The Team
Inovautus Consulting was founded on the belief that effective marketing strategy and execution, combined with acquiring and retaining the right key talent, is the foundation for growing public accounting firms. Our work with accounting firms keeps us sharp and on our toes, creating measurable improvements for our clients.
We operate in a virtual work environment, allowing us to draw the best talent suited for each client and circumstance. Lining up the right skills and the right people is critical, similar to when you're assigning accountants to specific clients and their needs.
We don't claim to be "all things to all people," but without question, we cover a lot of ground in accounting marketing. Our experienced team, along with our ability to tap into talented part-time consultants and the best of the freelancing pool, rounds out the differentiating factors that you'll find with Inovautus Consulting.
Sarah Johnson Dobek I President & Founder
Sarah Johnson Dobek is president and founder of Inovautus Consulting, a national consulting firm that develops strategies, programs, and training designed to help accounting firms grow faster and in the right direction.
Sarah and her team work with firms to assess their growth goals and execute practical marketing and business development plans. With her unique background in operations, human resources, practice management, and marketing, Sarah delivers insightful, practical advice that guides organizations down the right path toward achieving the growth they desire. Sarah’s ability to understand where an organization is starting from, coupled with her disciplined approach to best practices, drives results for firms and helps them to evolve.
- Sarah is an outdoor enthusiast. When she's not in the office, you can find her skiing, camping, golfing, hiking or just enjoying her backyard.
- She has a deep passion for cooking and enjoys canning and freezing her home-grown organic vegetables.
- One day, Sarah would love to teach at the University level and compete in the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
Kari Bakus I Senior Consultant
Kari (Schott) Bakus has almost 30 years of business-to-business marketing & communications experience. Kari has spent over 15 years developing and leading growth strategies specifically designed for accounting firms as both an in-house marketing leader and an outside consultant.
In her role as a senior consultant for Inovautus Consulting, Kari works with clients to create growth plans, build relationships, increase referrals, generate leads, and grow revenue.
- Kari and her husband are avid mountain bikers and participate annually in a downhill ride through the Swiss and French Alps.
- She enjoys spending time at her family-built home in the Outer Banks, NC, which provides a great backdrop for stand-up paddle boarding and searching for birds and black bears in nearby national wildlife refuges.
- Her love of the outdoors inspires her to support organizations that focus on sustainability and protecting wildlife.
Amy Oldiges I Consultant
Amy Oldiges has nearly 20 years of experience in marketing communications and business development and has spent over 14 years as an in-house strategist at midsize corporate law firms in Chicago and Ohio. She works alongside clients to develop growth strategies and execute business development and marketing initiatives to differentiate firms from their competitors.
In her role as a consultant for Inovautus Consulting, Amy works with clients to identify growth opportunities, develop client feedback programs, and implement business development training to grow revenue and strengthen relationships. She received her undergraduate degree in Journalism and Technical Communication from Colorado State University.
Amy lives in Cincinnati and enjoys spending time with her husband, two young daughters.
- Growing up in Colorado, Amy developed a deep love for the Denver Broncos and still roots for them on game day, despite being in Cincinnati Bengal territory
- Amy is a craft beer lover and loves exploring breweries throughout the U.S. She loves Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee and she is on a mission to get their beers distributed in Southwest Ohio.
- Amy loves to travel and has been all over the U.S. and Europe. She is planning a trip to Tuscany with her husband and is looking forward to enjoying delicious wine in the Italian countryside.
Katie Renelt I Client Advisor
As a client advisor, Katie works with accounting firms to brainstorm, develop, and execute on a variety of marketing activities. A multidisciplinary, Katie has mastered the ability to wear many hats while helping firms reach their growth goals.
Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts at Rider University where she studied public relations, advertising and event planning and holds a Master's degree in Business Communication.
- In her spare time, Katie enjoys exploring flea markets and practicing to be a double showcase winner on the Price is Right.
- Katie aspires to see an Orca (killer whale) in the wild!
- Residing in New Jersey with her husband, Katie considers herself fortunate to enjoy all four seasons (sometimes in the same week!)
AmyBell Kwallek I Client Specialist
Over the last 10 years of working with businesses, AmyBell has developed deep experience in several areas including content marketing and management, revenue-producing marketing strategies for marketing automation, email marketing, and proposals, and award-winning, advertising, direct mail and social media marketing campaigns. She has been the voice for professional services firms as a published ghostwriter in publications like Forbes.com, Accounting Today, Franchising Today, and the Tax Adviser. Her early background includes print advertising and leading a chamber of commerce as the executive director. She has also hosted a business podcast!
AmyBell earned a B.S. in communication technologies from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is a graduate of both the Northeast Iowa Community College Leadership Academy and the Community Leadership Alliance-Leadership Academy of Southwest Wisconsin.
- As a proud Millennial, AmyBell loves to discuss generational differences and strengths and has presented on the topic.
- She is a total Anglophile. She and her husband got married at a castle in Scotland, and her retirement plan is to have a small sheep farm in the British countryside.
- AmyBell is a Tolkien-ite, a Jane-ite, and a Ravenclaw.
- She lives in Los Angeles with her professional hockey coach husband and 2 fur children.
Heidi Holmberg I Marketing Specialist & Training Coordinator
Heidi is a multitasker in business and life, and thrives in a creative environment. With over 15 years of experience in marketing, Heidi brings enthusiasm for the innovative and organized to her role as marketing specialist and training coordinator.
Heidi attended Lake Forest College where she studied English and History. She planned to go into education before jumping in head-first to the wonderful world of Marketing.
- Heidi lives 40 miles outside the beautiful and culinary wonder, Chicago.
- With an amusement park in her backyard, and miles of river trails and a Great Lake to her East, Heidi is always two steps away from an adventure.
- Even with three {energetic} kids, a {rockstar} husband, 2 {sassy} felines, and 1 {adorable} rescue pup, she still finds the time to check to-dos off her Pinterest list.
- Heidi is passionate about learning and not-so-secretly wants to host a podcast.
Marissa Lew I Firm Administrator & Executive Assistant
Marissa has a diverse background in marketing, administration, client relations, and executive-level support. Her love of organization pairs perfectly with her ability to multi-task and see projects through from inspiration to completion. Marissa is driven and proactive and takes pride in her ability to perform well under pressure. Her passion for self-improvement and helping others translates into a natural enthusiasm for business development and operations. Marissa is at home on the front line and eagerly collaborates with our team to achieve goals, both inside and outside the organization.
Marissa attended San Diego State University where she studied Business Administration and Integrated Marketing Communications. She earned her bachelor’s degree and was named to the Dean’s Honors List every year of attendance.
- Marissa resides in sunny Southern California
- She has one handsome boxer and volunteers at the animal shelter in her spare time
- Marissa is passionate about culinary arts, gardening, and music
- She is also quietly known as a professional jigsaw puzzle solver
