Officers & Management
Fred Stiftel
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Stiftel focuses on the broad strategies and relationships of Walton Management Services, Inc. (WMS). For nearly three decades Fred Stiftel has assisted clients in enhancing their company’s profitability. Prior to founding WMS in 1981, Mr. Stiftel was Vice President at a leading NYSE traded services firm, where he developed the entire Human Resource service function. Following this, he became Executive Vice President for a leading HR business outsourcing company, where he implemented programs to create profitable HR divisions. An alumnus of a Big Four firm, Mr. Stiftel provided senior consulting services to clients in the areas of personnel planning and organizational development, executive compensation planning, and workforce development. Mr. Stiftel regularly speaks to corporate leaders and their teams to discuss and implement cost reduction programs. With a B. S. in Economics and Master’s work at the City College of New York, Mr. Stiftel is an experienced instructor and motivational speaker who flourishes on addressing the challenges that impede a corporation’s profitability and growth.
Marni Frankel
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
Marni Frankel provides strategic direction, leadership and oversight for Walton Management Services operations. She oversees the company’s core services including its solutions, strategic development, information technology and internal operations in order to carry out the growth goals of the company. Ms. Frankel brings to WMS, expertise in the areas of product development, systems integration, web development, branding and policy making. Prior to joining Walton Management, Ms. Frankel was an Associate for the Worldwide Technology Business division of Booz Allen Hamilton; a Systems Consultant with enterprise software provider PeopleSoft, Inc., and a Managing Associate at Maximus, Inc., an electronic commerce technologies company. Ms. Frankel has worked extensively with private and public sector clients, national consortia and associations to assess product development opportunities, acquire new services, and select and implement technologies that improve profit. Ms. Frankel has been elected to two private sector and two public sector boards. Ms. Frankel holds a B.A. from Bryn Mawr College and a Masters in Public Policy from Georgetown University.
Dawn Vignola
Vice President of Operations
Dr. Vignola is responsible for the firm’s overall growth strategy, project performance and program deliverables, as well as resource management. Dr. Vignola works closely with Walton Management Services’ IT Division. She also drives the federal, state and local Grants practice. She brings 12 years of venture capital financing and government affairs expertise to WMS. Prior to joining WMS, Dr. Vignola had worked with the Louis Dreyfus Corporation in its Congressional and Legislative Affairs Group, and with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Private Business Liquidation, Licensing, and Operations Divisions. Dr. Vignola continues to hold an adjunct faculty position at Montgomery College in Maryland. She earned her Doctorate in Political Science and a Master’s degree in International Relations, with concentrations in economics , science technology, and public policy from The George Washington University.
Gary Smith
Vice President, Portfolio Management Services
Gary Smith holds nearly twenty years of federal, state and local tax expertise. He manages the overall administration of Walton Management Services’ State Tax and Negotiated Incentive practice. He is responsible for identifying, negotiating, securing and administering government-sponsored opportunities that help our clientele to offset the cost of business growth. From Fortune 50 to mid size and small companies, Mr. Smith has successfully assisted hundreds of Walton clients to capture a myriad of tax incentives, cash offsets and site-specific programs. Prior to joining Walton Management Services, Mr. Smith developed financial and policy matters for AT&T and the Towers Financial Management Corporation. Mr. Smith received a Bachelors of Business Administration/Marketing degree from Temple University with a Minor in Management.
Brian DeVido
Director of Sales
Brian DeVido manages the Client Services and Business Development for Walton Management Services (WMS). Mr. DeVido is also responsible for the overall supervision of the WMS Sales Force. Mr. DeVido holds over ten years experience in consultative sales. He works directly with WMS clientele in analyzing and growing their financial portfolios. Prior experience of Mr. DeVido includes the supervision of recruitment and staffing services, as well as driving the sales of Fortune 50 corporations in a variety of industry sectors including: financial services, technology and logistics. Mr. DeVido holds a Masters in Fine Arts from the University of North Carolina - Wilmington, and a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Tech. He is the author of the novel, “Every Time I Talk to Liston,” published in 2004, which received rave reviews from the New York Times Book Review.
Janet Daley
Director of State and Federal Program
Janet Daley leads the tax credit and incentive staff at WMS’s multiple locations. For over ten years, Ms. Daley has significantly contributed to the success of the firm by establishing many of the processes and procedures of both the Federal and State Tax Service Divisions. These include WOTC start-up and compliance, as well as managing the ongoing work necessary to capture the maximum credit and incentive opportunities for WMS’s clientele. Ms. Daley also oversees client portfolio requirements. Ms. Daley’s expertise combines a strong knowledge base for the WOTC Tax Credit Program, coupled with a thorough understanding of the additional Federal and State Tax Credit Programs offered throughout the United States. Prior to joining WMS, Ms. Daley held an accounting position for ten years with a private CPA firm. Additional experience includes Director of Sales for a major northeast food distributor.
Elinor Talmadge
Director of Business Development
Elinor Talmadge has over 20 years' experience working with Fortune 500 companies, as well as national and state associations on numerous business, public relations, and legislative initiatives. Her primary responsibility at Walton Management Services (WMS) is introducing prospective and new clients to the various tax credit and financial incentive programs that are available, and to Walton’s highly effective approach. She also works with allied associations to strengthen corporate federal and state tax incentive programs and related initiatives emanating from Capitol Hill.
