Not many people get competitive when playing pool basketball. Even fewer would be really aggressive in said game against their boss. However, Brett Sisell doesn’t mind going against the grain.
It was early in Sisell’s tenure as a web application developer with then-BEI Services that he was able to take on—and defeat—his boss, Wes McArtor, in the hotly contested water hoops skirmish. It wasn’t easy, and during the fierce battle, Sisell body-checked McArtor, showing his willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
For years, the late, great McArtor would share that story with friends and business acquaintances. He loved the energy Sisell showed as a young man, just a few years removed from college. It’s a memory of McArtor, who died of cancer in 2024, that Sisell will always cherish.
“A kid in his early 20s going hard at the company owner was exactly the energy he wanted,” said Sisell, a 2026 ENX Magazine Difference Maker. “He relished being challenged, by anyone, regardless of title. That stuck with me, for better or worse, and it’s still how I work today.”
Today, Sisell is the head of research and development for the since-rechristened Nexera, developing client tools that address service performance, technician development and operational efficiency. The Winona State University graduate is also devising AI-driven solutions to help elevate the office technology dealer community.
Better Self
A watershed moment for him was the release of Nexera’s technician coaching products. Altering the way the industry grooms its techs proved to be highly satisfying, and it continuously prompts Sisell to dig deeper.
“Watching something we built change how the industry coaches and develops its technicians was the moment I really understood the kind of impact this work can have,” he said. “It raised the bar for what I expect our work to do.”
Sisell has also taken cues from former team member Bud Karakey, who “has a knack for making everyone around him naturally want to be at their best, and even a little better.” Working with him always proved to be a challenge for Sisell, as it always brought out the best in him.
Another memorable moment came in the form of attending this year’s Executive Connection Summit (ECS). He loved seeing the camaraderie and the sense of community the event embodies. The give-and-take sharing that took place stoked Sisell’s collaborative instinct. He’s now a member of the ECS’ band of young guns, a.k.a. The Breakaway Group, which seeks to develop best practices to help move the industry forward.
While Sisell loves expanding his horizons, he truly enjoys the time he gets to spend with the Nexera team. “We’re a close group. We’ll talk cars and road trips as easily as we talk shop,” he said. “Watching everyone grow as people over the years has been a real joy.”
On the home front, Sisell and his wife of 16 years, Jennifer, have three children: Dustin (7 years old) Madelyn (5) and Devin (1). Unabashed gearheads and outdoor enthusiasts, those activities that are loud, fast or dirty appeal most to the Sisells. He can often be found in a garage, riding a dirt bike or chasing his kids about.
It’s a fascinating contrast to the professional persona. “At work I’m the calm, systems-thinking technical guy,” he noted. “My friends know the other version. The one who’ll hook up a trailer and drive 13 hours one way to buy a car, then happily spend the next year taking it apart. Same person, very different energy.”
It’s all part of his adventurous nature. Out of the blue, he began restoring a 1980 K10 Suburban, which one might call a muscle car of a different ilk. It could be that he wanted to get better at body work. Or maybe it was just the call of the unknown that couldn’t be ignored.
“Diving into something I have no idea how to do and just figuring it out has been the theme of my whole career, and life in general,” he said. “At this point it’s less a desire than a habit.”
Interesting fact about you: In addition to computer science, I studied psychology in college.
Favorite book or movie: “Smokey and the Bandit”
Favorite food: Cheese popcorn
Dream vacation destination: Moab, Utah
Any special talents: Taking perfectly good cars and making them not that.
Guilty pleasure: Road trips, the longer the better.
Most prized possession: 2005 Pontiac GTO LS2 T56 in Midnight Blue
