Our team is comprised of entrepreneurial leaders who like to challenge the status quo. We’re committed to our high-touch approach, our people, and our promise to clients.
Our focus is to grow the company by hiring the right consultants—people who share our passion for corporate finance, exceeding clients' expectations and letting our work speak for itself. We're not the kind of consulting business that's looking to be everything to everyone; we just want to be the go-to team for strategic finance and event support.
Your Slate Group Team
We go deep on strategic budget and event management.
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Larry Karr
MANAGING PARTNER
Larry is the Managing Partner at Slate Group Consulting in Seattle, WA, where he leads the Microsoft consulting engagement, specializing in corporate finance. He has worked at Microsoft in both FTE and consulting capacities since September of 2003.
Larry has a BA in Economics from the University of Washington and an MBA with an emphasis in Finance from Pepperdine University. His previous experience includes heading an e-commerce team for a successful startup firm and he has held senior positions in corporate retail and marketing operations for large-scale sporting events.
He is an avid supporter and volunteer for the Washington Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Dave Blank
PARTNER
Dave is a founding partner with Slate Group and manages our business development practice. Dave’s 25 years of experience in service businesses has honed his ability to help clients get to the heart of their business challenges.
Dave is a PLU alum, and in his spare time has a passion for biking, building things, and telling long stories.
Melinda Torres
PARTNER
Melinda is a founding partner with Slate Group and oversees our brand and marketing. Melinda brings 20 years of experience in marketing, branding, and client relationship development, for clients such as Microsoft, CA Technologies, and Disney.
Melinda serves on several local boards, loves to travel, and spends most of her free time wrangling her kids or hiding from them with a good book.
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Natasha Maestas
VP, OPERATIONS
Natasha completed her MBA at Arizona State University with concentrations in Marketing and Supply Chain Management. She brings over a decade of experience working in Consumer and Commercial lending with GE Capital.
Natasha’s customer-centric attitude and attention to detail brings great value to our team. She enjoys working with multiple stakeholders to enable creative solutions that are grounded in data. She makes customer needs and customer respect her top priority.
Outside of work, she enjoys cooking, hiking with her dog, travelling, and exploring new places.
Michelle Choate
SENIOR DIRECTOR, CUSTOMER SUCCESS
Michelle has over 15 years of experience in Event Production and Sponsorship Sales, Complex Program/Project Management, and Strategic Operational Development. She brings a wealth of knowledge gained from working with high-growth startups to Fortune 100 companies within the Tech and Corporate Training industries. She’s worked at and with a number of Tech companies including Adobe, McAfee/Network Associates and Microsoft.
A Seattle native, she loves NW adventures with her family, and shares a love of sushi, travel and gardening with her partner.
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Mohamed Kareem
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Mohamed supports a Microsoft consulting engagement, specializing in Corporate Finance. Since September of 2006, he has held fulltime Consulting Finance roles at Symantec, Verizon, Boeing, the Allen Institute and currently at Microsoft.
Mohamed has a BS in Decision Management Information Systems from George Mason University and an MBA in Finance from California State University Hayward. He possesses extensive previous experience in Finance in diverse industries including Telecom, Scientific Research and IT, with specialization in FP&A and Budgeting.
Outside of work, he enjoys cycling and spending time with his family.
Paula Hatch
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Paula has a BA in Art History from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree from the Heinz School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University. She brings over 25 years of professional experience in business analysis, program and project management, and budget management. She has supported clients at Microsoft for 12 years, worked in the telecom and financial services industries, and ran her own retail wine shop.
Paula focuses on delivering value through building trusted professional relationships, creative problem solving, and anticipating client needs.
Outside of work, she enjoys spending time outdoors, cooking, reading, gardening, and the company of her beagle and two cats.
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Brett Schulte
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Brett is a financial leader that brings solid experiences in budgeting/forecasting, financial analysis, information management, and process optimization. He thrives on stepping into global complex challenges with multiple stakeholders, workstreams, and dependencies. He is known for his analytical rigor and expertise in using data visualization to inform business leaders and ensure target outcomes are met.
Brett holds an MBA from the University of Washington with concentrations in Finance and Corporate Strategy. He is a big believer in continual learning, especially when it comes to leveraging new tools and technology in financial processes.
In his spare time, Brett likes experimenting in the kitchen and exploring the outdoors, and he can occasionally be spotted on the family vineyard.
