About BARR Advisory

As Founder and President of BARR Advisory, Brad Thies leads all aspects of the organization’s global client service delivery and security assessment services including SOC, ISO, PCI, NIST and HIPAA examinations, FedRAMP reviews and GRC consulting services. Under Brad’s leadership, BARR has become one of the most sought-after third-party assessors in the cloud computing space.

Brad is a recognized thought leader on security and compliance in the cloud computing space. He is a regular guest speaker at industry events, such as ISACA conferences and a member of the AICPA’s Trust Integrity Task Force. Brad’s professional advice has been featured in Entrepreneur, Cloud Computing Journal and Information Security Buzz. Prior to founding BARR, Brad managed KPMG's IT advisory services division. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Certified Information System Auditor (CISA).

As BARR’s Director of Cybersecurity Consulting, Mitch Evans leads a growing CISO Advisory practice providing vCISO services to organizations of various sizes and across a wide range of industries. He oversees and supports a team of CISO Advisory consultants who provide services ranging from cybersecurity gap assessments, to policy and procedures documentation, due diligence questionnaires, penetration testing, and much more. He provides guidance and support to the CISO Advisory consultants, as well as direct guidance to clients.

Mitch has over 10 years of experience in security and compliance and maintains a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) certification.

Lauren Hannawald brings over 15 years of industry experience to her role as Learning and Development Manager where she works with BARR associates in finding training opportunities and advancing their careers. Formerly the Head of Brand, Marketing and Strategy at BARR, Lauren transitioned to the People and Culture team, applying her project management, internal communications, and multimedia skills to her training role.

With an education and marketing communications background, Lauren began her career at Hallmark Cards and VMLY&R. She also served as the Director of Marketing at Rockhurst University in Kansas City. Lauren holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Kansas and a master’s degree from New York University.

As a Head of BARR Advisory’s Attest Services, Kyle leads all efforts related to Attest client needs. She specializes in performing assessments over the design and operating effectiveness of control environments based on industry trends, leading best practice, and regulatory requirements.

Prior to joining BARR Advisory, Kyle held audit roles in EY’s IT Risk and Assurance practice, Frontier Communications and Conduent Business Services. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

Angela Redmond is Director of BARR Advisory’s Attest Services. She is known for her exemplary client service as well as her technical expertise in assessing security and compliance against regulatory standards including SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC for Cybersecurity. Angela currently serves clients in a wide range of industries — from global technology services and media production to financial services.

Prior to joining BARR, Angela was a Senior Auditor for the Federal Reserve Bank in Kansas City and later a Financial Systems Analyst at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Kansas State University.

As the Director of Attest Services, Whitney Perez brings a wealth of experience in internal audits, SOX, information security, and internal control development. She evaluates risk and controls for industries including energy, government, and financial services.

Prior to joining BARR, Whitney held IT auditor and advisory positions at KCP&L in Kansas City, Missouri and Grant Thornton in Dallas, Texas. Whitney has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Kansas and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

As a Director of BARR's Attest Services, Cameron Kline serves as the engagement lead for SOC 2 reports. He specializes in technology clients, conducting technology risk assessments, SOC engagements, compliance audits, and IT operational engagements.

Cameron owns the project management aspect of client engagements, ensuring evidence is obtained and documented in a timely manner. He strives to engage and build relationships with all BARR clients and ensures top quality for all clients. Cameron earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Finance from the University of Maryland.

As Manager of Attest Services, Barbara Donatien serves as the lead for planning and executing information technology audits (SOC 1, SOC 2, and SOC 3), client risk assessments and CISO Advisory engagements for clients in a wide range of industries.

Prior to joining BARR, Barbara worked as a senior associate in KPMG’s Audit and Assurance Practice. She has a Bachelor of Science in accounting and information systems from Duquesne University.

As Manager of Attest Services, Cody Hewell has successfully worked within attestation doing audit engagements at BARR Advisory and other firms. Previously, he worked in GRC and risk teams at Fortune 500 companies. In addition, he has past U.S. Military experience, including active and reserve roles in the U.S. Army, working in technical operations.

Cody earned a Master of Science in Information Systems from Georgia State University, a Master of Science in Instructional Systems and Learning Technologies from Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Georgia.

Hannah Kenney is a Manager for BARR's Attest Services. She serves on cyber risk engagements for computer software, human resources, and financial technology organizations, where she is responsible for planning, execution, and delivery of cyber assessments, and reporting process improvements.

