MEGA 2025

Adriana Yepes, FASB Supervising Project Manager, Financial Accounting Standards Board

Adriana Yepes, CPA, is a supervising project manager at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).  Since joining the FASB in 2014, Adriana has played a key role in several projects, including projects on the definition of business, the equity method of accounting, the derecognition of nonfinancial assets, and the scope of derivatives accounting.

Adriana brings deep and wide-ranging experience in financial reporting and complex transactions.  Prior to joining the FASB, Adriana was a director in PwC’s Transaction Services practice, which advises clients on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and other corporate finance transactions.  She specialized in helping clients navigate complex financial reporting issues, with a focus on areas such as consolidations, business combinations, joint ventures and variable interest entities.

Earlier in her career, Adriana spent three years as a Vice-President in the Accounting Policy Group of an investment bank and prior to that in the audit practice of another Big 4 CPA firm, serving medium to large public clients across the technology, energy and health care industries. 

Adriana holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and master’s degree from the University of Miami.  She is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida.

Adrienne Robertson, ERISA Counsel, Robertson Retirement Law LLC

Adrienne L. Robertson is an ERISA counsel and owns Robertson Retirement Law, LLC. She has more than 35 years of industry experience and is based in Denver. Her expertise is in ERISA and the tax laws governing qualified plans, including fiduciary concerns; operational compliance; plan design strategy; merger, acquisition, and controlled group issues; and recordkeeping and administrative considerations. She received her law degree from Widener University School of Law and worked as an attorney at Sherman & Howard LLC in Denver, and at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP (now Faegre Drinker) in Philadelphia. Prior to that, she was in-house counsel at the Vanguard Group. Ms. Robertson is a credentialed member of the American Society of Pension Professionals and Actuaries (ASPPA), holding the Certified Pension Consultant and Qualified Pension Administrator designations. She is an at-large member of ASPPA’s Government Affairs Committee, was previously a member of the ASPPA Education and Examination Committee, and she is active in her local chapter of the Western Pension & Benefits Council (WPBC), having previously served on the WPBC Board. She has authored numerous articles for 401(k) Advisor, and frequently presents for clients, advisors, and industry groups.

Amanda Ribeiro, Senior Manager, Florida Indirect Tax, KPMG LLP

Amanda is a tax professional in KPMG’s state and local tax group, specifically focused on indirect tax. She serves as a technical resource for her expertise in Florida sales tax and administrative procedure.

Amanda has over a decade of state indirect tax experience, including extensive work in the consulting and state tax controversy space. Prior to joining KPMG, Amanda was with a boutique law firm that focused exclusively on Florida state and local tax. Her work ran the gamut from white collar criminal defense to sales and use tax audit defense and litigation. Throughout her career she has served numerous clients ranging from the Fortune 500 to the middle market and has strong experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, retail, transportation, hospitality and healthcare. Amanda is based out of Fort Lauderdale and serves clients throughout the state with technical Florida tax issues.

Annie Rix, Director, Informal Dispute Resolution, Florida Department of Revenue

Ann is the Director of Informal Dispute Resolution within the Florida Department of Revenue with over 30 years of agency experience. She has held various positions over the years that have included auditing a variety of tax issues before joining Technical Assistance and Dispute Resolution (formerly known as TADR) as a tax conferee.  As a tax conferee, Ann reviewed and responded to taxpayers’ informal protests of proposed audit assessments, refund denials, and collection billings issued by the Department. In TADR, Ann began her career in management supervising a tax unit conducting informal protest reviews and promoted to Deputy Director of TADR.  Her current position as Director of Informal Dispute Resolution followed a restructure of TADR to create a more efficient system for taxpayers seeking technical guidance from those seeking to exercise their informal protest rights. 

Ann earned a Bachelor of Science degree in political science and accounting from Florida State University. She is a licensed Florida Certified Public Accountant.

