Business & Industry Fall Conference

Kassi specializes in accounting firms and finance organizations and has worked in the profession since 2007. Her accounting clients range from small, local firms all the way to the Big 4. She regularly works with state CPA societies, accounting associations and networks.

Kassi previously served as the director of people growth and engagement for a Top 50 public accounting firm and as a corporate communicator at a large financial institution. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University and her Master of Science in corporate communication and public relations from Mississippi College. She holds her Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from the Yale School of Management.

Kassi is a working mom and owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting. She is a strategic partner, facilitator and designated Thought Leader at the Business Learning Institute, a division of the AICPA-CIMA.

In civilian life, Frank Ryan is a CPA, author, commentator and expert in corporate restructurings and management. His book called “Revolutionizing Accounting for Decision Making” was published in 2016. A Pennsylvania CPA and a graduate of Mt. St. Mary’s College where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1973, he received his MBA from the University of Maryland in 1977. Frank serves and has served on numerous boards of directors of public and non-profit charitable organizations. In March 2008, he was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of a Good Shepherd Services, a residential treatment facility for developmentally disabled children. Frank is Chairman of the Audit Committee of the Institute of World Politics and is also a trustee of IWP. He serves as the Audit Committee Chair for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. Additionally, Frank walked 2806 miles across America in 2014 to raise awareness of the needs of children with emotional and behavior issues and for developmentally disabled children. He is the third oldest person to have ever done it. He has written a book called “Life Lessons Learned – Amazing Stories of my Walk Across America for Children” (www.colfrankryan.com) to help raise funds for the Sisters of the Good Shepherd and their mission. Frank Ryan, a retired Marine Reserve Colonel, was recalled to active duty, out of his military retirement, in December 2004 and served with Multi-National Force-Iraq until June 2005. Prior to his initial retirement in 2002, Frank served as the Central Command Special Operations Officer during Operation Enduring Freedom. His personal military decorations include three Legions of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the U. S. Army Commendation Medal. He is the extremely proud father of four wonderful children, and six super grandchildren and his beautiful partner and wife, Sherrie.

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.

As NCACPA Director of Advocacy, Robert works with our members to develop, implement, and communicate the association’s public policy agenda to legislators and regulators. He serves as staff liaison to several NCACPA Resource Groups, including Advocacy, Tax, Government, and Accounting & Attestation.

Robert has more than two decades of experience in government relations and executive management 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, and he serves on the Board of Directors for Association Executives of North Carolina.

Holly Buchanan, is a popular speaker, trainer, author and consultant. Holly is the author of
Selling Financial Services to Women – What Men Need to Know and Even Women Will Be
Surprised to Learn. She is the co-author of The Soccer Mom Myth. And she is working on her
new book Stop Getting Triggered – Keep Your Cool, Win Respect and Increase Influence.
Buchanan Marketing works with financial companies and professionals who want to be more
successful by understanding how clients make financial decisions, buy financial products and
choose financial advisors.

An accomplished executive with a track record of successfully leading collaborative strategic planning initiatives throughout her career, Amy founded True Nine in 2023 to help professionals embrace the opportunities and challenges made possible by change. She is well known for her unwavering dedication to leading authentically, celebrating change, and mentoring others.

Amy’s dynamic style, combined with her eclectic career and vast experience as a mentor, gives her clients confidence that she understands the challenges and opportunities they face. Utilizing pedagogical techniques gleaned from her doctoral studies, Amy connects outcome-oriented tactics with individual situations for positive outcomes. Her clients benefit from her experiences in executive leadership and organizational transformation, network cultivation, and goal-setting strategies.

Before founding True Nine, she was the COO and CFO for multiple organizations, guiding them through periods of intense change. In these roles, she led strategic planning and innovation initiatives that resulted in diversified revenue streams, new and expanded service offerings, better brand awareness, increased market share, a more engaged workforce, and improved financial results.

Amy is a “true nine,” having worn the number throughout her soccer career. Her passion for a team’s ultimate success, on-field experiences, and ability to remain calm under pressure are prevalent in her client relationships, collaborative approach to strategy development and execution, and quick instincts when presented with challenges or opportunities.