Hannah’s background includes extensive project management experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Business Analytics from the University of Kansas.

As a Manager of BARR's Attest Services, Julie Mungai brings extensive experience in performing internal controls audits, including business process and technology audits, for domestic and international clients in manufacturing, technology and pharmaceutical industries as well as compliance activities including attestation of services (SOC 1, SOC 2).

Before joining BARR, Julie gained five years of experience in risk assurance at PwC. Julie has a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University, a master’s degree from New York University, and holds a CISA.

As Manager for BARR’s Attest Services, Steve Ryan is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in the healthcare industry. He is experienced in both HITRUST and HIPAA assessments.

Prior to joining BARR, Steve was a Senior Consultant in Wolf & Company’s IT Assurance practice. He holds a Bachelor of Science in information systems from Bentley University.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR’s Attest Services, AJ is responsible for planning and executing all aspects of SOC attestation engagements, including testing controls and performing walkthroughs.

AJ is a graduate of the Fox School of Business at Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Management Information Systems. AJ was named on the Dean's List, the Athletic Director's Honor Roll, Beta Gamma Sigma, and Temple University's Golden Key Chapter as top 10% of his class. He also played football at Temple during his first two years of college.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Amanda Parnigoni is responsible for leading and executing technology risk readiness assessments and audits, including SOC 1, 2, and 3. She is experienced in evaluating risk and IT controls for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Prior to joining BARR, Amanda was a Senior Associate at Marcum LLP, where she also served as a member of the diversity, equity, and inclusion task force. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Massachusetts.

As Associate Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Angie Korol is responsible for assisting senior HITRUST consultants in planning and executing information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in the healthcare industry.

Angie graduated from the University of Georgia, receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems. She has assisted organizations in performing comprehensive assessments of their operations to help identify ways to address existing risks and implement a control environment. Her areas of focus include IT Assurance, System and Organization Controls (SOC), Enterprise Risk Management, and HITRUST.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Ashlyn Jones is responsible for planning and executing technology risk readiness assessments and audits for clients in various highly regulated industries. Ashlyn brings over three years of experience in public accounting and a strong background in information technology, finance, and data analysis.

Ashlyn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Finance with a CPA Concentration from College of Saint Benedict and a Master of Business Administration with a Data Analytics Concentration from University of Northwest, St. Paul. She most recently worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, assisting in audit planning and testing SOC 1 and 2 reports, evaluating business process controls, and testing IT general controls for several Fortune 500 companies.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Avi Benshoshan is responsible for planning and executing all aspects of SOC attestation engagements, including testing controls and performing walkthroughs.

Prior to BARR, Avi was a senior associate in KPMG’s IT Audit and Assurance practice. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from Temple University.

As a Senior Associate in BARR Advisory’s Cybersecurity Consulting practice, Brett Davis evaluates the design and effectiveness of clients’ technology controls to prevent breaches and incidents and identify opportunities to operate more efficiently. Brett is recognized as a diligent, disciplined individual that goes above and beyond for his team and his clients.

Prior to BARR, Brett served in the United States Navy for six years, where he was a member of the elite Navy Special Warfare community that conducted special operations. After his service, Brett went on to mentor veteran students — providing support and positive influence to help them achieve academic, career and life goals.

Brett holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Brianna Plush is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in the healthcare industry.

Brianna graduated from Villanova University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance, Cum Laude. She has worked at EY and Villanova University as a research and teaching assistant. In college, Brianna was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi (Honors Business Fraternity), Accounting Society, Corporate Finance Society, Women in Business Society, and Business Leadership Society.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Bronwyn Wilson is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and client risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Prior to joining BARR, Bronwyn worked with orca whales as a senior specialist at SeaWorld San Diego. She holds a certificate in cybersecurity from Evolve Security Academy, a Bachelor of Arts in communications, and a Bachelor of Science in biology, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Bryan Hahn is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits, client risk assessments and CISO Advisory engagements for clients in a wide range of industries. Bryan has extensive experience in SOC auditing and services.

Bryan attended William Jewell College and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Critical Thought. He also minored in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biology. While attending Jewell, Bryan created numerous, data-driven projects in the sciences as well as business profiles. He was a collegiate athlete on the men’s swim team and has recently coached club swimming.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR’s Attest Services, Carrie Wendelken is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and client risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Carrie holds a bachelor’s degree in information systems from San Diego State University and a certification in Data Analytics for Business Professionals. Prior to joining BARR, Carrie worked as an advisory associate for technology assurance at KPMG. During college, Carrie studied abroad in Prague and has traveled to 17 different countries in her lifetime.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Daniel Flores Herrera plans and executes various information technology risk assessments and audits for clients with high-value data.

