Navigators of Change.
Igniters of Inspiration.
Agents of Progress.

Gary Shamis

Chief Executive Officer

Gary is the visionary behind Winding River Consulting, bringing decades of transformative leadership to the accounting profession. Widely recognized as one of the industry's most influential leaders, Gary has shaped the future of firms through strategic planning, national leadership, and the authorship of several books.

He is an E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, an Accounting Today’s (inaugural list of) Top Ten Managing Partner Elite honoree, and a consistent presence on the profession’s Most Influential lists. Gary remains a sought-after consultant and advisor to the profession’s most forward-thinking firm leaders.

As the architect of WRC’s mission, he continues to mentor firm leaders with a values-first approach and deep belief in aligned leadership.

David M. Toth

Chief Growth Officer

David empowers firms to navigate growth with clarity and confidence. Whether through WRC signature events and programs, consulting and facilitating firm retreats and meetings, or designing transformative, data-driven strategies, he brings the WRC value of innovation to life, elevating clients through personalized strategies and a relationship-first mindset. A trusted advisor to managing partners and executive committees, David provides strategic counsel on M&A, digital expansion, and leadership development. He is the creator of the Digital Deep Dive Summit and facilitates WRC’s flagship MPB | Leadership Accelerated program, which aligns leaders around strategic priorities, and Basic Training Bootcamp program, which prepares next-gen and emerging partners to lead.

His proprietary Digital Directional Scorecard has enabled dozens of Top 400 firms to clarify their market position, amplify their messaging, and accelerate ROI. He empowers firms to unlock strategic growth by aligning innovation, insight, and execution.

Mary Ann Shamis

Chief Financial Officer

Mary Ann brings more than four decades of expertise in payroll, employee benefits, and business management to her role as Chief Financial Officer. In 1981, she co-founded Paytime Integrated Payroll Solutions, building a Cleveland-based company that became a trusted leader in payroll services before its acquisition by CBIZ in 2019. Her background in public accounting and deep understanding of operational finance underpin her approach to strategic growth and fiscal oversight. Throughout her career, Mary Ann has remained grounded in the values that also define WRC: delivering exceptional client service, fostering professional growth, creating an empowering work environment, and upholding integrity in every client relationship. Her extensive experience, values-driven leadership, and dedication to operational excellence make her an essential part of Winding River Consulting’s leadership team.

Brian Blaha

Managing Director

Brian is a visionary strategist who believes that sustainable firm growth begins with people and an outward mindset. At Winding River, Brian works with private equity firms, individual businesses, and accounting leaders to craft intentional growth strategies, integrate acquisitions, and align leadership teams around shared outcomes.

From launching new markets to transforming go-to-market teams, he brings both a strategic and operational lens to leadership. Brian’s belief in people-first culture and transparent metrics reflects WRC’s core values of clarity, collaboration, and impact. His approach is data-informed, people-driven, and built to last. A natural collaborator and industry thought leader, Brian brings decades of experience driving transformational change across professional services.

As former Chief Growth Officer at Wipfli LLP, he led the firm’s growth from $227M to more than $590M, building a nationally recognized go-to-market model rooted in industry specialization, innovation, and client value.

Nicole Shirey

Operations Administrator

Nicole is the engine behind our execution. With a strong foundation in project management, client service, and organizational systems, Nicole brings structure and heart to every initiative. She ensures operational excellence across programs, events, and client engagements—always aligning with WRC’s value of purpose-driven service. Nicole also supports internal marketing and communication, serving as a steward of our digital presence. From refining systems to leading coordination for complex events, she embodies the WRC philosophy: collaboration, communication, and consistency lead to lasting impact.

Taylor King

Events Marketing Manager

Taylor designs more than events, she creates experiences that leave a mark. She brings WRC’s mission—to educate, connect, and inspire—into every event she designs. She leads the planning and promotion of WRC’s flagship events, including MPB | Leadership Accelerated, Basic Training Bootcamp, Digital Deep Dive, and Winning Ways, ensuring every touchpoint exceeds expectations. Her blend of design sensibility, logistical prowess, and data-backed strategy results in events that consistently achieve Net Promoter Scores above 80. Taylor reflects WRC’s value of excellence through every detail, fostering meaningful relationships and driving measurable outcomes.

Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

Leadership Management Consultant

Scott is a leadership development expert, educator, and keynote speaker who brings deep insight and practical wisdom to every engagement. With a Ph.D. in leadership and more than 18 years as a professor of management, Scott blends academic rigor with real-world application. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-moving world. A trusted advisor and facilitator, Scott partners with organizations to design and deliver experiences that drive lasting leadership growth, culture change, and strategic clarity. He has authored multiple books on leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication, and his podcast Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders is followed by thousands of global listeners each week. Scott supports the WRC’s mission to build better firms by creating better leaders.

Teri Schaffer, CPA

Leadership Consultant & Executive Coach

Teri brings empathy, experience, and clarity to the leadership journey. With more than 30 years in public accounting and industry, she knows that leadership is learned—not assumed—and that true impact comes from developing people as individuals, not just professionals. Before joining Winding River Consulting, Teri served as the Assurance Office Managing Partner for BDO’s Northeast Ohio offices and spent two decades helping grow and integrate practices through intentional leadership and team development. Her career includes leadership roles in both Big 4 and mid-size firms, as well as operational leadership in the healthcare industry. Teri works with rising and current leaders to deepen their confidence, sharpen their effectiveness, and lead with clarity in a dynamic professional landscape. Her approach is practical, grounded, and human—focused on helping professionals grow into their full potential while balancing the needs of their team, clients, and firm.

Ilana Isakov Katz

Marketing Communications Strategist

Ilana is a marketing communications strategist who turns complexity into clarity. With a career spanning corporate communications, branding, PR, and executive messaging, Ilana fuses creative insight with analytical precision to build high-impact strategies. At Winding River Consulting, she crafts integrated marketing approaches that reflect the firm’s ethos of authenticity, excellence, and strategic execution. Her career includes national spokesperson roles, C-suite advisory, and more than a decade leading marketing for SS&G, one of the country’s fastest-growing accounting firms (now part of BDO). From campaign ideation to executive-level thought leadership, Ilana drives brand integrity, elevates firm positioning, and ensures every message connects meaningfully with its audience.

Trisha Daho

Culture and Leadership Consultant

Matt Terlop

Health and Wellness Consultant

Matt brings discipline, resilience, and wellness to the forefront of leadership. As a performance coach and wellness strategist, Matt helps executives optimize their physical, mental, and emotional well-being to lead with clarity and strength. Drawing from his background in law enforcement and border patrol, Matt now works with individuals and organizations to implement customized wellness programs—including his results-driven Boot Camp—improving both team dynamics and long-term health outcomes. At Winding River Consulting, Matt supports our holistic approach to leadership development, reminding firms that sustainable success begins with personal well-being.

Bruce Hennes

Crisis Communication & PR Consultant

Bruce is CEO of Hennes Communications, one of the nation’s leading firms dedicated exclusively to crisis communications and management. With deep expertise in navigating high-stakes reputational risk, Bruce and his team advise over 180 clients annually across sectors—from Fortune 500 companies to law firms, municipalities, nonprofits, and professional service organizations facing challenges in the Court of Public Opinion. A seasoned educator and speaker, he serves on the executive committee of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association and holds teaching appointments at both Ohio University’s Scripps School of Communication and Cleveland State University’s College of Urban Affairs. He also serves on the faculty of the Ohio State Bar Association’s Leadership Academy. Bruce’s work has earned him national recognition. He’s been named a “Go-To Thought Leader” by the National Law Review and, for five consecutive years, has appeared on the Lawdragon 100 Leading Consultants and Strategists list—recognizing the most trusted advisors to the legal profession.

Ross Henderson

Head of Content Operations

Ross partners with clients to deliver tailored content marketing solutions. As a content marketing strategist, he helps firms forge deeper connections with their target audiences. With strategic clarity, Ross helps firms define their value, sharpen their messaging, and tell stories that resonate. From developing brand voice and messaging to executing high-impact content strategies, he supports firms in building trust, generating demand, and driving measurable business outcomes. He also teaches courses on SEO and digital marketing and has held fractional leadership roles in multiple high-growth technology companies. Ross is deeply committed to helping firms scale by aligning marketing strategy with business goals.