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Barrett is an expert in IPO related engagements and has worked primarily in the field during his career. As CEO and Managing Partner, Barrett is responsible for ensuring the quality of all of Nextstep's service offerings and maintaining a great work environment for employees.

Prior to Nextstep, Barrett was with Connor Group where he helped build the firm’s IPO practice as a Global IPO Services Partner. Barrett was also the Director of Accounting for SuccessFactors, where he led its IPO and was responsible for all technical accounting related efforts. Barrett also spent nearly a decade in public accounting primarily with PricewaterhouseCoopers’ transaction services group.

Barrett is a Certified Public Accountant in California and has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Florida State University. Barrett is a big football fan, solid baseball fan, mediocre golfer, and die-hard father to one crazy little boy and one sweet little girl.

Jenny specializes in IPO, SEC reporting, and technical accounting engagements. She is an expert in most equity related areas such as stock-based compensation, preferred stock financing, and complex equity instruments including derivatives. She also has vast experience with business combination, modification and extinguishment of debt arrangements, consolidations, EPS calculation, segment reporting, and other emerging accounting issues faced by pre-IPO companies. Jenny is an Excel spreadsheet guru capable of analyzing massive datasets and building complex financial models from scratch.

Prior to Nextstep, Jenny was with Connor Group as one of the primary IPO project leaders. Jenny began her career in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked for almost a decade in various offices including San Jose, Detroit, and Shanghai.

Jenny is a Certified Public Accountant in California and has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics. Jenny lives with her family in the East Bay and enjoys reading and hiking in her spare time.

Brendan specializes in IPO related engagements and is an expert in all matters related to Word documents and tables, primarily related to the S-1 drafting process and all related SEC layouts. Brendan is a cofounder of Nextstep.

Prior to Nextstep, Brendan was with Connor Group where he worked on numerous IPO and other technical accounting engagements.

Brendan graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting. Brendan spends most weekends hanging at the park and beach with his fiancé and their puppy, Marvin, enjoying Napa and Sonoma wine country, and traveling up to Lake Tahoe.

Catherine specializes in technical accounting and SEC reporting engagements. Catherine brings extensive experience in complex revenue recognition involving biotech collaborative arrangements and multiple-element arrangements, gross versus net revenue, stock-based compensation, business combination, capitalized software, going concern, SEC reporting, Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls, corporate accounting, and forensic accounting.

Prior to Nextstep, Catherine held corporate accounting roles, including the Assistant Controller at Kabam where she managed the day-to-day finance and accounting operations and close process and prepared financial reporting packages and management reports. She was also the Associate Director of Reporting and Compliance at Codexis where she prepared SEC filings, managed the company’s internal control compliance, and prepared technical accounting memos. Catherine was also a Manager with Connor Group where she worked on various technical accounting, startup and IPO related engagements. Catherine began her professional career in the audit practice of Ernst & Young in San Jose.

Catherine is a Certified Public Accountant in California, a Certified Valuation Analyst (inactive), and is Certified in Financial Forensics (inactive). Catherine has a Bachelor of Science in Commerce – Finance from Santa Clara University and a Master of Science in Accounting from the University of Virginia. Catherine loves to host parties and entertain her guests with her cooking and board games and enjoys getting outside to hike and travel.

Lina specializes in IPO and technical accounting engagements. Lina has extensive experience in revenue recognition, inventory valuation, complex debt transactions, stock-based compensation, EPS, stock splits, and other equity-related topics.

Prior to Nextstep, Lina was a Supervising Senior Associate with Connor Group where she worked on numerous IPO and other technical accounting engagements. Lina also worked as an accountant with Nanosolar. Lina began her career in the audit practice of KPMG in Mountain View.

Lina is a Certified Public Accountant in California and has a Master of Science in Accountancy from San Jose State University, along with a Bachelor of Arts in Business English from the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. When not doing accounting, Lina enjoys teaching and practicing yoga, exploring the scenic Bay Area on her bike, and hiking in the mountains.

Susie specializes in IPO and technical accounting engagements. Susie brings extensive experience in revenue recognition, business combinations, inventory valuation, asset impairments, complex debt transactions, stock-based compensation, EPS, stock splits, going concern, and out-of-period analysis.

Prior to Nextstep, Susie was a Senior Associate with PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on complex audit engagements and prepared technical accounting memos. Susie began her career in the audit practice of KPMG in Santa Clara.

Susie is a Certified Public Accountant in California and has a Master of Science in Taxation from Golden Gate University, as well as a Bachelor in Business Administration-Accounting, Finance from California State University-East Bay. With a love for travel and exploring new cultures, Susie studied abroad in Japan during her college years. Susie spends her spare time gardening and looks forward to harvesting many fruits and vegetables.

JR specializes in technical accounting and SEC reporting engagements. He has working knowledge on both US GAAP and IFRS. JR brings extensive experience in business combinations, inventory valuation, asset impairments, discontinued operations, complex debt transactions, stock-based compensation, and multiple-element arrangements revenue.