Daniel obtains his certification in CISA and has previously worked as an information security consultant with BDO and a senior consultant with EY. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in MIS and Supply Chain Management from the University of Houston. Daniel is multilingual, and can communicate in four languages.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Dariek specializes in planning and executing attestation engagements, primarily SOC 2 and SOC 3. Dariek brings extensive experience to clientele operating in cloud environments.

Prior to joining BARR, Dariek was a senior Consultant in Wolf & Company’s IT Assurance practice where he performed work in numerous industries including technology, healthcare, and financial services. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity from Utica College.

As a Senior Consultant, Emma leads SOC examinations and assists our valued clients in developing their cybersecurity strategy, navigating complex compliance issues, identifying risks, and finding security solutions that work best for them.

Prior to joining the BARR team, Emma earned her Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in engineering management and minoring in supply chain management, from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She also completed a computer engineering co-op for Moen Incorporated, where she furthered the development of several smart home devices, tested development software releases for iOS and Android mobile applications, and more. Emma also studied abroad in Luxembourg, volunteering at a social service organization.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR Attest Services, Gustavo specializes in the delivery of cyber risk advisory services relating to SOC 2 attestation and reporting over control environments. His past experience includes Financial Statement Integrated Audit, Internal Audit Co-source and Outsource, SOX Controls testing, and SOC attestation and reporting with professional experience at Binder Dijker Otte and Ernst & Young.

Gustavo has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management Information Systems and an International Business Certificate from Texas A&M University. During college, Gustavo served as an ambassador for the Center for International Business Studies, and through the Mays Business School, he was able to study abroad at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology as well as travel to countries such as Panama, Dubai, and South Africa.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Katie is responsible for performing SOC 2 audit engagements. Katie’s main focus is on testing/documentation of controls, performing walkthroughs with SOC 2 clients and preparing SOC reports for her clients. Her previous experience includes performing SOC 1 and SOC 2 audits, project management work at a large public accounting firm and starting her own small business.

Katie has a Bachelor of Science in Finance with a Minor in International Development and Conflict Management from the University of Maryland.

As a Senior Associate at BARR Advisory, Larry supports the company’s growing Cybersecurity Consulting practice, specifically for small-to-medium sized companies in need of a virtual CISO (or CISO on retainer). He plans and executes various engagements including readiness assessments, policy and procedure documentation, vendor risk management assessments, and external audit assistance.

He is an experienced consulting professional with a history of working in IT governance, risk, and compliance for large companies. He maintains the CISA and CRISC certifications to fortify his reputation as an IT professional in audit and risk. Larry graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Information Systems Auditing and Control, and Management Information Systems.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Laura Moran is responsible for planning and executing information technology readiness engagements and audits for clients in various highly regulated industries. She has extensive experience performing SOC engagements and helping clients navigate complex security and compliance issues.

Prior to joining BARR, Laura worked as a Senior SOC Consultant at A-LIGN. She has a bachelor’s degree in business and economics and a master’s degree in business administration and information systems from the University of New Hampshire.

As a Senior Consultant, Matt leads SOC examinations and works with clients on cybersecurity strategy, helping them navigate complex security and compliance issues, identify risks, and develop remediation methods.

Prior to joining BARR, Matt earned his bachelor’s degrees in supply chain management and accounting, followed by his Master of Accounting degree from the University of Kansas. He spent the summer of 2018 in Tel Aviv, Israel, completing two internships—one as a financial analyst intern conducting market research on commercial real estate in the UK, and the other as an accounting intern evaluating billing information for a number of international clients. Matt is bilingual, fluent in both Russian and English.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Nick Shratz is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and client risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Nick attended Temple University and received his bachelor’s degree in management information systems at the Fox School of Business. In college, he was a member of the Golden Key Honors Society, Business Honors Student Association, and Association for Information Systems. Prior to joining BARR, Nick participated in the EY Mentorship Program and was quickly promoted within the company to risk advisory intern and eventually, senior business consultant.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Niti Jadhav is responsible for planning and executing technology risk readiness assessments and audits for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Prior to joining BARR, Niti served as a senior consultant with EY’s risk advisory practice. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in business management from James Madison University.

