Stefanie Smith assists clients to increase profits and productivity by aligning management and operations with priority goals. She works closely with managers and staff to review business processes and implement operational improvements, from cash flow to systems controls. Her tool set for managing M&A from due diligence through integration has been used by leading companies to plan and execute successful growth and transition.

Ms. Smith has led an independent practice since 1996, assisting clients such as Morgan Stanley, American Express, Grant Thornton LLP, KPMG, Western Forge, WinStar Communications, Grant Associates, Direct Marketing Enterprises, the ASPCA, and the Riverhead Foundation. Previously, as a consultant at Grant Thornton LLP, she advised middle market companies, government agencies and non-profit institutions. Projects included a comprehensive systems evaluation for a retail chain, financial controls improvement for numerous corporations, and a two-year operational restructuring of a $60 million pension fund. At the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and Mount Sinai Medical Center, she led internal projects to maximize revenue and productivity.

Rafael Pabon leads projects focused on systems and business strategies. He combines information technology and Internet expertise with extensive experience in sales, marketing, and strategic management to help companies reach higher levels of scale, scope and profitability. Mr. Pabon’s background encompasses designing knowledge management systems for Fortune 500 companies and start-ups, integrating legacy and web technology, and building sales and customer support systems for multinational companies.

Mr. Pabon has worked with clients such as Morgan Stanley, Thomson Financial, JPMorgan Chase, Advanta Growth Capital LP and Dover Corporation.  Recent engagements include a two-year technology and operational outsourcing project for an investment bank, development of technical infrastructure to fulfill SEC regulatory requirements at a brokerage firm, and performing due diligence for an early-stage fund.  He also oversaw the design and development of an international trading system for syndicated loans as CTO of Loan Quorum.com. Previously, he marketed fixed income products at Barra International, a global financial software and consulting firm, where he ran the New York branch. Prior to that, Mr. Pabon honed his technical and management skills in JP Morgan’s Strategic Programs Management Group, IBM’s Development and Sales & Marketing divisions and Kodak’s Graphics Imaging Systems.

Mr. Pabon holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business, with concentrations in investment analysis and business strategy, and a BSE from Princeton University in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, where he was the recipient of the Manfred Pyka Memorial Physics Prize. Mr. Pabon has served on the boards of the MIT Enterprise Forum of New York City and the Stanford Business School Alumni Association.