Speakers
Ash Ahluwalia, M.B.A., NSSA, CFP: Ash is the head of Social Security planning at OneTeam Financial. With nearly thirty years of experience, he is one of the nation’s foremost experts on Social Security and oversees the development of Social Security claiming strategies to maximize retirement income benefits. Ash is the former president and founder of National Social Security Partners, LLC (NSSP). He has two certifications in Social Security planning: National Social Security AdvisorSM and Certified in Social Security Claiming Strategies (CSSCS). Ash was recognized with the “National Social Security Advisor of the Year” award in 2016 from the National Social Security Association. He obtained his Chartered Accounting degree (a Canadian CPA.) and Certified Financial PlannerTM designation. He then went on to obtain an MBA from Wharton Business School. Ash has been published in numerous newspapers and magazines.
Ronald J. Baker, CPA: Ron started his CPA career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute — the leading think tank dedicated to educating professionals internationally — and a radio talk-show host on the Voice America show: The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy. In addition, Ron has been an instructor with the California CPA Education Foundation since 1995 and has authored over twenty courses for them. He is also the author of seven best-selling books and has been named on Accounting Today’s 2001 to 2007, and 2011 to 2021, Top 100 Most Influential People in the profession; voted among the Top Ten Most Influential People in the profession in 2012—2021; selected as one of LinkedIn’s Influencers; inducted into the CPA Practice Advisor Hall of Fame in 2018; and received the 2003 Award for Instructor Excellence from the California CPA Education Foundation. In addition, he is a faculty member of the Professional Pricing Society.
Sandra Bodin-Lerner, MA: Sandra is a communication coach and principal at Be Compelling! LLC. She has been training groups and individuals to craft and deliver their messages for over 20 years. Her clients range from multinational corporations to sole-proprietors. Sandra enables people to organize and communicate their ideas, and to connect with others with confidence and credibility. Her training is distinctive in that she understands that listening competency enables speaking effectiveness. Her clients utilize listening skill development to become compelling communicators. She is on the Board of Directors of the International Listening Association. She has been an adjunct professor at Kean University for 20+ years, where she was the first adjunct to be awarded the prestigious President’s Quality First Initiative Grant to provide teacher in-service training. In 2015, she launched Kean's first listening course, which she also teaches at Montclair State University. In 2018, Sandra received the Outstanding Educator award from the International Listening Association.
Frank R. Boutillette, CPA, CGMA, ABV: Frank is an emeritus partner of WithumSmith+Brown, PC (Withum) with over 35 years of accounting and auditing experience. He is a licensed CPA in New York and New Jersey and has significant experience working with SEC registrants, small and large private entities in various industries, including hedge funds, private equity funds and finance companies. Frank is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and was a former member of the AICPA Peer Review Board. He is a past president of the NJCPA and currently chairs its Peer Review Executive Committee. Frank is a frequent lecturer on accounting and auditing and is a co-author of three accounting books.
Alexander K. Buchholz, CPA, M.B.A., CGMA: Alex is an audit partner in the Not-for-Profit and Health Care practices of PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP. He has eighteen years of experience in public accounting. His areas of specialty include audits of not-for-profit entities, health care entities and special needs clients, cost reporting as applicable to health care and not-for-profit entities, and single audits conducted in accordance with the Uniform Grant Guidance. Alex is also an adjunct professor of accounting at the City University of New York. He serves on a number of professional and academic affiliations and is a board member of the New York State Education Department State Board for Public Accountancy. He has authored articles on accounting, audit, tax and education and he has presented on both a professional and academic level.
G. Scott Clemons, CFA: Scott joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1990, and has held a variety of investment roles at the firm over the past 34 years. His career began in international equities, where he was an analyst and portfolio manager of European and Asian equities, working out of the firm’s New York and London offices. He since broadened his responsibilities into domestic equity management and research, and managed the New York office of the firm’s Private Wealth Management business. In 2010 he was appointed Chief Investment Strategist, and is today one of the firm’s primary writers and speakers on topics related to the economy, financial markets and investing. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute. Scott serves on the boards of the Morgan Library and the Grolier Club in New York City, as well as the board of the Research Corporation for Science and the Journal of the History of Ideas.