Recognized by Ignition’s Top 50 Women in Accounting and by LinkedIn as a Top Leadership Voice, she delights in sharing her experiences for the professional development and career advancement of others.

Amy holds a Bachelor’s in Accounting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she was a student-athlete on the university’s first PSAC Championship Women’s Varsity Soccer Team. A proud Keystone State native, Amy furthered her education with an MBA from Penn State University. She earned a Doctorate in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where her research focused on the relationship between leadership team diversity and strategic change.

“Steven is a Managing Director with CFGI, providing accounting, management, and transaction advisory services to public and private clients of all sizes, and across various industries. His industry experience includes manufacturing, agriculture, retail, consumer products, mining, life sciences, and aerospace & defense. Steven has executed a variety of projects including serving in interim management roles, oversight and development of accounting departments, finance issue analysis and remediation, new accounting standard implementations, carve-out accounting, SEC reporting, debt and equity analysis, SOX implementation, and business/finance transformation assistance.

Before joining CFGI, Steven was an Audit & Assurance Senior Manager at Deloitte. During his 10-year career at Deloitte, he was responsible for supervising both integrated and non-integrated audit engagements for a variety of clients, across multiple industries. These clients ranged from Fortune 50 domestic entities to private multi-national organizations. In addition to performing external audits, Steven also teamed cross-functionally to provide services such as control gap analysis and lease implementation. While with Deloitte, Steven completed a two-year international rotation in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. His international experience both at home and abroad includes oversight of audit teams across Europe, Africa, the Americas, and Asia.

Steven holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Accounting from North Carolina State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant in North Carolina.”

“Shari Storm spent 16 years as an executive at a Seattle credit union, where she oversaw marketing and IT. Her proudest accomplishments included being named an Innovator of the Decade by Net.Banker, heading up the successful Verity Mom campaign, and participating in Filene’s prestigious i3 program. Her first book, Motherhood is the New MBA: Using Your Parenting Skills to be a Better Boss was published by St. Martin’s Press. With over 20,000
copies sold, it has been translated into Mandarin and purchased for publication in four countries. The book has received tremendous press, including Time and Redbook magazines, Martha Stewart’s radio, BusinessWeek online, the Costco Connection and the cover of the Metro News New York, to name a few.

Shari has been named a Woman of Influence by CU Times. She has been featured in American Banker, Credit Union Management, and The CEO Report. She is now the CEO of Category 6 Consulting, which specializes in developing strategy with a strong focus on culture, marketing, and fintech. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and her MBA from Seattle University.

Shari has presented at Texas Bankers Association, Washington Bankers Association, Ohio Bankers League, and the Indiana Bankers Association (twice). She has also presented at the Washington State Society of CPAs Women’s Conference and the AICPA Women’s Leadership
Summit in Washington DC. And at Kitsap Bank and Yakima Federal Savings & Loan.”

“Rodney Tillinghast has a diverse and extensive work experience in various finance and accounting roles. Rodney recently joined Pepsi Bottling Ventures as the Vice President of Accounting in December 2022. Prior to that, they worked at Butterball, LLC as the Corporate Controller from 2015 to 2022. Rodney also served as the Director of Financial Reporting from 2015 to 2018 at Butterball, LLC. Before joining Butterball, LLC, Rodney held positions at Taconic, where they worked as the Senior Director of Finance from 2013 to 2015 and as the Corporate Controller from 2008 to 2013. Rodney started in private industry after their career at KPMG US.

Rodney earned an M.S. degree in Accounting from the SUNY University at Albany in 1993 after earning B.S. degree in Accounting from the SUNY College at Fredonia in 1988. Rodney also holds a certification as a Certified Public Accountant from the North Carolina State Board of CPA Examiners.”

