%20(37).png)
Pinnacle provides accounting, finance, and IT consulting support nationwide. Through our internal consulting teams and our membership in the American Association of Finance & Accounting (AAFA), a national network spanning more than 40 metropolitan areas, we deliver experienced consultants wherever our clients need support. This combination allows us to scale quickly while maintaining the high level of expertise and service Pinnacle is known for across all markets.
Companies across the country are turning to accounting, finance, and IT consultants to keep work moving during busy periods, special projects, and times of change. Pinnacle supports consulting needs nationwide through our internal teams and our AAFA network, allowing us to bring in the right expertise quickly, no matter the location.
Project-based and interim consultants ready to step in during critical transitions or workload peaks.
Technical consultants who can lead system integrations, support ERP transitions, or provide interim project management.
Our consultants brings real-world experience across accounting, finance, and IT. These are professionals who know how to step into an environment, understand the work, and make an immediate impact. We support clients nationwide with a practical, hands-on approach focused on getting results.
Colin Powell
CEO
As CEO, Colin Powell is proud to lead a team of amazing executive recruiters that helps companies find the best CFOs in Pittsburgh.
For over 20 years, he has carefully cultivated a network of Pittsburgh’s most influential businesses and finance leaders, ensuring ample support for any CFO search.
After serving as a Big 4 audit manager as well as in the corporate accounting sphere, Colin founded Pinnacle to guide organizations and recruit the most experienced financial leaders. Over the years, he has hand-selected a team of the state’s finest recruiters, building a culture of relationship-based recruiting and a company that matches his vision of trust and honesty.
Colin prides himself on building and leading a quality local firm that provides organizations access to Pittsburgh's top CFOs and C-Suite professionals, and his dedication and unparalleled level of care are ever-apparent.
Business Development
Business Development
Alec Borlin
Market Director - Cleveland
Alec joins Pinnacle as a Market Director, responsible for establishing and growing the Pinnacle brand as it expands into new markets.
With over six years of experience helping financial leaders achieve their goals, Alec is a trusted resource for providing interim solutions to critical needs within companies' financial teams.
As an active CPA license holder and former public accountant turned multi-award-winning executive recruiter, Alec brings a unique blend of financial expertise and talent acquisition skills to his role.
Prior to joining Pinnacle, Alec led BGC Search and began his recruiting career with a Global Fortune 500 staffing firm.
His public accounting foundation, combined with hands-on experience in the recruiting world, allows him to understand his clients' needs precisely and provide immediate solutions and recommendations. Alec prioritizes transparency, a sense of urgency, and problem-solving in his approach to helping companies achieve their goals.
Outside the office, Alec is an avid gym-goer, golfer, skier, and snowmobiler who enjoys outdoor activities with friends and family.
Business Development
Nicole Beichner
Associate Director of Business Development
Nicole Beichner has built a thriving career at Pinnacle Consulting & Recruitment, making a meaningful impact on every client she supports. As Pinnacle’s Manager of Business Development and Client Services, she brings joyful passion, an outgoing personality, and unwavering dedication to her work.
In her role, Nicole cultivates strong client relationships, uncovers new job opportunities, and represents Pinnacle throughout the region’s networking community. Her involvement in multiple professional groups has helped her build the connections that drive her day-to-day success.
Staying true to herself is at the core of Nicole’s approach, and she credits her achievements to the support she receives both inside and outside the office. She also gives back to the community through her volunteer work with The Pittsburgh Rainbow Kitchen.
Nicole continues to focus on what she does best: building authentic connections, understanding goals, and delivering real solutions that help people and organizations move forward.
Outside the office, Nicole enjoys quality time with her friends and family (especially her nieces and nephews), traveling, and unwinding with a great glass of wine.
Consulting
Consulting
Preston Saxton
Director of Client Services
As Pinnacle’s Director of Client Services for Consulting, Preston is proud to lead Pittsburgh’s premier finance and accounting consulting practice. With nearly a decade of experience helping clients fill their interim needs, Preston’s philosophy revolves around crafting a safer model for clients, ensuring that the consultants Pinnacle places with them are not merely a temporary fix but a reliable stopgap solution. Pinnacle does this under Preston’s leadership by nurturing a stable of long term, talented consultants, motivating them with competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, ensuring that they remain committed and engaged.
Preston began his career at Deloitte after earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Robert Morris University. During his four-year tenure at Deloitte, he specialized in tax consulting, focusing on partnerships, trusts, individual tax returns, and tax provisions for both private and public companies. He then transitioned into corporate accounting for the Bayer Corporation, quickly acquiring a comprehensive understanding of Bayer's accounting functions through collaboration with various internal teams. Preston’s Big 4 and in-house experiences ensure he has the technical expertise to thoroughly understand his clients’ needs, ensuring alignment and satisfaction.
Consulting
Jo Anna Crago
Market Development & Recruiting Director
Jo Anna is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of John Carroll University, where she earned her degree in Accounting and a minor in French. She spent the first decade of her career with Deloitte’s Pittsburgh office, providing audit and tax services to middle-market clients as well as global Fortune 500 companies. During that time, she also completed her Master’s in Taxation at Duquesne University and became a Certified Public Accountant.
In 2005, Jo Anna shifted her career focus to the human side of Accounting and Finance. Since then, she’s helped hundreds of accounting professionals advance their careers. As our Market Development and Recruitment Director, she partners closely with her colleagues to attract and hire top consulting talent and to support Pinnacle’s growth across multiple markets.
Outside of work, Jo Anna stays busy with her husband and three children. They enjoy traveling, building Legos, and working on jigsaw puzzles together. When she eventually retires, she hopes to spend her time volunteering, solving cold cases and cuddling premature babies in the NICU.