Zachary B. Cohen, CPA: Zack is a senior manager at CFGI, providing technical accounting and advisory services for both public and private companies for the firm’s New York City office. His 10 years of experience spans the retail, consumer products, software, insurance and oil and gas industries. Zack also has experience in internal audit and risk management, which includes business-wide risk assessments, controls testing (including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance) and root cause analysis. Prior to joining CFGI, Zack worked in internal audit for a global insurance company for seven years. He is an alumni of Deloitte’s audit practice. Zack is a member of the NJCPA and the chair of the Emerging Leaders Council. He is also a member of the NJCPA’s Student Loan Debt Task Force. Zack was recognized by NJBIZ in 2021 as part of their “Next Generation of Leaders,” and was awarded the NJCPA Emerging Leaders Ovation Award in 2019 and 2020.
Melissa A. Dardani, CPA, MAcc, CFE: Melissa is the founder and managing member of MD Advisory, a boutique forensic firm. She has an extensive background in forensic accounting, data analytics, and cash flow analyses, as well as in diagnosing and remediating business problems. Melissa is a member of several NJCPA interest groups, including the Cannabis Interest Group, the Student Loan Debt Task Force and the Emerging Leaders Council.
Marc C. Demetriou, CLU, ChFC, CDLP: Marc is a senior vice president of Mortgage Lending and a branch manager at Guaranteed Rate. He is currently licensed in all 50 states successfully serving his clients in residential mortgages and reverse mortgages. Marc consistently ranks in the top 1 percent of mortgage originators in the U.S., according to leading industry sources, such as Origination News, Mortgage Executive and Scotsman Guide. In his home state of New Jersey, Marc has been featured in NJBIZ's "40 Under 40," and is called upon frequently by the real estate, finance, accounting and legal communities as a trusted expert and speaker. Profoundly inspired by his grandfather's hard work and success as an immigrant coming from Cyprus, Marc has authored an award-winning book, Lessons From My Grandfather: Wisdom For Success in Business and Life.
Brigid D'Souza, CPA, M.B.A.: Brigid is an assistant professor of Accountancy and Business Law and a CPA advisor at the Frank J. Guarini School of Business at Saint Peter’s University. She specializes in quantitative modeling, database design and management, and process automation for tax compliance and tax planning purposes. Brigid is a former Jesuit Volunteer who currently has a fiscal literacy platform at CivicParent.org which offers content about public finance, including property taxes, municipal budgets and public school funding. She is a member of the NJCPA and can be reached at bdsouza@saintpeters.edu.
Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA.CITP, CGMA, CIA, CISA: Kimberly is the founder and chief executive officer at KET Solutions LLC. She has held positions at Oracle as an executive director, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Motorola and KPMG, and served as the chief information technology officer for Prince George’s County in Maryland. From 2016 to 2018, Kimberly served as the 104th chairman of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), where she received numerous awards and recognition. Notably, she was the youngest person, fifth woman, and first person of color to serve as chairman in the AICPA’s 130-year history. Kimberly was the second chairman for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She has been recognized by Accounting Today as one of the “Top People in Public Accounting 2018” and by CPA Practice Advisor as one of the “2018 Most Powerful Women in Accounting.” She is a volunteer leader in the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority community service organization and she most recently served as president of a local chapter where she led initiatives for St. Jude, March for Babies, the National Alliance for Mental Illness and Operation Welcome Home Maryland.
Paul Epperlein: Paul is a division vice president of Sales at ADP Major Accounts in the NorthEast. With over 20 years of experience at ADP, Paul has held numerous roles in Sales, Sales Learning, Sales Operations, Channel Partnerships and Sales Leadership. He is passionate about guiding and consulting middle market organizations and their trusted advisors in all areas of human resources, people technologies, compliance, integrations, benefits and data/analytics.
