Amir Friedman, CPA

Amir is the founder and President of NextStep Technology Advisors, focusing on developing and steering the company’s business philosophy, services, and culture, and consulting on client projects. He has over 35 years of industry experience.

Background/Experience

Amir founded NextStep Technology Advisors as a division of a large local CPA firm and managed all aspects of it for more than 20 years. In 2009, NextStep became a separate company and moved to its current location. Prior to that, Amir was a Product Manager for a New England-based software company, where he worked with large customers to define functional requirements for a new commercial application, designed the software, and oversaw its development. Earlier in his career, Amir worked as an IT Project Leader at a medical equipment manufacturing company, where he developed and supported software and conducted corporate-wide training. Amir served in the Israeli Air Force and later as Assistant Military Attaché for Research and Development at the Embassy of Israel, Washington, D.C.

For more than three decades, Amir and the NextStep team have worked with clients across many industries – manufacturing, distribution, transportation, financial, agriculture, service, not-for-profit, and others – to implement accounting and business management systems that streamline and improve operations. Amir’s extensive experience in business management software consulting includes over 30 years with Sage 100 (formerly MAS 90/200) and almost 10 years with Acumatica.

Education/Certifications

Amir holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and Information Systems Management from the University of Maryland. He is also a Certified Public Accountant, holds several Acumatica certifications, and is a graduate of Leadership Lancaster.

Steve Iwanowski

Steve provides NextStep clients with consulting, installation, training, support, and custom software design and development services. He plays a leading role in our consulting services and has over 20 years of industry experience.

Background/Experience

In addition to strategic IT planning, project management, business process improvement and ERP system implementation, Steve’s expertise includes Microsoft systems administration and scripting, network design and implementation, and database design and administration of most SQL-based servers. His reputation as an SQL expert has earned him speaking engagements at national peer-group conferences.

Before joining NextStep, Steve served as the IT Manager for Sunline Coach Company and as a Software Applications Engineer at Carel USA. Earlier in his career, he supported numerous users, servers, and workstations at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Education/Certifications

Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Elizabethtown College, and a Master’s degree in Business Intelligence from Saint Joseph’s University. He is a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), a Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), a Microsoft Small Business Specialist, a Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA), and a Certified Sage 100 Consultant, and holds several Acumatica certifications.

Rick Hartman

Rick helps NextStep clients with business process improvement initiatives, and is a key contributor to our ERP software implementation and support services. He has over 40 years of industry experience.

Background/Experience
Rick’s extensive business experience spans decades in all aspects of business operations. During the course of his career he has utilized his technical skills and problem solving approach to align technology solutions with the business needs of clients in industries such as construction, manufacturing, wholesale distribution, and application software development.

As the Vice President and General Manager of a national ERP software developer, Rick oversaw all aspects of product development, training, marketing, implementation and distribution of the company’s products. As the Chief Operations Officer of a $60 million multi-company holding group, he used technology to facilitate operational integration among the companies, streamline all aspects of business operations, and enable the managers of each company to develop comprehensive business plans and monitor results. Rick also founded an application software development company in Washington, D.C. and operated it successfully for seven years before moving back to Pennsylvania. Most recently, before joining the NextStep team, Rick provided consulting services to Sage 100 clients throughout Central PA.

Education/Certifications
Rick holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, with a minor in Finance, from the University of Maryland, and an Associate’s degree in Electronics Technology from Ryder Technical Institute, and holds several Acumatica certifications.

He has served on the board of directors of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), as a director-at-large on the national board of directors of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), as the Chairman of the CFMA IT Survey Subcommittee, and numerous other committees and task forces.

Nancy Martin

As our Business Manager, Nancy performs all financial and administrative functions. She also manages the renewal process for clients’ software maintenance and support plans. Nancy is our key point of contact for client and vendor relationships.

Background/Experience
Nancy has extensive experience in administrative work and business management, including over 20 years with a large local CPA firm. She has optimized, automated, and documented many business processes at NextStep and previous workplaces, and maximized the use of available technology. Her efficiency and standardization initiatives have had a large impact on our internal operations and have made her the go-to person in all administrative areas.