Prior to Nextstep, JR was an audit professional with PricewaterhouseCoopers where he worked on complex audit engagements and prepared technical accounting memos. JR also worked with CS Accounting and Tax Services Inc. in Hawaii as an Accounting Manager. He began his public accounting career progressing to Senior Manager in the audit practice of Ernst & Young in the Philippines.

JR is on his way to being a Certified Public Accountant in California having already passed the exam. JR has a Bachelor in Accountancy from De La Salle University and a Master of Business Administration-Finance from De La Salle University Graduate School of Business. In his free time, JR enjoys traveling with his wife and is a bit of a foodie.

Kimberly specializes in IPO and technical accounting engagements related to areas involving EPS, revenue recognition, capitalized software, equity accounting, and M&A transactions.

Prior to Nextstep, Kimberly was with Connor Group where she worked on various IPO, M&A, and technical accounting engagements. Kimberly also worked as a Senior Accountant at WageWorks and started her career in audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers in San Jose.

Kimberly is a Certified Public Accountant in California, has a Bachelor of Business Administration from University of Hong Kong, and has a Master of Science in Accountancy from San Jose State University. Kimberly has a four-year-old boy that consumes most of her “free” time, but she also enjoys spending time with the rest of her family, reading, and singing in choir.

Behshad specializes in technical accounting and SEC reporting engagements. Behshad has extensive experience in revenue recognition, inventory valuation, clinical accruals, fair value measurements, and stock-based compensation as well as having managed and been a part of multiple ERP implementations. Behshad is an Excel specialist who is constantly finding ways to improve financial/accounting model efficiencies.

Prior to Nextstep, Behshad was a Senior Revenue Accountant at Vanu, Inc., a startup in Cambridge, MA, where he managed all revenue and technical accounting matters and other aspects of the finance team. Behshad began his career in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers where he worked on complex audit engagements across all industries and on several audit and IPO engagements in their San Jose and Boston offices.

Behshad is in the process of taking his CPA exams. Behshad has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from San Jose State University. In his free time, Behshad enjoys the simple things in life: an afternoon of golf, the occasional road trip to a National Park, and long romantic walks on the beach.

Lorraine specializes in SEC reporting and technical accounting engagements related to areas involving revenue recognition and stock-based compensation expense.

Prior to Nextstep, Lorraine was a Manager at RINA Accountancy where she performed audits across all industries including professional service firms, manufacturing, real estate investment funds, and tech startups.

Lorraine is a Certified Public Accountant in California and has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management Economics with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of California – Santa Cruz. Lorraine loves sushi, attempting new recipes, daydreaming about the next vacation destination, watching volleyball matches, and relaxing with her husband and two young daughters.

Fumiko specializes in technical accounting and SEC reporting. Fumiko has extensive M&A experience having assisted on multiple successful M&A transactions while working on both the seller and the buyer sides.

Prior to Nextstep, Fumiko was an Audit Manager at Shea Labagh Dobberstein, CPAs and Advisors in San Francisco where she managed various audit, review, compilation, and due diligence engagements. Fumiko began her career in the US in the audit practice of PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on a wide range of industries and projects.

Fumiko is a Certified Public Accountant in California and New York, has a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Okayama University in Japan, and has a Master in Business Administration with a focus in Accounting from Monterey Institute of International Studies. Fumiko enjoys reading, gardening, hosting home parties, doing yoga, hiking, and traveling.

Wes is a primary team member for IPO and SEC reporting engagements. Wes is also very well versed in drafting S-1’s, 10-K’s/Q’s, and private company financial statements, being the resident Word expert at Nextstep. Wes also has significant experience with technical accounting engagements involving revenue recognition and stock-based compensation.

Prior to Nextstep, Wes was the Controller for Ojai Dory Company where he prepared and maintained financial records and statements for all company business. Wes began his career in the audit practice of KPMG in Mountain View.

Wes recently passed the CPA Exam and is well on his way to becoming a CPA. Wes received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, with a focus in Accounting, from the University of Washington. Wes spends his free time improving his barbequing skills and walking his dog. He is also a black belt in Judo.

Stanley is the resident “do-all” at Nextstep for internal and external projects. He brings 15 years of experience in general ledger and revenue accounting, as well as fixed asset management.

Prior to Nextstep, Stanley worked in the entertainment industry for Electronic Arts and Lucasfilm and the real estate industry with Skywalker Properties Limited and Legacy Partners, along with stops in the biotech and banking industries. Stanley has a wide range of general ledger experience including reconciliation of asset and liability accounts, variance analysis, amortization, and cash flow management. Stanley also has experience with multiple database platforms including Oracle, Netsuite, and JD Edwards.

Stanley has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from San Jose State University. He enjoys exploring Italy, finding new restaurants to enjoy, and playing guitar…sometimes all at the same time.

Shannon is a team member for IPO and SEC reporting engagements. Shannon has significant experience with drafting public and private company financials, preparing the related tie-outs and checklists, monthly close and reconciliations, journal entries, quarterization, and revenue recognition related contract review.

Shannon joined Nextstep just after finishing college in 2014 and has been a key contributor ever since.

Shannon has a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of California - San Diego. Shannon enjoys spending her free time cooking chicken wings and watching over her baby nephew.