Melisa F. Galasso, CPA, CSP, CPTD, CGMA: Melisa is the founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with nearly 20 years of accounting experience, Melisa designs and facilitates CPE courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting. She supports essential professional development, audit level training and train the trainer efforts. Melisa is a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. She serves on the Financial Accounting Standards Board's (FASB) Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), American Institute of CPAs' (AICPA) Council, and the Virginia Society of CPAs' (VSCPA) Board of Directors. She was on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC) and is a past chair of the North Carolina Association of CPAs' (NCACPA) A&A committee. Melisa authors the AICPA’s State and Local Government Guide and is an SME for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She was a 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient and a CPA Practice Advisor “40 under 40” in 2017, 2018 and 2019. She was a 2019 Rising Star by her regional National Association of Women Business Owners' (NAWBO) chapter and won the Don Farmer Award for technical content instruction.
Richard H. Greenberg, Esq.: Richard is an owner at Greenberg & Schulman, attorneys at law who specialize in estate planning, estate administration, tax and corporate law. A Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Richard is a past chair of the Taxation Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association and a Legislative Coordinator and former chair of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section, a member and former chair of the Corporate Tax Committee and a member of the Estate and Inheritance Tax and Partnership Tax Committees. He is a member and former president of the Tri-County Estate Planning Council and the Essex County Bar Association Tax Committee; a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Tax, Trusts and Probate Committees; and the Tax Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association. Named as one of New Jersey’s Top 100 Lawyers, Richard is a frequent lecturer and author on numerous estate planning and estate administration topics.
Michael Gregory, ASA, CVA: Mike is a mediation and negotiation specialist that applies his knowledge, experience and relationships to help clients with valuation and other disputes with the IRS and others. After a 28-year career with the IRS working at all levels, partnering with the CFO on the reorganization of the IRS with its $10.5 billion budget at the time, and heading up business valuation nationally his last 11 years at the IRS, Mike has leveraged this experience in the private sector with his firm Michael Gregory Consulting. He has run an organization with 1,200 employees in his career and completed over 2,500 mediations, negotiations and facilitations. As a result of his collaborative approach, clients have saved hundreds of millions of dollars. He has given over 600 CPA society presentations in the U.S. and Canada based on 12 books and over 50 articles he has written. Mike also serves on the Minnesota State Bar Association Alternative Dispute Resolution Section Board, and has served as the chair of the National Association of Certified Valuers and Analysts (NACVA) Ethics and Oversight Board, the NACVA Standards Board and the American Society of Appraisers Business Valuation Committee.
Glenn A. Henkel, CPA, J.D., LL.M.: Glenn is a shareholder of Kulzer & DiPadova, PA, specializing in complex estate planning; tax-exempt organizations; and probate, trust and estate law. He is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court and is a member of the Bars of the State of New Jersey and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Glenn is the author of publications for the New Jersey Institute for Continuing Legal Education. In 2009, he was awarded the Alfred C. Clapp Award for Excellence in Continuing Legal Education from the NJICLE. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; past chair of the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section; and an officer of the Taxation Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association and the Camden County Bar Association. He was a trustee and co-chair of the Probate and Trust Committee of the Camden County Bar Association. He is a past president of the Trust Counselors Network and of the Estate and Financial Planning Council of Southern New Jersey. He is a member of the NJCPA, a past president of its Southwest Chapter, and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He was named one of the 100 Top Super Lawyers in New Jersey and Best Lawyers in America.
John H. Higgins, CPA.CITP: John is the founder and CEO of Higgins Advisory, LLC, which helps CPAs, CFOs and other financial professionals successfully guide their firms and business organizations through a digital transformation that leverages the power of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, data analytics, workflow automation and more. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, having been the founder of two separate accounting technology advisory firms that were acquired by larger organizations, such as the co-founder of CPA Crossings, LLC, a national provider of CPA technology advisory and educational services, and a founder of Computools, Inc. a provider of financial and ERP solutions for small and mid-size businesses. In addition, he has experience with a local CPA firm and as a technology advisory practice leader partner in a national CPA firm. John shares his expertise as a nationally recognized thought leader, strategic advisor, and speaker on accounting technology through coaching and speaking engagements.
Meghan Hinck: Meghan is a division vice president of Sales at ADP and vice president of its diverse market integration of the International Women's Inclusion Network (iWIN), which supports and encourages the career mobility of women through mentorship, development and networking. She is a collaborative sales professional with 16 years of experience and a team builder who will integrate and align key stakeholders in pursuit of business development objectives.
