Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Gary Howard has focused on tax controversy, white collar crime and litigation support matters since the founding of his firm, G.L. Howard, CPA, in 1986. With over 25 years’ experience, Gary is nationally recognized in these matters and is a frequent speaker. His firm, G.L. Howard, CPA, based in Los Alamitos, CA works with attorneys on complicated tax controversy cases and also in a litigation support capacity, on both civil and criminal matters. Within the firm's Tax Controversy practice, G.L. Howard, CPA has developed significant expertise in "Voluntary Disclosures" cases and serves clients nationwide as well as internationally with these matters.

TJ Sponsel co-founded McGuire Sponsel to deliver specialty tax services to leading local and regional CPA firms across the country. Sponsel manages McGuire Sponsel’s R&D Tax Credit & IC-DISC practices while serving as an extension of local and regional CPA firms. Under Sponsel’s leadership the firm has developed a level of expertise and attention to detail that has proven very successful under IRS audit. TJ is considered both a leading technical resource to CPAs across the country and a valuable partner in client service. Sponsel is a highly sought-after speaker for CPA firms’ and industry trade associations throughout the country. He currently works with over 100 firms across the country. He resides in the Indianapolis area with his wife and their two daughters.

Mark Goodson is the President of BCG Systems and a Director and Shareholder in its parent company, BCG & Co. He has been providing analysis and consulting to businesses for over 25 years to facilitate the alignment of technology with business goals. His extensive experience spans from business process reviews, feasibility studies, software selection, and information systems management -all leading to effective and practical solutions. His broad knowledge covers ERP and CRM systems, including key publishers NetSuite and Microsoft, as well as overall IT trends and technologies including virtualization, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies.

Tina White, CPA is the owner of Panoramic Accounting Services, LLC, a business consulting firm. Tina has served small-to-medium sized businesses in the areas of process improvement, software consulting, employee training, tax and business consulting. She is a business owner’s secret weapon for all of their tough problems. Tough is spelled T.O.F. because she improves efficiencies from every angle – Technology, Operational and Financial. As a presenter, Tina enjoys determining client’s training objectives, creating customized training courses and conducting the courses in an engaging and enthusiastic training style. Time is money, so Tina’s courses are 100% relatable to the attendee’s job performance the minute they step back into their office.

Chris Rush is division vice president of strategy for ADP Small Business Services.

Matt Haller is a senior leader in the Consulting group and leads the Cloud ERP service line. He has been a Principal with the firm since 2004. Matt combines manufacturing and distribution industry knowledge with experience in the evaluation and implementation of Cloud based software products. Prior to joining Baker Tilly, Matt owned and operated his own management consulting firm, held a variety of supply chain management positions in industry, and worked for a national consulting firm. Matt frequently meets with software vendor executive teams to stay abreast of important trends and strategies for application into Baker Tilly’s clients and service delivery model.

Jina Etienne, CPA, joined the AICPA as Director - Taxation after a 22-year career in public accounting. She began her career in the tax department of Touche Ross (now Deloitte) where her focus was tax planning and compliance for corporations, partnerships, and S corporations ranging from government contractors and vending companies to hospitality and retail firms. She left Deloitte in 1993 to start her own practice and shift her focus to the needs of small- and medium-sized businesses.At Etienne & Associates, LLC, Jina provided a wide range of accounting services for businesses and individuals, including tax planning and preparation, business consulting and representation before the IRS. She started speaking professionally in 1995. She taught for private companies, clubs, conferences, and various organizations, including 5 years in the Financial Management division at Management Concepts and 3 years as a Gear-Up speaker. She has also served as an adjunct accounting professor at American University.Now, as Director – Taxation for the AICPA, her focus is on delivering timely and useful resources for AICPA members of the Tax Section and general AICPA members interested in tax. The Tax Division develops resources and services that address members’ technical needs and practice management issues. She is also responsible for ensuring that AICPA continually strive to increase awareness and understanding of the AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services (the AICPA’s enforceable ethics for tax services).Ms. Etienne earned an M.S. in taxation in 1993 and a B.S.B.A. in accounting in 1989 from American University. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, with her husband, two sons and her shepherd/lab mix named Coda. In her spare time she loves Sudoku, cake decorating and karaoke. 

After beginning his professional service career at Price Waterhouse, Bob became the first professional employee of Frazier & Deeter, shortly after the firm was founded in 1981. In 1985, Bob became a partner and over the next 18 years he served the firm as head of the Audit and Strategic Consulting services departments. In 2000 Bob founded iLumen, Inc., the CPA profession’s leading business intelligence and analytical platform which is today used by leading CPA firms and financial institutions across the country. Bob served as CEO of iLumen through 2010 and is currently an active board member and advisor to the company. In 2010, Bob lead the creation of the FD Alliance, a strategic collaborative of non-merged CPA firms located in several metropolitan areas. In 2011, Bob returned to Frazier & Deeter where he serves as the leader of the firm’s entrepreneurial consulting practice and directs the firm’s strategic growth initiatives on both a national and local level.Bob has been involved in numerous private company board positions and assists clients in developing and optimizing strategies that impact their business in the spectrum of the entrepreneurial life cycle; including capital formation and exit strategies.

Barry C. Melancon is the CEO of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, the most influential body of professional accountants in the world with 650,000 members and students. Formed in 2017, it combines the strengths of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), which Melancon also leads as president and CEO.

Kacee Johnson, MBA, is a strategic advisor at CPA.com, and founder of Blue Ocean Principles. Previously, she served as executive vice president at Cloud9 Real Time. She was named one of CPA Practice Advisor Magazine's Top 40 Under 40. She is a regular speaker and commentator at industry events nationwide. A graduate of the University of Arizona with a double major in English Literature and Political Science, she later earned a master's degree in business administration.