Barbara Ard is Managing Partner in the Highspring’s Accounting Advisory practice. She brings her experience as a partner at Deloitte, senior managing director at FTI Consulting, and CFO of a venture backed software company to her clients. Her expertise includes technical accounting, financial reporting, M&A transactions, IPO readiness, and corporate governance. Her work is encompasses leading teams through complex client transformations, focusing on alignment with and achievement of strategic objectives.
She holds a B.S. in Business Administration and Accounting from Duquesne University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Beyond her professional endeavors, Barbara spends her time cooking, doing yoga, skiing, and traveling with her family.
Sham Asad is a leader in Highspring’s Strategy, Technology & Transformation practice and focuses on the Financial Services sector. He partners with clients to navigate complex transformation driven challenges and has been the advisor of choice to some of the largest and fastest growing banks in the country. He has led the stand-up and successful delivery of multiple large-scale programs driven by M&A integration, finance transformation and regulation drive restructuring. With over 20 years of experience spanning Big Four Consulting he specializes in financial and operational performance improvements optimizing strategy, processes and technology.
Prior to MorganFranklin, Sham was a part of KPMG’s Strategy and Transformation team, advising clients on large-scale strategic transformations. He holds a BBA in Finance & Economics from William & Mary and a Masters in International Affairs from Columbia University.
Kevin Baynes leads technical delivery for Highspring’s Digital Consulting Services practice, overseeing engineering teams across enterprise client engagements and setting the technical direction for complex application and integration architectures. With more than two decades of experience spanning software engineering, enterprise architecture, and engineering leadership, he brings a rare blend of hands-on technical depth and a clear focus on business outcomes.
At Highspring, Kevin has led a multimillion-dollar digital transformation for an enterprise client, guiding a team of roughly 25 engineers across training programs, quality engineering, and application development over nearly two years. He has also designed and implemented quality engineering transformations that improve delivery reliability for client teams. A champion of AI-accelerated development, Kevin integrates AI tools and workflows into both client solutions and engineering practice to improve speed, quality, and innovation.
Before Highspring, Kevin served as CTO of an on-demand apparel manufacturing startup, where he built the software and automation that connected Amazon’s ordering platform to a fully automated factory floor. He previously spent more than a decade at Rocket Software and Seagull Software leading agile engineering teams and delivering customer-facing integrations.
Kevin believes that truthful communication and reciprocity are the foundation of every lasting relationship, and he leads with respect and a good sense of humor.
Brian is a Director in Highspring’s Strategy, Technology & Transformation practice with experience leading large-scale projects for major financial services organizations. Brian has led and managed 10+ core banking product launch and conversion projects and has specialized expertise in managing the mapping of data from legacy to new systems. Brian has led integration and conversion engagements involving with multiple platforms in the market, including FIS, Fiserv, Finastra, and Infosys. Brian received his MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Maryland, and he earned a BS in Political Science and Business Administration from Clemson University.
Sandra is a finance and technology transformation leader in Highspring’s Private Equity practice helping organizations drive value creation, efficiency, and scalability. She specializes in establishing and optimizing finance and accounting functions through digital transformation, ERP selection and implementation, and process improvement initiatives. With a strong background in private equity, Sandra partners with private equity firms and portfolio companies to establish and mature financial operations, streamline reporting, and implement technology solutions that accelerate growth.
Her experience spans diverse industries in both domestic and international markets, where she has led strategic initiatives that deliver measurable impact. Sandra holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a BS in Accounting from Ithaca College. She is a certified CPA and a Scrum Master (CSM).
Sean Bonadeo leads Highspring’s Strategy, Technology and Transformation practice, with a focus around driving efficiency and effectiveness across the entire enterprise, considering all the dimensions of the operating model (process, people, technology, controls, data and delivery model). This includes internally driven periodic transformation activity, those driven by transactional events (mergers, acquisitions, carve-outs, IPO and SPAC readiness), as well as everything from standing up and optimizing finance functions for mid-tier companies to redesigning and implementing national and global target operating model and business process optimization projects for Fortune 50 companies.
Kendell Bryant is a Managing Director at Highspring, where he leads the firm’s NetSuite Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) practice, guiding complex finance transformation initiatives for middle-market and enterprise clients. He partners with financial services, asset management, and private equity-backed organizations to modernize finance operations, improve financial reporting, and enable scalable business processes through technology. Kendell specializes in NetSuite implementations, planning and budgeting solutions, revenue recognition, process transformation, and operating model design, working closely with CFOs, controllers, and finance leaders to translate business requirements into practical, sustainable solutions. He is a published author on NetSuite data governance and a regular voice on the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) in finance transformation.
Throughout his more than 15-year career, Kendell has served as a trusted advisor and engagement executive, leading client pursuits, solution architecture, project delivery, and executive steering committees. His experience spans ERP strategy, Order to Cash (O2C) transformation, financial close modernization, planning and forecasting, revenue accounting, and post-acquisition finance integration, developed over more than a decade at Highspring (formerly MorganFranklin Consulting) and, earlier, at CSRA (formerly Computer Sciences Corporation, CSC), where he supported finance and technology initiatives for federal agency clients. He is NetSuite certified and holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Policy Studies from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University.
Jose Ortega Carrero, is a partner in Highspring’s Strategy, Technology, and Transformation team, leading the organization’s national Technology Advisory practice focused on serving the private equity market. Jose brings deep expertise in commercial, operational, and IT due diligence, post-deal integration, carve-outs, and enterprise technology strategy—including ERP and AI/ML enablement. Throughout his career, he has led and delivered transformation programs representing more than $3 billion in enterprise value. His client-centric approach and strategic execution have helped PE clients enhance performance, accelerate returns, and modernize their operating models.
Prior to joining Highspring, Jose spent 20 years across the Big Four, providing strategic direction across large-scale transformation and M&A initiatives. Jose holds advanced degrees in Business Administration, Law, and Telecommunications Management, and is a graduate of the Stanford Executive Program. He is based in the Washington, D.C. area and speaks regularly on the intersection of technology, private equity, and digital transformation.
Niraj is a data and transformation expert with 25 years of cross-industry experience, specializing in digital transformations, data strategy, and tech-enabled solutions like automation and AI. He excels in global process optimization, regulatory programs, product management, and center-of-excellence initiatives, boosting operational efficiency and process improvement. Niraj brings deep experience in leading complex, large-scale process improvement and regulatory programs.
Prior to joining Highspring, he worked in the Financial Services Industry at Barclays, Morgan Stanley, Wachovia/First Union, and within consulting at EY and boutique consulting. Niraj is also a Virginia Advocacy Ambassador with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. He enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife and three kids.
