Leadership Team
We Lead By Example
StrategicSource’s strength is its people. As a leader in spend management and sourcing solutions, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that create a competitive advantage for all companies. StrategicSource’s leadership is a team of experienced and accomplished professionals in the industry. Our team leads us to maintain focus and commitment in delivering the highest value and services to our clients.
Chris Austin
Vice President
Biography
Chris Austin
Vice President
Role: As Vice President, Chris is responsible for leading StrategicSource’s sister company, ExpenseEdge as well as creating new sales opportunities for StrategicSource.
Biography: Chris has 16 years’ experience with StrategicSource covering multiple areas of the business including sourcing, audits, assessment services, client support, client management and sales & marketing.
Chris graduated from the University of Minnesota in Communications.
Client Exp: Developing relationships from the beginning of the client experience is vital to the success of StrategicSource’s engagements. Chris has been and is involved in the initial sales interaction, client management, and client support.
We measure success by our client’s satisfaction and have grown though referrals from our happy customers.
Interests: Faith, Family, Friends & Football. Traveling with my family and playing golf
Quote:
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do great things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might become wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need for God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given Life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers and true needs were fulfilled.
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
Douglas Austin
President/Principal
Biography
Douglas Austin
President/CEO
Role: Develop and staff the Executive Management team with high caliber talent to execute the vision and mission of StrategicSource and related businesses. Identify needs in the markets we serve and those that can be served and develop products, solutions that will satisfy those client needs. Provide the leadership and direction to the StrategicSource and ExpenseEdge teams.
Biography: Four-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Graduate of St. Thomas College with a BA in Business. Sixteen years with Northwest Airlines rising to Director of Purchasing and Director of System Stores (Warehouse & Logistics) before leaving in 1992 to begin consulting practice in spend management and purchasing. Served as Director Purchasing, Director of Logistics for Wilsons Leather Experts and Vice President of Operations for Ergotron in the 1990’s before ramping up Performance Management Group and StrategicSource into a full-time venture.
Client Exp.: Lead and direct the management team focused on re-creating the client journey and ensuring that all client guarantees, commitments and expectations are exceeded through a dedicated and talented team of employees and suite of innovative spend management solutions.
Interests: Husband of 40 years, father to three and grandfather to nine (soon to be ten). Working, traveling with my bride, riding motorcycle, reading military history and tinkering with the business model are activities I find most enjoyable.
Quote:
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
– Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Keith Deanes
Executive Vice President of Client Services
Biography
Keith Deanes
Executive Vice President Client Services
Role: Lead and develop the Client Services team in delivering an exceptional customer experience that fulfills the vision and mission of StrategicSource, Inc. Continuously identify and implement solutions and process improvements that exceed our client’s current/future service needs, drives customer loyalty and new customer acquisition. Biography: Keith is a graduate of LeMoyne Owen College with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He spent fourteen years with Lifetouch and as a Sr. Director and led sales and operations functions for Target Portrait Studios. Keith transitioned to Verified Credentials where he worked 12 years as V.P. of Client Services and lead efforts focused on optimizing the communication and workflow with clients to deliver a” remarkable” customer experience.
Client Exp.: Lead and create a team culture that focuses on improving the client experience, exceeding client profitability commitments, and by developing a team that can deliver on both external and internal customer objectives.
Interests: I’ve been married for 30 years and I’m a father of two daughters. I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and volunteering. I’m also an avid golfer, and one of my bucket list items is to play golf in all 50 states of the U.S.
Quote:
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
– Proverbs 18:15
Stephanie Fowler
CFO
Biography
Stephanie Fowler
CFO
Role: Stephanie is the CFO for StrategicSource and oversees the Finance and Human Resources departments.
Biography: Stephanie is a CPA, MBA and spent her public accounting career with KPMG on the Federal Tax side. She then moved into private industry and was the VP of Finance and Operations for a mid-size company in the Twin Cities. Stephanie came over to StrategicSource in March of 2018 and assumed CFO and HR responsibilities.
She received her undergraduate degree in Accounting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha while playing basketball on a scholarship. She also completed her MBA at the University of NE.
Client Exp.: I ensure that we service our clients incredibly well by providing a variety of payment methods, accurate invoicing, and flexibility in how we work with our clients and meet their changing business needs.
Interests: As a wife and mom to four young children, our free time is often spent at kids’ games and activities, which we absolutely love. We have an active family so we are often playing basketball, tennis or swimming. My husband and I also own a growing business which allows our kids to watch us grow as entrepreneurs and build something from the ground up.
Chris Mandery
Vice President of Client Services
Biography
Chris Mandery
Vice President of Client Services
SSI Role/Position: As Vice President of Client Services, Chris leads, coaches, and mentors his client services team to ensure clients receive an exceptional client experience by delivering customized spend management solutions that are actionable, timely, and drive cost savings. Chris is responsible for leading the overall client engagements within his team to ensure services are exceeding client expectations. Chris provides spend management consulting support, industry trends, and best practices by leveraging his comprehensive industry knowledge and experience. Chris meets with his clients on-site for face to face meetings on a quarterly or annually basis.
Professional Biography & Tenure with SSI: Chris is a results-driven executive leadership professional with 22 years of experience leading client services, operations, contract and supplier negotiations and managing high performing teams. Chris has been with StrategicSource for 5 years. Previously, Chris was Owner of Minnesota News Service for 17 years, a wholesale distributor based in MN, AZ, and CO. Chris’s expertise and solutions in the automotive industry have significantly impacted the profitability of his transportation clients and improved their processes for managing contracts and suppliers. Chris graduated from the University of North Dakota with a bachelor’s degree in Finance.
How you Contribute to the Client Experience: Chris is responsible for leading and coaching his client services team to ensure clients receive an exceptional experience. Chris is passionate about working diligently with his clients to drive new cost savings to their bottom line, resolve vender issues and save the client time. Chris leverages his expertise, entrepreneurial background, and vast industry knowledge to provide consultative support and guidance to ensure his clients maximize the benefits of our services.
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling with my family, running, golfing, playing tennis, biking, and aviation. Chris is a commercially rated pilot with instrument and multiengine ratings and a former flight instructor at UND Center for Aerospace Sciences.
Chuck Pappas
Vice President, Operations
Biography
Chuck Pappas
Vice President, Operations
Role: As the Vice President of Operations, Chuck is responsible for the Sourcing and Audit Teams and securing Certified Suppliers. His Corporate responsibilities include IT, phones, capital, supplies, furniture, remodeling, maintenance and the software operating system.
Biography: Pappas is a Veteran of the United States Marine Corps and served on active duty from 1968 – 1971.
Chuck has held a few executive positions from General Manager to CEO in a variety of industries including private country and athletic clubs, corporate fitness, aerospace parts brokerage, stadium and turf field construction, environmental/water conservation and directional marketing signage.
He joined Strategic Source in September of 2016.
Chuck graduated from Minnesota State University Mankato with a bachelor’s degree in Recreation and Parks Administration
Quote:
“In the end, everything will be fine; if it’s not, it’s not the end.”
Interests: Playing hockey, motorcycle riding, cooking, hunting and fishing