As a Senior Consultant in BARR Advisory’s Attest Services, Sarah Varnell is responsible for planning and executing information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in the healthcare industry as well as serving as a lead ISO auditor. She is certified in CISA and HITRUST-CCSFP.

Sarah is an experienced consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. She is skilled in data privacy, compliance, risk analysis, and critical thinking. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science with a focus in Psychology from Kennesaw State University.

As a Senior Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Sydney Buchel is responsible for planning and executing all aspects of SOC attestation engagements, including testing controls and performing walkthroughs. Her past experience includes developing GRC technologies and issuing SOC 1 and SOC 2 reports.

Sydney received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Accounting and Finance from Baker University and Master of Accounting from the University of Kansas. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and prior to BARR, Sydney worked for EY as a Senior Business Consultant. In her spare time, Sydney enjoys running and coaching fifth grade girl’s basketball.

As a Senior Consultant at BARR Advisory, Teddy supports the company’s growing Cybersecurity Consulting practice, specifically for small-to-medium sized companies in need of a virtual CISO (or CISO on retainer). He plans and executes various engagements including readiness assessments, policy and procedure documentation, vendor risk management assessments, and external audit assistance.

He is an experienced consulting professional with a history of working in IT governance, risk, and compliance for financial institutions and small-to-medium sized companies. He maintains the CISA and HITRUST CCSFP certifications to fortify his reputation as an IT professional in audit and risk.Teddy graduated from Utica University with a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity, and prior to BARR, he worked at Wolf & Company, P.C.

As an Associate Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Connor McGee is responsible for supporting senior consultants with the completion of SOC 2 audits for SaaS clients.

Connor holds a Bachelor of Accountancy from Walsh College of Accountancy and Business. He has recent experience as an accounting intern where he gained experience in client relationships, data analysis, and reporting. He currently lives in South Lyon, Michigan and enjoys running and meditating.

As an Associate Consultant, Devin Olsen supports the planning and execution of cyber risk engagements, including information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Devin is a recent graduate of Western Governors University with a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity and information assurance. He brings five plus years of prior experience as an instructor for special education. His interests include cloud security, digital forensics, as well as governance, risk management, and compliance.

As an Associate Consultant for BARR's Attest Services, Eduardo Madero is responsible for supporting senior consultants with the completion of SOC 2 audits for SaaS clients.

Eduardo graduated from the University of North Texas with a Bachelor of Science in Business Computer Information Systems. Eduardo is proficient in Microsoft Office and data management. He excels when working in a team and has extensive experience in public speaking. Eduardo is fluent in both English and Spanish and can read and write in Hebrew.

As an Associate Consultant, Erica Paisible supports the planning and execution of cyber risk engagements, including information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries. She specializes in planning and executing information technology SOC audits as well as client and project relationship management.

Erica holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Georgia State University, Master of Arts in Teaching Education from Augusta State University, and a specialist degree in education from the University of West Georgia. Erica taught both STEM and English to Speakers of Other Languages at DeKalb County School District for 11 years.

As an Associate Consultant, Gwen Sajewski supports the planning and execution of cyber risk engagements, including information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries.

Gwen holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Saint Mary’s College and previously worked as an analyst at Rocket Mortgage. She brings supervisory, data science, and marketing experience as well certification through Evolve Security Academy’s Cybersecurity Bootcamp.

As Associate Consultant, Kristin Strand works with clients on cybersecurity strategy, helping them navigate complex security and compliance issues, identify risks, and develop remediation methods. Kristin began her career at BARR as an apprentice and continues to grow and learn as a cybersecurity and auditing professional.

Kristin has six years experience in teaching and has served in the United States Army for 12 years. She has three CompTIA certifications and holds a Bachelor of Science in mathematics from Virginia State University.

As an Associate Consultant, Linda Juma supports the planning and execution of cyber risk engagements, including information technology audits and risk assessments for clients in various highly regulated industries. She previously worked at Oncor Electric as an IT Financial Analyst.

Linda was born in Kenya, East Africa and moved to the U.S. in 2005. She brings experience in accounting as well as finance and business analysis and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of North Texas and a Master of Engineering in Cybersecurity Policy and Compliance from George Washington University.

As Associate Consultant, Zerrick works with clients on cybersecurity strategy, helping them navigate complex security and compliance issues, identify risks, and develop remediation methods. Zerrick has over six years of experience in the IT industry and has most recently worked at Duke Energy Corporation and Synechron.

