The Unanet Champions conference was held this year in Denver, CO. Prior to the conference kick-off, Unanet now host a day of training for those want training in specific areas. Katie participated in Analytics and I was in the CRM: Administering the System. I will become a Certified Implementer for CRM this summer and I’m excited about the opportunity.
The general session kicked off highlighting two amazing companies using Unanet. One of the companies was Summit Point Racing Association and they are a client that Katie Donnell and I implemented Unanet with starting last summer. Their company is so different and unique, and we’ve really enjoyed working with them. I won’t lie when I say I was a little emotional seeing all the hard work both of our teams have done in the last ten months come to life on the big screen and being highlighted at Champions. It was a BIG ‘proud mom’ moment. If you haven’t ever heard of Summit Point Racing Association, you’ll want to check out their site. It’s a cool company.
The company highlights were followed by motivational speaker, Bonnie St. John. She talked about being resilient, how being normal is overrated, and to Aim Higher! Bonnie lost her leg at a young age and became the first African-American to ever win medals in the Winter Paralympics in 1984. There were so many takeaways, but my biggest was to have a First Aid Kit for your attitude. Prepare yourself so when you have a tough day you can pull out your Frist Aid Kit to help turn your day around. Everyone’s will look different, but what should be in yours: pictures, notes from loved ones, a verse, song, or fun memory.
There were so many great sessions to learn more about Unanet, it was hard to choose which classes to take. My favorite was Using CRM Opportunities to Model Pricing and Forecasting Revenue. This was a great class showing attendees how to use CRM and Unanet to setup a projects, people, and labor categories for pricing purposes and using that for forecasting. It was a great session and I’m excited about learning more about CRM so we can help our clients streamline their processes.
It's always so nice catching up with old clients/friends and meeting new ones. Unanet hosted a fabulous 80s themed party the last night and it was a blast. Great job Unanet! The hair stylist crimping and teasing hair, makeup artist, life sized Pac Man, giant Rubik’s Cubes, band, and all of the décor was spot on. You really know how to throw a party and it was so fun seeing everyone dressed in their 80s attire. I cannot wait for next year!
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.