MEGA 2026 - Virtual Livestream

Scott Hagizadegan

Scott Hagizadegan is the CEO and Founder of Shield IT Networks, a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for businesses of all sizes. With over 27 years of experience helping clients—from startups to Fortune 500 companies like Ernst & Young, Guitar Center, and Don Roberto Jewelers—Scott has built a strong reputation for delivering innovative solutions tailored to the needs of his clients. 

Under Scott’s leadership, Shield IT Networks has helped CPA firm leaders strengthen their cybersecurity posture through proactive measures, ensuring compliance and protection against evolving threats. Guided by his philosophy of “Profit with Purpose,” Scott reinvests business profits into philanthropic projects worldwide, supporting orphanages and children’s education through computer labs and leadership programs.

Timothy Naddy

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

Jason Harrell

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.

Jessica Battaglia

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

Philip Burns

Justin is the Owner 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. 

Kevin Hayes

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

Mark Koziel

Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA, is the President and CEO of the American Institute of CPAs, and CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the most influential body of professional accountants in the world with 600,000 members, candidates, and registrants. Formed in 2017, the Association combines the strengths of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the AICPA.

Koziel was named to this role by the Association’s Board of Directors in October 2024 and began his tenure on January 1, 2025. He brings a wealth of leadership experience, having served the profession for decades. Most recently, he was President and CEO of Allinial Global, an association of independent accounting and advisory firms with 268 member firms worldwide. He began that role in 2020 after 14 years with the Association (previously AICPA), where he served in a number of roles, including executive vice president, Firm Services.

Koziel began working in the profession at a large accounting firm, Lumsden McCormick, based in Buffalo, New York. Throughout his career he has been a consistent advocate for accountants, developing a strong global understanding of the accounting and finance profession.

He is known for his commitment to key values, such as strategic growth, teamwork, innovation, and excellence, and has been recognized with many notable awards. He regularly appears on Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting and in 2017, Koziel received the Dr. Joseph R. Coppola ‘40 Outstanding Alumnus Award from Canisius University’s Accounting Department. Among his many accolades, Koziel was also named to CPA Practice Advisor’s Top Thought Leaders in Public Accounting and the International Accounting Bulletin and The Accountant’s list of the Global Accounting Power 50.

Originally from Buffalo, NY, Koziel graduated from Canisius University in 1991 with a BS, accounting degree. He now resides in North Carolina with his family.

 

Shelly Weir

Erik De Vries

Erik De Vries is a Director in CohnReznick’s  Audit Quality Group and contributes to the development and implementation of the Firm’s audit methodology and quality initiatives.

Erik has extensive experience helping engagement teams interpret and apply professional standards and regulations to real world situations, including group audits, alternative investment portfolios, revenue recognition, leasing, agreed-upon procedures, and Single Audits. He also supports Firm training, including methodology implementation and proficiency, through curriculum development and teaching sessions.

Prior to joining CohnReznick in 2023, Erik spent more than a dozen years at a global network firm overseeing the execution of audits of public and private companies and not-for-profit organizations with total assets in excess of $4 billion and revenues of $6 billion under AICPA, ISA, Government Auditing and PCAOB standards. He also served a two-and-a-half-year rotation to that firm’s National Professional Standards Group in Audit Training and Knowledge Resources.

For his work on the Illinois CPA Society’s Audit & Assurance Services Committee, Erik has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award. Erik earned his Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Calvin University and his Master of Business Administration from Indiana University. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in Illinois and Indiana.

Jacob Rodman

Jacob is a Practice Fellow with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), where he leads and collaborates on U.S. GAAP standard-setting activities. He is also an Audit Managing Director in KPMG LLP’s national office within the Department of Professional Practice. With more than 18 years of experience in public accounting, Jacob specializes in advising clients and consulting with engagement teams on complex technical accounting, reporting, and auditing matters and contributes to the development of accounting and auditing guidance. Earlier in his career, he served in KPMG’s U.S. Accounting and Reporting Group in Amsterdam. Jacob is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a licensed CPA in Connecticut, Missouri, and Kansas. He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from Kansas State University.

Jaideep Singh

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.

Christina Solomon

With over twenty-five years of experience working in public accounting firms, Christina focuses on providing litigation consulting and performing forensic accounting analysis. In these roles, she performs analyses, research and investigation, quantifies damages, writes reports, and provides expert witness testimony. In addition, she provides internal audit, financial modeling and data analysis services to her clients. Christina has a broad base of industry experience, including school districts and higher education.