Charles Kelly, Revenue Program Administrator I, Florida Department of Revenue

Charles Kelly has been with the Florida Department of Revenue since 1985. He currently serves as the Administrator of Compliance Standards for General Tax Administration. In this role, Charles oversees the Department’s Voluntary Disclosure Program, the Reemployment Tax Protest Section, and manages the initial delivery of Notices of Proposed Assessments.
Charles began his career with the Department in Tallahassee as a Revenue Examiner in Review and Math Audit. He went on to serve as both a Collection Specialist and Accountant in Central Collections. After relocating to the Clearwater/Largo area, he took on roles as a Collection and Enforcement Specialist in Field Operations and a Tax Auditor in Field Audit. He later returned to Tallahassee to become a Tax Law Specialist in the Voluntary Disclosure Program.
As an avid Florida State University Seminoles fan, Charles holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from FSU. Outside of work, he enjoys running, swimming, photography and spending quality time with his one-year-old grandson, Tobias.

Coral Lykkebak, Audit Manager, WithumSmith+Brown, PC

Coral Lykkebak is an Audit Manager with over a decade of expertise in employee benefit plan audits. She has lead audits of Defined Contribution Plans, Defined Benefit Plans, Employer Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs), Multiple Employer Plans, Multi-Employer Plans, Government Pensions, and Health and Welfare Plans.

Cory Van Arnum, Manager, State and Local Indirect Tax, KPMG LLP

Cory is a tax professional in KPMG’s state and local tax group, specifically focused in indirect tax.  Practicing since 2018, he assists private and public companies with a wide range of indirect tax consulting and controversy needs.  His experience spans across the construction, ecommerce, healthcare, manufacturing, power and utilities, technology, and telecommunications industries.  Cory is a frequent speaker and author for KPMG on state and local indirect tax issues

David McGuire, Co-Founder, McGuire Sponsel

David McGuire is a leading expert on cost segregation, fixed assets and depreciation law and a co-founder of McGuire Sponsel. He has reviewed real estate portfolios ranging in size from six-figure acquisition costs to billions of dollars in value and has provided cost segregation services for companies in a wide variety of industries.

While serving in consulting and management roles with Big Four accounting firms, he acquired a thorough understanding of the Internal Revenue Code’s depreciation provisions. He has also shared his expertise in depreciation techniques and practices through speaking engagements and workshops for industry groups and accounting firms, including the American Bar Association and multiple CPA Real Estate groups.

McGuire continues to grow McGuire Sponsel’s national presence in cost segregation and depreciation. He is the primary resource for alliance firms in regards to how tax law affects depreciation. His knowledge in determining asset costs and classifications has held up against IRS scrutiny and has built the firm into a trusted industry resource. McGuire’s expertise in depreciation extends beyond the engineering portion of a study. He is often called on to consult in other areas including bonus depreciation and the effects of depreciation on complex transactions, such as Step Up in Basis, Section 108, and Passive Loss Limitations.

McGuire is a recognized expert in areas such as 179D and Alternative Energy Tax Credit Consulting.

McGuire earned a degree in civil engineering from the University of Notre Dame with a concentration in structural design.

Dominic Vitucci, Founder and CEO, SPRX Technologies, Inc.

Meet Dominic Vitucci, the visionary mind behind SPRX. Dominic, with degrees in both accounting and computer science, began his career on Grant Thornton’s Tax Innovation team and shared ambitious visions for cutting-edge technologies with other firm experts.

In August 2020, inspired by these encounters, he made the bold decision to leave Grant Thornton and devote himself full-time to building a truly innovative R&D credit technology.

Erin Daiber, Founder, Well Balanced Accountants

Erin Daiber is a relatable and results-oriented CPA turned coach, speaker & change agent in the accounting profession.  She is the founder of Well Balanced Accountants LLC and is known for her fresh approach and tailored solutions designed to uniquely suit your team of accountants.

Well Balanced Accountants started after she went from a high-performing accountant to a burned-out, now-recovering CPA.  Erin specializes in working with CPA firms to create a culture where accountants love to work, addressing key challenges such as engaging top talent, building an internal leadership pipeline, scaling growth, and planning for succession. 

She believes that leading in today’s environment requires a new level of leadership, creativity, and a willingness to break free from the status quo.  As a speaker, she shows accountants & bookkeepers how to develop the skills they need to transform themselves and their organizations so that they can spend more time on what matters most.

Gary Moll, Forensic and Valuations Services Director, Fiske

Gary A. Moll, MBA/CPA/ASA, is the Forensic and Valuations Services Director at Fiske, a Springline company. He brings more than 20 years' experience as a CPA with a lengthy testimony and deposition history. Gary provides accounting and litigation support services, assisting attorneys and clients with detailed analyses of company accounting records and various related supporting documentation including bank statements, operating agreements, loan documentation, and industry research. He also focuses his practice on family law cases.

As with Fiske, extensive litigation support team of professionals, he operates as a financial expert helping clients prepare for and testifying on their behalf in depositions and trials.

Before joining Fiske, Moll was partner at Ferguson-Moll Consulting, LLC where he provided business valuation and forensic accounting expertise to clients and their attorneys.

He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Maryland and a Master of Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Moll is an Accredited Senior Appraiser of the American Society of Appraisers (ASA) with a Business Valuation designation and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

Gerald Donnini II, Shareholder, Moffa, Sutton & Donnini, P.A.

Gerald “Jerry” Donnini II is a Shareholder of the Law Offices of Moffa, Sutton, & Donnini, PA. Mr. Donnini concentrates in the area of Florida and Federal tax matters, with a heavy emphasis on the tobacco, convenience store and petroleum industries. He also handles a myriad of multi-state state and local tax issues. Mr. Donnini is a co-author for CCH’s Expert Treatise Library: State Sales and Use Tax.

James Sutton Jr, Partner, Moffa, Sutton & Donnini, PA

James Sutton is both a CPA and Attorney whose specialty is Florida sales and use taxes. As a shareholder in the firm Moffa, Sutton, & Donnini, PA, Mr. Sutton’s firm handles cases from audit through appellate litigation, collections, criminal defense, and consulting. Mr. Sutton is a long standing member of the FICPA and the former chairman of the state tax committee for the FICPA. You can reach him at JamesSutton@FloridaSalesTax.com or 813-775-2131.

Jason Harrell, Chief External Affairs Officer, Florida Institute of CPAs

Jason Harrell is the FICPA Chief External Affairs Officer responsible for leading all aspects of the Institute’s public policy, advocacy, governmental affairs and regulatory affairs. He serves as the liaison to the DBPR and Board of Accountancy and is responsible for all advocacy-related external communications and campaigns to increase the value of the CPA license. Jason brings numerous years of experience to this role, previously serving as director of government relations for Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Association and budget and communications director for the Clerks of Court Operations Corporation, serving in key roles under two Speakers in the Florida House, and serving in the Executive Office of the Governor in the Office of Policy and Budget and Chief Inspector General’s Office.

Jeffrey Bernstein, Director Incident Response, Data Forensics and Special Projects, Kaufman, Rossin & Co, PA

Jeffrey Bernstein is a director in Kaufman Rossin’s Risk Advisory Services practice. His focus includes security crisis planning and response, cybersecurity strategy, governance, compliance, training, and intelligence. Jeff is a member of the Kaufman Rossin Financial Investigations Team steering committee. In Jeff’s role he leads digital forensic and open-source intelligence investigations, many of which relate to ransomware, wire fraud/business email compromise and insider/human resources matters.

Jeff has extensive experience providing cybersecurity response, governance, risk and compliance services for private clients and family offices, as well as businesses in regulated industries, including financial institutions, investment firms, healthcare organizations and law firms. He has over 20 years of experience advising clients on the security and compliance of their networks, applications, systems, people, property and information. 

Prior to joining Kaufman Rossin, he was the managing director of cybersecurity advisory services and strategy at an independent public accounting and advisory services firm based in New York City. Jeff also founded Critical Defence, a security solutions firm that was recognized by a leading industry analyst as Best of Class in 2019.

Jeff is a recognized thought leader who has contributed to industry guidance, authored articles, written white papers, and been quoted by TV and print media. He is a contributor to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SP 800-46 Rev. 3: Guide to Enterprise Telework Security and NIST SP1800-1: Security Electronic Health Records on Mobile Devices. His articles have been featured in Scotsman Guide, USA Today/Gannett publications, The Straits Times, and other outlets. He regularly presents at conferences and has lectured master’s studies classes at New York University.

Jeff has been an Advisory Board Member of the USF Muma College of Business Cybersecurity Education program and an Advisory Board member of the Ithaca College Cybersecurity Studies program. He is also an affiliate of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).

He studied Computer Science and Business at Northeastern University and the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Jeremy Wortman, Owner, Business Psychology, HRD Initiatives LLC

With a strong passion for and a commitment to the positive development of individuals and organizations, Jeremy Wortman is the Owner of HRD Initiatives, which specializes in leadership development, organizational development and talent management solutions. In this capacity, he works with client partners’ executive teams in determining talent management strategies, building organizational culture and leadership talent, implementing solutions and coaching individual leaders. 

