An Alternative to the Big 7

Built from the ground up to provide a better experience for clients and consultants

VAI Consulting was established as a fresh alternative to traditional consulting firms, combining the strategic insight and expertise typically found in larger organizations with the personalized service and competitive pricing of boutique firms.

Our Story

VAI Consulting was born from the deep-rooted partnership of its two Founders, who've shared both personal and professional journeys together spanning over a decade. Having recently collaborated at a larger consulting firm, they recognized the inherent flaws in the traditional consulting model that often left both consultants and clients dissatisfied. This realization sparked the vision to create a consulting firm that prioritizes collaboration and expertise, leading to the establishment of VAI Consulting.

We have worked with companies such as

Managing Partners

Ryan Van Hout

Phoenix, AZ

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Finance, Technology, Healthcare

Nathan Bell

Portland, OR

Practice Areas

Strategy & Mgmt, Financial Advisory, Data, Analytics, AI, Technology

Industry Experience

Banking, Media & Entertainment, Technology, Advisory, Finance

Managing Directors

Jay Steigleder

Portland, OR

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Operations, Sales & Marketing, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Finance, Technology, Healthcare, exPWC, ex EY

VAI Consultants

Danielle Moore Jarnot

New York, NY

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Operations, Sales & Marketing

Industry Experience

Finance, Non-Profit, Technology

John McKinzie

Washington, DC

Practice Areas

Operations, Strategy & Mgmt, Technology

Industry Experience

Aerospace & Defense, Finance, Healthcare, Technology, Transportation

Doreen Ghusar

San Francisco, CA

Practice Areas

Legal & Compliance, Operations, Technology, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Technology, Finance, Advisory, Real Estate, Go

Lisa Hovey

Bend, OR

Practice Areas

HR, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Advisory, Technology, Retail, Manufacturing, Real Estate, Healthcare

Steven Destine

Denver, CO

Practice Areas

Data, Analytics, AI

Industry Experience

Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Non-Profit, Business Consulting, Telecommunications

Scott Hagberg

Waterloo - Cedar Falls, IA

Practice Areas

AI, Technology, Transformation, Project Management, Change Management, Software Acquisition

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Insurance, Manufacturing, Technology

Steven Roberts

Washington DC -Baltimore

Practice Areas

AI, Cybersecurity, Risk Mgmt, Technology, Information Systems

Industry Experience

Pharmaceuticals, Financial Services, Military, Consumer Products, Aerospace & Defense, Manufacturing

Alexandra Folmer

Midway, UT

Practice Areas

Strategy, Product Mgmt/ CPO - PMO, Design Sprints, Analytics, AI, Knowledge Mgmt, Information Architecture, Digital Experinece

Industry Experience

Advisory, Education, Government, Non-Profit, Technology, Transportation, Business Consulting, Blockchain, Crypto Currency

Guy Harding

Salt Lake City, UT

Practice Areas

Strategy & Mgmt, AI, Technology

Industry Experience

Technology, Construction, Finance, Media & Entertainment, Education, Healthcare, Retail

Shirin Elkoshairi

Portland, OR

Practice Areas

Technology, Operations, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Telecommunications, Technology

Vincent West

Portland, OR

Practice Areas

Strategy & Mgmt, Technology

Industry Experience

Aerospace & Defense, Government, Manufacturing, Automotive, Legal, Healthcare

Lulu Phongmany

Vancouver BC, Canada

Practice Areas

HR, Strategy & Mgmt, Technology

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Government, Advisory, Media & Entertainment, Education, Technology, Telecommunications

Teresa Rincon

Boston, Sacramento, Phoenix

Practice Areas

Technology, Strategy & Mgmt, Healthcare, Operations

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Telecommunications, Technology

Fritz Porter

Bellevue, WA

Practice Areas

Strategy & Mgmt, Leadership, Innovation, AI, StartUp Ecosystems, Product & Service Innovation, Analytics

Industry Experience

Start-Ups, Business Consulting, Aerospace & Defense, Agriculture, Construction, Energy, Government, Non-Profit, Technology, Education, Manufacturing, Realestate

Mark Kerzner

Houston, TX

Practice Areas

AI, Data, Software Architecture

Industry Experience

Technology, Financial Services

Peter Chmiel

New York, NY

Practice Areas

Strategy, Product Mgmt/ CPO, Startup Ecosystems, AI, Analytics, Knowledge Mgmt, SaaS, CRM, Customer Support Ops, Technolgoy