Angela Abfall

Angie Abfall is a Senior Consultant with more than 40 years of experience in the accounting profession. She is a member of Wipfli's Forensic and Litigation Services team, where she specializes in forensic investigations involving allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse, as well as litigation consulting engagements. Angie works closely with clients, attorneys, courts, and other stakeholders to analyze complex financial matters and provide clear, well-supported findings.

Byron Donalds

A graduate of Florida State University with professional experience in finance, insurance and banking, Donalds was first elected in 2016 to the Florida Legislature, where he went on to serve as Chair of the House Insurance and Banking Subcommittee.  

He has been a member of the U.S. House since 2021, representing Florida's 19th congressional district, and currently sits on both the Oversight and Accountability and Financial Services committees. 

Jonathan Trimble

Jonathan Trimble is a former FBI cyber executive and co-founder of Bawn, a cybersecurity firm that helps CPA firms and financial professionals strengthen compliance and reduce cyber risk. During his career with the FBI, Jonathan led cyber and intelligence modernization initiatives and worked on investigations involving threats to sensitive financial and operational systems. In that role, he saw firsthand how preventable cyber incidents could disrupt—or even force the closure of—small and mid-sized businesses when basic safeguards were not in place.
Today, Jonathan focuses on helping CPAs and their clients translate complex cybersecurity and regulatory requirements into practical, defensible actions. His approach emphasizes simple, repeatable frameworks that align with how CPAs already think about risk, controls, and documentation. He regularly speaks to professional associations on topics including the FTC Safeguards Rule, IRS data security requirements, and how CPAs can play a more active role in guiding clients on cyber risk.

Deborah Defer

Deborah Defer is a visionary leader in Client Advisory Services (CAS) and serves as Director of CAS at Woodard. With more than two decades of experience in accounting, financial management, and strategic advisory, she is dedicated to helping small and mid-sized businesses gain financial clarity, strengthen operational efficiency, and build sustainable growth models. In recognition of her impact on the profession, Deborah was named one of Accounting Today's Top 100 -People to Watch in 2026.

At Woodard, Deborah designs and leads innovative CAS strategies that empower firms to modernize their practices, streamline workflows, and deliver high-value advisory services. She is passionate about leveraging technology and automation to transform data into real-time insights that drive better business decisions. Her expertise spans CAS pricing, spend management, and stepping into controllership roles for growing organizations.

An award-winning educator and mentor, Deborah is known for her dynamic workshops, webinars, and coaching engagements. She champions change management, technology adoption, and balanced firm cultures that prioritize innovation and client success. Her mission is to inspire firms to elevate CAS beyond compliance and create measurable, lasting value for the clients they serve.

Laurence Whittam

Laurence Whittam is the Practice Leader for Whitman Global Strategy, and serves as a leading advisor to the accounting industry on outsourcing strategy. With more than a decade of hands-on experience, Laurence has guided more than 500 CPA and accounting firms across the U.S., helping them design and manage high-performing offshore teams for tax, accounting and audit services.

Laurence is recognized as a Top 20 Under 40 Influencer by CPA Practice Advisor and is co-author of the AICPA Outsourcing Toolkit. As a national speaker and host of the Business Beyond Borders podcast, he provides business leaders with independent guidance on outsourcing models, compliance, integration and governance.

Jason McKeever

Jason McKeever is the Practice Leader for the Learning and Development team at Whitman Advisory, bringing more than 20 years of strategic leadership in the field, including 17 years as Chief Learning Officer at a Top 25 U.S. firm. He has driven continuous improvement and innovation by crafting and implementing learning strategies that align with organizational objectives, partnering across service lines and leadership teams to build scalable development programs covering technical, industry, sales and leadership skills. Jason is also recognized as a skilled facilitator and keynote presenter, engaging a wide range of audiences.

David Yu

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.

Andrew Renck

Andrew Renck is a 2003 graduate of the University of Miami with multiple degrees including Finance and Economics. While attending the University he created his computer consulting firm RootPoint. He has been providing secure systems integration long before “Cybersecurity” became a recognized term. Renck is an ethical hacker and has provided services for both offensive and defensive cybersecurity projects.

He holds multiple certifications and services both government entities and private-sector clients across a broad spectrum of industries. Renck has found and reported numerous vulnerabilities ranging from operating systems, firewall, email, content management systems, remote vehicle control, and healthcare equipment. He was the first instructor hired at HackerUSA and the University of Miami for the new cybersecurity program and wrote both portions of the curriculum as well as a cyber-defense textbook for securing Windows, Linux and network systems. Renck has served as an expert witness in both criminal courts and commercial litigation in the United States and Latin America.

Andrew is based in Miami, FL.