Zerrick is a Coding Boot Camp graduate with hands-on software engineering experience leveraging C#, ASP.NET MVC, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, Bootstrap, Visual Studio, jQuery, Object-Oriented Programming, Agile Methodologies, Entity, and Responsive Design. He attended Ohio State University and holds a certificate in Network and Systems Administration from Per Scholars.

As a Coordinator within BARR’s People and Culture team, Al Neptune manages the day-to-day hiring process for North American teams, including finding talent, conducting interviews, and recommending candidates for roles. Al additionally provides support to all People Operations needs.

Prior to joining BARR, Al worked as a healthcare recruiter for Maxim Healthcare Services. She has a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Adler University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from North Carolina Central University.

As Events Manager, Candice Smith coordinates and promotes BARR’s in-person and virtual events. She creates impactful presentations and promotional content for BARR’s events, manages sponsorship opportunities, and assists the Marketing team with all growth strategies.

Candice has over 12 years of experience in both virtual and in-person events. Prior to BARR, she worked as a sales and events manager for Sullivan’s Steakhouse, and has held a number of events marketing roles in the technology industry. Candice has a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the University of Phoenix.

As Marketing Content Manager, Christine Falk supports BARR’s marketing and communications strategy. She focuses on creating content ranging from social media to webpages to promotional materials. She also assists with marketing efforts to extend BARR’s reach in the cybersecurity and compliance B2B markets.

Christine has more than 10 years of experience in marketing, communications, and content development. She holds a Master of Science in Journalism in Integrated Marketing Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Journalism in Strategic Communication from the University of Kansas.

As Senior Writer and Researcher, Claire McKenna contributes to content on a wide variety of IT and cybersecurity-related topics for multiple channels, including website, emails, blogs, articles, and social media. She conducts research on markets and industry trends to create original content reflecting BARR’s position as a thought leader, and assists with all other marketing efforts.

Prior to joining BARR, Claire was a paralegal for a small litigation firm in New Orleans. During college, Claire completed multiple internships in the fields of politics, publishing, and cybersecurity. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in history from Loyola University New Orleans.

As the Production Assistant, Emman plays a vital role in the success of BARR’s day-to-day operations. Emman is responsible for providing administrative support to sales, marketing, operations and client services teams.

Emman is based in Manila, Philippines. He studied at Airlink International Aviation College, where he got his Bachelor of Science degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology. He is a licensed Aircraft Mechanic and he currently has more than five years of experience in the BPO industry. He worked as a customer service representative and as administrative support. He also has a certificate in Master Personal Trainer under International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA).

As Technical Editor, Jen supports BARR Advisory’s client service operations team. In this role, she reviews, edits, and assures consistency across a variety of highly technical, time-sensitive reports. Jen ensures information in all BARR reports is complete, accurate, and representative of the BARR brand. She also contributes to BARR’s marketing and communications strategy by creating content for the blog.

Jen joined the BARR team in 2019 and has nearly 15 years of experience in copyediting, content creation, social media, branding, and marketing. Prior to BARR, she was director of marketing for a private university and ran her own freelance marketing business. Jen holds both a Bachelor of Science in public relations and marketing and a Bachelor of Arts in modern languages from Kansas State University.

As a Reports Specialist for BARR’s Client Service Operations, Jessica Bridge is responsible for developing and maintaining report processes that support the Client Services team and enhance the audit experience. She also provides additional support to the Operations team in various capacities.

Prior to BARR, Jessica worked in various roles of increasing responsibility at Hudson Technologies for 15 years.

As Culture and Community Engagement Manager, Jonnae Hill connects our associates to meaningful opportunities as a way to further our organizational mission and enhance their engagement. Through key initiatives related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, she ensures that BARR’s values are at the forefront of each associate’s experience. With nearly a decade of experience in higher education, Jonnae brings outstanding leadership and development expertise to BARR.

Prior to joining BARR, Jonnae served in several leadership positions at universities in Missouri. She holds a Master of Arts in educational administration from University of Missouri Kansas City and Bachelor of Arts in communication from University of Missouri Columbia.

As Associate Content Writer for BARR, Kyle contributes to content for case studies, fact sheets, blog posts, email campaigns, and website updates. Kyle has established a writing portfolio, where she has led marketing efforts and written for various publications in the creative and academic fields.

