Over the course of 2015, one of our accounting services consultants, Katie Donnell, made four week long trips to Unanet Headquarters in Dulles, VA for training classes to implement and operate Unanet software.
Each of the week-long training courses focused on a functional area within Unanet: Project Tracking (basic time and expense entry), Billing, Portfolio (advanced project planning), and Financials. The certification process did not end there. After each of the training weeks at Unanet Headquarters, Katie was required to replicate a business scenario within Unanet to put her training to practice. After each completed scenario, there was an exam and interview process to finalize the certification. (Pictured on the right: Katie Donnell, consultant, and Asa Gilliland, VP of Special Projects at Redstone GCI, attending Unanet implementation class in Dulles, VA.)
Now that Katie has passed all of the implementation certification courses, she is eligible to assist our clients throughout the lifecycle of their software implementation. Katie works closely with the Unanet team to ensure that the software implementation is a success. Having Katie as part of the implementation team enables our clients to have oversight to government contract compliance throughout the lifecycle of the implementation, and access to a broader network of support as needed from the rest of our consulting team at Redstone GCI. (Pictured on the right: Katie with Unanet Chair & CEO, Fran Craig, as well as Executive Vice President of Customer & Partner Success, Donna Kilbourn.)
In addition to having Katie as a certified implementation specialist, Redstone GCI was awarded a Partner of the Year award at Unanet’s annual Champions Conference in May 2015. (Pictured on the right: Asa Gilliland pictured with Donna Kilbourn at the annual Unanet Champions Conference.)
"Unanet is proud to have a diverse and robust partner ecosystem and is excited to announce SSi Consulting, Strategic Consulting Solutions, and Redstone GCI as our 2016 Partners of the Year! We are extremely pleased with the growth and strength of the Unanet Partner Program over the last year. Our Partners of the Year exemplify this program superbly. SSi Consulting and Strategic Consulting Solutions, Certified Solutions Partners of the Year, have shown significant dedication by supporting and promoting Unanet as a premier alternative for project-based organizations through referrals, continued training, and successful implementations. Redstone GCI, Unanet’s Referral Partner of the Year, has continued to drive their customers and prospects towards the Unanet solution and has committed to expanding their knowledge and partnership moving forward," commented Fran Craig, CEO, Unanet.
To learn more, view Unanet’s press release.
Katherine (Katie) Donnell serves as the Director of Unanet Practice Services at Redstone Government Consulting, Inc., where she leads the firm’s Unanet consulting practice in delivering expert implementation, optimization, and compliance support to government contractors. With extensive expertise in DCAA-compliant Unanet Time & Expense Tracking, Project Portfolio, and Financials, Katie plays a vital role in helping contractors build and maintain compliant, efficient financial and project management systems. As one of the first Unanet Certified Implementers, Katie was part of Unanet’s initial pilot certification program for non-Unanet consultants, investing over 300 hours in training, system development, and rigorous testing to obtain her certification. She holds Unanet Advanced Project Management training credentials and is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Her technical expertise and real-world implementation experience make her a trusted advisor, frequently called upon by Unanet’s internal teams to support implementation projects as an external expert. Katie is also responsible for the continued growth and strategic oversight of Redstone GCI’s Unanet Practice, ensuring that quality of service, client support, and consultant development remain at the highest standard. She is committed to advancing the professional development and expertise of Redstone GCI’s Unanet consulting team, ensuring they stay at the forefront of industry best practices and evolving compliance requirements. At Redstone GCI, Katie serves as a primary point of contact for numerous small business clients, providing ongoing government cost accounting and compliance support. She regularly assists with monthly accounting close processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting for program management and executives. Her unique combination of software system expertise and compliance knowledge allows her to provide strategic, hands-on guidance to government contractors navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes. With extensive experience in government contract accounting and compliance, Katie has assisted contractors with DCAA audit readiness, including SF1408 pre-award accounting system audits, provisional billing rate submissions, forward pricing rate development, and incurred cost submissions. She also helps clients design and implement compliant policies and procedures to support an adequate DCAA-approved accounting system. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Katie worked in public accounting and government contracting, gaining operational experience with Unanet, QuickBooks, SpringAhead, Deltek T&E, ADP, Paychex, and QB Payroll. Her extensive background in accounting, compliance, and financial systems ensures that Redstone GCI’s Unanet clients receive the highest level of technical and regulatory expertise.