Oct. 22, 2025

This piece is sponsored by MarketBeat.

The pace of life in a restaurant kitchen is relentless. There’s always another order, another plate to perfect, another rush to prepare for.

For 14 years, Liz Semrau thrived in that world, even spending several of those years as an executive chef at Granite City.

But when her husband’s military deployment prompted her to step away from full-time work, life slowed down. There was suddenly time at home with her young children, and eventually, space to think about what might come next.

Semrau and her family

“Once the kids were in school, I knew I wanted to do something for myself again,” Semrau said. “I started substitute teaching part-time while I figured out what that could be.”

That decision led to an unexpected new path. A connection with a former classmate, Maureen Ohm, now MarketBeat’s director of community relations, brought Semrau to MarketBeat in 2021—the first step toward an entirely new career.

Semrau and Ohm at the Administrative Professionals Conference

Four years later, she is helping manage the company’s day-to-day accounting operations, working closely with MarketBeat’s affiliate partners, and pursuing an accounting certification at the University of Sioux Falls (USF).

Curiosity turns into opportunity 

When Semrau first joined MarketBeat, it was as a part-time customer support representative.

“I started doing data entry and general customer support,” she said. “It was a great fit right away. I loved the people and the culture, and it challenged me to problem-solve and think critically again.”

Semrau at MarketBeat’s first office in The Crane Centre

As she became more familiar with the company, Semrau’s curiosity for how things worked behind the scenes began to grow. That interest caught the attention of Arin Gonseth, MarketBeat’s vice president of finance, who quickly saw her potential.

“Liz initially joined MarketBeat part-time while seeking a full-time role. At the same time, we were looking for support with our day-to-day accounting, so there was a natural alignment between opportunity and ambition—and it turned out to be a perfect fit. Liz is a learner by nature; she’s curious, asks thoughtful questions, and approaches every challenge with a desire to understand and grow,” Gonseth said.

Under Gonseth’s guidance, Semrau began taking on more accounting and operations responsibilities. By July 2022, she had transitioned into a full-time accounting and operations specialist role, helping manage MarketBeat’s financial transactions, vendor payments, and invoices.

Semrau at MarketBeat’s new office in The Bancorp Building at Cherapa Place

“Arin has really encouraged me to learn and grow,” Semrau said. “She never just gives me an answer, she explains how we got there and helps me think through it myself.”

Understanding the bigger picture

Today, Semrau’s role connects her with nearly every part of the company. She manages payments, assists with reporting and ensures everything is documented accurately while collaborating with MarketBeat’s advertisers and affiliate partners.

Semrau working alongside coworker Bekah Van Maanen

“Working with our partners has helped me understand so much more about how MarketBeat operates,” she said. “It’s rewarding to see how all the moving parts fit together and how my work helps those relationships run smoothly.”

To help Semrau build on her growing interest, Gonseth encouraged her to enroll in the accounting specialist certificate program at USF.

“Liz had strong hands-on experience,” Gonseth said. “She was eager to understand the why behind the day-to-day work and how it connected to the broader principles of accounting. The accounting specialist certificate program at the University of Sioux Falls provided the core classes she needed to build on that curiosity and skill.”

With MarketBeat’s support, Semrau enrolled at USF in 2024. The company sponsors her coursework and provides the flexibility for her to attend classes twice a week while continuing to work full-time.

Semrau on campus at USF

“It means so much that MarketBeat believes in me,” she said. “They don’t just want me to succeed in their business; they want me to succeed in my education, too. The support and flexibility have been incredible.”

Semrau will complete her certification in December 2025, but she’s already applying what she learns in real time.

“I understand so much more about the reasoning behind what we do,” she said. “It’s helped me see the bigger picture: how MarketBeat operates, how our partners fit into that picture, and how I can add more value.”

Culture built on encouragement

For Gonseth, seeing that growth is what makes investing in employees so rewarding.

“It’s been such a joy watching Liz deepen her understanding of the why behind her role as an accounting specialist. Sending her to USF to pursue an accounting certificate is just one way of how we live out our core value of encouragement: helping each other learn, grow, and become the best versions of ourselves.”

What began as a part-time role has become a career Semrau’s proud to keep building.

“MarketBeat really does want everyone here to be the best version of themselves,” she said. “The support, the flexibility, the encouragement—it’s all there. I’m proud to be part of a company that truly wants to see its people succeed.”