Stellar Associates, LLC was formed in 2015 by our two founding principals, Melanie Roberts and Julie Boyer, building on a legacy that stretches back more than four decades. Our consulting firm inherited the intellectual assets, methodologies, and proven service tradition of Sterling Associates — a respected Pacific Northwest consulting firm with over 25 years of experience serving public sector clients. That heritage gave Stellar an immediate foundation of depth and credibility, and since then, we have continued to strengthen and evolve it under a new name.

From the beginning, our mission has been clear: deliver comprehensive, objective business and technical advice that meaningfully improves how our clients make decisions, operate, and succeed. We don't stand still. Our methodologies, products, and services are continuously refined through evidence-based practices, direct client feedback, and a genuine commitment to improvement.

What sets Stellar apart is not just what we do — it's where we come from.

Melanie brings decades of deep experience inside state government, having served in senior leadership and analyst roles as a member of executive management teams at several state agencies. Melanie has been a driving force in Washington State's progression toward stronger performance management practices and was personally instrumental in establishing performance management systems at multiple state agencies.

Julie brought more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning both public and private sectors, with a career defined by building high-performing teams and delivering measurable business improvements. She led major initiatives at some of the state's largest and most visible agencies, successfully aligning business and technology transformations in support of the Governor's strategic programs.

Because our founding principals spent their careers as both employees and consultants to state government, we understand the pressures, complexities, and constraints that define public sector work in ways that outside consultants simply cannot. We bring that insider perspective to every engagement, paired with the rigor and objectivity of trusted advisors.