Stefanie Potts
Stefanie P. is an accomplished accounting and business operations leader based in Westlake, Ohio, with extensive experience supporting small and growing businesses through periods of growth, complexity, and operational transition. She manages end-to-end accounting and operational functions, including accounts receivable and payable oversight, monthly close and reviews, payroll, tax planning support, cross-functional operations coordination, and onboarding of IT and systems such as VoIP, QuickBooks Online, and TMS. Stefanie leads process implementation and quality control while supporting team members on accounting and operational tasks, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and organizational alignment.
Currently, she serves as the Director of Financial Operations & Systems at Cleveland Logistics Group, where she leads financial operations, accounting, and business systems for a growing logistics organization. In this role, she oversees the integrity of financial data across core platforms, manages month-end and year-end processes, and coordinates banking and audit activities. She also plays a key role in major systems and infrastructure initiatives, including TMS selection, GL mapping, IT vendor integration, and compliance documentation, while bridging finance, operations, and systems to translate complex workflows into clean, actionable financial data.
Stefanie’s career is rooted in early exposure to entrepreneurship and operational management through her family business, which cultivated her focus on practical solutions and scalable processes. Over roughly 12 years in operational and financial leadership roles, she has worked across multiple industries, combining deep accounting expertise with strategic operational oversight. Her entrepreneurial experience includes founding an organic dog-treat LLC in 2020, scaling it into retail before pausing operations after a family bereavement. Stefanie’s professional philosophy emphasizes bringing order to chaotic operations, building sustainable processes, and prioritizing integrity—even when it is inconvenient.
• Lorain County Community College - AA Business, Business Administration and Management, General
• Lorain County Community College - AAB in Accounting
What do you attribute your success to?
My mother’s example and work ethic from growing up in a family business; perseverance and courage to step into professional roles after non-traditional seasons.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Trust what I know and what I do; don’t doubt myself; never give up.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don’t confuse a non-traditional or nonlinear path with being behind. Build intentionally, don’t give up, and believe there’s hope.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Challenges: barriers tied to formal degree requirements despite experience; accounting is often misunderstood and undervalued; pushback on documentation and compliance. Opportunities: implementing systems and processes, integrating IT and accounting platforms, and scaling operations.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity: doing what is right even when it is inconvenient.