Studio501 Our Team

Mary Cleary

Studio Founder & CEO

The heart and soul of Studio501, our founder and CEO’s lifelong pursuit is to apply an entrepreneurial approach to the management of mission-driven nonprofits. “I want to make the world a better place,” Mary says, and she means every word of it. For the past two decades, she’s led an incredible team of contractors who help clients’ tell their financial stories and further the good work they’re doing. The list of nonprofits who have benefited from Mary’s leadership are extensive and can be found here. Prior to founding Studio501, Mary worked as an auditor at KPMG in their San Francisco practice and then found her home in nonprofit organizations as a director of finance for Chrysalis, a Center for Women, and as the accounting manager for the National Marrow Donor Program/Be the Match. Mary received a BA in accounting from the University of San Francisco and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas.

Outside of work, the mother of three is quick to pick up key roles for causes she cares about—serving on boards and committees for institutions like the Minnesota Conservation Corps and the Basilica of St. Mary, among others. Somehow, Mary still finds time to seek out adventure with her husband and their three kids: “I love being active outdoors—or inactive in a hammock!” she says, referencing annual trips to the Boundary Waters and a recent trip to northern Spain to hike El Camino. To stay in shape through the winter, she toughens up at a boxing gym, where the only punches she pulls are honest and to the point.

Tiffany Shermak, CPA

Director of Talent & Strategy / Contract CFO

Tiffany is a CPA accountant with over 20 years of experience, including most recently as a Senior Audit Manager where she was one of six firm leaders assisting clients to secure federal pandemic relief. She shares her wisdom and expertise with our clients and curates our group of Studio501 Accountants from their arrival through the client onboarding process and beyond as a resource and mentor. Tiffany also serves as a contract CFO on a number of Studio501 clients.

She is helping to build out the overall strategy for Studio501 through refining our infrastructure and identifying growth opportunities.

Tiffany believes our communities are strongest when those in it have their needs met. That belief, along with a life-long desire to serve others, has inspired her to develop a career focused in the nonprofit sector. Her work at Studio501 allows her to continue reaching the nonprofit sector in ways she couldn’t on her own, by providing the financial information and knowledge clients need to make the best decisions in achieving their missions.

Tiffany has given much of her time in the Minnesota education system from being a Board member for the Education Foundation of Bloomington to PTSA Council President. She also gives her time to our local food banks through VEAP.

She is a water baby. When she is not working she is up for anything to do with the water, she loves to swim, scuba dive or go boating. A good chunk of her time is spent teaching others how to swim more efficiently as she coaches swim team…good thing we have lots of indoor pools in Minnesota! She also enjoys playing volleyball or getting out on our many local trails for a hike or a run.

Stephanie Simpson

Operations Manager

Stephanie is Studio501’s Operations Manager. She graduated from the University of Maryland’s School of Business with a degree in Business and Marketing. In the past, she worked to shape the processes and workflows for a start-up Interactive Company and an Ethnographic Research Company. “I love to build and nurture things so you would think I would be a good gardener but ferns and succulents dominant my life.”

She enjoys working with and being around lots of people. She grew up the youngest of 5 outside of Washington D.C. and has lived in NYC and London. She loves being exposed to different cultures and customs of people and wishes she could bring the family culture of the pub to the U.S. She loves hanging out with her family, which is odd since she has 2 teenage daughters, and friends and cats..yes she is cat person but she only has 2, her rule is never let the number of pets outnumber the people in your household.