Stephen Heckard leads Artisan Advisors’ Core Financial Technology Consulting practice, which focuses on generating more favorable contract outcomes from a highly competitive core vendor assessment process. Depending on client needs, he conducts core vendor evaluations, managed contract renewals or inhouse/outsourced processing assessments, among other services.

Steve is a noted specialist in financial technology with extensive experience in IT strategic planning, conversion planning, and operational assessments.  His extensive background in selling financial technology services to financial institutions, while with companies like Fiserv and ProBank Austin (now Forvis), uniquely qualifies him in assisting institutions in their review of processing systems and contract negotiations. Steve also serves on the Industry Advisory Board for BWG Strategy, LLC.   In addition to core vendor evaluations (RFP), managed contract renewals, and in-house vs. outsourced studies, he has deep experience in conversion management, merger assistance, IT strategic planning and operational studies.

Steve serves on the Industry Advisory Board for BWG Strategy, LLC, the trusted resource for tracking real world trends in technology, media, telecom, ecommerce, consumer, retail, payments, and adjacent sectors. He received an associate degree in computer programming from International Junior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana.