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What Not to Do Before and During a Quote-to-Cash Overhaul

By Kristin Hubbard, Managing Consultant, VFP Consulting + Salesforce MVP 2023-2025 Most quote-to-cash overhauls don’t fail because the software can’t do the job. They stall because teams skip decisions, defer them, or make them in the wrong order. Quote-to-cash touches everything that turns a signed deal into recognized revenue: product catalog, pricing, quoting, contracts, delivery… Continue reading What Not to Do Before and During a Quote-to-Cash Overhaul

Veda Accelerate, Explained: The Concepts and the Process Behind Certinia’s AI Delivery Layer

By the VFP Consulting team Certinia’s acquisition of Veda Accelerate adds an AI-native delivery layer to Veda, its AI System of Action. Our team attended Certinia’s first partner training on the platform. This piece breaks down how Veda Accelerate works conceptually, how it maps to the services lifecycle, and how to adopt it. The core… Continue reading Veda Accelerate, Explained: The Concepts and the Process Behind Certinia’s AI Delivery Layer

Can an AI Agent Build Salesforce Configuration? What We Learned: Testing One on 44 Live Requirements

Based on Intuitive Intel’s case study At a glance Why did VFP put an AI agent on a live project? Quick Answer: Because configuration is where implementation hours pile up. Once requirements are signed off, a large share of the budget goes to careful, repetitive build work in Setup. We wanted to know whether an… Continue reading Can an AI Agent Build Salesforce Configuration? What We Learned: Testing One on 44 Live Requirements

Building an AI Tool to Speed Up SOW-to-Cash at VFP

By the VFP Consulting team Every services organization has a version of this problem. A deal closes, the Statement of Work gets signed, and someone then has to make sure everything in the contract actually matches what’s set up in the systems of record: billing terms, payment schedules, discounts, project budgets. It’s detail-heavy, manual, and… Continue reading Building an AI Tool to Speed Up SOW-to-Cash at VFP

We Automated Our Own Work Before We Automated Yours: A POV from Dreamforce 2026

Ty Alibhai, Director of AI, VFP Consulting I just watched this year’s Salesforce Dreamforce keynote, and the common thread across every speaker was speed. Jensen Huang put it best: “Don’t get left behind.” Benioff’s pitch that AI is the next fundamental shift in how people interact with software isn’t a “someday” story; it’s happening now,… Continue reading We Automated Our Own Work Before We Automated Yours: A POV from Dreamforce 2026

When “Consultant” Stopped Meaning What It Used To

Marketing VFP Consulting This post expands on a conversation from VFP Consulting CEO Stephanie Taylor’s recent appearance on We Built It Because We Had To, hosted by Jonathan W. Buckley. A version of “consulting” has been quietly hollowed out over the last decade, and most companies don’t notice until a project stalls. On a recent… Continue reading When “Consultant” Stopped Meaning What It Used To

Webinar Replay: Connecting the Dots: How BTS Built an AI Copilot to Solve Global Support Challenges

By VFP Consulting In honor of Certinia’s International Services Week, we partnered with the global consulting and training firm BTS to pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to deploy AI successfully in a complex enterprise environment. If you missed the live event, you can watch the full conversation right here. Catch the… Continue reading Webinar Replay: Connecting the Dots: How BTS Built an AI Copilot to Solve Global Support Challenges

The AI Reality Check: Why Your QTC Needs a Cleanup First

VFP Consulting at Chicago Certinia Live Doug Johnston, our COO, led this session alongside Jeremy Bower, Managing Director at ACA, and it turned out to be one of the most candid conversations of the conference.  We were there to talk about why QTC transformations stall and why conventional wisdom about sequencing often leads firms into… Continue reading The AI Reality Check: Why Your QTC Needs a Cleanup First

Accelerate with AI. Lead with Judgment: Why Mastering Both Is the Defining Challenge for Services Organizations Today.

By Ty Alibhai, Head of AI, VFP Consulting There is a version of the AI conversation happening in professional services firms right now that goes something like this: “We need to move faster; AI can help, so let’s go.” That instinct is not wrong. But it is incomplete, and the gap between that instinct and… Continue reading Accelerate with AI. Lead with Judgment: Why Mastering Both Is the Defining Challenge for Services Organizations Today.

