We believe great service starts with great people. Our team is made up of professionals with diverse backgrounds, deep expertise, and a shared commitment to solving complex problems with clarity and care.

Below are the people who make Avail what it is — approachable, smart, responsive, and relentlessly helpful.

Meet
The avail Team

Dr. Chris Dussold, PhD


  • Managing Partner & Co-founder

    Chris is a Consultant, Managing Partner, and co-founder of Avail Professional Services specializing in financial and accounting integration and implementation. He is currently working with clients in need of specific solutions to company data usage and upstream decision making. His projects include work in areas such as financial modeling, budgeting, working capital management, and capital structure.

    Chris has worked in consulting for 18 years helping clients understand difficult business situations with individualized solutions and integrations. He simultaneously worked in academe doing research in such areas as IPOs, carveouts, repurchases, return on capital, market-disrupting events, and public finance. During his time as an academic, Chris served as a professor of finance, accounting, economics, and entrepreneurship. Additional roles included serving as a department chair in several areas, curriculum design, accreditation, and strategic planning with upper administration. He served four years as a faculty senate president, overseeing the educators in a multi-state university. He left the industry as a full professor of finance and accounting. He also has been a principal of several start-up companies in the financial service and agriculture industries.

    Chris is a graduate of Southern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a Master of Science degree in Financial Economics. He earned his Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Missouri.


  • Managing Partner


  • Managing Director

    Paul Bocci has over 40 years of financial management experience including 25+ years of experience in C-Suite management positions (CFO and/or CEO). These positions were in industries such as Healthcare, aircraft assembly, automotive manufacturing, and Telecommunications. He began his career in public accounting with Ernst & Young.

    Paul was most recently the CFO of Central Ozarks Medical Center (COMC), a federally qualified health center (FQHC) providing medical services to underserved populations in mid-Missouri. Prior to joining COMC he worked with medical and mental health practices on facility regulations regarding billing, facility planning, and accreditation with other agencies such as the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and The Joint Commission (TJC). Other areas of concentration include development of financial and operational metrics, Medicare & Medicaid regulations, DEA regulations and physician contracting. He has also worked as a liaison for practices with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers. Over the years, Paul has provided guidance to medical practices and testimony for attorneys regarding Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

    Paul lost his sister in 2015 due to complications arising from long-term opiate dependency. At that same time, a number of the physicians Paul had been working with had shared medical studies that showed overdose deaths dropping, in those states who legalized marijuana in some form, reduced by 25%-40% depending on the length of time the program had been in effect.

    Paul began his advocacy for the legalization of Medical Marijuana by volunteering as a board member of the Missouri Cannabis Industry Association (MCIA), and for the unsuccessful New Approach Missouri 2016 campaign. After that loss, Paul was approached by John Payne (Campaign Manager) and Dan Viets (Chairman) of the New Approach Missouri campaign committee and asked if he would be the Treasurer and board member for what ended up being a successful 2018 campaign. In addition to the Treasurer’s duties which included the filing of required MEC reports, Paul was instrumental in raising money and gaining community support from physicians and other medical professionals, and civic groups. He also gave numerous presentations to educate potential licensees at New Approach Missouri, MCIA, and MoCannTrade meetings and conferences throughout Missouri on the ramifications of 280E.

    Paul has continued his advocacy for legalization efforts by volunteering as Treasurer and board member of the Legal Missouri 2022 campaign for adult use in Missouri.


  • Executive Operations Associate

    Laney Thacker serves as Executive Operations Associate for Avail Professional Services, supporting the company’s daily operations across administrative, accounting, insurance, and business development functions. Her responsibilities include onboarding coordination, organizational systems management, client and vendor communications, workflow support, and assisting with operations across multiple departments, including Avail Risk. Known for her professionalism, organization, and relationship-focused approach, Laney is passionate about creating efficient systems while providing exceptional support to clients and internal teams.

    Prior to joining Avail, Laney spent more than ten years with the St. Louis Cardinals in Event Operations, where she supported stadium operations, employee coordination, scheduling, guest services, and administrative processes in a fast-paced professional sports environment.


