Leadership
Rob Johnson (Managing Partner)
Rob Johnson (Managing Partner) is a board-licensed Texas CPA and the President & Managing Partner of Sabre Financial Group. Highly analytical and recognized as a strategic and forward-looking thinker, Rob is also a skilled teacher and facilitator, committed to raising the financial awareness of business professionals within an organization and mediating difficult business problems to achieve a favorable outcome for all parties.
Rob has substantial experience and technical expertise in small-business finance, financial planning & analysis, budgeting, forecasting, economic modeling, cash and working capital management, risk mitigation and investment evaluations.
An alumnus of Price Waterhouse and a graduate of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, Rob has served as a strategic advisor and financial expert in both corporate and consulting capacities during his 27-year career.
Fred Ferrer (Partner)
Steve Thornton (Partner)
Steve Thornton (Partner) serves as both a coach and hands‑on implementer, embedding with leadership teams to deliver rapid, sustainable performance improvement. He is known for tackling complexity, breaking through stagnant growth, and resolving strategy, talent, and operational misalignment using the 80/20 Profitable Growth Strategic Framework, Pinnacle Operating System, Predictive Index, and Line of Sight.
Steve’s background includes executive leadership roles in manufacturing and distribution, where he led multiple operational turnarounds, generated multi‑million‑dollar revenue gains, and turned underperforming teams into high‑performing groups that delivered substantial profit growth.
He holds an MBA from Millsaps College and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from Auburn University. Committed to helping organizations achieve enduring, high‑impact results, Steve brings strategic clarity, disciplined execution, and a relentless focus on profitable growth to every engagement.
Sue Ellen Burch (COO)
Sue Ellen Burch (COO) is the Fractional COO for Sabre Financial, bringing operational discipline, structure, and strategic clarity to the firm’s growth initiatives. She partners closely with leadership to strengthen internal processes, align teams, and ensure execution keeps pace with vision. As Founder of Brydge Advisors, Sue Ellen specializes in helping firms scale sustainably by building strong operational foundations and accountability across the organization.
Brian Donnelly (SVP)
Brian Donnelly (SVP) is a results-oriented executive with expansive expertise in Finance, Operations and Business Development. He has raised millions of dollars to develop many well deserving projects.
Brian has co-founded multiple successful businesses within his 30-year career. He is acutely aware of the challenges that small business owners face daily. With Brian’s entrepreneurial focus, he can provide the necessary financial and business guidance to help companies drive better results. His goal is to make a real difference for the owner’s business.
Brian is a board licensed Texas CPA and graduate of the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting
Patrick Hanley (SVP)
Patrick Hanley (SVP) focuses on Business Development and Strategic Partnerships at Sabre Financial Group, where he partners with business owners navigating growth, transition, and complex financial decisions. He serves as the primary relationship lead and connector between clients and Sabre’s team of CFOs, capital advisors, and consultants—ensuring the right expertise is engaged at the right time. Known for building trust quickly and simplifying complex situations, Patrick helps clients move forward with clarity and confidence.
With over 35 years of experience across sales, marketing, and advisory roles, Patrick has built his career around driving growth through client acquisition and strategic relationships. He works closely with business owners to understand their goals, identify opportunities, and align them with the right resources to support expansion and long-term success. He holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Oklahoma’s Price College of Business, with a minor in Human Resources Management.
Patrick also brings firsthand transactional experience, having participated in multiple successful sell-side transactions as an owner and partner. Combined with his business development background, he helps guide conversations around growth, value creation, and transition readiness while coordinating the right advisory support behind the scenes. His relationship-driven approach makes him a trusted partner at critical inflection points.
Amr Hassan (VP)
Amr Hassan (VP) is a Financial Executive with nearly 15 years of corporate experience as an Analyst, Controller, and Chief Financial Officer. As CFO of a mid-market furniture retailer, he oversaw a doubling of revenues and substantially increased profit margins during his 7-year tenure at the company. Amr is well versed in the growing pains of small and mid-size companies and is well positioned to advise on financial reporting and analysis, capital structure, risk management, and project finance. He is particularly interested in developing for his clients data-driven strategies that produce verifiable results. Amr has a Master’s Degree in Finance from the University of Houston and a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the George Washington University. Having lived in six different states and three different countries, he brings an understanding of diverse perspectives and cultures. Amr speaks English, Urdu and Hindi.
Michael Perry (VP)
Michael Perry (VP) is an experienced executive with 16+ years in operational development, financial management, and organizational health across various sectors. His strong track record includes leading struggling operations through transformational change in diverse environments. Skilled in financial analysis and strategic planning, Michael enhances operational efficiency and effectiveness while fostering excellent stakeholder relationships and customer experiences. Committed to supporting leaders in advancing their visions, he helps align operational goals with organizational health for sustained success. A Campbell University alumnus with a BBA in Business Administration, Michael is bilingual in English and Spanish, a former PGA Golf Professional, and founder of the nonprofit Radiate Coalition.
Carl Steffens (SVP)
Carl Steffens (SVP) is a seasoned financial executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial management, capital raising and operational leadership across diverse industries. He has honed his skills through his time with such entities as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Heller Financial (subsequently GE Capital), JP Morgan Chase, and multiple venture capital and private equity institutions.
He has also led multiple entrepreneur teams and endeavors in creating value via acquisition, operational realignment, industry expansion and financial restructuring. He has proven ability to drive business growth, optimize financial performance, and lead high-performing teams. Carl is adept at navigating complex financial landscapes and transactions to deliver innovative solutions to enhance business operations and profitability. Carl has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Brown University and an MBA with dual emphasis in Finance and Accounting from Boston University.
Raúl Avila (SVP)
Brings 25 years of experience in accounting and finance with multinational publicly traded companies as well as entrepreneurial enterprises across various industries and business sectors. He is an Ivy League graduate, attaining a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College and receiving his Masters of Professional Accounting degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
He is a Texas CPA and Big 4 alumnus. Raul is a distinguished executive, transforming companies by generating dynamic gains in financial performance and operational efficiencies with data driven strategies and battle tested leadership. His expertise includes Strategic Growth Planning, M&A, GAAP/IFRS, FP&P, Treasury, Audit, Capital Raising, Corporate Compliance, Risk Management, and Systems.
Sachin Deora (SVP)
Sachin Deora (SVP) is a financial services professional with more than 15 years of accounting, auditing, and other financial experience. Sachin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from the University of Calcutta. He is a chartered accountant in India and a CPA in Texas. He has worked in corporate and consulting capacities throughout his career with Price Waterhouse, Ernst & Young, and others.