Jeremy has more than twenty-two years of experience in organization and leadership development with a significant and meaningful amount of his time, early in his career, at TD Ameritrade where he was the Director of Organizational Effectiveness and their Corporate Psychologist. There, he was responsible for enterprise-wide talent management initiatives where he partnered with senior executives across the organization to determine business unit and department-level talent management strategies and solutions that drove their performance goals. He was also responsible for building their leadership development programs and coaching executives. He has extensive knowledge of organizational psychology and has had great success in developing strategies and programs that build better individuals and organizations using a strengths-based approach. 

Jeremy has also focused his expertise within the accounting profession since 2004. He is a frequent speaker at various Regional, National and International conferences on the topics of Ethical Decision-Making, Leadership Development and Talent Management. As a consultant to the profession his clients include a range of small firms to the top ten largest in the United States, many of whom are found on the Accounting Today’s Best Firms to Work for list. 

Jeremy attended the University of Nebraska where he earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Organizational Development as well as a Masters in Business Administration. He holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Human Resources. Jeremy is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Academy of Management. He is also active in his local community as the former President of the Young Alumni Board for the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska, where he was also an adjunct professor from 1999 to 2016.

Jessica Battaglia, HR Services Area Manager, Paychex

Jessica is an accomplished HR Services Area Manager with over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, manufacturing, and consultative sectors. Her extensive background in human resources is complemented by her certifications as a SHRM-CP and PHR professional.
Jessica’s strengths lie in Training, Employee Relations, and Organizational Development. She is passionate about developing teams to reach their full potential, fostering both organizational growth and individual development.
Outside of her professional life, Jessica enjoys going to the beach, traveling, and indulging in the magical world of Harry Potter.
Jessica’s dedication to her field and commitment to continuous improvement underscore her professional excellence

Jordan Goodman, Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Jordan is a partner in HMB’s State and Local Tax (SALT) Group and focuses his practice on resolving complex SALT controversies for Fortune 1000 corporations and wealthy families, nationwide.

Jordan represents operationally complex companies in manufacturing, retail, financial services, e-commerce, broadcasting and telecommunications. As an attorney and CPA with decades of experience, Jordan has successfully resolved tax controversies in nearly every state and has counseled clients on the full range of tax issues and organizational structures affecting their businesses. He also represents numerous clients in multistate unclaimed property litigation and advises on a wide range of compliance issues.

Clients seek Jordan’s help on a full range of tax issues including corporate income, sales and use, franchise, local licenses, gross receipts, business and occupation, single business, capital stock and unclaimed property matters. He regularly advises on nexus, apportionment, business income, unitary business groups and residency, credits, losses, exemptions and the tax base.

Jordan represents clients in all facets of unclaimed property issues - from audit notifications and audit defense to protecting sensitive information and resolving legal challenges. Further, Jordan regularly partners with businesses to establish compliance through the voluntary disclosure process and strategic planning.

A sought-after lecturer and author on multi state tax issues, controversies and planning, Jordan is very active in the SALT community as a frequent staple to many major SALT institutions’ conferences and publications.

Katherine Davis, Higher Education & Collegiate Athletics Practice Leader, James Moore & Co, PL

Katie Davis, CPA, is a Partner at James Moore and leads the firm’s Higher Education, Collegiate Athletics, and NIL Advisory practices. For over 20 years, she has worked closely with universities across the country, providing a range of accounting and consulting services. Most recently, she has helped institutions navigate the financial and operational shifts brought on by name, image and likeness (NIL), athlete revenue sharing, and evolving NCAA guidance.
Katie is nationally recognized as a thought leader and advocate for the financial voices within college athletics. She’s passionate about the growing opportunity for CPAs to serve as trusted advisors, including directly to student-athletes as they explore new financial territory.
A proud University of Florida alum, Katie holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting.