  • Senior Accountant

    Philip Herwig is a Senior Accountant with over 40 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has a diverse background in the field, having started as a bank teller in high school and working his way up to various roles including branch manager, commercial lender, bank and holding company examiner, and internal auditor. He has a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy and holds several professional certifications including CPA, CISSP, CISA, and CDPSE. He has expertise in credit risk management, accounting, and information technology security and has made notable contributions to the industry as a bank regulator with a focus on information security, safety, and soundness. He enjoys the variety of perspectives and approaches in the industry and hopes to use his experience to streamline processes and procedures in the future.


  • Accounting and Tax Supervisor

    Morgan Holladay is an Accounting and Tax Supervisor at Avail Professional Services, where she primarily works on personal tax returns, alongside corporate tax filings and other accounting tasks. Since joining Avail in January 2022, Morgan has been a key contributor to the accounting and tax division, helping ensure the accuracy and efficiency of client financial records.

    With a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Accounting from Southeast Missouri State University, Morgan brings a strong academic background to her role. She specializes in personal tax returns, bank reconciliations, and proformas, offering valuable insights and attention to detail in her work.

    Morgan’s commitment to organization and her ability to tackle new challenges have allowed her to grow professionally within the firm. She is working towards completing her CPA exams to further enhance her expertise and value to Avail clients.

    What Morgan enjoys most about her work at Avail is the supportive and encouraging environment. She values the camaraderie within the team and appreciates the opportunities for continuous growth and learning.


  • Senior Accounting Analyst

    Frank Kelty is an Accounting Analyst at Avail Professional Services. A graduate of the University of Missouri–St. Louis with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting, he supports clients through transaction categorization, bank reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and tax preparation.

    Frank’s experience includes working with cannabis industry clients, where he gained expertise in managing compliance documentation. Known for his attention to detail and analytical skills, Frank is committed to delivering precise and reliable accounting solutions to help clients succeed.


  • Analyst

    Cheryl Timmermann is a businesswoman and educator who supports small businesses to help them succeed.

    Cheryl has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Lindenwood University and over 25 years of professional experience in finance, marketing, and event planning. She is also the Facilitator for the Clinton County CEO where she mentors High School Seniors in networking, communication, and life skills. Cheryl and her husband Brent own a farming and welding business in St. Rose where they reside with their two children. Cheryl understands what is like to wear many hats as a small business owner and is excited to work with Avail clients to streamline their business processes.


  • Commercial Real Estate Appraiser

    Keith D. McFarland, ASA, brings extensive experience to the field of commercial appraisal, with over three decades of expertise. He currently serves as the Managing Director of McFarland Appraisal Group, LLC. Previously, Keith held key positions at Lauer, Jersa, McFarland & Associates, TheBANK of Edwardsville, and Cushman & Wakefield. His appraisal work spans various purposes, including sale/purchase, insurance, financing, tax, condemnation, and more. Keith’s portfolio covers a wide range of property types, from malls and industrial facilities to hotels and residential complexes.

    Keith’s professional affiliations include being an Accredited Member of the American Society of Appraisers and a State of Missouri and Illinois Certified General Real Estate Appraiser. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration, specializing in finance, from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and has completed numerous appraisal courses from esteemed organizations.

    With a geographic reach that extends across the United States, Bermuda, Canada, Hawaii, and the British Virgin Islands, Keith’s expertise knows no boundaries. His wealth of knowledge and experience adds significant value to our team.


  • Senior Project Manager

    As a seasoned Managing Principal, Senior Program Manager, Senior Project Manager, Scrum Master, and PMP, with over 14 years of experience in the field, Allen K. Pratt has a proven track record of delivering complex projects and turning around struggling business units. With experience in a wide range of industries, including medical devices, food processing, automotive components remanufacturing, fabricated structural metal products, and healthcare, Mr. Pratt has demonstrated the ability to drive positive results through strategic planning and efficient execution. His expertise in project management, process improvement, and agile methodologies has led to significant improvements in productivity, quality, and financial performance for organizations ranging from small, private equity-owned firms to Fortune 500 companies. Avail Professional Services and Allen Pratt have the skills and experience to help organizations achieve their goals and drive growth.