Aiysha Johnson, MA, IOM: Aiysha (AJ) is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. She previously was the executive director of BKR International’s Americas Region where she was responsible for overseeing the implementation of all strategic efforts for BKR accounting and business advisory member firms in the United States, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. She has more than 20 years of wide-ranging global experience working for nonprofits and professional and trade associations. AJ has proven success in building and supporting high-trust organizational cultures, growing revenue and programs, and building strategic partnerships. She was elected to the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in 2023. She is a member of BKR’s Center of Excellence Advisory Board. She is also on the boards of the Community Foundation of New Jersey and the Executive Women of New Jersey. In addition, she is a board member of the Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth, a nonprofit child welfare organization in Canaan, New York. She has been an active member of the University of Chicago’s Alumni Board from 2021-2023. She was named No. 1 on NJBIZ’s Accounting Power 50 list in 2023 and one of its 2023 People to Watch in Finance. She was also named one of ROI-NJ’s ROI Influencers: People of Color 2023.
Michael S. Kaplan, CPA: Michael is a member of the firm at Smolin, Lupin & Co and is responsible for quality control of the firm's Audit and Accounting practice. As a licensed CPA in New Jersey and New York, he assists clients with their annual audit requirements in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, life sciences, construction, real estate, broadcasting, retail, restaurants, apparel, publishing, software, technology and professional services. He has practiced public accounting for more than 25 years and also served private clients, assisting with audits of employee benefit plans, including 401ks, 403bs, 11Ks, and health and welfare benefit plans. He has been a speaker on employee benefit plans and had presented on national webcasts, at seminars and at continuing professional education (CPE) courses. In addition, he has written articles on various employee benefit plan topics. Michael is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the NJCPA.
Jeffrey Kaszerman: Jeff is the vice president of government relations for the NJCPA. He works with the CEO and the Board of Trustees to create and implement advocacy initiatives that protect and promote the interests of the CPA profession, the business community and the public. Jeff monitors legislative and executive branch activity that impacts CPAs by writing position papers, developing grass roots membership activities to enhance lobbying efforts and raising money for the NJ-CPA-PAC. He is also a liaison to other pro-business groups like the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) to coordinate legislative strategies. Prior to joining the NJCPA, Jeff worked on several political campaigns, worked for former Governor Jim Florio and for Common Cause New York. He previously owned a lobbying and public affairs firm. Jeff belongs to Compassion and Choices, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Ryan E. Levin, CPA: Ryan is the team leader in Withum’s Fitness and Wellness Services, with over 10 years of experience in both public and private accounting. He manages teams and engagements for clients ranging from small privately-held entities to international public corporations. Ryan has a wide range of experience in serving the consumer products industry, including food and beverage, retail and wholesale/distribution services and even manufacturing, distribution and logistics companies. He is also familiar with single and multi-employer-defined benefit and defined contribution employee benefit plans, including profit sharing, 401(k), welfare and annuity plans.
Jay L. Levine, CPA: Jay is a partner at Prager Metis, a member of Prager Metis International Group. He has over 30 years of experience in the accounting profession, servicing family businesses and manufacturing, advertising, public relations and wholesale and distribution clients with accounting, audit, and advisory services. Jay has particular expertise in all matters related to mergers and acquisitions, such as financial due diligence and budgeting for businesses. He helps provide his clients with peace of mind, often acting as a sounding board or confidant, and ensures that they achieve their goals, financial and otherwise. Jay is a noted presenter. Prior to joining Prager Metis, he was a member of LFL Veritas LLC. Jay is a member of the NJCPA and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA).
Matthew Luhn: After a stellar 20+ year career at Disney/Pixar with the likes of The Simpsons, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Finding Nemo, Cars Up and Ratatouille, Matthew turned his focus to helping the corporate world. He leveraged the art and science of storytelling for business success, authoring The Best Story Wins and consulting to companies such as Charles Schwab and Adidas. A top speaker on storytelling, creativity and innovation, Matthew has delighted a range of Fortune 1000 audiences including Apple, Capital One, Clorox, Facebook, Gartner, Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Procter & Gamble, Sony, Target and Vrbo. His keynotes and workshops have been featured at BNY Mellon, BMW, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Family Museum, Lego, Prudential Insurance, Salesforce, Volkswagen, Wells Fargo and many more.