The Missing Link Between AI Ambition and Profitable Services

By the VFP Consulting at Chicago Certinia Live We were in Chicago last month for Certinia Live, and we left with a clear conviction: the professional services industry is standing at a genuine inflection point, and most organizations don’t realize they’re standing on the wrong side of it. Across the sessions we attended, two things… Continue reading The Missing Link Between AI Ambition and Profitable Services

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Raul Acosta

Sales Director

As an agile, focused and collaborative team player Raul strives to consistently take a holistic approach and make an impact with each networking experience and partnership forged.

 

With 15+ years of experience in sales strategy, application sales, and relationship management, he excels at solving complex business challenges through data-driven insights, superior customer service, and relevant Salesforce expertise.

 

As a former trusted advisor at Certinia and Salesforce, Raul has successfully implemented strategies that drive revenue, align business units, engage target audiences, strengthen brand image, maximize productivity, develop people, transform processes, and improve overall customer experience, showcasing his commitment to clients, partners, and colleagues.

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Michael Kelly

Engagement Director & Head of Project Management

Michael, with a background in project financial management and analysis, has spent over a decade in various project management roles. Leading clients, project teams, and fellow project managers, he ensures successful project deliveries and implementations. Michael’s PMP Certification enables him to stay current with the latest industry standards and project management practices.

 

Passionate about his field and role, Michael finds fulfillment in successful projects, tangible results, and meeting client needs.

 

Throughout his experience in engagement management Michael has successfully led over 25 clients, projects, and go-lives. He has overseen a project budget portfolio of $25 million per year, managing 21 separate project engagement efforts concurrently for his client base. In his career, Michael has hired, trained, and personally managed a team of over 50 project managers.

 

He has also contributed to the development and training of new agile project methodologies in multiple companies.

 

Currently, at VFP, Michael has played a crucial role in implementing the new agile methodology across all active projects for their client base in 2023.

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Greg Plaisance

Managing Consultant

Throughout his career at VFP, Greg has progressed from the role of Consultant to Senior Consultant and currently serves as a Managing Consultant.

 

With 15 years of experience in the financial services industry, Greg possesses a diverse skill set that spans Retail Banking, Post Audit, and Consulting. He holds 3 Salesforce certifications and 2 Certinia certifications, showcasing his expertise in areas such as Accounting, Revenue Recognition, Billing, and leadership strategy. Greg’s extensive background equips him with a deep understanding of financial processes, enabling him to offer valuable insights and guidance to clients within the industry.

 

Passionate about process improvement, efficiency, and leadership he helps companies by managing the systems that support their core objectives, allowing them to focus on their key goals.

 

Greg aims to build VFP into a premier consulting firm that is highly sought-after by both clients and professionals as a desirable place to work.

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Kristin Hubbard

Managing Consultant

Kristin Hubbard is a Managing Consultant at VFP Consulting, where she helps finance and operations leaders change how their organizations sell, deliver, bill, and account for their work. Her approach covers people, process, and technology, because a new system only pays off when the teams and processes around it change too.


Kristin brings 15 years of quote-to-cash experience, including deep expertise in revenue recognition and in-depth knowledge of the full Salesforce/Certinia suite. She knows these systems from the inside. She started her career as an Accounts Receivable Specialist, then ran the platform as a Salesforce/Certinia Administrator and Business Systems Manager before moving into consulting. That path, along with her accounting degree, gives her a clear view of the daily pressures her clients’ finance teams face.


Today she guides executive teams through large-scale transformations. Most recently, she has led a global firm’s finance and operations leadership through a full quote-to-cash overhaul. That work includes keeping executives aligned through a leadership change and coordinating delivery across VFP, the client, and partner firms. Clients in technology, professional services, and finance and accounting count on her to keep complex programs moving and keep everyone pointed at the same outcome.


Since joining VFP in April 2022, Kristin has led and mentored consultants across her engagements, and she plays an active role in hiring and developing the firm’s next generation of consultants and project managers.


Kristin is a two-time Salesforce MVP, holds multiple Salesforce/Certinia certifications, and has helped organize Florida Dreamin since 2018.