Industry Experience

Advisory, Healthcare, Non-Profit, Pharmaceuticals, Telecommunication, Transportation, Financial Services, Blockchain, Crypto, Tokenization, Retail

Ben Dooley

San Diego, CA

Practice Areas

Technology, Strategy & Mgmt

Industry Experience

Technology

Khadeil Wallace

Kingston, Jamaica

Practice Areas

Technology

Industry Experience

Finance

John Filben

San Francisco, CA

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Strategy & Mgmt, Technology

Industry Experience

Advisory, Finance, Technology, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare, Telecommunications

Max Kalfus

Los Angeles, CA

Practice Areas

Strategy & Mgmt, Technology

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Technology

Cliff Struhar

Safety Harbor, FL

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Operations

Industry Experience

Advisory, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals

Stephen Katz

Rome, Italy

Practice Areas

Knowledge Mgmt, Data, Strategy & Mgmt, HR, Leadership, Technology, Project Mgmt/PMO

Industry Experience

Government, United Nations, Healthcare, Advisory, Agriculture, Business Consulting, International and Multilateral Relations

Matthew Rottman

Northbrook, IL

Practice Areas

AI, Data, Data Governance

Industry Experience

Aerospace, Insurance, Financial Services, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Technology, Government

Richie Castellanes

New York, NY

Practice Areas

Technology

Industry Experience

Technology

Jean-Philippe Lejeune

Montreal, Canada

Practice Areas

Technology

Industry Experience

Finance, Energy

Katie Walker

Phoenix, AZ

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory

Industry Experience

Construction, Advisory, Finance, Telecommunications, Technology, Manufacturing, Hospitality

Randi-Sue Deckard

Dallas, TX

Practice Areas

Financial Advisory, Sales & Marketing

Industry Experience

Healthcare, Technology

Martin Hobratschk

Austin, TX

Practice Areas

Knowledge Mgmt, Strategy, Product Mgmt / CPO, Customer Support, Technology, AI

Industry Experience

Advisory, Technology, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit, Manufacturing

Nick Panahi

Atlanta, GA

Practice Areas

Project Mgmt / CPO, Strategy & Mgmt, Technology, Data, Analytics

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Technology, Telecommunications, Business Consulting

Mahmud Samad

Miami, FL

Practice Areas

Data, Analytics, Operations, Financial Advisory, Strategy & Mgmt, Technology, Start Up Ecosystems, SaaS, Leadership, Project Mgmt / PMO, Multi-Unit Franchise

Industry Experience

Advisory, Financial Services, Healthcare, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Pharmaceuticals, International / Multinational Relations

Client Relations

Phil Bleecker

McKinney, TX

Ben McLennan

Phoenix, AZ

Our Partners

How it works

Experienced and Deeply Skilled Consultants

VAI is comprised of a select group of highly skilled, experienced professionals. Each member brings over a decade of expertise and is recognized as a thought leader in their field. Many have held senior roles at top-tier firms, such as BCG, Deloitte, and Accenture, before branching out on their own.

VAi consultants are carefully chosen for their proven ability to work with clients both strategically and tactically, delivering impactful solutions to complex challenges. Every consultant undergoes a rigorous vetting process before joining VAi to ensure they meet our high standards.

We are a collective of elite consultants handpicked for their ability to consistently deliver exceptional results, on time and within budget.

Fixed Rate Pricing

At our company, we understand the challenges CFOs face, especially when it comes to managing budgets and controlling costs. That's why we've implemented a fixed-rate model, designed to eliminate "scope creep" and provide clarity in budgeting. This approach not only helps our clients keep their expenses in check but also ensures that we deliver on time and within budget. We take pride in our commitment to transparency and accountability, making it easier for CFOs to plan and execute their financial strategies effectively.

Dedicated Relationship Team

At VAI Consulting, every client engagement is meticulously overseen by a dedicated team, which includes a Managing Director and a Client Partner. These professionals serve as the primary point of contact for all client needs, ensuring a seamless experience from the very beginning. They conduct initial workshops with potential clients to share valuable insights and expertise. If VAI Consulting is selected for a project, this team will carefully match the right consultants from our team to meet the client's specific requirements. Clients have the opportunity to meet the entire team, including consultants, before the engagement starts, guaranteeing the perfect fit. Unlike larger firms, we prioritize experience and expertise, ensuring that our clients are not paying for recent graduates' on-the-job learning.