Ellen is CEO of vcfo, launched in Austin, Texas, in 1996. A Texas native, a University of Texas graduate, and a registered Texas CPA, Ellen has called Austin home for her entire business career. Ellen started her professional journey in residential construction, with Block Watne Texas, during the turbulent Savings and Loan crisis, followed by an 8-year role as CFO of a startup Telecom company, Capital Network Systems, Inc., Ellen saw firsthand the need for experienced strategic and operational guidance leading to the creation of vcfo.
As a young first-time CFO helping her employer through a substantial expansion, an acquisition and ultimately the sale of the entire entity, Ellen often wished there was a resource to call on for advice. Drawing from that experience, Ellen addressed the problem and, alongside Tommy Deavenport, another local CFO in transition after a transaction, pioneered the concept of offering fractional CFO support.
All small and medium-sized businesses have a need at various times for the strategic support of a CFO, and/or a CHRO, but rarely can afford a full time professional in that role. It’s not just the title that is important. It’s the experience and expertise behind the title that is so crucial. vcfo aimed to provide this essential support from the beginning and continues to do so today.
After 28 years and 6,000 clients, the vcfo team continues to evolve service offerings and geographical footprint, including Houston, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Denver, to meet new industry and market needs. In recent years vcfo launched defense contracting and transaction advisory services and most recently introduced v360™ Enterprise Value Roadmap, an industry-unique framework for enhancing company value. At vcfo, the goal is always to make companies stronger through the delivery of game changing Finance and HR solutions.
Ellen was recently awarded the Vistage Lifetime Achievement Award through the 2024 Austin Member Excellence Awards program, recognizing her leadership and impact on her company, communities, and beyond, inspiring her peers. She is also a recipient of the 2024 CFO Legacy Award from the Austin Business Journal, which recognizes the impact she has had on financial professionals across the region and beyond - specifically for her pioneering the concept of the fractional CFO. A past Profiles in Power winner Ellen also received the Silver Beaver award for her work as a Board member and Treasurer of the Capital Area Boy Scouts Council.
An active member of the community, Ellen has been engaged in many roles over the years ranging from chairing the board of University Federal Credit Union (UFCU), and the Austin Chamber of Commerce, serving as Austin and State President of TeXchange, and a long tenure as Treasurer for Entrepreneur’s Foundation. Currently she serves as a Board member of Opportunity Austin, on the Audit Committee for UFCU, a member of Austin Area Research Organization (AARO), a member of the Texas Business Leadership Council, and in an advisory role to E3 Alliance.
Giving back is a core value to Ellen and to vcfo and memorialized in the vcfogives® program. Annually, vcfo contributes more than $100,000 to a variety of initiatives important to our staff and our communities.