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Ty alibhai

Managing Consultant

Ty is a seasoned consulting leader who has focused his experience over the last 15 years on the Salesforce platform and solutions in its ecosystem. He brings 20+ years of business knowledge, consulting experience, and a knack for successful Salesforce and Certinia implementations in the quote-to-cash space. Ty has successfully implemented technology solutions such as Salesforce and Certinia to over 100+ customers over his career and has led/managed consultant teams of 5-10 people.

 

Graduating from UC Berkeley’s Haas Business School and with a strong background in Computer Science, he launched his career in technology consulting. He focused his career on the Salesforce platform after experiencing success at Salesforce in the early 2000s and growing that knowledge with consulting partners the latter half of his career. His knowledge spans multiple industries, solutions, and market segments from SMB to Enterprise level experience.

 

As part of his role at VFP, he effectively manages a team of consultants, empowering them to achieve their career objectives. He also leads project teams and ensures the seamless adoption of technology, thereby driving client success at VFP.

 

Driven by a strong desire to make a positive impact on customers’ lives by simplifying their experience with new systems he excels as a leader, mentoring consultants and guiding project teams to successful outcomes.

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Nick Anderson

Managing Consultant

A global Salesforce and Certinia consulting and implementation leader, Nick is an expert in his field with more than 8 years of experience on the platform, specializing in Quote to Cash and Professional Services Automation best practices.

 

With a focus on mid-market and enterprise accounts, Nick brings a deep knowledge of best practices to all aspects of client projects including change management, business process documentation & improvement, system configuration, revenue recognition and managed services.

 

With an extensive background in International Business and PSA solutions, Nick is the driving force behind the VFP consultants, helping the team tap into their full potential in order to deliver excellent results.

 

Never one to back down from a challenge, Nick embraces his ever-changing environment and encourages customers to do the same as a way to drive further success down the road. He stresses the importance of clear communication and building strong working relationships in order to effectively articulate a vision for the future of a business.

 

Using his own years of consulting experience as a touchstone, Nick’s focus is on developing talent and ushering in customer success for the VFP team across the board.

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Doug Johnston

Chief Operating Officer

Building scalable large-capacity services teams in enterprise environments for more than 25 years, Doug is focused on operational excellence and builds high-quality and high-growth companies and teams.  


As COO, Doug’s responsibilities encompass overseeing all facets of customer services including a Project Management team, internal operations, and a team of expert consultants. His primary focus lies in fostering a high-performing team and culture, guiding its development, providing support, and offering coaching to optimize efficiency.

Doug’s diverse experiences in industries including software services, government, private sector, medical, and beyond have led to the development of a global team, overseeing projects ranging from small initiatives to multi-million dollar implementations and long-term relationships with clients.


With unwavering determination, Doug strives to establish a top-tier consulting firm in collaboration with VFP’s CEO, Stephanie Taylor. Together they shared a vision that transcends software implementation, aiming to provide value, challenge conventions, and leverage expertise for optimal outcomes. Though strategies shift with growth, the core objective of building an exceptional company remains a constant in Doug’s journey. 


Doug joined VFP in its infancy, with a goal to grow the team and scale the operation – which is now doubling year over year, based on a passion for people matched with a deep sense of purpose. With 2x INC5000 placements under 1000, team growth of more than 10,000%, high customer success ratings and stability within the team, his leadership has proved vital to positive growth and long term stability for VFP. 

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Stephanie Taylor

Chief Executive Officer

A sought-after leader with a 20+ year history working with global Fortune 500 companies, Stephanie is a business process expert with a deep and well-recognized expertise in the Salesforce and Certinia ecosystems, with a focus on Quote-to-Cash, ERP, CRM, and Financial Management.

 

Stephanie founded VFP Consulting to offer companies with access to a 360 approach to not just implementing but managing their technology investments over time, from aligning people, process and product needs to long term management that maximizes the investment and fuels growth and business needs over time. 

 

Front-line experience overseeing 100+ projects and relationships with diverse clients, from mid-market enterprises to billion-dollar enterprises, Stephanie’s expertise spans high-growth businesses, private equity, mergers and acquisitions across various industries. Her leadership at VFP places a premium on the core values behind the name – Vision, Focus, and Passion.

  • Industry:
    Call Center Technology
  • Company Size:
    • 2,000+ employees around the world
    • 2,500+ enterprise, mid-market, and SMB customers in 104 countries
  • Solutions:
    Certinia Professional Services Cloud