdik serves as an Assistant Vice President and Trust Service Officer at GreatBanc Trust Company. She brings nearly a decade of experience in the ESOP industry and a passion for helping clients navigate the complexities of employee ownership. Originally from Western Springs, IL, Elise now calls Lockport home.
Like many in the field, Elise stumbled into the world of ESOPs somewhat unexpectedly. A fresh graduate at the time she was recruited, Elise had never even heard of an employee stock ownership plan. “I remember Googling it with my dad the night before my interview,” she recalls. “I still didn’t fully understand it—but I aced the interview anyway.” In the decade since, she’s built a career rooted in curiosity, growth, and a desire to support employee-owned businesses.
With a background in accounting and customer service, Elise brings a valuable blend of technical skill and interpersonal insight to her client relationships. Her experience reviewing and analyzing financial statements is enhanced by years of customer-facing roles that shaped her communication style and empathy. She enjoys getting to know her clients and their businesses, and she thrives on collaborating with colleagues to find solutions to complex ESOP issues.
Elise holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Accountancy (cum laude) from DePaul University and has earned the Retirement Plans Associate (RPA) designation through the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She is a member of The ESOP Association (TEA) and the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).
Outside of work, Elise is always up for an adventure. She enjoys hiking—especially in Tennessee and North Carolina—and road-tripping across the country in search of hidden gems, small towns, and off-the-beaten-path breweries, far from the bustle of big cities.
Ask me about
Rescuing and fostering animals, my vintage sign collection, and how I can do the worm backwards – Just kidding, please don’t put that last one on the website.
Favorite Quote
“There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot.” – Aldo Leopold