Our Team

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Laura K. Sandstrom, ASA is a seasoned finance professional with over 20 years of experience in valuation advisory, M&A strategy, corporate development, and financial modeling. As an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers, she brings more than 10,000 hours of valuation training and analytical rigor to every engagement—supporting clients from early-stage startups to multinational corporations.

Laura’s depth of valuation expertise offers a distinct advantage during M&A due diligence, where her precision and insight help uncover value and mitigate risk. She’s known for bringing order to chaos—translating complex financial data into clear, actionable strategies that align with business goals and drive operational efficiency.

Her consulting background spans two decades and a wide range of industries, giving her the ability to connect authentically with stakeholders at every level—from frontline employees to C-suite executives and their investors, including private equity and venture capital firms. She’s especially passionate about empowering underserved business owners and takes pride in being a trusted advisor who delivers clarity, confidence, and results.

Laura holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Xavier University, with concentrations in finance and marketing, and completed the Executive Education Mini MBA program at Miami University. Her financial modeling approach is shaped by investment banking training from Training the Street and Wall Street Prep. Her leadership philosophy is inspired by The Music Paradigm, emphasizing harmony, adaptability, and collaboration.

Outside of work, Laura enjoys Pilates, strength training, and unwinding with her two Labrador retrievers, Daisy and Violet.

Carolyn is the principal and founder of the Connecticut-based business valuation and financial advisory firm, Access Value, LLC. Carolyn has led valuation engagements with Willamette Management Associates, The Compass Group International, DeSilva & Phillips, and Reed Exhibitions, a division of Reed Elsevier.

In the corporate arena, Carolyn possesses senior management and leadership expertise in B2B and B2C publishing, exhibitions, technical conferences, and information providers. Carolyn also led mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning, and international market development for a division of Reed Elsevier, a multi-billion dollar diversified, global provider of information for professional and business customers. Prior to that, Carolyn held various financial, technical, and marketing management roles with Cahners Publishing, Motorola, and a boutique financial services firm.

Rachel Kutay, SPHR is the Owner and Executive HR Consultant at My Business Resource, where she empowers small businesses through strategic human resources solutions. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in HR consulting, leadership development, team building, and compliance advisory. Rachel holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification and has earned multiple credentials in leadership, talent optimization, and Lean management. Her career spans corporate training, interview preparation, and career coaching, with a strong focus on helping organizations build resilient, people-centered cultures. Rachel is also a Vistage member, actively engaging with top leaders to sharpen her impact and expand her reach. Her commitment to excellence has earned her recognition as one of Business First’s “20 People to Know in HR.”

Lisa Messner, CPA has over 20 years of experience, and began her career in public accounting as a former Big 4 Auditor at KPMG. Lisa brings two decades of consulting expertise assisting clients with outsourced accounting solutions, including monthly reconciliations, financial reporting (including multi-entity consolidations), audit readiness, and audit and tax oversight. Lisa’s professional experience also includes:

Lisa currently serves as an Advisory Board Member for Accelerating Angels, an angel capital fund based in Columbus, Ohio, and a board member of the Accelerating Angels Foundation. In her free time, Lisa enjoys spending quality moments with family and friends, cooking, baking, and avidly skiing during the winter months.

Michael Hamann, ASA, CEA is a nationally accredited personal property valuation expert with over two decades of experience across diverse industries. He has led more than 500 USPAP-compliant appraisal engagements totaling over $7 billion in appraised value. His valuation expertise spans solar and wind energy, construction, pharmaceuticals, transportation, food and beverage, and more. Michael is a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, he holds ASA accreditation in Machinery & Technical Specialties and is a Certified Equipment Appraiser. Beyond his professional work, Michael is a committed community leader, having founded the Pavo Loco Holiday Tennis Tournament, which raised over $80,000 for children’s charities.