Karen Gill is President and Senior Business Advisor at The Business Excellence Institute and BEI Advisors, with over two decades of experience driving transformative growth across global organizations as a seasoned business strategist and finance executive. Recently, she led a company-wide, global initiative which included nine transformation programs and 41 projects across 18 different countries, with the aim to optimize operations and execute a multi-year strategic vision for a $1 billion ag enterprise.

In her prior roles in FP&A, M&A, and Global Business Development, Karen spearheaded numerous M&A transactions, built dynamic financial models to support strategic decisions, and secured high-value licensing deals to strengthen the company’s global portfolio. Before moving to Arizona, Karen was the founder of Gill Financial Consulting, where she advised executive leadership on credit, risk, and capital strategy and worked as a liaison between executive banking teams and federal regulators. 

Known for her ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights, Karen builds strong relationships across all levels of an organization to align teams, drive strategic initiatives, and position businesses to grow, scale, and outperform their competitors. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Economics, and a Masters in Business Administration, and resides in Yuma, AZ with her husband and kids.

Ana Fontanes specializes in bridging the gap between small business insights and corporate-level reporting, enabling enhanced visibility for strategic decision-making. She recognizes that while business owners often rely on CPAs and traditional financial statements, these resources typically lack the depth needed for fully informed financial decisions. Her approach integrates small business reporting with corporate-level standards, providing business owners with a comprehensive view of their operations.

Working directly with business owners, she creates Forecast Models that categorize businesses in ways that clarify financial performance by comparing current periods with past periods and budgets. This analysis reveals growth patterns and goal achievement, while also including a future component where performance analysis updates the forecast. Additionally, she assesses accounting infrastructure and delivers tailored, best-practice recommendations designed to support sustainable growth.

With over 20 years of financial management experience spanning non-profits, startups, and small to medium-sized businesses, she currently serves as fractional CFO support for various startups. Her professional journey guiding small businesses into multimillion-dollar companies enhances her ability to bridge the gap between small business and corporate-level reporting.