2017 Speakers
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Kurt Avarell, CEO / Founder, Canopy, Inc.
Working as a tax attorney at a white-shoe Wall Street law firm opened Kurt’s eyes to the inefficient processes and antiquated software solutions that tax professionals deal with every day. Today he is the founder and CEO of Canopy, a robust, cloud-based software solution ... Read more...
Tanya Baber
Tanya has been an enrolled agent since 2006 and received her bachelor's degree in Public Accounting and Business Administration from Colorado Mesa University. Tanya practices as a public accountant in the area of personal, business, and non-profit tax preparation, ...Read more...
Ray Bigley, VP Business & Corporate Development Avalara
In his current position at Avalara, Ray is responsible for Avalara’s strategic relationships with the Accounting community. He has over 25 years of management and organizational experience in technology and software organizations. Read more...
Aaron Borden
Aaron is an associate practicing in the areas of Income Tax Litigation, Estate and Gift Tax Litigation, White Collar and Government Regulatory Litigation and State Tax Planning and Litigation. He represents individuals, estates, partnerships, closely-held businesses, and large corporations in all stages of a tax dispute, ...Read more...
James C. Bourke, CPA.CITP, CFF
Jim is a Partner, Member of the Board of Directors at WithumSmith+Brown, Red Bank, New Jersey and is Director of Firm Technology. Jim has been a frequent speaker to many State CPA Societies, the AICPA and other organizations on topics specifically related to technologies. Read more...
Caleb Bullock, CPA, CGMA, Business Development Manager at Somerset CPAs
Caleb is active in the Indianapolis community as the board chair for the American Heart Association’s YP group, Young at Heart, the committee chair for the American Cancer Society’s YP group, YPACS, and is an active member in the Penrod Society..Read more...
Jean Caragher, President, Capstone Marketing
Jean is an award-winning, recognized industry expert with 30 years accounting marketing experience. Known as a knowledgeable, experienced, and tenacious marketing consultant to CPA firms, she uses a practical, relationship-based approach to help CPAs achieve marketing success. Read more...
Mike D’Avolio, CPA
Mike D’Avolio, CPA, JD, Senior Tax Analyst, has worked with ProConnect™ Lacerte® at Intuit® since 1987. He monitors legislative and regulatory activity, serves as a government liaison, ...Read more...
Yasmine El-Ramly, CPA/CITP, CGMA
Yasmine El-Ramly is a Senior Technical Manager, Global Alliances at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. She oversees women’s initiatives programs, firm services and international projects. Read more...
Damien Greathead, VP of Business Dev., Receipt Bank
Damien is the Vice President of Business Development for North America at Receipt Bank. He’s responsible for building Receipt Bank’s accounting channel in the United States and Canada. Damien works with “Top 400” accounting firms who want to build a scalable client accounting ... Read more...
John Higgins, Owner, CPA Crossings LLC
John is the co-founder of CPA Crossings, LLC, which specializes in helping accounting, tax and financial professionals to leverage technology. John serves as a strategic technology advisor to CPAs in the planning and deployment of effective technology... Read more...
Ed Kless
Ed Kless joined Sage in July of 2003 and is currently the senior director of partner development and strategy. He develops and delivers curriculum for Sage business partners on the art and practice of small business consulting including the Sage Consulting Academy, Business Strategy and Customer Experience Workshops. Read more...
Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA
Mark Koziel is Vice President – Firm Services & Global Alliances at the AICPA. He oversees the development, ongoing improvement and delivery of services to members in PCPS/Firm Practice Management as well as International relations with various CPA related groups. Read more...
Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA, CITP, CGMA
Greg is one of the most recognized and respected voices on technology within the accounting profession. He has a broad background in the field, having spent time in private practice, as an executive with a top-tier technology vendor and as an editor... Read more...
Carlos C. Lopez, EA, CEO
Carlos is the founder and President of Lopez Tax Service and founder of the Latino Tax Professionals Association. He has been active in tax preparation and representation before the IRS for over 35 years. Read more...
Sharon Lukich, CPA
Sharon has over 10 years of experience in accounting and management consulting. Prior to entering the search industry, she served as Controller for a major division of the Baylor Health Care System. Read more...
Marty McCutchen, CPA
As a CPA and a Certified Tax Coach, Marty provides proactive tax and financial planning for businesses and their owners. Being an entrepreneur like most of his clients, he understands the issues and difficulties of running a business. Read more...
Jackie Meyer, CPA
Jackie Meyer, CPA is President and Founder of Meyer Tax Consulting LLC in Southlake, Texas, specializing in tax strategy for Execs that provides a high return on investment. As a Certified Tax Coach, she offers concierge tax and accounting services to assist clients... Read more...
Jorge Olavarrieta
Jorge Olavarrieta is a Director of Product Management within Intuit’s ProConnect Group. For the past 21 years, Jorge has closely partnered with tax and accounting professionals to help develop solutions that drive efficiencies and better... Read more...
Gail Perry, CPA
Gail is the editor-in-chief of CPA Practice Advisor and the facilitator of two notable think tank groups within the accounting profession: The CPA Practice Advisor Thought Leader Symposium, and the Young Leaders Accounting Think Tank. She is a well-known speaker at national accounting conferences and the author of more than 30 books on tax...Read more...
Mitch Reno, Director of Client Experience, Rehmann
Mitch is a principal and the Director of Client Experience for Rehmann. He is based in the Naples, Florida office. He is responsible for the direction of the firm's corporate service strategy focused on driving retention, loyalty and satisfaction. Mitch also works closely with firm leadership on ... Read More...
Tomas Suros, Chief Solutions Architect, Practice Automation, AbacusNext
Tomas works at the intersection of law, IT, and strong client communication to deliver the right private cloud service options for Abacus’ new clients. Working with clients at such an integral level,... Read more...
Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP, CGMA
Amy Vetter, CPA.CITP, CGMA is the Chief Relationship Officer, Partner Channel, Xero Americas. She is accountable for developing and executing the education strategy for Xero worldwide, through Xero University (XeroU). Read more...
Garrett Wagner, CPA.CITP
As an emerging leader in the CPA landscape and an expert at understanding the new millennial generation, Garrett focuses on monitoring the evolving technologies and best practices in the industry to achieve the highest degree of success without being afraid to break free from traditional methods. Read more...
Geni Whitehouse, CPA.CITP
Geni Whitehouse divides her time between working as a winery consultant at Brotemarkle, Davis & Co in the Napa Valley and writing, speaking, and tweeting. She believes everyone has something interesting to say and wants to help them say it. She is regular speaker at CPA and Technology conferences around the country... Read more...
Diane L. Yetter, CPA, MST
Diane L. Yetter is a strategist, advisor, speaker and author in the field of sales and use tax. She is president and founder of YETTER, a sales tax consulting and tax technology firm. She is also the founder of The Sales Tax Institute, a premier think tank that offers live and online courses to educate business professionals about sales and use tax. Read more...