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COO/CFO Rachael Leadbetter Named 2025 Crisp Experience MVP

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Rachael Leadbetter holding her Crisp Experience MVP award on stage at the inaugural ELEVATE Conference, flanked by two women at the ELEVATE Powered by Crisp event.

On February 20, 2026, Rachael Leadbetter, COO/CFO of Cook, Barkett, Ponder and Wolz, was named the 2025 Crisp Experience MVP at the inaugural Crisp ELEVATE Conference in Orlando, Florida.

This prestigious award recognizes the professional who demonstrated the most significant personal and operational transformation over the course of the year. Rachael was selected from hundreds of competitors across the country, and her path to this moment is anything but ordinary.

Before She Came to CBPW

Rachael Leadbetter speaking on stage at the Crisp ELEVATE Conference in Orlando, Florida, holding a microphone and wearing her conference badge.

Rachael’s career began in service, first as a volunteer firefighter, then as a full-time EMS professional. She graduated at the top of her class from the St. Louis Fire Academy. But just three months after completing that program, a life-altering medical event changed everything.

Stepping away from a career she had dreamed about was not a decision made quickly or easily. It came with sleepless nights, long conversations with her husband — himself a firefighter and paramedic — and a realization about what was best for her patients and her crew. When her and her husband’s opposite shift schedules added to the picture, the decision became clear: it was time to take a leap of faith and build the next chapter.

That chapter led her to CBPW, and the skills she built in fire and EMS, such as calm under pressure, strict adherence to procedure, and genuine care for the people she serves came with her.

The Challenge

When Rachael joined CBPW, she was given an exciting challenge: build the systems and processes that would take our firm to the next level. No template. No playbook. Just trust, drive, and the willingness to dig in. Throughout this past year, while participating in the Crisp Experience Program, Rachael has brought serious growth and impact to the firm.

What She Built

Rachael Leadbetter laughing during a Crisp Experience session, seated at a table with her name placard visible, surrounded by other attendees.

The results speak for themselves. Here are some of the highlights:

  • A better hiring process. Rachael redesigned how we recruit and select team members. The result: stronger hires who are the right fit for our firm and our clients.
  • Faster resolutions for clients. She rebuilt our settlement process from the ground up, cutting our timeline from six months down to 30 days on average. Clients get answers faster. The firm runs better. This is the change Rachael is most proud of, and it’s the one she says has made the biggest impact both for clients and for the firm.
  • A transformed case management system. Rachael formed a “Filevine Beta Group” with team members from every department and multiple attorneys. Together, they transformed the firm’s CRM from a basic document storage platform into a fully customized system built around how CBPW actually works, with automated forms, letters, and workflows that support every phase of a case.
  • Smarter, faster tools for the team. Rachael implemented new software that reduced the time to send medical or billing record requests from several minutes to under 45 seconds with automatic follow-ups to providers so the team can stay focused on clients instead of chasing paperwork.
  • A better client experience. Through process improvements and team development, Rachael has raised the standard for how clients experience CBPW from the first call to the final resolution.

Leading with Collaboration

One of the most meaningful parts of Rachael’s growth this year has been learning to lead differently. Coming from a background in fire and EMS, where everyone had a clearly defined role and often had to figure things out independently, she’s embraced a new kind of teamwork at CBPW.

“None of what was accomplished this year was done alone,” said Leadbetter. “Team members stepped into new roles, learned newly built processes without complaint, and picked up the phone so others could focus on reducing the settlement backlog. One of CBPW’s core values is ‘together we’re better,’ and this award is a direct reflection of that.”

In Their Own Words

Rachael Leadbetter smiling in front of a Crisp Experience branded backdrop, wearing a black blazer and light blue blouse.

“Rachael’s impact on our firm has been extraordinary,” said J. Michael Ponder, Managing Partner. “She came in with a mission to build something better, and that’s exactly what she did. This recognition reflects not only her results, but her character as a leader.”

“Winning the Crisp Experience MVP award is something that 12 months ago seemed impossible,” said Leadbetter. “I was up against a lot of well-deserving people from all over the country. It truly is an honor to be the recipient of the award. It represents the dedication and commitment of not only myself, but also our team to providing exceptional experiences for our clients. I am excited to see what I can accomplish next.”

Congratulations, Rachael!

This award is a reflection of who Rachael is: someone who shows up, does the work, and makes everyone around her better. She joined CBPW and hit the ground running, and the fact that this recognition came so early in her time with the firm only makes us more excited about what comes next.

We’re proud to have her leading our operations. And we can’t wait to see what she builds next.