2023 Ascend Partners Year in Review
As 2023 comes to a close, Ascend Partners looks back on another remarkable year filled with success and growth. This year, Ascend experienced rapid internal expansion, welcoming 26 new employees from around the globe. Combined with our 21 hires in 2022, we are showing no signs of slowing down.
Without a doubt, our achievements have come in large part from our strong partnerships with OneStream, our clients and our incredible team. These relationships have served as a solid foundation for our success, which is why we would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to our community for their unwavering partnership, collaboration, and support.
Continued Expansion into the U.S. and Growth in Canada
In 2021, Ascend's leadership discerned a burgeoning demand for services in the United States and we zeroed in on this strategic growth opportunity. Fast-forwarding to 2023, to date we have successfully brought on board four new U.S. clients in the last year, for a total of eight clients across all regions. This achievement marks a significant milestone in our long term plans for U.S expansion.
In addition to the expansion of our roster of clients, Ascend made several pivotal strategic hires in 2023, including the creation of a new Business Development Associate role in June to support our existing Business Development Manager in the Northeast. In September, we also welcomed our second Business Development Manager to our sales team to lead the charge in the Central U.S region and central Canada, further growing our presence and reach in key markets.
In the coming year, we look to expand our sales reach in the Western U.S and Canada, so stay tuned for more details in the coming months. This dynamic growth in our Sales division is positioning Ascend very well for continued success as we navigate the exciting opportunities ahead.
As activities in the U.S. have been on a steady incline, our unwavering focus on Canada, our core stronghold, persists. In 2023, we observed a substantial uptick in both the number of new clients and the scale of projects, welcoming new clients and securing the delivery of second and third phases for existing clients who are expanding their use of OneStream products. This noteworthy growth is a testament to the dedication and hard work of the OneStream Canadian sales group and our unwavering partnership and trust in this team.
Looking forward to 2024, we anticipate maintaining our momentum with an exceptionally rapid expansion in both our client base and project sizes. We take great pride in our continued strong presence in Canada and eagerly embrace the promising opportunities that lie ahead.
Managed Service Operations
Since our inception, we have actively collaborated with clients to provide support for their existing OneStream applications, which is why Ascend responded to the escalating demand and growth within the OneStream ecosystem by officially establishing our Managed Service Operations (MSO) offering in 2022 as a distinct and standalone service. We are delighted to have seen demand for MSO continue to grow in 2023, with seven additional clients signing on to take advantage of our four tiers of service, each developed to cater to a diverse range of needs from day-to-day administration and technical support & training, to advanced application support and development.
This comprehensive approach extends beyond our existing client base to encompass legacy clients and firms where Ascend did not handle the initial implementation. Operating in a managed service capacity, we are committed to delivering tailored solutions and support across various client scenarios, further solidifying Ascend's commitment to excellence in the evolving landscape of OneStream services.
Ascend Events
Ascend at Splash DC
The OneStream Splash User Conference is always a highlight every year, however 2023 was particularly special as we had the opportunity to sponsor, exhibit, and collaborate as a speaking partner in DC. Our team was treated to an exhilarating week filled with extraordinary content, featuring two sessions hosted by our experts, a jam-packed schedule of meetings and events, and, most importantly, remarkable connections with our valued clients, potential customers, and the OneStream team.
Being our inaugural year as an exhibitor, we unveiled the Ascend booth at the expo hall during the Opening Reception which received an overwhelmingly positive response from attendees. In the following days, we conducted live demos of our SAP integration, reconnected with old acquaintances, and even awarded some prizes as part of the OneStream Quest. With over 250 leads collected at our booth over the course of three days, it is safe to declare that our first year as an exhibitor was a resounding success
Ascend Partners also proudly showcased our expertise at the Splash Conference through two engaging sessions.
The first session featured Peter Popalis, Managing Partner, and Mike Dewis, Vice President Application Delivery, to discuss Ascend Partners' award-winning Life of Mine project, which received the 2022 Power of the Platform Award. Over 50 attendees participated in this session, where they delved into the intricacies of Barrick Gold's OneStream implementation, the challenges faced, and the innovative solutions developed.
