South Florida Accounting Conference (SFAC)

Ashlee Hall, Owner & Principal Attorney

Ashlee Hall is the Owner and Principal Attorney of Hall Law Group, PLLC, specializing in federal tax credits, incentives and IRS procedures. She has helped thousands of businesses nationwide claim over $865 million in federal tax credits, including the Employee Retention Credit (ERC), using court-tested and IRS-approved strategies. Ashlee is the co-creator of Taxplaining, a podcast and LinkedIn platform for tax professionals focused on tax law developments, taxpayer rights, and IRS accountability. She is also a contributing editor for Thomson Reuters PPC’s Practitioners Tax Action Bulletin and has been featured as an ERC expert in the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Tax.

Carrie Siegel, Paychex

Carrie Siegel’s goal is to help drive HR initiatives, maximize employee engagement, minimize liabilities and further the success of your business. She acts as a resource for HR practices and human capital management to help maintain compliance and improve employee engagement and performance.  

Cindy Ragan, Owner/ CEO, Ragan & Associates, PA

Cindy Ragan is the founder and President of Ragan & Associates, P.A., a consulting firm that specializes in the mergers and acquisitions of accounting firms for the past 28 years. She has a
Masters Degree from George Washington University in International Economics and Finance and is certified as an Certified Valuation Analyst (AVA). She is also author of “The Complete Guide to Mergers & Acquisitions of CPA Firms”. Ms. Ragan worked as an Economist on Wall Street before relocating to South Florida to become an entrepreneur. She has founded and sold several businesses of her own over the past 30 years and has been a management consultant and business valuation analyst to the CPA industry for the past 28 years.

David Yu, Founder, Wealth Advisor, DTY Wealth Planning Solutions

David T. Yu is the Founder and Wealth Advisor of DTY Wealth Planning. In addition to his work in financial services, he is an active airline pilot and a former institutional pilot pension committee member for one of the largest U.S. based airlines. 
David has also served as an instructor of adult retirement planning at Broward Community College and advises individuals on how to maximize their Social Security benefits. He also counsels families on late-stage college financial planning and frequently presents on tax mitigation strategies at CPA conferences and symposiums.  
David has been featured on ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC News, and recognized as one of America's Best Retirement Experts by Kiplinger's. David is the host of the podcast Jet Setting Wealth Advisory, where he shares financial insights tailored to aviation professionals and high-net-worth individuals & familes.

Jaideep Singh, Co-founder & CEO, FlyFin AI Inc.

Jaideep is the Co-founder & CEO with 20 years of experience in building Ai companies, and a proven track record of creating successful startups that have created over $3 Billion in value. He is passionate about combining AI/ML with CPAs to build a game-changing tax solution. He has a BS and MS in Computer Engineering from the University of Arizona, and an MBA from the Wharton School.

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

James Sutton has 35+ years of experience working in State and Local Tax ("SALT"). Since 2002, Mr. Sutton has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Stetson University College of Law teaching State and Local Tax and Accounting for Lawyers.  Mr. Sutton ventured into the realm of construction as part owner, CFO, and in-house counsel for two construction companies, one residential and one commercial, giving him the opportunity to experience the "big picture" with all aspects of business and an improved ability to see things from a business owner's perspective. Mr. Sutton was also the Chairman of the FICPA State Tax Committee 2022 to 2024 and now dedicates his time defending companies and individuals against the aggressive tactics of the Florida Department of Revenue.

Kevin Hayes, Risk Control Consultant, CNA INSURANCE

Kevin Hayes is a Risk Control Consultant for the Accountants Professional Liability Insurance Program of Continental Casualty Company, a CNA company and the underwriter of the AICPA Professional Liability Insurance Program. He previously served audit clients for six years with both national and regional public accounting firms. Hayes currently provides risk control consulting services for CPA firms in the AICPA program. He participates in the development and delivery of risk management training and education products including the live risk management seminar and self-study programs, as well as other tools to assist CPA firms in managing their professional liability risk. Kevin earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Dayton. He is a member of the AICPA and the Illinois CPA Society

Lawrence Levy, CEO, Levy & Associates

Lawrence Levy is the President and CEO of Levy & Associates, a nationally recognized tax resolution firm with offices in Michigan and Florida. With over three decades of experience, Lawrence has built a team of CPAs, attorneys, and former IRS agents to help individuals and businesses navigate complex tax issues, including audits, levies, wage garnishments, and back taxes. Known for his hands-on approach and 24/7 client support, Lawrence takes pride in offering personalized service and real solutions—often when clients feel they’ve run out of options. Under his leadership, Levy & Associates has become a trusted name in tax relief, earning an A+ rating from the BBB and a strong reputation across the country.