“Anne Connelly has been a leader in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector for over a decade. She is Faculty at Boston University’s Questrom School of Business, where she teaches Blockchain-based Business Models for Social Impact. She has also lectured at Oxford University’s Saïd School of Business on Innovations for Impact Finance. An entrepreneur and angel investor, Anne is a globally sought after consultant and an advisor for corporations, startups and non-profits. She is the co-author of “Bitcoin and the Future of Fundraising”, a guide for charities on crypto donations, and the co-author of ‘Trust’, a graphic novel that teaches young Africans about blockchain. She is certified from the Institute of Corporate Directors and sits as a steward on the Gitcoin DAO, a decentralized organization that supports the creation of public goods. Anne previously worked with Doctors Without Borders as a field worker in Central African Republic and the DR Congo. She has a Bachelor
of Life Sciences from Queen’s University, an MBA from McMaster University, and is certified in Strategic Disruption from Harvard Business School. She was honored as one of CBC’s 12 Young Leaders Changing Canada and one of the Fifty Most Inspirational Women in Technology in Canada.”

As the long-time managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo, Mark Vitner, CBE offers unparalleled expertise in tracking the U.S. economy, housing, commercial real estate, and regional economies.
Mark has developed a strong national reputation providing business leaders and policymakers with the information they need to make informed decisions.

As the founder and chief economist at Piedmont Crescent Capital, Mark shares his breadth of expertise with clients from across the country. He is in high demand as a speaker and regularly meets with business leaders around the country.
As a Chief Economist and owner of Piedmont Crescent Capital, Mark leads a team who provides independent economic consulting services to a wide range of businesses, trade groups and municipalities across the country.

Their common-sense approach to complex economic issues helps business leaders more confidently make key decisions.

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.

Jennifer (Jen) Leary is the CEO of CLA, one of the largest accounting and professional services firms in the U.S. with operations in more than 130 markets from coast-to-coast and an extended global reach through the newly launched CLA Global network.

CLA provides a range of professional services in five distinct areas: assurance, tax, outsourcing, wealth advisory, and digital. With nearly 9,000 talented professionals in the U.S., CLA is one of the fastest-growing firms in the country.

Jen has more than 25 years of experience in the accounting and finance professions. Before taking on the role of CEO, she held several strategic positions at CLA, including Chief Strategy Officer and Managing Principal of the Carolinas and Georgia. A CPA by training, Jen has served clients in the United States and Europe in a wide variety of roles, from assurance, consulting, mergers and acquisitions, and global concierge services.

A visionary and an advocate for the future of the profession, Jen speaks regularly about the power of a career in accounting and finance. She is actively involved with numerous strategic partnerships to ensure that CLA continues to build a robust talent pipeline. Through her entrepreneurial spirit that is part of the firm’s DNA, Jen is passionate about developing digital technology to best serve CLA’s 200,000 clients now and long into the future.

Jen holds a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and management information systems from the University of Delaware. She is a member Wall Street Journal CEO Council, the North Carolina Association of CPAs (where she is also a member of the board of directors), the American Institute of CPAs, and serves on the boards of the CLA Global Network, CLA Foundation, and CLA Wealth. She is also a contributor to the World Bank and a sought-after speaker on leadership, strategy, and expansion.

Avril Pinder was unanimously appointed County Manager by the Board of Commissioners on Feb. 5, 2019, and sworn in on March 5, 2019.
Prior to Buncombe County, Pinder served New Hanover County, NC, for 13 years as Finance Director, Assistant Manager, and most recently, Deputy County Manager. Prior to that, she spent 10 years in service to the City of Jacksonville, NC, as Community Development Director and Assistant Finance Director.

Pinder is a Certified Public Accountant. She holds an MBA from Delaware State University and is an International City/County Management Association credentialed manager.

Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Technology Professional, and Chartered Global Management Accountant.

During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:

• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm;
• Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company;
• Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and
• Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and various small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. He affiliated with K2 Enterprises in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2007. Over the past twenty-nine years, Tommy has presented over 3,200 educational sessions to over 82,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

Tommy maintains professional memberships with the AICPA and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Technology Professional, and Chartered Global Management Accountant.

During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:

• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm;
• Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company;
• Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and
• Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and various small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. He affiliated with K2 Enterprises in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2007. Over the past twenty-nine years, Tommy has presented over 3,200 educational sessions to over 82,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

Tommy maintains professional memberships with the AICPA and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Marcey Rader believes that health powers productivity. She is a multi-certified health and productivity expert, a three-time author, and an award-winning, global Certified Speaking Professional® keynote speaker.