Kathleen Downs, VP Senior Recruiting Manager, Robert Half

Kathleen Downs is a Senior Vice President for the Finance and Accounting permanent placement group of Robert Half in Orlando Florida.  She started with RHI in 2000.  Prior to this, she was CEO of a recreation/retail/education organization in Bonn, Germany.  Kathleen received her undergraduate degree from University of Maryland and her MBA from Boston University.  She has over 30 years of experience internationally that spans from finance through operations.  Kathleen was the 2000 worldwide Rookie of the year for Robert Half and has consistently been a worldwide top producer for Robert Half since then.  As a corporate spokesperson, she is routinely featured in the WSJ and other business publications.  Kathleen has been a board member for UCP of Central Florida for 17 years and is on the board of the Legal Aid Society of Orange County Bar Association and sits on the board for the Investor Relations Committee of the Orlando Economic Partnership.  Kathleen is a Volunteer Advocate for Children through Orange County's Guardian ad Litem program and serves foster children who are abused, neglected and abandoned.

Keith Jones, TheCPATaxProblemSolver, Keith L. Jones, CPA

Keith L. Jones, CPA—nationally recognized as TheCPATaxProblemSolver™—is an IRS Tax Resolution Expert with over 20 years of experience helping individuals and businesses resolve complex federal and state tax issues. His Florida-based firm, Keith Jones, CPA, specializes in audit defense, Offer in Compromise evaluations, and Florida Department of Revenue disputes, including aircraft sales and use tax compliance.

Keith is a frequent presenter on IRS collections, Florida tax controversies, and aviation-related tax traps, drawing on deep expertise in multi-state tax planning and representation. Known for his sharp, ethical, and solution-focused style, he turns complex tax codes into actionable advice. His insights have helped clients mitigate six- and seven-figure liabilities across the aviation, real estate, and small business sectors.

As a proud FICPA member, Keith blends technical precision with practical strategies, making him a sought-after speaker for CPAs looking to expand their advisory services and protect clients from hidden risks.

Ken Hargreaves, President, WealthGen Advisors

Ken is the founder of WealthGen Advisors, a fee-only fiduciary wealth management firm based in Sarasota, Florida. With over 17 years of experience in the financial industry, he brings institutional-level insight to individual clients. Before launching WealthGen, Ken served as a director at a Florida-based RIA and then later Vice President at The Capital Group, a $2 trillion global investment firm in New York City.
Ken is a frequent speaker on financial planning and retirement strategies and has served on the board of the New York City Financial Planning Association. He is a proud member of the Investments & Wealth Institute (IWI), the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and NAPFA.
Ken holds a Master of Science in Personal Financial Planning from the College for Financial Planning and a B.S. in Finance from Florida State University. He has completed the Certified Investment Management Analyst® program at Yale School of Management and holds the CFP®, AIF®, AWMA®, and CRPC® designations.
He’s passionate about demystifying wealth building and helping clients create a financial life they love—with less jargon and more clarity.

Kevin Herzberg, RealAdvice

Kevin is Grant Thornton’s National Indirect Tax Leader. He has over 29 years of broad-based state tax experience including abandoned and unclaimed property and multi-state tax planning, Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 review, ASC 740 tax accounting, mergers and acquisitions, ruling requests, tax controversy and tax compliance. Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Kevin’s experience at large international accounting firms has included serving as the tax practice leader, managing director and Florida state tax practice leader, serving as a resource for any technical Florida-based issue. Kevin also previously served as the statewide sales tax and property tax leader. Kevin has deep technical nationwide sales and use tax and Florida property tax experience. 

While at Grant Thornton, Kevin previously served as the Partner in Charge of the Tampa office, was the Central Florida Tax Practice Leader and a Federal Tax Partner. 

Kevin has served numerous clients ranging from the Fortune 500 to the middle market and has strong experience in the manufacturing, distribution, retail, transportation, hospitality and healthcare industry arenas.

Lauren Jones, Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs, Florida Institute of CPAs

Lauren Henderson is the FICPA’s Deputy Director of Governmental Affairs supporting the execution of its strategic advocacy goals. She works to promote and advance FICPA’s legislative priorities and strengthen its relationship with legislators and their staff. In addition to her work at the Capitol, she generates timely legislation and political communications aspects, supports the development of the CPA/PAC, and enhances the FICPA’s connections with key stakeholders and state agencies. Previously she was a Senior Legislative Director for the political consulting firm Cynergy Consulting, LLC, for more than 10 years, worked on political campaigns for high-profile candidates, and was named one of Florida Politics 30-under-30 list of rising stars. 