Lidija Stefanova, Audit Principal, BDO USA, PC

Lidija Stefanova is an Assurance Principal at BDO’s Miami office, bringing over 19 years of public accounting experience to her clients. She specializes in serving both public and private companies with domestic and international operations across diverse industries, including real estate and construction, hospitality, media and entertainment, professional services, distribution, and retail. Lidija is highly skilled in complex accounting matters such as initial public offerings, revenue recognition, business combinations, and other technical issues.
Her commitment to excellence extends beyond client service—Lidija is actively involved in developing BDO’s talent through internal training, coaching, and mentoring, helping to shape the next generation of accounting professionals. She holds dual bachelor’s degrees in Accounting from Roosevelt University and Business Management from University Sts. Cyril and Methodius.
Lidija is a CPA in Florida and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida CPA Society. She is deeply engaged in her community, serving as Board Member and Chair of the Audit Committee for the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and as Treasurer and President of the Finance Committee for Kristi House. Lidija’s expertise and leadership make her a trusted advisor and valued speaker.

Michael Kridel, Principal, Michael S. Kridel, CPA, PA

Principal
Michael S. Kridel, CPA, PA

Michael Kridel has practiced public accounting in South Florida since graduation from George Washington University in 1974. He reestablished his solo practice in being a principal and litigation services practice leader of Rehmann Robson, a Top 100 national accounting firm, from 2013 to 2018. Previously, Mr. Kridel was a partner in Daszkal Bolton from 1996 to 2013. He was a sole practitioner between 1977 and 1996 while providing consulting services to other firms. 

Since 1974, Mr. Kridel has provided litigation, management consulting, tax, accounting, planning and educational services to a broad spectrum of individuals, enterprises and fiduciaries, including probate accounting. The litigation services include both plaintiffs and defendants in a range of matters including family law, shareholder/partner actions, financial damages, fraud detection, criminal and civil tax matters, breach of fiduciary duty, wrongful employment discharge and accountant malpractice defense. Additionally, he has provided consulting and training services to large and small companies and professional practices. Mr. Kridel has testified in deposition, hearings, trial and alternative dispute resolution proceedings as an expert in numerous jurisdictions.

Mr. Kridel is a member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA) and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Accounting and Certified Forensic Consultant of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute. He is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is an associate member of the American Bar Association and the South Palm Beach County Bar. He chaired the Valuation, Forensic Accounting and Litigation Services Section of the FICPA. In 2001, Mr. Kridel was one of the first CPAs to achieve the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designation offered by the AICPA. He was also among the original CPAs in 2008 to be Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) by the AICPA. He has served on the Top Technologies Task Force of the AICPA. He has been included as a leading forensic accountant in the South Florida Legal Guide each year since 2009 as a Top CPA and Litigation Support Professional. He also received the South Florida Business Leader Magazine’s 2010 IMPACT Leaders Award. Mr. Kridel has received the FICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader each year since 2004.

Mr. Kridel is a frequent speaker, garnering numerous awards, at national and local conferences for accountants and attorneys on topics such as litigation services, professional ethics, fraud investigation, eDiscovery, investigation techniques, practice management, information technology and human resources. He is a certified CPA ethics instructor in Florida. Mr. Kridel is also a frequent speaker to at-risk teenagers participating in Judge Luis Delgado’s juvenile justice intervention program in Florida’s 15th Judicial Circuit. He is an online instructor in forensic accounting for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and is a facilitator for courses offered by the Corporate Training Department of Florida Atlantic University as well as a visiting instructor in business law classes. He was a Facilitator in the Professional Training Department at the Florida campus of Johnson & Wales University for several years. Mr. Kridel is a longtime member of the Editorial Review Panels of the Journal of Accountancy and Florida CPA Today. He is active in several community service organizations, serves on the board of directors for a charter school serving students with autism spectrum disorders. Mr. Kridel has created and facilitated an award-winning seminar, Ethical Decision Making in the Workplace and Society, for Broward County high schools, positively influencing more than 15,000 students since 1992. He is also the profession’s representative on the Education Advisory Committee of the Florida Board of Accountancy. Mr. Kridel has served as a Commissioner on the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics since 2013.

Paul Roy, Founder, Profitable Practice Pro

Paul Roy is a seasoned entrepreneur with a career that began in his late teens. Over the years, he has built and acquired diverse businesses, including an office products company, a human resources firm, a computer forms company, and a yachting facility. He also served as COO of an agricultural facility generating over $12 million in annual revenue.
As a Certified Professional Coach, Paul has spent the past ten years specializing in business consulting and coaching for accounting firm partners and owners. He is the Co-Founder of CPA Business Coach, dedicated to helping accountants transition into trusted business advisors who provide greater value to their clients.
Paul is also the Founder of Profitable Practice Pro, a program designed to empower accounting firm owners to step into their roles as visionary leaders and CEOs. His mission is to guide accountants in building practices that are profitable, sustainable, and aligned with their personal and professional goals.

Rebecca Santos, Shield IT Networks, Inc.