Consulting
Shannon Savol Kocur
Manager of Recruitment
With nearly a decade of experience in recruitment, Shannon brings a wealth of expertise in pairing clients and top-tier consultants to fulfill interim hiring needs as Manager of Recruitment & Client Services. Working with accounting and finance consultants, she specializes in delivering tailored solutions to meet clients' urgent staffing needs.
Originally graduating from Allegheny College with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Shannon began her career in veterinary medicine. However, driven by her passion for helping others, she transitioned into the field of recruitment as an alternative means to make a meaningful impact.
Transparency is an integral part to Shannon's approach, fostering trust and collaboration between clients and consultants. As a result, she is known for providing exceptional support and service, ensuring successful outcomes for all parties involved and making sure their needs are met with the utmost professionalism and efficiency.
Outside of work, Shannon and her husband enjoy life on their hobby farm with their two dogs and horses.
Consulting
Kristi MacKenzie
Manager of Recruitment
Kristi brings over 15 years of experience in management consulting, with a background spanning talent acquisition, sales, and project management. She’s worked across industries including automotive, manufacturing, private equity, and finance, serving as a trusted advisor to both clients and consulting professionals. Her focus has always been on building strong partnerships and aligning talent with client needs.
Before joining Pinnacle, Kristi was part of a global consulting firm, where she was responsible for Talent Management and Acquisition with a focus across the Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and DC markets. She also played an active role in mentoring within the firm’s internal program. Earlier in her career, Kristi held progressive roles in accounting and finance, first at a Michigan-based CPA firm and later with a Tier 1 automotive supplier. She is a certified PMP and Six Sigma Black Belt.
A graduate of Oakland University, Kristi is based in Southeast Michigan. When not at work, she loves cycling (road/gravel, mountain, and fat tire in the snow,) hiking and traveling with her husband and dog. Also, Kristi is a certified scuba diver (preferring warm tropical waters over the cold Great Lakes).
Consulting
Tyler Barnot
Senior Recruiter
Tyler Barnot is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in Accounting recruiting, specializing in placing consultants within the Pittsburgh area. With a commitment to providing clients with top-notch staffing solutions, Tyler excels in matching talent with temporary, consulting and permanent job opportunities.
Tyler began his career managing a personal training program following his graduation from Westminster College, PA, where he earned a Bachelor's Degree in Marketing. Building upon this foundation, he furthered his education by obtaining a Master's of Business Administration, equipping him with a robust skill set for navigating the dynamic world of recruitment and staffing.
In his role at Pinnacle, Tyler leverages his expertise to capture and connect the best talent in and around Pittsburgh, ensuring that clients receive tailored solutions that meet their specific needs. Beyond his professional endeavors, Tyler is engaged in his community and coaches travel baseball for the Beaver Valley Baseball Organization.
With his industry knowledge, academic credentials, and commitment to this community, Tyler Barnot is a trusted partner for clients seeking exceptional staffing solutions and individuals striving to advance their careers in accounting and finance.
Permanent Hire
Paul Bishop
National Director, IT Practice
With 20+ years of experience leading cross-functional teams in Technology and Accounting/Finance recruitment, Paul has helped organizations from startups to Fortune 100 companies bring the highest level of talent to their teams. He is a proud Eastern Michigan University graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration and is excited to bring his expertise to Pinnacle.
He believes the most important skills he brings to this role are passion and empathy. He is passionate about connecting talented individuals with the right opportunities and understands what consultants are looking for in the job market. He loves helping people and businesses come together to solve problems, knowing that each transaction is unique.
Outside of work, he enjoys a good social gathering, especially when golf is involved. He spends a lot of time supporting his children’s activities and loves vacationing in warm-weather destinations. He is also a dedicated supporter of the Red Cross and the American Cancer Society and has a Goldendoodle named Leo who is a big part of his life.
John Minzinga
Manager of Recruitment
John earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing and, like many in the industry, found his way into recruiting and quickly developed a passion for it. He thrives on building strong relationships with highly skilled technical professionals and partnering with clients to bridge talent gaps and enable teams. With deep expertise in sourcing and recruiting, he brings a strategic and results-driven approach to talent acquisition. At Pinnacle, he looks forward to being a part of the team and looks forward to contributing his skills, learning from his colleagues, and helping drive success.
Outside of work, he has been married for a year to his wife, Makenzie, who is also a recruiter. They have two dogs, Amigo and Kenny, and a cat, Señor. When he is not working, he can be found on their boat, tending to his vegetable garden, cooking, and taking their dogs for long walks.
.avif)
Shannon Ream
Manager of Business Development
Shannon started her career at one of the largest staffing firms in the U.S. right after graduating, stepping into the role of an IT recruiter. It was an incredible learning experience that allowed her to develop strong relationship-building and problem-solving skills from the start. After just nine months, she was promoted to an IT account manager, a pivotal moment in her career where she took on greater responsibility in managing client accounts and driving sales. During this time, she honed her expertise in both staffing and sales, laying a solid foundation for her future in the industry.
She brings a deep understanding of market trends, a passion for building strong client relationships, and a collaborative approach to working with cross-functional teams. Her knowledge of IT trends, positive energy, and ability to connect with people have been key to her success.
Outside of work, she enjoys staying active, whether it's working out, traveling, playing volleyball, or taking walks with her dog, Ollie.
Explore tools, insights, and guides built for accounting, finance, and IT professionals. These resources are designed to help you stay informed, plan ahead, and navigate today’s evolving market.
Each resource connects you with a local Pinnacle contact who can provide guidance on compensation, consulting availability, and market insights.
If you are dealing with a critical project or need extra support, we are here to help. Let’s connect to talk through your needs and determine the right consulting solution.
Not sure where to begin? Visit our FAQ page to get quick answers on our process.