At our second session, our Managing Partner, Colin Sawford, highlighted Ascend's unique SAP integration with OneStream which was designed to modernize clients' aging SAP legacy platforms. The session also included a live demonstration by Technical Delivery Manager, Nicolas Sueldo, who showcased this integration in action, making it a comprehensive and informative session.
Ask an Ascend Pro: SAP Integration Q&A
Following the positive response received at Splash for our SAP integration session, it became evident that a deeper dive into the topic was warranted. As a result, Ascend was proud to collaborate with OneStream to host a webinar in Q3 called Ask An Ascend Pro: SAP Integration Q&A. During this webinar, our experts, Colin Sawford, Managing Partner, and Nicolas Sueldo, Technical Delivery Manager, demonstrated Ascend’s proven method to seamless integration achieved between SAP and OneStream in a unique interactive technical demonstration and open forum.
Ascend Partners at OneStream Connect
In our continued mission to advocate for OneStream and expand our presence, Ascend Partners was proud to have sponsored several OneStream Connect events in 2023, where we had the opportunity to connect with our colleagues and exchange valuable insights in three key markets: Toronto, Atlanta and New York City.
We were particularly thrilled to have been selected as a thought leadership sponsor in Toronto, where our Managing Partners, Peter Popalis and Colin Sawford, presented Barrick Gold's impressive Life-of-Mine Project. In this vibrant discussion, they delved into the achievement of complex long-term planning spanning up to 60 years, the simultaneous implementation of SAP S4 and OneStream, intricate CapEx planning, and complex allocations. They then wrapped up with a look at our proprietary drill-back technology that has added a new meaning to perfect integration between OneStream and SAP for Barrick and other complex clients.
2023 New Hires
As Ascend continued our expansion plans in both Canada and the U.S, we kept pace with this growth through continued recruitment efforts and hiring of top OneStream talent. Our strong reputation for providing a supportive and collaborative work environment, coupled with competitive salaries and bonus structure has allowed us to find and secure the best talent from around the globe. In the past year, we hired 26 new staff members and we anticipate another 25-30 new hires in 2024.
New Employees:
- 10 Technical Consultants
- 6 Functional Consultants
- 3 OneStream Certified Professional Lead Architects
- 2 Senior Project Managers
- 1 Business Development Associate
- 1 Business Development Manager
- 1 Finance Manager
- 1 Senior People & Culture Manager
- 1 IT Support Technician
Training & Certifications
Ascend Partners prioritizes ongoing OneStream training to ensure the expertise of our team members which encompass senior Chartered Professional Accountants (CPAs) and highly skilled specialists, such as OneStream architects, data integrators, and developers. Our dedication extends to keeping our team well-versed in the latest tools, techniques, and practices for delivering high-quality services in administration and implementation. In the past year, Ascend witnessed successful outcomes in our commitment to excellence including intentional moves to grow our roster of OneStream Certified Professional Lead Architects.
Now, as we venture into 2024, we're excited to continue this trajectory. Our focus remains on nurturing the proficiency of our team members, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and staying abreast of the evolving landscape in the OneStream ecosystem. We anticipate further advancements in our team's expertise and contributions throughout the upcoming year.
Completed Training in 2023:
- 10 First Project Readiness Learning Path
- 3 Configuring Core Application Security
- 6 Designing an Application
- 2 GSWO
- 2 Implementing OneStream
What’s Next?
As we step into the new year, 2024 holds strategic significance for Ascend. We remain dedicated to our commitment to the Canadian OneStream market while actively charting a course for expansion across North America. The recruitment of additional skilled professionals is part of our ongoing efforts to bolster our team, positioning us for success as we venture into new markets.
The entire Ascend team extends sincere thanks to our community for being pivotal to our growth journey. Your steadfast support and partnership have been instrumental in reaching the milestones we celebrate today and we hope you all have a joyful holiday season as well shared success in the promising year ahead.
