Kristen Keats, CPA, is a tech-forward former tax firm owner with more than 25 years of hands-on experience building, scaling, and modernizing accounting practices. She is the former owner of Sherwood Tax & Accounting, founder of Breakaway Bookkeeping & Advising, and co-founder of Cadencia, an outsource staffing agency based in Guadalajara, Mexico and currently serves in an advisory role at Accrual (we can leave this last part off if it detracts).
Kristen has led firm growth, implemented technology systems, built remote teams, and successfully transitioned her practice, giving her a practical perspective on what actually works inside today’s accounting firms.
She serves on the Advisory Board for the Accounting Today Firm Growth Forum and on the Accountant Advisory Board for ADP.
Kristen speaks on firm growth, advisory services, staffing strategy, and technology adoption, with a focus on helping firms operate more efficiently while delivering better client experiences. Her mission is simple: Bring Joy to Accounting.
Heather Satterley is Director of Education and Media at Woodard, a company committed to empowering accounting professionals. Her career path, strongly rooted in public accounting, has been steered by a deep-seated passion for technology and a calling to help others. A critical part of her work involves designing and automating business processes using advanced technologies, supporting businesses in their journey towards streamlined operations and improved efficiency.
Heather believes in the collective power of community and the transformative outcomes achieved through united efforts. This belief is woven into the fabric of her leadership style and informs her work at every level.
Alongside her role at Woodard, Heather co-hosts The Appy Hour with Liz and Heather, a webinar series designed to clarify the often complex world of technology and apps within the accounting profession. This platform allows Heather to extend her influence, disseminating valuable knowledge and insights that enhance the professional skills of those in her field.
Her contribution to the accounting community extends to the co-creation and production of Appy Hour Camp, a retreat designed to foster relationships and encourage collaboration between accounting professional educators and software developers.
Doug is the Managing Director at The Visionary Group and is one of Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential “Ones to Watch”. He balances his focus between overseeing Visionary’s M&A department and bridging the gap between the existing and next-generation leadership inside accounting firms nationwide. He brings a unique viewpoint to the industry as a younger professional who is helping senior leadership navigate through complex changes in where firms are heading.
At the heart of his role is the facilitation and structuring of fair traditional and private equity M&A transactions for both sides in any deal. Most of his time is spent engaging primarily with Managing Partners, CEOs, and key leaders within CPA firms. He’s known for building strong relationships with industry leaders, fostering innovative approaches in M&A activities, and cultivating a network of trusted consultants and advisors.
You probably have seen Doug speak at an industry event or running a webinar as he is quickly becoming a requested speaker and facilitator across the accounting world. Before joining The Visionary Group, Doug held client-facing positions in professional sports and startup technology. There, he led diverse sales, marketing, and account management efforts catering to Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. Doug holds a Bachelor of Science from Illinois State University.
Bob is President of The Visionary Group and one of Accounting Today’s Top 100
Most Influential People. He has relationships with key leaders in accounting firms
nationwide and is a frequent speaker on M&A, private equity, and organic growth.
Bob helps firms assess their ability to remain independent, build enterprise value,
and creates and facilitates dozens of material transactions annually.
He created an in-depth Firm Valuation model and Build to Evolve process. The
valuation model shows firms their market value and how to impact value. The
Build process assesses a firm’s alignment, accountability, profit refinement
opportunities and creates an Independence Plan. He focuses on getting firms to
make decisions based on data and facts and to avoid making emotional
decisions.
His thirty-plus years of exclusive support in the accounting profession has
provided Bob with the opportunity to learn from great firm leaders. Beyond his
deep experience in M&A and private equity he helps firms with pricing, client
upscaling, and overall growth tactics.
Bob Co-Chairs the Accounting Today Private Equity Summit, has an accounting
background, and his formal education is a Bachelor of Science in Finance, and
an MBA, both from DePaul University in Chicago.
Rachel Anevski is an accomplished leader and consultant with over a decade of experience in human resources and business operations within public accounting firms. As the CEO and Founder of Matters of Management, a Fractional HR company, Rachel specializes in helping firms optimize their operations, enhance leadership development, and create strategies that drive growth and employee retention. With a background in transformational leadership and talent development, Rachel is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges facing public accounting firms today. She frequently speaks at industry events and writes for public accounting magazines, offering insights into leadership, employee engagement, and firm management. Rachel’s work empowers firms to attract and retain top talent while maintaining operational excellence, positioning them for long-term success in a competitive landscape. She is the co-author of the 2024 best selling business book, Accounting for Times – Evolve or Dissolve.