Jerry Maginnis, CPA: Jerry serves as an independent director and the chair of the Audit Committee for the Cohen & Steers Mutual Fund Complex. He is also a board member and Chairs the Audit Committee of inTEST Corporation (INTT; NYSE), a publicly traded technology company. Jerry also serves as the senior advisor for strategy and growth to the CEO and leadership team of Centri Consulting LLC, a professional services firm which specializes in providing financial reporting, internal controls, valuation, technical accounting research and CFO advisory services to clients in a variety of industries. Jerry is also an executive in residence at Rowan University, supporting the accounting program and coaching and mentoring students as they transition from academia to the business world. Previously, Jerry spent 36 years with KPMG where he was an audit partner serving a variety of clients and specializing in emerging growth companies. He led KPMG’s audit practice in Pennsylvania for five years and served as the firm’s Philadelphia Office Managing Partner for the last eight years of his career. He is a member of the NJCPA and serves on its Strategic Planning Committee. He is the author of Advice for a Successful Career in the Accounting Profession: How to Make Your Assets Greatly Exceed Your Liabilities.
Evelyn A. McDowell, CPA, CGMA, Ph.D.: Evelyn is an associate professor and chair of the Accounting Department at Rider University. After extensive experience in public accounting, she joined Rider University in 2005. A CPA since 1987, she teaches primarily U.S. taxation. She played a role in establishing the CPA Apprenticeship Program at Rider University. This innovative program is designed for accounting professionals seeking to complete their 30 additional credits to qualify for the CPA licensure. Her commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within the professional community has been recognized with the prestigious NJCPA Ovation Award in 2019. She is also a member of the New Jersey Society of CPAs, the American Institute of CPAs, and the American Accounting Association.
Thomas W. Metelski, CPA, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP: Thomas is a man of many facets. As an executive coach, he has 20 years of experience working with top tier global companies in the telecommunications, chemical, medical device and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries. He has worked to facilitate change at the top level of global corporations, working with clients in North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Central Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia. Thomas is also a comedian, improviser, actor and writer. He studied acting in the William Esper Studio’s Two Year Meisner Training Program, completed the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch and improv programs, and was accepted into the advanced improv training curriculum there. He has also performed stand-up comedy at various top tier New York City comedy club showcases.
Don Meyer, CAE: Don is the chief marketing officer of the NJCPA, responsible for setting the vision, strategy and direction for the organization’s marketing, communications and membership campaigns and for driving the success of a deep and broad swath of organizational initiatives. Functional areas of accountability include digital assets (web, social media, email), content and news distribution (including the organization’s flagship publication, New Jersey CPA), membership, media relations, public relations, next generation recruitment, executive communications and internal communications. He also oversees graphic design, market research, and advocacy and legislative communications. Don came to the NJCPA from the Craft & Hobby Association, where he was director of marketing and public relations.
Matthew J. Mojica, CPA: Matthew is a Staff II Accountant at WithumSmith+Brown. He is in his second year in public accounting, specializing in accounting and auditing services. Matt has worked with 990s and is proficient in documentation and assessment of internal controls and risk assessment. He graduated with a B.S. in Accounting from Stockton University.
Brad E. Muniz, CPA: Brad is an assurance principal at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP). He has significant experience in financial reporting, tax compliance and planning for closely held businesses, SEC registrants, nonprofit organizations and strategic business planning, and in industries, such as real estate, construction, architectural and engineering, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Brad is a member of the AICPA and the NJCPA, and was a former NJCPA president. In addition, Brad has served as an adjunct professor of accounting at William Paterson University and the College of Saint Elizabeth.
