State and Local Government Accounting Conference

Amy Mierzejewski, Auditor, Warren Averett, LLC

Amy Mierzejewski, CPA, has over 20 years of experience in auditing not-for-profit, governmental entities, community associations, healthcare organizations, employee benefit plans, and more. Most of Amy’s not-for-profit clients are in the housing, social services, and education sectors. Amy has extensive experience with not-for-profit organizations, both with and without federal and/or state single audits. Amy is a CPA licensed in Florida. She is a member of the FICPA and the AICPA and its Not-For-Profit Section. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida. Amy is a devoted fan of USF Bulls Football and serves as reluctant treasurer of her homeowners’ association.

Benjamin Streed, Chief Investment Officer, Deep Blue Investment Advisors

Benjamin Streed is the Chief Investment Officer for Deep Blue Investment Advisors (DBIA). He works with investment professionals to deliver comprehensive, custom, diversified portfolio management strategies for separately managed accounts, consulting clients, and the U.S. Fixed Income Trust. Benjamin also directs the Portfolio Management team and servs on the firm’s investment and credit committees. He continues to be a thought leader in the investment space — delivering industry seminars educate clients and prospects.

Prior to joining DBIA, Benjamin served as a multi-asset strategist with Wells Fargo Private Bank and previously was a fixed income strategist with Raymond James Financial. There, he was a member of the firmwide investment strategy committee and both the strategic and tactical asset allocation sub-committees. He has also served as an investment analyst and portfolio manager for several major Wall Street firms where he implemented unique investment solutions for high-net-worth families and institutions.

Benjamin earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Emory University and a Master of Science in finance from Georgetown University where he graduated as valedictorian. He is a CFA® charter holder and volunteers his time grading CFA exams and serves on the CFA curriculum advisory committee and the Georgetown alumni council.

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.

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. 

Lisa Parker, Senior Project Manager and GASAC Coordinator, Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Lisa Parker is a senior project manager with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).  She also serves as coordinator for the Governmental Accounting Standards Advisory Council (GASAC). Prior to joining the GASB in 2008, Lisa worked for Runyon Kersteen Ouellette CPAs for 10 years, the town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine as finance director and interim town manager for 2 years, and the city of Saco, Maine as finance director for 8 years.

Lisa is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant.  She also is a member of the Association of Governmental Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she served as president. Previously, Lisa was president of the Maine Governmental Finance Officers Association, an executive board member of the New England Governmental Finance Officers Association, and a member of a national GFOA standing committee.

Lisa attended Boston College and the University of Southern Maine graduating with magna cum laude honors and a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Lorrie Brinson, Manager, Governmental Advisory Svcs, James Moore & Co, PL

Lorrie Brinson, a native of Florida, is the Manager, Governmental Advisory Group for James Moore & Co where she manages the outsourced governmental advisory services and provides support to our governmental audit team in financial reporting, assessments for operational recommendations and improvements, grant management and single audit testing. 
Ms. Brinson has a Bachelor & Master of Science in Accounting, Master of Business Administration/Public Administration. Lorrie has spent her career working at local governments with over 20 years’ experience in various areas, including accounting, financial reporting, grants, pensions, budgeting, and debt. This vast range of experience has given her the knowledge base needed to address the broad range of concerns withing local government. She is Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Government Finance Officer. Lorrie is a frequent speaker with FGFOA and has served as a Board Member and Chair of several committees throughout her career with FGFOA. She currently serves as an instructor for the certification review courses offered by the FGFOA. 
Lorrie is the mother of two buys and a self-published author. She loves college football, Florida beaches, volunteering with her non-profit, and traveling throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Michael Hood, Director, 21st Century Learning & Consulting

After serving 25 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, Michael "Bret" Hood became the director of 21st Century Learning & Consulting, LLC upon his retirement in 2016.  During his tenure with the FBI, Bret worked many complex financial crime, money laundering, corruption and major cases such as the 9/11 terrorist attack, the HealthSouth fraud and the Maricopa Investments case.  

Since 2000, Bret has traveled the world teaching public and private sector employees how to develop anti-fraud, anti-bribery, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering programs. Bret is a master facilitator who has the unique ability to get participants involved in deep conversations while applying the lessons learned to their own personal and work situations.  Bret has been a presenter at the ACFE's Global Fraud conference for the last three years and has worked with local and regional ACFE chapters in Columbus, Ohio, Kansas City, MO, New Haven, CT, and Albany, NY.  In addition, Bret has done multiple presentations for CPA groups including the Florida Institute of CPAs where he has instructed at their major trade show for years.  Bret has published articles in both Fraud Magazine and ACAMS Today.  Bret has a great interest in the psychology, patterns, methods and motives of offenders in an attempt to understand why good people end up doing bad things. 

Bret is a federal-court certified expert in money laundering and financial crimes.  Bret is also the author of the critically acclaimed books, Eat More Ice Cream: A Succinct Leadership Lesson for Each Week of the Year & Get Off Your Horse! 52 Succinct Leadership Lessons from U.S. Presidents.  Currently, Bret serves as an instructor, investigative consultant, and as an expert witness for 21st Century Learning & Consulting LLC (www.21puzzles.com).

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

Paul Brown joined the FICPA in November 1992 and is the Vice President 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 300 reviews annually in Florida and oversees approximately 85 peer reviewers. Paul also assists members in the areas of professional ethics and professional standards. As part of his role with the FICPA Paul has instructed and authored continuing education programs for the AICPA and FICPA, for which he has received several outstanding discussion leader and author awards. Paul is serving on the AICPA’s Peer Review Standards Task Force, Technical Reviewers Advisory Task Force to the Peer Review Board, and former chair of the Audit Committee for the City of Tallahassee.
Prior to joining the FICPA, Paul was an audit manager with the regional firm of Williams, Cox, Weidner & Cox (now Carr, Riggs & Ingram) in Tallahassee, Florida. Paul holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and finance from Florida State University and has been licensed as a CPA since 1988.

Steven Morrison, Partner, National Director of Audit, CohnReznick LLP