Laurie Lee, President & Business Attorney, The Legal Department for Service Professionals, PA

Laurie has practiced business law for over twenty years. She opened her own law firm, The Legal Department for Service Professionals, in 2015 after recognizing the need for experienced and quality legal counsel for small professional service firms and practices. Since then, Laurie and her team at the Legal Department have served over 400 small businesses in Florida and that number is rapidly growing. Her goal is to share knowledge and provide advice so that educated, licensed, regulated professionals can gain confidence in starting and running their own businesses.

Laurie is AV Preeminent Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell ® (highest possible rating) and is rated on AVVO® as Superb: 10 out of 10. She was honored as the 2021 Women Business Owner of the Year from the JAX Chamber Professional Women's Council, the 2019 SBA North Florida Woman Owned Business of the Year, and the 2018 and 2022 Regional Volunteer of the Year Award from America's Small Business Development Center.

Laurie is involved in her professional community as a member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, past Chairman of the Fourth Judicial Circuit Attorney Grievance Review Committee, past Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Corporate & Business Law Committee, and past vice-Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Transactional Section and a member of the Florida Business Law Section.

In the business community, Laurie serves on the board of the North Florida Women Business Owners organization and the Jacksonville Women's Business Center. Previously, she served as the Chairman of the Advisory Council for the Small Business Development Center at UNF. Laurie gives back to the business community by offering legal workshops and webinars. She has conducted classes for Score, the SBDC, and most recently, she created a new course offering for the Jacksonville Women's Business Center called "Legal Matters".

Logan Gans, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP

Logan E. Gans is a tax attorney and partner in the Miami office of Holland & Knight LLP. Logan regularly represents clients on U.S. Federal tax, international tax, and state and local tax matters. Logan also advises U.S. clients on outbound corporate and tax planning, including Subpart F, GILTI, and FDII matters. He counsels foreign clients on their inbound investments in the United States, including U.S. real property, corporate restructurings, and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Logan also advises clients on the use of qualified opportunity funds for investments in opportunity zones and qualified opportunity zone businesses. He also counsels high net worth private clients on estate, trust, and gift tax matters. A Florida Certified Public Accountant, Logan also is experienced in advising clients on partnership tax planning, pre-immigration tax planning, 1031 exchanges, tax due diligence, transfer pricing, and tax compliance. He also represents clients on tax controversy matters, including penalty appeals, the Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures, and the Delinquent FBAR Submission Procedures. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Logan was a partner at Shutts & Bowen LLP and an international tax senior consultant at Deloitte LLP.

Marie Torossian, CPA Advisor and 10 X Certified Busine, Marie Torossian CPA

Matthew Grant, Chief Legal Counsel, General Tax, Florida Department of Revenue

Matthew Grant is the Chief Legal Counsel, General Tax section of the Florida Department of Revenue’s Office of General Counsel.  He leads a team of attorneys and legal assistants providing support to General Tax Administration (GTA) by litigating or otherwise resolving taxpayer lawsuits and petitions challenging GTA’s administration of Florida’s revenue laws.

Matthew graduated from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, entering the United States Army as a Second Lieutenant in 1990.  After graduating from the University of Louisville [Kentucky] Brandeis School of Law in 1998, he returned to active duty in the United States Air Force Judge Advocate General’s Corps.  Colonel Grant retired from active duty in 2020 and joined the Department of Revenue in 2022 as a Senior Attorney before assuming his current office in 2024.

Matthew is admitted to practice law in Florida and Kentucky.

Michael Riskin, Vice President/Partner, CPS Investment Advisors

Michael is a seasoned financial professional and Florida native with a career marked by a deep commitment to financial planning and practice management. Initially driven by an interest in white-collar crime investigation and an aspiration to join the FBI, Michael’s path shifted during his tenure at a prominent public accounting firm, where he discovered his true passion: personal financial planning. Here, he found fulfillment in helping individuals and families navigate complex financial landscapes.
Michael holds a degree in Business and Economics from Lehigh University and a Master’s in Taxation from Florida International University. He is a Florida CPA, Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), and Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) through the AICPA, reflecting his dedication to excellence in his field.
With comprehensive expertise in financial planning, Michael guides clients through all stages of wealth management, from accumulation to preservation and legacy planning. His approach combines technical proficiency with an understanding of the unique goals of each client. In practice management, Michael has successfully led teams and developed strategies that enhance client satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Nicole Graham, Risk Consultant, Aon

Nicole is a risk consultant at Aon, the national administrator of the AICPA member insurance program. She provides guidance and risk advice to regional and national CPA firms regarding professional liability, cybersecurity, employment practices, management liability, and other related exposures. Prior to joining Aon, Nicole was a partner at a national law firm.  For more than a decade, she defended accountants and other professionals against professional liability claims. Taking the lessons learned from when things went wrong, Nicole delivers matter-specific advice to Aon’s CPA firm clients and provides webinars, articles, and other materials on risk issues affecting the profession.

