Sarah Stakes

About Sarah Stakes

Strategic HR, Finance, and Operations Leader Driving Organizational Excellence Sarah is a strategic and accomplished business leader with more than 20 years of experience driving operational excellence across human resources, finance, payroll, and administrative functions. She is known for transforming complex organizational challenges into streamlined processes, elevating workforce performance, and delivering measurable results across fast-paced, start-up, and government contracting environments. Sarah combines a deep understanding of people, processes, and financial operations to strengthen organizational effectiveness, and foster employee engagement.Sarah currently serves as the Market Center Administrator/Director of Operations for Keller Williams, McLean, Virginia (2025 – Present), providing strategic operational, financial solutions, retention goals and initiatives, event planning, payroll, motivating agents with the Keller William methodology, and fostering relationships with real estate agents. She has helped in developing processes for accounts receivable, retention, and payment processing.Previously, Sarah has served as an Independent Consultant in Arlington, Virginia (2023 – 2025), providing strategic operational, HR, and financial solutions for small government IT contractors. She has designed and implemented end-to-end HR and payroll systems, established corporate governance frameworks, directed company formation processes including federal EINs and state registrations, and ensured operational and financial compliance across multiple departments. Earlier positions include Director of General Administration and Event Planning at ManTech Corporation, formerly 7Delta, Inc, from 2012 to 2014, Director of Finance and Personnel at 7Delta, Inc. from 2008 to 2012, Project Controller and System Security Officer at Salient Federal Solutions from 2006 to 2008, and Senior Case Manager and Probation Counselor with the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program from 2001 to 2006. Sarah earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Radford University. She is proficient in human resources systems including ADP, Paychex, Paylocity, HRIS, Command, and learning management platforms, as well as accounting software including QuickBooks Desktop and Online. She is also skilled in Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Google tools, and E-Verify. Sarah is known for her energetic and positive approach, building meaningful relationships across teams, and contributing to organizational culture.

Experience

1. Market Center Administrator Director of Operations

   Keller Williams Realty, LLC

   Nov 2025 — Present · McLean, VA, US

   Key part of the Market Center Leadership team in the role of MCA/Director of Operations. Responsible for finances, payroll, expenses, financial reporting, office operations, retention of real estate agents in the Market Center, and strategic initiatives in partnership with Team Leader and the Associate Leadership Counsel (ALC). Promoting the “Keller Williams” way of doing business by helping agents become entrepreneurs. Created accounts receivable process to reduce the overall expenses of the Market Center. Responsible for the appearance, functionality, and processes of how the office operates. Assist in retention efforts by developing and maintaining relationships with agents. Planned and organized off-site company events and initiatives. Developed course material for assisting agents with the process for commission reimbursement.

Education

• Falls Church High School

  High School

  1989 — 1992

• George Mason University

  Contracting with the Federal Government Certificate Program

  2013 — 2013

• Radford University

  Bachelor's Degree, B.S. Criminal Justice, Psychology Minor

  1992 — 1996

Skills

• Business Analysis
• Microsoft Project
• Visio
• Security
• Enterprise Architecture
• Integration
• Software Documentation
• Sdlc
• Project Management
• Sharepoint
• Program Management
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Human Resources
• Ms Project
• Pmo
• Pmp
• Leadership
• Software Project Management
• Agile Methodologies
• Requirements Analysis