Kai Pfiester: Kai is the founder of Protexity, a NJ-based cybersecurity firm specializing in helping organizations identify vulnerabilities, mitigate risk and resolve threats. As an industry veteran who has been tinkering with technology since 1985, Kai has helped secure countless businesses from security threats. He holds numerous certifications under the auspices of Offensive Security, EC-Council, CompTIA, Sektor7 and BreakDev. In addition, he's presented for the Philadelphia Bar Association, Philadelphia Bar Institute, the New Jersey chapter of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, New Jersey Association of Public Accountants, NJHIMMS, and many more. Kai is currently a cybersecurity columnist for the New Jersey Law Journal. He previously has written content for New Jersey Business Magazine, American Land Title Association, and Bankrate.com. Kai has also been accepted as an expert witness for cybersecurity by the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas in Lancaster County, PA.
Deborah A. Phillips, CPA, MST: Debbie operates her own tax controversy practice, specializing in partnership and S corporation tax law as well as IRS audits and procedures. She has been successful petitioning and resolving tax issues under the jurisdiction of the United States Tax Court. She is proficient in Section 199A provisions and computations as well as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. She prepares all types of tax returns and utilizes her forensic accounting skills for potential IRS criminal prosecution. Having spent more than 32 years at the IRS, Debbie retired from its Large Business and International Division, where she was a senior manager in the Flow-Through Issue Practice Group, which specialized in S corporation and partnership tax. She was the operations and technical assistant to the Deputy Commissioner International; the technical assistant to the Director of PFTG; a territory manager in the retail, food and pharmaceuticals industries; a team manager in the heavy manufacturing industry; and the IRC Section 263A Technical Advisor. Debbie taught accounting and taxation as an adjunct at Delaware State University, Wilmington College and Goldey-Beacom College. She has been a seminar presenter for over 24 years and a textbook author. She regularly receives the Surgent Outstanding Discussion Leader Award.
Terrence E Putney: Terry has more than 44 years of experience in the CPA profession. He is a co-founder of Whitman Transition Advisors and has been providing consulting to CPA firms since 2004. He previously served as a managing director for Mergers & Acquisitions for RSM McGladrey (now RSM US), the country’s fifth-largest accounting firm and held several executive posts with its then corporate parent, H&R Block. At RSM McGladrey, he structured and negotiated several dozen deals resulting in the acquisition of accounting and consulting firms ranging in size from sole proprietors to multi-state firms with hundreds of staff and professionals. Prior to joining RSM McGladrey, he served as a managing partner of Donnelly Meiners Jordan Kline, a 60-person CPA firm in Kansas City. Terry is a member of the CPA Consultants’ Alliance and a member of the Kansas University Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Council. He is a frequent speaker and author to the accounting profession. He has been named to Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 12 years in a row.
Stacie Sherman: Stacie is a senior editor at Bloomberg News. She has worked at Bloomberg for 27 years, holding roles including reporter, editor, Trenton bureau chief and deputy managing editor. In her current role, she helps direct and feature coverage of the day's biggest stories in each region on multiple platforms, including Bloomberg's Top news pages. She has more than 30 years of experience in editing, storytelling and journalism, with a focus on business and finance topics. Stacie also teaches business journalism at her alma mater, the College of New Jersey.
Philip Sookram, CPA, MAcc: Philip C. Sookram, CPA, MAcc, is a professor at Saint Peter’s University (Jersey City, New Jersey). He is a tenure-track Accounting professor with broad-based experience in performing audits of financial statements and preparing tax returns for public accounting firms, specifically in the real estate development, renewable energy, and non-for-profit industries. He was the recipient of a 2020 NJCPA Ovation Award in the Emerging Leader category in recognition of exemplary efforts and stellar achievement in advancing New Jersey’s Accounting profession.
Professor Sookram received his B.B.A. from the University of Miami in 2012 (major in accounting, minor in finance), and his MAcc in Financial Accounting from Rutgers Business School – New Brunswick and Newark in 2017. He is a licensed CPA in the State of New York since 2016.
Heather Sperduto: Heather is vice president of Sales Operations for the ADP Accountant Channel. With a career spanning two decades, Heather steadily progressed through the global human resources and payroll company, moving from district sales manager and corporate sales trainer to her current position. Throughout her career with ADP, she has leveraged her expertise in roles that take advantage of her competencies in sales, human resources, benefits administration, talent management and talent acquisition. This encompasses internal associate and leader engagement to drive results, as well as well as a high level of interaction with the accountant community. Heather is sought after nationwide to lead speaking engagements such as interactive workshops to foster attendees’ personal and professional development. She has coached thousands of professionals on improving selling and overall communications skills. She is also a board member of the Hope for Children Foundation.