In graduate school, Kyle honed in on her research of virtual spaces and transitioned to the cybersecurity industry where she can utilize her storytelling abilities to assist BARR’s marketing team. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Kansas, a Masters of Arts in English Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and most recently, a Masters of Arts in Critical Studies from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon.

As Executive Administrative Assistant, Krystal Wilson provides general administrative support for BARR’s President as well as supports the Leadership team and overall success of the organization.

Krystal brings 10 years of experience to her role. She previously worked with BDO US, where she was responsible for supporting the BDO Detroit office as well as the Tax Regional Managing Partner. Krystal is accomplished in customer service, training, collections, and administrative work. She has been awarded for strong customer service skills and leadership with the ability to execute deliverables with excellence.

As Manager of Client Services Operations, Melody leads internal initiatives that create, improve, and educate the team on client service processes, tools, and methodologies. Melody provides unparalleled support by way of client project management activities, reporting management, tools/new process engagement and education, and training system management.

Before joining BARR, Melody worked in marketing positions of increasing responsibility at Hallmark Cards and Cox Media. Melody has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Ramapo College of New Jersey.

As Media Coordinator, Michelle Rawlings supports BARR Advisory’s Brand and Marketing team, focusing on enhancing BARR’s brand reach in the cybersecurity and compliance B2B markets through media opportunities. Michelle is a journalist and PR writer with more than 200 bylines in print and online.

Prior to joining BARR, Michelle worked as a public relations specialist at Virtual Vocations. She has extensive experience in developing research-based strategies for social media growth and writing content for senior managers and C-suite executives. Michelle holds a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in mass communication from Shenandoah University.

As Head of Brand, Michelle leads BARR Advisory’s marketing and communications strategy, global brand management, creative services, and strategic partnerships. In her role, Michelle is responsible for developing integrated marketing initiatives designed to showcase BARR’s expanding advisory and compliance services as well as develop key partnerships as a pathway to new business. With nearly a decade of marketing, communications, and branding experience in a wide range of industries, Michelle brings her passion for creativity and innovation to BARR’s dynamic culture.

Prior to BARR, Michelle served as Assistant Director of Marketing for a private university in Kansas City, along with holding various marketing roles of increasing responsibility in the technology, performing arts, and athletics industries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Kansas State University and a master’s degree from Rockhurst University.

As Account Executive, Nick Vetere is responsible for cultivating and maintaining client relationships and researching industry trends to identify the needs of BARR’s clients and partners. In his previous role as Recruiting Manager, Nick recruited and retained top tier-talent for BARR.

Nick has extensive experience in recruiting talent for top public accounting firms, having worked as a recruiting manager for both BDO and KPMG prior to joining BARR. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in organizational behavior studies from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in accounting from Wayne State University.

As BARR’s Head of People & Culture, Whitney is responsible for recruiting new talent, onboarding, supporting each phase of the associate life cycle, and enhancing our values-driven work environment. She also supports wellness activities, benefits, and compensation administration.

Before joining BARR, Whitney acquired 13 years of experience in talent recruitment and management at leading companies like Google, Amazon, and Oracle. Whitney has a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a master’s degree from the University of Denver.

As the Head of Business Development Manager, Vince forecasts client needs based on industry trends to generate new business opportunities. Vince is known for his diligence, professionalism, and commitment to supporting the needs of BARR clients and future clients.

Prior to joining BARR, Vince ran his own communications company alongside his father and siblings. There, he developed a new digital media product and ran day-to-day operations. He also worked for Wells Fargo in positions of increasing responsibility until joining the BARR team. Vince graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then went on to earn a Global MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

As Director of Finance, Adam Jones supports all aspects of BARR’s long-term financial planning and growth. Adam is an entrepreneurial, results-driven leader with 10+ years of experience working in the information technology and financial service industries.

Adam has strong project management and corporate finance skills with a demonstrated ability to lead finance, corporate development, and strategy initiatives. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Indiana University.

As Accounting Manager, Lynn Bollinger supports the Director of Finance and Business Development team with the overall management and supervision of the accounting department. She is responsible for financial reporting, billing, collections, payroll, and budget preparation.

Lynn previously served as accounting manager at Cameron Manufacturing and Design. She is an experienced financial professional with an exceptional background in project management, bookkeeping, domestic business, and individual tax experience. She is an Enrolled Agent of the IRS and a CPA candidate with a bachelor’s in accounting from State University of New York at Fredonia.