Avanco International Leadership Team
Avanco’s leadership team brings deep experience in government technology, enterprise systems, and operational execution. The team is focused on building a modern, growth-oriented organization while maintaining continuity of service for the government agencies and communities we support.
Matt Candy
President and Chief Executive Officer
Matt Candy is the President and CEO of Avanco International. He brings more than 30 years of experience leading and scaling organizations in the aerospace, defense, and government services sectors, with deep expertise in mergers and acquisitions, operational execution, and growth.
Matt Candy is the President and CEO of Avanco International. He brings more than 30 years of experience leading and scaling organizations in the Aerospace, Defense, and Government Services sectors, with deep expertise in mergers and acquisitions, post-merger integration, strategic planning, and operational execution.
Most recently, Matt served as an Executive Vice President at IntelliBridge, where he held senior leadership roles across growth, operations, and finance, and led the successful sale of the company to Agile Defense in 2025.
Prior to Avanco, Matt held senior leadership roles at General Dynamics and ManTech International, where he led growth, strategy, and operational initiatives in support of federal and state government customers. He also served for 22 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Commander, bringing a mission-focused leadership approach and deep understanding of government operations. He is also the founder of Arena Strategic Advisors, a buy-side M&A advisory firm focused on supporting growth-oriented government services companies.
Matt has a proven track record of driving growth, improving performance, and building high-performing teams in complex, regulated environments. He has been recognized by leading industry associations for his accomplishments in building strong organizational cultures and delivering sustained business growth. He is focused on strengthening Avanco’s operational foundation, expanding its capabilities, and delivering reliable, long-term value for customers and stakeholders.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.
Steve James
Chief Operating Officer
Steve James serves as Chief Operating Officer of Avanco International, where he is responsible for operational delivery, client execution, and the performance of the company’s core case management platforms and data analytics programs.
Steve James serves as Chief Operating Officer of Avanco International, where he is responsible for operational delivery, client execution, and the performance of the company’s core case management platforms and data analytics programs.
Steve brings more than 40 years of experience in information technology, with deep expertise in data systems, enterprise architecture, and large-scale application development across government and commercial environments.
He has played a central role in the design, development, and deployment of Avanco’s CAPS (Child Accounting and Profile System) platform, supporting child welfare operations across Pennsylvania. Beginning with a single county implementation, Steve led the expansion of CAPS to 58 counties over a ten-year period, establishing a strong operational foundation that now supports over 85% of counties across the Commonwealth.
Prior to Avanco, Steve held leadership roles in data analytics and decision support within financial services organizations, including serving as Director of Decision Support Systems, where he led the development of enterprise data platforms supporting actuarial, financial, claims, underwriting, and executive reporting functions, enabling improved operational visibility and executive decision-making.
Steve has deep expertise in Oracle-based technologies and enterprise data environments and has served on Oracle’s Business Intelligence Advisory Board, supporting clients in maximizing the value of their technology investments.
At Avanco, Steve is focused on ensuring reliable system performance, supporting client operations, and advancing the evolution of CAPS to support broader statewide coordination and more integrated program delivery across Pennsylvania.
Denyse Cognetta
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer
Denyse Cognetta serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Avanco International, where she is responsible for the company’s financial management, administrative operations, and organizational infrastructure.
Denyse Cognetta serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer of Avanco International, where she is responsible for the company’s financial management, administrative operations, and organizational infrastructure.
Denyse brings more than 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, with deep expertise in financial operations, GAAP compliance, budgeting and forecasting, and process improvement. She has a strong track record of building disciplined financial frameworks, improving reporting and controls, and supporting leadership teams in driving operational performance.
Prior to Avanco, Denyse served as a Chief Financial Officer and Controller supporting growth-oriented organizations, where she led budgeting, financial planning, and due diligence efforts in support of acquisitions and strategic initiatives. She has experience preparing consolidated financial statements, implementing accounting systems, and improving financial visibility to support decision-making.
Earlier in her career, Denyse held senior finance roles supporting private sector organizations, working closely with executive teams and boards to strengthen financial performance, manage risk, and support capital planning. She has also represented organizations in engagements with investors and financial institutions.
At Avanco, Denyse is focused on strengthening financial discipline, improving operational processes, and building the administrative infrastructure required to support scalable growth and more complex, integrated government programs. Her responsibilities include finance, accounting, human resources, and corporate administration.
Denyse is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and brings a structured, execution-focused approach to financial management and organizational performance.