Soonse Lee
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Soonse is a skilled leader in financial planning, forecasting, and analysis. He brings 10 years of experience in Corporate Finance and Strategy from global tech firms including Samsung and LG. Passionate about technological innovations, Soonse believes that collaboration and open communication are keys to successful business results.
Soonse received his MBA at the University of Washington Foster School of Business focusing on Corporate Finance and enjoys learning and sharing his knowledge of Finance.
Originally from South Korea, Soonse is an avid traveler, and enjoys downhill skiing, cycling, and trying out new cuisines with his wife.
JB Simpkins
SR. BUDGET & PROCUREMENT MANAGER
JB is wrapping up his final quarter as a full-time MBA candidate at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and brings a background of analytics, strategy, and operations from the public sector and technology industry, including Google and Autodesk. He has 11 years of management experience in a high-growth, high-regulation environment.
JB grew up near Dallas, TX, loves animals, and enjoys exploring the great outdoors.
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Bridget Boman
SR. OPERATIONS MANAGER
Bridget has a BA in Business Administration with an Accounting Concentration from the University of Washington. She has held multiple finance, accounting, and business management roles at Microsoft for over a decade, and she has a robust and transferrable set of skills in forecasting, budget management, and fiscal stewardship.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her beloved pets.
Bianca Cheung
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Bianca is a longtime Seattle resident who holds degrees in Finance and Biochemistry from the University of Washington. She works to inform and improve business processes through lifelong learning. Her skills include data analytics and project management from industries ranging from healthcare to education to technology.
Outside of work, she can often be found tending to her garden, cooking, and visiting family overseas.
Kody Peralta
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Kody supports various clients across sales and marketing organizations, and is responsible for the development and long-term strategy of Slate Group's digital infrastructure, products, and services.
With a multidisciplinary background spanning program management, executive administration, cybersecurity incident response, and business management, he is often the first to say, "I can do that!" and comfortable navigating the ambiguity and uncertainty that comes with learning new things and finding creative solutions to tough problems.
Miri Nishikawa
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Miri graduated from the University of Washington with BAs in Business Administration and Psychology. She brings in a mix of consulting experience and research skills, with an interest in analytics.
Miri was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to the US at the age of 10. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, hiking, painting, and playing pickleball.
Bradley Hansen
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Bradley received his BA in Economics from the University of Washington and earned an Masters Degree in both Business Administration and Investment Management & Financial Analysis from Creighton University. He brings a background mix of Business Operations and Finance, including experience working in both startup and corporate environments across multiple industries. He has a penchant for strategic thinking and has demonstrated the ability to quickly understand the big picture and align the dots.
Bradley grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and loves spending time playing with his daughter, cooking, and reading.
Michelle Arneson
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Michelle has a BA with a major in Accounting and a minor in Finance from the University of Washington. Her previous experience includes developing the best Accounting and Finance reporting system for an award-winning marketing agency and managing the Marketing team for a five-star cruise-ship company. With a keen focus on goals and effective problem solving, she brings positive energy and creative solutions to her teams. Her approach is driven by her belief in simplicity, agility, and unity.
In her spare time, Michelle likes playing ping pong, observing hummingbirds, shopping farmer’s markets, and cooking Asian delicacies.
Nasreen Shakir
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Nasreen has a Master's in Business Administration from Gujarat University (India) and has passed the WA State CPA certification. She brings extensive experience in business processes, finance, and business analysis and believes in smart, quality work with strong ethics. Her passion to collaborate across teams with an understanding of the big picture, while diving into details, helps towards achieving a common goal. She has previously managed teams for business operations at a leading technology company.
In her spare time, Nasreen enjoys the outdoors, spending time with her family, and is a hobby henna artist.
Ann Pfeiffer
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Ann brings 25+ years of experience at Microsoft in financial management and accounting roles supporting marketing, consumer sales, operations and IT segments. Customer focus, collaboration, curiosity, and a drive for results are the pillars of her approach to helping customers be successful, achieve their goals, improve processes and solve problems.
Ann holds a BA in Finance from the University of Iowa Tippie School of Business and enjoys learning and sharing insights with each new role and experience. A long time Seattle resident, in her time away from work she loves traveling, cooking with family & friends, gardening and kayaking near her house, if she stays out of the Kenmore Air flight line.
