ABOUT
Pinnacle Plan Writing was established in 2016 by Marisa Marconi. Born from a desire to develop the best plans for the immigration industry, Pinnacle started as a small consulting service for a handful of attorneys and regional centers. Today, we have grown into a team of seven with a collective 75 years of experience in business plan development, but we remain true to our roots as a small consultancy focused on creating custom, tailored business plans and one-on-one service and consulting for our clients and partners.
OUR TEAM
Marisa Marconi
President & Lead Consultant
I have been working in the business planning industry since 2007, and have specialized in EB-5 and non-immigrant (L-1 and E-2) visa business plans since 2012. Prior to launching Pinnacle Plan Writing, I was the senior project manager and immigration specialist at a major business plan writing firm based in Portland, Oregon. Since 2012, I have managed and developed more than 800 business plans for visa petitions, including 325 EB-5 plans for direct investment, regional center projects, and new regional center operations.
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At Pinnacle Plan Writing, I provide comprehensive, detailed, Matter of Ho compliant business plans that are informed by and reflect the most recent USCIS policy updates. I pride myself on my ability to grasp complex project structures, and to convey offering and project details thoroughly to support investor petitions.
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I approach each project with an understanding that the business plan is only one element of the overall offering and filing, and I work with other service providers (economists, securities attorneys, immigration attorneys, developers and other third party providers) in a team environment to ensure that the final business plan is consistent with other filing documentation, in order to reduce consistency issues that can result in RFEs.
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Prior to focusing on business plans for immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications, I managed almost 2,500 business plan projects for entrepreneurs seeking bank loans, angel funding, or venture capital. My portfolio includes plans for businesses spanning a multitude of industries, ranging from small businesses operating on a local level, to large, multinational ventures. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Columbia University.
William Dean
Business Development & Visa Consultant
William has worked in the business planning industry for 20 years in nearly every role, including writer, project manager, and operations. Prior to joining Pinnacle in 2023, William was was the lead visa specialist at Masterplans, a leading business planning firm. Today, William leads business development at Pinnacle, working closely with foreign nationals, industry partners, and immigration attorneys to guide, streamline, and simplify the process of developing a tailored business plan for any visa case. William has built relationships with attorneys worldwide, and now more than 300 immigration lawyers send their clients to William for guidance about this critical aspect of their candidacy.
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A former paralegal, William graduated from Brown University. When not emailing attorneys or reading RFEs, he’s almost certainly driving his daughters to their violin lessons, checking out the latest Portland brewery, or watching sports.
ML Warhus
Project Manager & EB-5 Specialist
ML’s career has spanned a variety of industries, which have had her writing for a diverse range of purposes, from product specifications and manufacturing operational procedures to grant applications, from website copy to 501c3 bylaws. Prior to joining Pinnacle Plan Writing, ML worked in the tea industry at Smith Teamaker for eight years, holding positions in planning, quality assurance and finally, as Director of Tea and Procurement. In these roles, ML helped to develop and document product specifications; create quality and operational procedures and processes and write all corresponding documentation; manage international documentation; review all labels and packaging for regulatory compliance; create internal and external educational materials; and develop website and marketing copy.
Through her continued work with People-Places-Things, an organization that provides intercultural communication services, ML has gained experience in grant writing, as well as creating business documents, educational materials and website copy.
ML holds a BA in Writing-Intensive English from Marquette University and brings an attention to detail, operational insights, well-honed research skills, and enthusiasm to her work at Pinnacle.
Paige Short
Project Manager & E-2/L-1 Specialist
Paige Short is a seasoned project manager with 18 years of experience leading complex projects across a wide range of industries, with a specific focus on immigration-related projects since 2012. At Pinnacle, Paige specializes in business plans for E-2 and L-1 cases, helping individuals and businesses navigate the complexities of these visa categories by ensuring their applications are supported by well-structured, persuasive business plans.
With a strong focus on communication and efficiency, Paige guides teams through the development of detailed business plans tailored to the unique needs of visa applicants.
In addition to her project management work Paige has a background in education and has taught English and test preparation to students of varying ages. This experience sharpened her skills in distilling complex information into a digestible form, a talent that continues to serve her in coordinating successful client relationships and team efforts.
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Paige's early career also involved editorial work, where she honed her attention to detail and developed a disciplined approach to managing content. Her academic background in English Literature laid the foundation for her success, fostering her analytical thinking and her love for language, which continue to influence her approach to leadership and project management today.
Kelly Hinkle
Financial Modeler
Kelly joined Pinnacle Plan Writing after a 17-year career as the lead financial modeler for Masterplans where she created thousands of compelling yet realistic financial models for businesses of all types. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Lehigh University, Kelly began her career as the research associate for the economist A. Gary Shilling. While working on Gary’s newsletter and books, she learned the value of clear and compelling charts and tables in telling a story.
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Later, she developed her analytic and financial modeling skills as a buy side analyst for Ramius Capital Group and Managing Director/equity analyst for McConnell, Budd, & Romano. She also was a founding partner of Lykos Capital Management, a community bank hedge fund. Kelly is also a former small business owner. For six years, she ran a subscription business focused on supporting independent artists, demonstrating her interest in entrepreneurism and the arts.
Morgan Hrejsa
Writer & Market Research Specialist
Morgan has mastered the art of narrative business plan writing. Since 2008, she has crafted business plans that engage the reader and lay out a compelling case for a client’s business. Morgan is acutely interested in market trends and adept at research. Her business plans have been shopped to investors on Wall Street and passed USCIS approval hundreds, potentially thousands, of times.
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Prior to entering the business planning world she spent five years in the publishing industry, where she edited projects ranging from nonfiction sports books to industry-leading educational materials. Morgan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she minored in Advertising. When not writing and researching at Pinnacle Plan Writing, she finds joy in taking long walks with her dog, spending quality time with her son and husband, traveling to new places, socializing with friends, reading, and listening to podcasts.