As the founder of RaderCo, Marcey helps executives, teams, and individuals banish burnout, keep good people, and move forward through practical, tailored tools, healthy, sustainable habits, and coaching accountability.

Sought-after by Fortune 100 companies and others, she’s spoken for tens of thousands of people worldwide – from North Dakota to Dubai to Tokyo.

As a high-impact speaker, she trains her audiences to maximize their energy, conquer the calendar, master tasks, and extinguish their email. To change your career, team, or organization one habit at a time, learn more or connect with Marcey at marceyrader.com.

Tommy Stephens received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree (Major in Accounting) from Auburn University in 1985. In 1992, he earned a Master of Science degree (Major in Finance) from Georgia State University in Atlanta. Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Information Technology Professional, and Chartered Global Management Accountant.

During his professional career, Tommy has gained valuable experience in a variety of positions, including:

• Working as an auditor and technology consultant for an Atlanta-based public accounting firm;
• Leading an Internal Audit staff and managing a Cost Accounting team for a Fortune 500 company;
• Serving as a Chief Financial Officer for an international engineering organization; and
• Founding and managing his public accounting firm that provides accounting, tax, and consulting services to individuals and various small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. He affiliated with K2 Enterprises in 2003 and joined the firm as a partner in 2007. Over the past twenty-nine years, Tommy has presented over 3,200 educational sessions to over 82,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

Tommy maintains professional memberships with the AICPA and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants. Additionally, he is a past member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Tom is one of the most influential leaders in the Accounting Profession. He has been named the Second Most Influential Person in Accounting since 2011 by Accounting Today Magazine (His fifteenth year on the Top 100). He was also one of the first five thought leaders inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame (2015) by CPA Practice Advisor.

Linked-in recruited Tom as one of their Top 100 Influencers and he was named to the Top 25 Influencers in Learning by HR Examiner. He is known for his prolific digital footprint and now has over 780,000 followers on Linked-in, Twitter and other social accounts.

Tom is on a mission to help CPAs, Finance and Accounting Professionals thrive in these times of exponential change. He firmly believes that what got us here, won’t get us there as the Profession faces unprecedented changes and opportunities.

Tom’s recognition and awards reflect his leadership in helping CPAs be more #FutureReady through his work at the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute (BLI), a center for the development of leadership, strategic thinking, and collaboration skills for CPAs. BLI has a catalog of over 600 programs and 30 ‘top gun’ instructors who provide state of the art learning and curriculum for the Top 500 CPA Firms, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, State CPA Societies and even internationally.

He is a graduate of Loyola College (B.A. in Accounting) and has a Master’s in Finance (Real Estate) from Johns Hopkins University. He also obtained the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) certification and the Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA) certification from the AICPA.

David Cieslak is a Principal with Arxis Technology, Inc., a computer consulting firm with offices in Southern California, Chicago, and Phoenix. He specializes in cloud computing, mid-market ERP accounting software, information security, the Windows operating environment, systems development, and project management.

Cieslak currently serves on the Sage Mid-market ERP Business Partner Advisory Council. He is the past Chair of the AICPA IT Executive Committee and past president of the California CPA Education Foundation. He is an active participant with the CalCPA State Technology Committee. He is past chairman of the CalCPA State Technology Committee, former member of the AICPA Information Technology Practices Sub-Committee, and previously served on the Information Technology Alliance Board of Directors. He is a member of various other AICPA and CalCPA planning committees for courses, conferences, and computer shows.

Marcey Rader believes that health powers productivity. She is a multi-certified health and productivity expert, a three-time author, and an award-winning, global Certified Speaking Professional® keynote speaker.

As the founder of RaderCo, Marcey helps executives, teams, and individuals banish burnout, keep good people, and move forward through practical, tailored tools, healthy, sustainable habits, and coaching accountability.

Sought-after by Fortune 100 companies and others, she’s spoken for tens of thousands of people worldwide – from North Dakota to Dubai to Tokyo.

As a high-impact speaker, she trains her audiences to maximize their energy, conquer the calendar, master tasks, and extinguish their email. To change your career, team, or organization one habit at a time, learn more or connect with Marcey at marceyrader.com.