CONBIF26: Business & Industry Fall Conference

As part of the executive leadership team at NCACPA, Robert is responsible for external operations of the Association. He leads multiple teams to drive the advocacy, outreach, and engagement strategies that advance NCACPA’s mission and elevate the value and influence of the CPA brand.

Robert has extensive experience as a lobbyist, fundraiser, and chief staff executive for professional associations. A native of Tennessee, he worked in Nashville and Atlanta before moving to Raleigh in 2013. He earned his Certified Association Executive credential in 2020.

Paige Cocke, CPA, Is the Founder of Realize Success LLC, where she advises owners and executive teams on financial strategy, governance readiness, and leadership execution and is a Partner and Fractional CFO at Rankin McKenzie. Over the past two decades, she has operated at every level of the finance function — from SEC reporting and IPO consolidation to divisional CFO and enterprise strategy leadership.

She has led organizations through high-growth expansion, multi-state complexity, and successful acquisition. Paige has shortened close cycles from 30 days to 5, renegotiated restrictive lending structures to unlock operational flexibility, built driver-based forecasting models for executive decision-making, and prepared companies for audit readiness and sale. Earlier in her career, she played a lead role in the $10B IPO spin of Genworth Financial from GE and presented quarterly forecasts and operating results directly to CEO, CFO and Investor community.

Her session, Controller to CFO, addresses the real transition most finance professionals underestimate. Moving from technical expert to enterprise leader requires more than stronger financial reporting. It demands expanded business acumen beyond the numbers, the ability to analyze issues strategically, sharper communication that influences decision-makers, and the confidence to manage conflict while engaging and inspiring cross-functional teams.
In this session, Paige distills key elements from her executive development framework into a practical roadmap. Participants will examine the gap between their current operating level and true CFO leadership including strategic thinking, customer-focused financial insight, forecasting and modeling capability, and executive presence. Attendees will leave with a clear “GAP Map” to identify development priorities and concrete next steps to accelerate or intentionally redefine their path forward.

In Beyond the Numbers: Turning Analysis into Action, Paige addresses a pat

Deborah Grayson Riegel is a keynote speaker and consultant who teaches leadership communication for Wharton Business School and Columbia Business School. She is a regular contributor for Harvard Business Review, Inc., Psychology Today, Forbes, and Fast Company. The author of “Overcoming Overthinking: 36 Ways to Tame Anxiety for Work, School, and Life,” she consults and speaks for clients including Amazon, BlackRock, KraftHeinz, and The United States Army. Her work has been featured in worldwide media, including Bloomberg Businessweek, Oprah Magazine, and The New York Times.

Higgins Advisory, LLC was established with the mission of helping CPAs, CFOs and other financial professionals to successfully guide their firms and business organizations through a successful digital transformation. This transformation leverages the power of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, data analytics, workflow automation and more.

As a seasoned entrepreneur, John Higgins, founder and CEO, has experience with local CPA firms and as well as serving as a technology advisory practice leader partner in a national CPA firm. John founded, managed and grew two separate accounting technology advisory firms, both of which were successfully acquired by larger organizations.

John shares his expertise as a nationally recognized thought leader, strategic advisor, and speaker on accounting technology through coaching and speaking engagements. His primary contribution is his passion for helping the profession move forward through the understanding and adoption of emerging technologies.

Alex Lehmann, Chair of NCACPA, brings more than 20 years of public accounting experience to his work advising individuals and privately held businesses on tax planning and compliance. He joined MPC in 2005 and also spent over a decade in commercial banking, giving him a broad perspective across industries.
In 2025, Alex was named one of Forbes’ America’s Top 200 CPAs, recognizing his leadership and commitment to the profession. He serves on the AICPA Governing Council and remains active in NCACPA’s advocacy and professional development efforts.
Alex is also passionate about the arts, currently serving as Treasurer of Theatre Raleigh. Born in Italy and raised in South Florida, he holds a finance degree and MBA from Florida International University. He and his family live in North Raleigh.

Jon Lokhorst, CSP, CPA, PCC, is a leadership coach, corporate trainer, keynote speaker, and the author of Mission-Critical Leadership: How Smart Managers Lead Well in All Directions. He works with organizations to develop leaders everyone wants to follow, build teams no one wants to leave, and deliver exceptional results. Before launching Your Best Leadership LLC, Jon enjoyed a 30-plus year career as a CPA, CFO, and organizational leader. He has a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership and is recognized by the International Coach Federation as a Professional Certified Coach. Jon is member of the National Speakers Association and served recently as President of the Minnesota chapter. He has earned the Certified Speaking Professional Designation (CSP), a distinction held by less than 20 percent of NSA members. On a personal note, Jon loves grandparenting and being “Papa” to his four adorable littles, as he calls them.

Bob Mims, CPA, is a financial consultant and VP Finance for promising enterprises. For 20 years, Robert has worked with numerous startup ventures and nonprofits in the roles of Strategic Planning, Business Modeling, Controller and CFO. His focus is understanding the fundamentals of profitability. Robert worked ten years as a Big Four a Senior Assurance Manager, earning National Instructor of the Year on three occasions. Robert has served on FASB Advisory committees and is based in Memphis, TN.

Since July 2024, Mark has been the Chief Executive Officer of the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. In this role, he works with the Board of Directors in the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic direction. Prior to this role, Mark joined NCACPA in May 2016 as their Chief Operating Officer, where he oversaw communications, engagement, professional development, learning and innovation, finance and administration. Prior to joining NCACPA, Mark worked in public accounting with Dixon Hughes Goodman LLP for 10 years and as Chief Operating Officer for Fidelity Bank for three years. Mark has served on various boards including NCACPA’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee, Junior Achievement of Eastern North Carolina, the Triangle Land Conservancy as a board member and treasurer, as well as on both the Wake Technical Community College and North Carolina State University’s Poole College of Management’s Accounting Advisory Boards.