Wendy Matson
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Wendy has a BS with a major in Business and a minor in Finance from Central Washington University. Her previous experience includes over 25 years as a Sr. Finance Manager and Business Manager for several Fortune 100 companies including Boeing, AT&T and most recently Microsoft. Wendy possesses a unique curiosity and determination for problem solving, she brings infectious energy and tangible solutions to her teams. Her approach is practical, and process driven with an emphasis on collaboration to encourage and leverage team member subject matter expertise.
In her spare time, Wendy enjoys sporting events and outdoor activities with her husband and two boys.
Therese Jardine
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Therese has over 30 years’ business experience, focusing on Finance and Budgets, Procurement, and Reporting. She spent nearly 18 years of those years at Microsoft, where she managed the Procurement strategy for the event portfolio. She holds a BBA in Entrepreneurship from Boise State University – home of the famous blue turf!
Dubbed “MacGyver” by her friends, Therese is a resourceful problem solver and can fix almost anything. She brings this resourcefulness to her clients and has the tools and expertise to bring projects to a successful outcome. Outside of work, Therese keeps busy with her dog Phoenix, gardening, and outdoor activities
Nicole O'Connor
SENIOR BUDGET MANAGER
Nicole has a BBA in International Business from Boise State University with a minor in Spanish for Business. She has worked for over five years in the corporate event industry, working in various finance positions. Nicole brings a background of financial analysis and event budget management, including previous experience working on Microsoft events. She is passionate about what she does and is driven by success
Outside of work Nicole enjoys traveling, reading, baking, and spending time with friends and family.
Malin Zaunders
BUDGET & PROCUREMENT MANAGER
Malin has a Master of Science in Business and Economics from Mid University in Sweden. She brings 20 years of experience from banking, handling securities, assets, budgeting and as a Business Controller in number of different areas within the private sector.
Originally from Sweden. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, going downhill skiing and spending time with her family and dog.
Austin Bloise
PROCUREMENT MANAGER
Austin is a Finance graduate from the University of Washington. Austin is a driven individual who strives to build the most efficient business model for clients as well as develop and drive focused tactical execution plans.
Austin was born in Cary, NC where he lived for 14 years prior to moving to San Diego and now resides in the greater Seattle area. Outside of work he spends most of his free time outside either playing, watching, or going to sporting events as well as traveling to new places and exploring the great outdoors.
Michael Hua
PROCURMENT MANAGER
Michael, a BA in Marketing from the University of Washington Bothell, leverages his freelancing background with local businesses to excel in his role as a Budget Procurement Manager. This experience has shaped his client-focused approach, enabling him to tailor procurement strategies for clients.
As a Seattle-born native and self-admitted foodie, Michael enjoys his spare time playing tennis and exploring the Seattle food scene.
Dawn Dix
PLANNING SUPPORT MANAGER
Dawn has a B.S. in Psychology and a B.S. in Criminal Justice from the University of Idaho. She has 25 years of experience as an Executive Assistant working for companies such as Nintendo of America, T-Mobile, and Microsoft, and is an expert at navigating corporate environments.
Dawn focuses on providing swift, accurate, and creative solutions to roadblocks as well as streamlining processes for efficiency. Outside of work, she enjoys fostering kittens, traveling, and time with family and friends.
Aisha Yeoh
SENIOR BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE MANAGER
Aisha has a BS in Astrophysics from Indiana University-Bloomington and post-graduate degrees in Sociology from the University of Washington. She spent the last decade working in the IT industry (IBM, T-Mobile, Microsoft) as a Business Analyst and Data Analyst since earning her BI Analyst cert from Bellevue College
She has a highly collaborative personality with great interpersonal skills and is a Business Intelligence and Data Analytics professional, experienced in leading analytic questions, defining data requirements, summarizing findings, and presenting recommendations. Outside of work, she dotes on her pet cat Lili Moo and dabbles in creative writing.
Reagan Kim
PROCUREMENT MANAGER
Reagan is a graduate from University of Washington Bothell with BA’s in Finance and Marketing. Reagan is a prudent learner whose curiosity leads him to find the best solutions and answers for his clients.
Reagan was four years old when he moved to Seattle from Korea, and has been a native ever since. Outside of work Reagan spends most of his free time travelling and playing racquet sports. He has played tennis and badminton from a young age and still competes when he has the time.