Sean D. Stein Smith, CPA, CFE, CGMA, CMA, DBA: Sean is an expert and sought-after speaker, focusing on the intersection of financial services, blockchain and cryptocurrencies. He is a regular contributor to IBM’s Blockchain Unleashed website, analyzing applications for blockchain technology on business at large, as well as being a regular expert guest on China Global TV Network discussing blockchain and related applications. Sean is a member of the Advisory Board for the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, which coordinates with the AICPA in developing standards and reporting frameworks in this emerging area. Sean continuously works with, and consults for, the AICPA and several professional training organizations in the creation and delivery of blockchain and cryptocurrency related content. He is currently under contract to publish two books focusing on blockchain applications for financial services and other industry sectors. Sean is the host of the NJCPA TechTalk Podcast, a past leader of the NJCPA Emerging Technologies Interest Group and a member of the NJCPA Board of Trustees. He is a professor at the City University of New York - Lehman College.
Rachel Ann Suntag, CPA: Rachel is an audit & assurance manager at Deloitte, primarily specializing in the energy and chemicals industry. She has more than seven years of audit experience at Deloitte serving large public and private clients in audit and advisory roles. Rachel has coordinated audit and related work for significant transactions including multi-million dollar acquisitions, complex financings and has developed control frameworks for pre-IPO clients. She was appointed to the Emerging Leaders Council by the NJCPA and enjoys mentoring as part of the Pay it Forward program.
June M. Toth, CPA, CFF, CITP, CGMA: June is a principal at WilkinGuttenplan and is the president-elect of the NJCPA for the 2024/25 term. She has been a member of the NJCPA since 1995 and has served in a variety of capacities, including the Peer Review Executive Committee, Strategic Planning Committee and Volunteer Relations Committee, and was chair of the NJ-CPA-PAC Board of Trustees, chair of the Committee Operations Committee and vice leader of the Business Valuation, Forensic & Litigation Services Interest Group. She is also an active participant in the Accounting & Auditing Standards and Nonprofit interest groups. Before WilkinGuttenplan, June was the managing member of zbt Certified Public Accounting & Consulting, LLC. She is a former treasurer of Garwood Municipal Library; a recipient of NJCPA’s Volunteer Award in 2018 and its Women to Watch Award in 2019; one of New Jersey Monthly’s Leading Women in 2015 and one of NJBIZ Accounting Power 50 from 2020 to 2022.
Kaitlin N. Vinch, CPA, MST: Kaitlin has both public and private accounting experience. She works at Johnson & Johnson as a senior tax analyst, working primarily on tax reporting and compliance for the North America Pharmaceutical sector, including US and Canada. She previously worked in public accounting at WithumSmith+Brown, working up to a Senior Tax Accountant, before transitioning to private accounting. She is also the founder and owner of Vinch Accounting Services (V.A.S.), which aims to assist the local community and businesses with tax services and consulting. She specializes in the real estate and pharmaceutical industry, while having proficient knowledge of a large array of tax topics. Kaitlin is an active member in both the AICPA as well as the NJCPA, holding a position on the NJCPA Emerging Leaders Council, as well as the local Middlesex Regional Chamber of Commerce Emerging Professionals Council.
Edward K. Zollars, CPA: Ed is a partner with the firm of Thomas, Zollars & Lynch, Ltd, in Phoenix, Arizona, and specializes in tax issues for closely held businesses and individuals. He has served on committees with the American Institute of CPAs' (AICPA) Tax Section and currently serves on the Arizona Society of CPAs' (ASCPA) legislative tax liaison committee. Ed has published tax podcasts on tax matters and is currently producing the weekly audio and video for the Current Federal Tax Developments podcast on current tax matters for Kaplan Financial Education and the related blog with regular tax updates throughout the week. Along with writing, editing and presenting courses for the past 15 years, Ed has written articles published in Practical Tax Strategies and The Tax Adviser. He is a frequent contributor to a number of online professional tax discussion groups, including the NJCPA Member Open Forum.