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, including staffing, planning, direction and control to establish long-term and short-term plans to achieve both operating and financial goals, including budgets and forecasts to ensure effective operations and optimum profitability. Dr. Vignola provides oversight of core services including its solutions, strategic development, information technology, and internal operations in order to carry out the growth goals of the company. Dr. Vignola works with departments and divisions in the areas of product development, systems integration, and policy and procedure making; assessing acquisition and/or development of new services, alliances, and partnerships; and selecting and implementing technologies that improve profit. Dr. Vignola brings 12 years of venture capital financing and government affairs expertise to WMS. Prior to joining WMS, Dr. Vignola contracted with the U.S. Small Business Administration in the Private Business Liquidation, Licensing, and Operations Divisions as well as held operational positions in the telecommunications and congressional lobbying sectors. 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 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.
Meg Makofsky
Vice President of Revenue and Compliance
Meg Makofsky has over twenty five years experience in Federal and State tax credits and incentives at Walton Management Services, and has been instrumental in designing the reporting procedures for Walton’s Federal Tax Credit Services. Ms. Makofsky is responsible for overseeing client compliance for the federal tax incentive programs, including quarterly and fiscal year reporting. From contract signing to client billing, Ms. Makofsky oversees tracking and accounting of clients’ revenue and monitors compliance. Ms. Makofsky received a Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in Human Resources and Development, with a minor in Mathematics and Accounting.
John Polizzano
Director-State Tax Incentives
John Polizzano holds over 25 years experience in Corporate Taxation, with a focus on State and Local Tax Credits and Incentives. He is responsible for State Tax compliance for Walton clients on a national scope. Prior to joining Walton, Mr. Polizzano was Director of National Accounts for ADP's Tax Credit Service Division. Previous to that Mr. Polizzano was a Director within the National SALT practice of Mintax, Inc., a national tax credit and consulting firm.
Mr. Polizzano has also held positions at privately held diversified companies where he was responsible for all state tax compliance, as well as Federal and International Tax areas. His extensive knowledge in the area of Corporate Taxation gives him the ability to service Walton clients in all aspects of tax incentives. Mr. Polizzano holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Robert M. Bortnick, CPA, CMI
Director of Sales and Use Tax
Robert M. Bortnick, CPA, CMI is the Director of Sales and Use Tax for Walton Management Services, Inc. Mr. Bortnick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from Ramapo College of New Jersey. He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of New Jersey and is a Certified Member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation, Sales & Use Tax. Prior to joining Walton Management Services, Mr. Bortnick served twelve years as part of the ADP Tax Credit Services team and for seven years was responsible for ADP TCS's Sales & Use Tax Practice that consists of sales and use tax recoveries, incentives, audit defense, and client sales and use tax compliance training. Prior to joining ADP TCS, he was a Senior Auditor for the states of North Carolina and Florida conducting audits (sales & use and corporate income & franchise tax) of multinational companies. In addition to his auditing experience, Mr. Bortnick worked for ten years in private industry gaining knowledge of general and cost accounting and tax compliance. Mr. Bortnick is an active member of the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT), and the New Jersey Society of CPA's.
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.
