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OUR TEAM
ALISON COUCH
OWNER
BIO
Alison has been in public accounting for 18 years and started Ignite Accounting and Business Advisors (formerly Couch Consulting, LLC) in 2013. She completed her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Accounting at Georgia Southern University in 2004 and 2007, respectively. Her lengthy experience allows her to help clients by using an individualized holistic approach, resulting in the most beneficial decisions and strategies for each small business that her team serves. Alison is the Past President of the Augusta Lunch Leaders BNI group, past treasurer of Girls on the Run, past treasurer of Harlem United Methodist Church, past Board Member of Family Promise of Augusta, Past Urban Redevelopment Authority Commissioner for the City of Harlem, Past Treasurer of 143 Ministries, Inc. Though Alison loves to serve her clients, teammates, and community, her favorite group to spend time with is her family. Her two children and husband are her world.
EDUCATION
BBA in Accounting, Georgia Southern University , 2004
MBA in Accounting, Georgia Southern University , 2007
CREDENTIALS:
Harlem Merchants Association, President
National Federation of Independent Business, State Leadership Board Member
District 4 Columbia County Commissioner-Elect
KATIE WILLIAMS
MANAGER
BIO
Katie joined the Ignite team in 2016 as a staff accountant/receptionist. She has grown with Ignite over the years and now happily serves in her role as the Client Manager. Katie has over 10 years of experience in bookkeeping, audit, and tax accounting. Outside of work, she enjoys spending most of her free time with her husband Chris, their boy Wade, and their dog Hank. She also enjoys traveling, kayaking, watching sports, live music, and practically anything outdoors.
EDUCATION
BBA in Accounting, Augusta University, 2010
TRACEY HARDIN
MANAGER
BIO
Tracey is a Harlem native and brings 25 years of Corporate Accounting experience where she was regularly promoted, up to Controllership of two manufacturing plants. Wanting to make a difference in individual people’s lives, she made a career move to Public Accounting in 2014. She joined the Couch Consulting team in 2017 and enjoys every minute of it. In her free-time, you can find her renovating spaces, including her home, garden, and the church. She is married to her high school sweetheart, and has 2 grown children.
EDUCATION
BBA in Accounting, Augusta University, 2009
CREDENTIALS:
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Hull College of Business Accounting Award
Children's Church Director - Silver Run Baptist Church
RYAN BLAKE
MANAGER
BIO
Ryan started her accounting career as an Accounts Receivable Analyst for a property
management firm before joining the team in 2019. In her free time, Ryan loves spending time with
friends and family and helping those nearest to her.
EDUCATION
BBA in Accounting, Augusta University, 2017
CREDENTIALS
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Columbia County Young Women on the Way, 2022
Dean's List, 5 years
HOPE Scholarship, Recipient, 4 years
Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, member
Hull/Knox Scholarship, Recipient, 1 semester
JENNIFER FLANAGAN
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
BIO
Jennifer has been with Ignite since 2018. She enjoys working the front desk, answering calls and greeting clients as they come in. When she is not at the office, she is enjoying time with her family here in Harlem.
BRITTANY STAPLETON
MARKETING DIRECTOR
BIO
Brittany and her husband Ben of 14 years have three beautiful daughters, aged12, 10 & 1. They have one fur baby, a chocolate lab, named Chief.
Brittany enjoys listening to live music and traveling & vacationing to the mountains & beach. She also loves a relaxing evening on the back porch and cooking out with her family & friends.
EDUCATION
BBA, Augusta State University, 2009
CREDENTIALS:
Harlem Merchants Association, Founding Member
Small business owner for 6+ years
Harlem Pop Warner, Board Member
Harlem High School Alumni Association, Board Member
ASHLEY WEBER
BOOKKEEPER
BIO
Ashley has been married to her husband Quentin for 16 years with one son, Austin, who is 15. She spends her free time either at home on their small farm taking care of animals or traveling the country competing in archery tournaments
EDUCATION
Ashley studied multiple courses at Georgia Southern, Augusta Technical College, Georgia Military College, and Southern New Hampshire University. Over 90 hours in credits, many in Accounting, but no degree.
CREDENTIALS:
Harlem Merchants Association, Treasurer & Founding Member
Small business owner for 5+ years
Team On-Point , volunteer
Appling Archers, volunteer