Paul Brown, Vice President, Professional and Technical Standards, Florida Institute of CPAs

Paul Brown joined the FICPA in November 1992 and is the VP of Professional and Technical Standards for the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA). One of Paul's main duties is to serve as the technical reviewer in Florida for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Peer Review Program.  The program administers approximately 350 reviews annually in Florida and oversees approximately 90 peer reviewers.  Paul also assists members in the areas of professional ethics and professional standards. As part of his role in the peer review program Paul has previously been an instructor and author of continuing education programs for the AICPA and FICPA, for which he had received several outstanding discussion leader and author awards.  Paul serves on the AICPA's Peer Review Standards Task Force, Technical Reviewers Advisory Task Force to the Peer Review Board and serves as staff liaison to two committees of the FICPA.

Paula Savchenko, Attorney, Cannacore Group and PS Law Group

Paula Savchenko is the founder of Cannacore Group, a multi-state cannabis and psychedelic licensing firm, and PS Law Group, a regulated substances law firm. As an attorney and consultant, she primarily works in the cannabis and psychedelic industries, working with clients on multi-state expansion initiatives. More specifically, her team’s work involves competitive licensing and regulatory compliance in the cannabis and psychedelic industries. Her success in attaining competitive licenses for her clients comes from having in-depth knowledge of what regulators are looking for, as well as a strong network of contacts in the cannabis industry. Since entering the cannabis industry in 2015, we have worked on competitive applications for marijuana businesses in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York, New Jersey, Texas and West Virginia. Cannacore has accumulated an overall success rate of 85% in attaining cannabis business licenses. PS Law Group, handles administrative, regulatory, and corporate matters related to regulated substances industries licensing. In 2024, Savchenko was named a South Florida Business & Wealth Prestigious Women Award winner in the Owners and Partners - Health and Wellness category, which honors South Florida’s most influential, inspiring and successful female leaders, whose innovations and success help drive the South Florida economy.

Philip Burns, Owner, Space Coast Forensics

Justin is the Owner/Managing Partner of Space Coast Forensics. He has been a Certified Public Accountant since 2014 and a Certified Fraud Examiner since 2016. His experience in the accounting industry is diverse, spanning a wide range of roles. Justin was the controller of a private company and has worked in public accounting. He served as the director of operations for one of the nation’s top privately owned forensic accounting practices before opening Space Coast Forensics.

Reginald Andre, CEO, ARK Solvers Cybersecurity & AI

Reginald “Andre” Andre is the founder and CEO of ARK Solvers, a leading cybersecurity, IT, and AI firm based in South Florida. With more than 19 years of industry experience, Andre has earned a reputation as a trusted expert in helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of technology, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. Under his leadership, ARK Solvers has grown into one of the region’s fastest-growing IT firms, known for its white-glove service, rapid response, and strategic approach.

In 2025, Andre expanded ARK Solvers’ services to include AI consulting, helping clients use automation, machine learning, and intelligent tools to reduce inefficiencies and accelerate growth—safely and strategically.

Andre is a sought-after speaker at industry panels, schools, and business events, where he shares actionable insights on cybersecurity, AI adoption, and smart business growth. His firm supports clients across healthcare, finance, real estate, and nonprofit sectors—helping them protect critical data, streamline operations, and scale securely in today’s digital world.
Beyond the boardroom, Andre is deeply committed to community service. He serves on several nonprofit boards, mentors first-generation students, and leads global mission trips that raise awareness about human trafficking and online safety.

Roger Scarborough, Executive Director, Florida Board of Accountancy

Roger is the Director of the Florida Board of Accountancy and has been serving in this role since July of 2019. He retired from Farm Credit of Florida in 2018 after he served as CFO of Farm Credit of North Florida for 12 years. He currently resides in Gainesville, where he is married and has 4 daughters. 