Rebecca Santos supports CPA firms in understanding and improving their cybersecurity posture through practical, easy-to-follow guidance. At Shield IT Networks, she serves as the bridge between firms and the technical team, walking professionals through assessment findings and helping them take the right steps to reduce risk and meet evolving compliance requirements. Over the past year, Rebecca has become a familiar face at FICPA events, where she continues to provide members with valuable resources, industry insights, and one-on-one support tailored to the unique cybersecurity challenges of the accounting industry.

Reginald Andre, CEO, ARK Solvers Cybersecurity & AI

Reginald "Andre" Andre is the founder and CEO of ARK Solvers, a leading cybersecurity, IT, and AI consulting firm in South Florida. With nearly two decades of experience, he is recognized as a trusted advisor to businesses navigating the evolving landscape of technology, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation. Under his leadership, ARK Solvers has been named one of the region's fastest-growing IT firms and is known for its white-glove service, rapid response, and strategic approach.

In 2025, Andre expanded ARK Solvers' services to include AI consulting, equipping clients to safely adopt automation, machine learning, and intelligent tools to reduce inefficiencies and accelerate growth. His work bridges the critical gap between cybersecurity protection and AI innovation, helping organizations scale securely in today's digital-first economy.

A sought-after speaker at industry panels, schools, and business events, Andre delivers practical insights on cybersecurity, AI adoption, and smart business growth. His clients span financial services and other professional service industries where CPAs are trusted to safeguard data, ensure compliance, and drive growth.. Beyond business, he is dedicated to service—mentoring first-generation students, serving on nonprofit boards, and leading global initiatives that raise awareness about human trafficking and online safety.

Rolando Aedo, Chief Operating Officer, Greater Miami Convention & Vistor Bureau

Rolando Aedo has been a senior member of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) since 1994 and was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in December 2017. He works closely with the President and CEO in the day-to-day operation of all aspects of the organization and helps maintain and strengthen external stakeholder relationships. He leads GMCVB’s high-priority initiatives and establishes strategic programs and partnerships to ensure the organization continues to remain at the forefront of the Destination Marketing Organization industry.


Mr. Aedo is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese and has degrees from Miami-Dade College, Florida International University, and an MBA in International Business from the University of Miami. He is also a Certified Destination Management Executive (CDME) and was recognized as one of the top 25 “extraordinary minds” in sales and marketing by the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International.


He serves on the Miami Bayside Foundation which provides minority scholarships and loans, the Education Fund for Excellence in Miami-Dade County Public Schools and several other community and civic groups.

Ruth King, Founder & CEO, Financially Fit Business, LLC

Since 1981, Profit & Wealth Guru Ruth King has helped businesses get and stay profitable, build wealth, and significantly impact their lives and the lives of their employees.
Ruth is the creator and leader of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) sponsored group live course, Understanding Financial Analysis Trends.
Ruth holds an MBA in Finance from Georgia State University and Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Chemical Engineering from Tufts University and the University of Pennsylvania.
She is the founder and CEO of the AI driven software company, Financially Fit Business, LLC.  Financially Fit Business takes financial data and turns it into impactful graphs so business owners can easily see the financial health of their company.
She is the author of 6 award winning books including 101 Dumb Mistakes Business Owners Make and How to Avoid Them. The Courage to be Profitable was named along with Napoleon Hill, Dale Carnegie, Richard Branson and others, as one of the 37 books all start-ups should read. 
Ruth has spoken for national /state association CPA meetings, national/trade shows, manufacturers, distributors, and others in 49 of 50 states. (She is looking to go to North Dakota).

Shelly Weir, President & CEO, Florida Institute of CPAs

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.

Timothy Naddy, VP of Finance, The Savannah Bananas

Wait…he’s a CPA?!? Oh, you better believe it…and then some ;-) An entrepreneur, college professor, financial professional and author (EDYM, available early 2026!), this guy’s looking to start another Renaissance! Simply, whether in the boardroom, classroom, or locker room, his passion is to help others make better decisions by translating tedious technical topics into tangible intelligence useful for personal and professional success. And if you thought THAT was a mouthful, check out his personal formula for success: (Big 4 + Private equity + Franchising + Internet startups + Fraud Examiner + CFO Consulting + 18.5“ Biceps) / (Humility + Faith + Family) = Accounting Badassery in motion.  I mean, it’s just math, right?!? Living his personal mantra of Integrate, Educate, Elevate…and Entertain, Dr. Tim Naddy abhors complacency and doesn’t believe in settling for less because a good day consists of helping folks understand their value (and yes, you’re worth it). An alchemist of precision, professionalism, and panache, his secret sauce is using storytelling to mix all the things he loves…entertaining, speaking, writing, sumif functions, and jazz hands…into the wonderful world of Accounting and Phinance. Shadow Ops is his domain, but he ain’t shy of the spotlight either, so if you’re down to collab, he’s ready to rock n roll! Connect with him on LinkedIn and tune in to him on his Business Biceps & BS podcast (LI: Business Biceps & BS | IG: @bizbisnbs ) #cpaevolved #respectthegrind