Barbara Stiles, a seasoned AEC industry leader with over 30 years of experience, is a Senior Consultant in Stambaugh Ness’s Strategic Growth Advisory practice.

Previously Vice President of Business Planning for a major engineering firm, Barbara brings proven strategic growth, business development, and marketing expertise.

As a Fellow of SMPS and a CPSM, she provides valuable guidance to AEC firms on enhancing their business development strategies, improving internal processes, and achieving their growth objectives.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts, University of Central Florida

Professional Highlights

• SMPS Fellow (FMSPS)
• Certified Professional Services Marketer (CMPS)

Michelle Whitaker is a Deltek Certified Resource Planning Consultant at Stambaugh Ness, specializing in Deltek Vision and Vantagepoint. In this role, Michelle works closely with clients to implement and optimize resource planning solutions, deliver tailored training sessions, support business development efforts, and develop efficient processes and procedures to drive organizational success.

With over two decades of experience, Michelle is an analytical and strategic thinker with expertise in ERP business process implementation and enhancements. Her proficiency spans Deltek Vantagepoint Resource Management, CRM, Reporting, Role Security, and Workflows, as well as advanced skills in Microsoft Excel and Power BI.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing | University of Arizona

Melissa is an accomplished instructional designer and mass media/communications specialist, with extensive expertise in corporate learning and development, higher education administration, and distance education. She excels in creating and managing online, HyFlex, and hybrid courses, integrating emerging technologies to deliver engaging learning experiences across diverse disciplines.

Michael is a Principal Consultant specializing in Ajera software, bringing over a decade of experience at Deltek. His deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by AE firms allows him to help clients leverage Ajera to drive financial growth. A recognized leader in the project-based community, Michael is passionate about sharing his expertise and works with firms across the nation to deliver successful system implementations, training, and best practices for system optimization. He collaborates closely with clients to understand their business processes and needs, providing tailored Ajera solutions and identifying opportunities to improve and automate workflow for enhanced project management and accounting procedures.

Jenn is a highly skilled accounting professional and Deltek Ajera expert with extensive experience in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. With several years in finance and accounting roles, she specializes in providing outsourced accounting services to firms nationwide. Jenn leverages the power of Deltek Ajera to streamline financial operations, enhance efficiency, and drive profitability.

Laura Renauer is a highly accomplished Senior Principal Consultant at Stambaugh Ness with a distinguished career in accounting and project management. Her understanding of financial operations, coupled with extensive experience in Deltek Vision and Vantagepoint, makes her a strategic advisor to clients in the Architecture and Engineering industry.

Laura’s early career laid a solid foundation in accounting, where she gained expertise in financial reporting, analysis, and project improvement. Her subsequent roles in project-based accounting honed her skills in invoicing, revenue recognition, and project performance management. This comprehensive background equips Laura with a unique perspective that enables her to optimize Deltek solutions for clients seeking to enhance financial performance and operational efficiency.

As a Senior Principal Consultant, Laura leverages her technical proficiency and industry knowledge to drive successful implementations, upgrades, and process transformations. Her ability to build strong client relationships and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams has resulted in significant value creation for organizations across the Architecture and Engineering industry.

Education

• Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University: MBA with Distinction, Concentration in Accounting
• Southern Illinois University, Carbondale

Ashley Jazayeri is a Senior Consultant with Stambaugh Ness’s State Tax Advisory Group, bringing extensive experience in state and local tax (SALT) issues. In previous roles before joining Stambaugh Ness, Ashley focused on Tax Credits & Incentives and State and Local Taxes.

Ashley specializes in helping clients find solutions to complex state tax challenges, saving them money on compliance costs and state audits. Her expertise includes post-Wayfair nexus rules, state registrations, reverse sales and use tax audits (RSUTA), sales and use tax filings, and voluntary disclosure agreements.

Ashley is committed to optimizing tax strategies and ensuring regulatory compliance for companies operating across multiple jurisdictions within the United States.

Education

• Carroll College: Bachelor’s degree, International Relations and Affairs, Political Science
• Al Akhawayn University: Bachelor’s degree, International Exchange Student, International Relations and Affairs, Political Science

As the Sr. Customer Success Manager, Julie leverages her deep understanding of Deltek to help clients achieve their business objectives. She proactively identifies potential challenges and provides tailored solutions, driving the adoption and utilization of Deltek solutions. Julie is passionate about empowering clients to fully leverage their software investment and realize its full potential. She is a skilled communicator and problem-solver, committed to building lasting partnerships.

Melanie is an experienced project accountant with specialized expertise in Deltek Vision and Vantagepoint accounting systems. With several years as a Senior Accounting Specialist in a civil engineering firm, she possesses in-depth knowledge of optimizing the efficiency and profitability of project-based firms through effective accounting processes. Melanie supports clients nationwide, helping them enhance their accounting functions to achieve optimal performance.