Shelly Weir, President & CEO, Florida Institute of CPAs

Sherry Lam, State and Local Tax Senior Manager, Crowe LLP

Sherry is a Senior Manager in Crowe LLP's Fort Lauderdale office, and has over 20 years of experience providing tax and business consulting services, specializing in state and local sales and use tax matters. 

Sherry's client service experience includes assisting clients in tax process improvement studies, refund analysis, audit defense, voluntary disclosure negotiations, nexus studies, mergers and acquisitions, transactional consulting, product and service taxability reviews, procedures documentation, ASC 450 reviews, exemption certificate reviews, sales tax outsourcing, and bankruptcy matters. 

Sherry has extensive experience with public and private companies in numerous industries including retail, manufacturing, technology, information services, professional services, construction contracting, telecommunications, and utility.

Thomas Bazley, Technical Practice Leader, Weaver

Tom Bazley is a managing director with Weaver and Tidwell, LLP where he serves as the Private Client Services Technical Practice Leader. Tom's focus is on income and transfer tax planning for high net worth and high-income individuals and families. His experience includes income and estate planning for retirement benefits, including required minimum distribution rules, income tax effects of certain distributions, using retirement benefits for charitable planning and issues related to trusts as beneficiaries of retirement accounts.

Tom is a frequent speaker to state CPA societies and estate planning councils. He has appeared on radio shows to discuss issues related to income and estate tax planning, as well as published articles in the AICPA's The Tax Adviser. He has developed and presented content for Surgent McCoy, the largest provider of continuing educational material for CPAs.

Tom is a graduate of the University of North Florida in Jacksonville.

Thomas Ruggie, Founder and CEO, Destiny Family Office

Tom Ruggie, ChFC®, CFP® is a visionary wealth manager, executive, entrepreneur, author, and speaker, who spent 34 years building one of the country’s pre-eminent wealth management organizations, including an independent RIA, multiple wealth management firms, alternative investment fund, and co-investment fund.  In 2017, he founded Destiny Family Office to help individuals - and their families - navigate the challenges and complexities of managing significant wealth.  He facilitates seamless collaboration and communication among trusted advisory teams for his client families, ensuring they work in concert to serve those clients’ best interests.
Ruggie focuses on providing privileged access to institutional-caliber alternative investments, including pre-IPO direct/private investments. As an avid collector of sports memorabilia and an advisor on collectibles as an asset class, he helps clients turn personal interests into powerful investments.
With entrepreneurial skills honed by Strategic Coach®, Vistage®, and most recently Tiger21, in 2024 Ruggie earned his ranking as the #1 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisor (North Florida), as a Barron’s Top 1200 Wealth Advisors (for the 13th time), and among InvestmentNews’ Hot List of 100 financial professionals shaping the industry. His firm was also named InvestmentNews’ RIA Team of the Year and one of America’s Top Financial Advisory Firms by Newsweek.

Tom Hood, EVP of Business Engagement & Growth, AICPA

Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA is currently the EVP Business Growth & Engagement for AICPA-CIMA and the Business Learning Institute. 

Tom recently stepped onto the global stage of the largest association of certified professional accountants in the world, representing over 690,000 CPAs, CGMAs, and students. He was named the second most influential person in accounting by Accounting Today Magazine for the tenth year. 

His focus is elevating and accelerating the role of CPAs and CGMAs in corporate and management accounting. 

In 2012 LinkedIn recruited Tom as one of their Top 100 Influencers and he now has a following of over 730,000. He is a member of Forbes Finance Council and was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame. He is the former CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and former CFO of a highway construction company. He has a Master’s in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loyola University of Maryland.

He lives in Baltimore with his wife Sharon. 

Vanessa Rivera, Sr Manager, Membership Operations, Florida Institute of CPAs

Vanessa Rivera is the Sr. Manager of Membership Operations for the Florida Institute of CPAs. A proud graduate of the University of Central Florida, she has worked for over 10 years in the non-profit sector serving families of children undergoing medical treatment, ranging from acute to terminal diagnoses. 
After the events of the global pandemic in 2020, she decided to step out of her comfort zone and undergo a career transformation. During the past 4 years of working with the FICPA, Vanessa has developed a deep respect for our members and continuously strives to ensure they are set up for success. 
Vanessa is an Orlando native and currently resides in Kissimmee with her husband.