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Cecil K. Nazareth ACA, CPA, MBA, is a partner at Nazareth CPAs Global Accountants, an international CPA firm with offices in the New York City tristate area. A member of the AICPA's Global Issues Task Force, he is the author of three books: Global Accounting: 2021 & Beyond, and International Tax & Compliance Handbook and Making a Difference: Life Skills You Can Learn from Sports, Academics, Work (and Failure).

Catherine Weatherford assumed the duties as President and CEO of IRI, the Insured Retirement Institute, in September of 2008. IRI is the organization that supports the importance of retirement planning, including the growth, acceptance, and understanding of annuity and variable life products.Prior to joining IRI, Weatherford served 12 years (July 1996-July 2008) as the EVP and CEO for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The NAIC is the voluntary organization of the nation’s chief insurance regulatory officials of the states, DC and territories. During her twelve-year tenure as the longest serving chief executive of the NAIC, Weatherford oversaw the development of significant technology initiatives to support regulatory and industry efficiencies, including the National Producer Licensing Database (NPLD), the System for Electronic Form and Rate Filing (SERFF), and State Based Systems (SBS). Just prior to joining the NAIC, Weatherford spent a year working as a Regional Manager for Government Affairs for Liberty Mutual Insurance Group.Weatherford was the first woman to serve as Oklahoma’s Insurance Commissioner, a position she held from 1991-1995. She served as a senior policy advisor to Oklahoma Governor David Walters for a year prior to her appointment by the Governor to the Insurance Commissioner post. Weatherford began her career with the Oklahoma Insurance Department in 1976 and served in several capacities during her thirteen-year tenure, including Legislative Liaison and Assistant Commissioner.Weatherford was named “Outstanding Young Oklahoman” while Insurance Commissioner. She received several national awards and recognitions for providing extensive employee friendly programs and benefits while at the NAIC. She served on the National Insurance Producer Registry Board of Directors for nine years and the American Society of Association Executives Board of Directors for four years. Weatherford is a graduate of the University of Central Oklahoma with a B.A. in Political Science. She resides in Arlington, Virginia, is married to Steve Weatherford, and is the mother of three daughters.

Having 15 years experience in the field of family law, as well as 25 years of accounting and bookkeeping experience, Cathy Threadgill is well acquainted with not only the laws and procedures regarding divorces, but also the financial implications of the process. As a bookkeeper, Ms Threadgill’s client base has ranged from sole proprietors to corporations with 100 plus employees.  She has experience in handling simple bookkeeping entries to complex accounting matters and the preparation of Federal and State Income Tax Returns including individual, partnership and corporate returns. Additionally, her 20 years of background in income tax preparation ranges from individual to corporate federal and state income tax returns, tax procedures and laws.  Ms. Threadgill also has experience working with Family Law, Tax and Corporate Attorneys, CPAs and Mediators. \n A passionate photographer, Ms. Threadgill especially enjoys capturing the innocence and individuality of the very young, as well as vineyards, wineries, and anything having to do with wines. \n Ms. Threadgill attended the University of Texas at El Paso. \n

Catherine Stowers is a member of the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. Ms. Stowers concentrates her practice on health and welfare benefit plan issues and cafeteria plan compliance and documentation. She previously served as counsel to a third-party benefits administrator, which afforded her substantial experience with claims administration and legal compliance for self-funded and multi-employer health plans. Ms. Stowers has also worked with health plan sponsors in resolving issues related to plan design and documentation, claim appeals and disputes, and issues related to stop-loss coverage.\n\nHer practice focuses on issues facing employers, consultants and benefit administrators in the health and welfare arena, with particular emphasis in the areas of health care reform, HIPAA, COBRA, and ERISA claims, consumer driven health care plan design and compliance issues, cafeteria plan compliance and administration, and nondiscrimination testing for cafeteria and health plans. She is also the editor of the firm's Employee Benefits Alert.\n\nRepresentative Experience\n\nResponsible for advising various employers, consultants, and third-party administrators regarding the impact of the 2010 health care reform legislation on employer-sponsored health plans and health insurance programs.\nResponsible for advising a large publicly-traded employer on all aspects of ERISA and Internal Revenue Code compliance, and issues arising in plan administration for self-funded health plan, group insurance plan, and Section 125 flexible benefit plan\nResponsible for advising clients regarding welfare and cafeteria plan issues, including COBRA liability, plan termination, and plan continuation, arising in association with corporate mergers and acquisitions, including mergers of not-for-profit entities\nRoutinely prepare annual Form 5500 filings for welfare benefit plan sponsors, and advise plan sponsors regarding steps to take to correct missed or incomplete filings, including preparing documents for Department of Labor's Delinquent Filer Voluntary Compliance Program\nRoutinely advise benefit consultants and plan sponsors regarding cost-effective implementation of consumer-driven health care programs, including coordination of health flexible spending accounts, health reimbursement accounts, and health savings accounts in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code, and implementation of wellness programs in compliance with HIPAA's nondiscrimination provisions\nServed as general counsel to a third-party administrator of self-funded and multi-employer health plans, advising the client regarding issues related to claims payment and administration, ERISA reporting and disclosure, stop-loss policy coverage, and issues related to general corporate and employment law\nAssisted plan sponsor of multiple welfare benefit programs complete a comprehensive health and welfare compliance audit to ensure all aspects of legal compliance\n