Meet the SJ Rose team

Susie Newman is the founder and owner of SJ Rose, which she launched in 2018 to help individuals, families, and small businesses feel more organized and confident in their finances. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Susie began her career in finance at GE Capital before earning her MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Her background in finance, combined with a natural love of helping others and numbers, ultimately led her to bookkeeping and the creation of SJ Rose.

As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, Susie works closely with clients to bring clarity and structure to their financial lives. She especially enjoys building long-term relationships, solving complicated bookkeeping issues, and helping clients better understand their numbers. The name SJ Rose has special meaning to Susie: “SJ” honors her parents, Stuart and Janice, while “Rose” honors her grandmother, Nana Rose.

Susie lives in Deerfield with her husband, two sons, and their Havanese, Rookie. Outside of SJ Rose, she teaches group fitness classes and enjoys staying active, traveling, spending time with family and friends, and cheering on her boys at their many sporting events.

Lisa Bailey lives in Boise, Idaho, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from California State University. She brings years of experience helping entrepreneurs stay organized and confident in their finances and especially enjoys learning about the unique businesses and stories behind the numbers.

At SJ Rose, Lisa works closely with small business owners to keep their bookkeeping organized and up to date. She particularly enjoys supporting women-owned businesses and understands how challenging it can be for entrepreneurs to wear multiple hats. By taking bookkeeping off their plates, Lisa helps clients spend more time focusing on the parts of their businesses they love most.

Outside of work, Lisa enjoys yoga, pickleball, golf, boating, hiking in the Idaho mountains, and making the most of her favorite time of year—flip-flop season.

Erika Burkemper lives in Wilmette with her husband and three children. She earned her degree in Finance and Real Estate from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and brings more than a decade of experience in finance and strategy consulting. Her longstanding interest in personal finance and small business eventually led her to bookkeeping, where she combines analytical thinking with practical, hands-on problem solving.

At SJ Rose, Erika helps clients keep their financial records organized, accurate, and up to date. She especially enjoys untangling bookkeeping challenges and bringing clarity to financial details that can feel overwhelming. Erika takes the time to understand each client’s needs and build relationships based on trust, helping clients feel more confident and at ease with their finances.

Outside of work, Erika spends much of her time keeping up with her children’s busy schedules and cheering them on from the sidelines. She also enjoys running, home design projects, and spending time with her family at their cottage in Wisconsin.

Christie Koch is a Libertyville native who now lives in Deerfield with her husband and two daughters. She earned her BA in Dance Performance from Point Park University before transitioning into the business world, where she gained experience in bookkeeping, accounting operations, and HR while supporting several Chicago-area companies.

After taking time away from full-time work while raising her daughters, Christie found her way back to bookkeeping through SJ Rose. She loves helping individuals and small businesses feel more organized and in control of their finances, particularly through bill pay, expense categorization, and managing the day-to-day financial details that can easily become overwhelming.

Outside of SJ Rose, Christie works part-time in accounting and purchasing for a local robotics company and teaches group fitness classes. She enjoys cooking and entertaining, staying active, going to concerts, spending time with her family—and dancing whenever she gets the chance.

Jordyn Levitt is a native of Chicago’s northern suburbs. She attended Lake Forest College for her undergraduate studies and earned her graduate degree from National Louis University. Financial management and organization run in Jordyn’s family—she grew up surrounded by accountants, and her grandmother was an accomplished bookkeeper who helped inspire her interest in the field.

At SJ Rose, Jordyn works closely with individuals and families, helping them manage household finances and navigate projects and financial responsibilities with greater confidence. She especially values building trusting relationships, solving problems, and supporting clients through challenging or overwhelming situations with compassion and patience.

Jordyn enjoys spending her free time with her husband and family, traveling to warm and sunny destinations, running marathons, exercising, and experimenting in the kitchen.

Stephanie Linn is an Evanston native who now lives in Wilmette with her husband and two sons. She earned her degree in Accounting and Finance from Washington University in St. Louis and is an IRS Enrolled Agent. Before joining SJ Rose in May 2022, Stephanie spent more than 20 years working in Global Mobility and Global Rewards at Deloitte and later Baker McKenzie.

At SJ Rose, Stephanie helps individuals, families, small businesses, and nonprofits organize and manage their finances through daily money management and bookkeeping, including QuickBooks Online. She is especially drawn to supporting clients navigating aging, life transitions, or other financial challenges. Stephanie enjoys untangling complex issues, advocating for clients, and finding practical solutions that provide greater confidence and peace of mind.

Outside of SJ Rose, Stephanie works as a substitute teacher in Wilmette Public Schools District 39 and is active in the community, serving on the board of Connections for the Homeless and on Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s Directors Circle Committee. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, and taking advantage of Chicago’s theater and live music scene.

Originally from Poland, Kasia Machnicki now lives in Deerfield with her husband and two daughters. She pursued her education in both Poland and the United States, and her background in accounting and bookkeeping has shaped her practical, detail-oriented approach to financial organization and problem-solving.

At SJ Rose, Kasia helps clients organize their financial records, resolve bookkeeping issues, and stay on top of important financial responsibilities. She enjoys combining her accounting expertise with meaningful client relationships and takes the time to understand each client’s individual needs. Kasia finds it especially rewarding when her work gives clients greater clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.

Outside of work, Kasia enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and trying new recipes in the kitchen.