Our Team

Sarah Fankhauser

President and Chief Executive Officer

Sarah Fankhauser joined DCI in 1993 and today serves as President and CEO, becoming the first female president/CEO in the company’s 57-year history, and the first female president/CEO among major core providers in the U.S. bank technology industry.

Fankhauser has been credited with helping direct some of the most significant DCI initiatives in recent history, from iCore360 to landmark business acquisitions and more.

After graduating Friends University in Wichita, KS, Fankhauser’s banking career began as a teller at a large DCI client bank where she worked her way to Branch Operations Officer. She joined DCI in 1993 as an Analyst/Instructor training other DCI clients how to use the company’s core processing system.

Between 1995 and 2004, Fankhauser quickly rose through the ranks at DCI in a series of promotions during a period of other management successions, reaching the position of Senior Vice President, heading the company’s customer support and product development divisions.

During a 2009 reorganization, Fankhauser was promoted to Executive Vice President under, then President and CEO John Jones, and also subsequently named Chief Operating Officer in 2014.

Dennis Queal

Executive Vice President and CFO

Dennis A. Queal joined DCI in 2002 and today serves as Executive Vice President and CFO. During his time at DCI, he has directed multiple mergers and acquisitions transactions and facilitated the selection and implementation of a company-wide ERP solution.

A Certified Public Accountant with experience in both public and private accounting management, Dennis has led financial institution audits, director-level examinations, tax filings, consulting and IPOs in positions from Controller to Senior Vice President of Finance at regional financial institutions. Dennis graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas, with two B.S. in Business Administration degrees.

Daren Fankhauser

Senior Vice President, Chief Development Officer and Chief Architect

Daren Fankhauser joined DCI in 1996 and today serves as Senior Vice President, CDO and Chief Architect responsible for the overall executive management of the company’s software research, design and development. Daren began his DCI career as a software developer before being promoted to manager of GUI/Web software development and Systems Manager. He brings deep software/systems design to DCI and served as the Chief Architect of DCI’s award-winning iCore360® bank core processing system.

Daren began his career as a software developer at the Corporate Headquarters for State Farm Insurance in Bloomington, Illinois. He is a graduate of Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, where he earned his degree in Computer Information Systems.

Jerry Rempe

Senior Vice President, Operations

Jerry Rempe joined DCI in 1978 and serves today as SVP of Operations, overseeing executive management of all item, statement and backroom processing services through five regional processing centers for all DCI clients nationwide. In addition, Jerry is responsible for all daily check/image processing, operations and processing of all customer updates as well as backroom printing and mailing services.

Jerry began his DCI career as a distribution clerk. He has held positions with increasing responsibility in operations and processing until his appointment as a Vice President of Operations. Jerry holds an Associates degree from Hutchinson Community College.

Sencer Tasan

Senior Vice President and Chief Security Officer

Sencer Tasan joined DCI in 2009 and today serves as SVP of Network/Technical Services and Chief Security Officer with responsibilities for security and stability for the company’s network, telecommunications, software/hardware (Solaris, VM, Citrix, SAN, Windows, Oracle and SQL Databases), technical support, disaster recovery and regulatory compliance. From 2009 to 2011 Sencer served as SVP of Application Development, then became SVP and Chief Security Officer from 2012 to 2016, before being appointed SVP and Chief Information Officer in 2017.

Sencer brings more than 30 years of hands-on experience directing the development, integration, implementation, operations, audit, security and maintenance of IT technology and systems for multibillion-dollar businesses and organizations. He began his career in 1983 as an application programmer at Guaranty Federal Savings Bank in Texas City, Texas. Roles of increasing responsibility followed as Senior Programmer at Texas Industries, Manager of Systems and Programming at Newtrend, Data Center Manager at Electronic Data Systems, CIO at Bridgeway and Senior Manager at Crowe Horwath LLP.

Sencer attended university in his native Turkey and is a graduate of the University of Houston. He holds a BS in Mathematics, an MBA and an MS in Computer Science. In addition, he has earned specialty certifications of i-Net+, Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), Certified in Risk and Information Security Controls (CRISC), Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Business Continuity Professional(CBCP).

He is a member of the local Kiwanis International Club and belongs to Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), International System Security Certification Consortium-(ISC²), Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRII), American Society for Industrial Security International (ASIS) and Disaster Recovery Journal (DRJ).

Tanna Faulkner

Senior Vice President, Sales and Digital Communications

Tanna Faulkner currently leads strategic initiatives designed to expand the company’s footprint in new digital banking solutions beyond its flagship iCore360 bank management software, internet/mobile banking and other products, and leads nationwide.

Tanna first joined DCI in 1998 as an account manager and within months transitioned into new-client sales where she soon started generating record results and expanding DCI to markets as far west as California. She was then named Vice President of Sales, building a broad national client base for DCI plus lucrative third-party relationships, setting the highest sales record in the company’s history.

In the mid-2000’s, Tanna was also instrumental in helping DCI convert 100% of its legacy mainframe customers onto the company’s then-new pc-based iCore platform within an unheard of 18-month period.

Tanna graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business/Accounting.

Susan Flores

Senior Vice President, Customer Service

Susan Flores joined the DCI customer support team in 1995 and has worked her way up through the ranks to assume her current role as SVP of Customer Support and Professional Services with executive management of all aspects of supporting DCI’s customers.

Before coming to DCI, Susan worked for 11 years at Hutchinson National Bank in the bookkeeping and training departments.

Mark Kintzel

Senior Vice President, Technical Services

More info to come.

Sandra Schmitt

Vice President, Application Development

Sandra Schmitt joined DCI in 1985 and today serves as VP of Application Development. In her role she oversees the development of the company’s applications — Core, Ancillary and GoBanking. Sandra started her DCI career as a Programmer and was promoted to Senior Programmer Analyst and Deposit Product Manager before assuming her current role in 2011.

Sandra earned a BA in Computer Information Systems from Fort Hays State University and began her career as a programmer with FarMarCo.

Paul Jones

Vice President, Professional Services

Paul Jones is responsible for the overall senior management of iCore360® and companion software implementations, plus professional bank operational efficiency reviews. Mr. Jones has over 29 years of core banking software implementations experience, including hundreds of client implementations and operational reviews at DCI, preceded by 13 years of experience in mergers/acquisitions at Bank of America. Clients consistently praise and recommend Mr. Jones by name for his attention to detail and particularly professional, seamless core implementations. Mr. Jones resides in Wichita, KS, with his wife and two children.

Layne Hanson

Vice President, National Sales

Layne Hanson joined the DCI team in 2019 and serves as Vice President of Sales.  In his role he leads a team of Regional Sales Managers and Product Specialists that are responsible for organic growth and establishing new relationships with community banks across the country.  Prior to his promotion to his current role in January 2021, Layne served as a Regional Sales Manager, where he helped DCI open up new markets in North Dakota and South Dakota.

Layne’s prior employment included more than 20 years in the bank technology space with focus on both core processing and digital banking channels.  His roles have included relationship management, organic sales, and sales leadership.  He earned his B.S. degree in Finance and Management from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Nicolette Denney

Executive Documentation Officer

Nicolette Denney started at DCI in 2005 and serves as Documentation Manager. In her role she is responsible for producing and distributing the company’s many communication materials as well as partnering with all DCI staff to create documentation and produce communications. Nicki joined DCI as a Customer Support Specialist before being promoted to management roles beginning in 2011.

After earning an AA degree from Hutchinson Community College and a BA from Wichita State University, Nicki began her career with the Bank of America in Wichita, Kansas, where she served first as a teller and customer service representative and then as a loan processor and underwriter.