New England Practice Management Conference

Rebecca Sherman

Rebecca Sherman is a public accounting recruiter with Distinct, specializing in CPA recruitment across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Sherman has recruitment experience spanning public sector and nonprofit organizations as well as for-profit finance before finding her focus in public accounting recruitment.

At Distinct, Sherman has played a key role in the growth of the firm’s Public Accounting team, working with accounting professionals and firms throughout New England. She specializes in connecting CPA professionals with career opportunities and helping public accounting firms identify talent to meet their hiring needs. Sherman is also part of the leadership of Distinct’s Boston office.

Georgina Ross

Georgina Ross is a public accounting recruiter with Distinct, specializing in supporting CPA professionals and firms across New York and New Jersey. Ross has experience recruiting in candidate-short markets and focuses on developing long-term relationships between public accounting professionals and CPA firms.

Ross began her career in recruitment after earning a bachelor’s degree in Business Studies from Liverpool John Moores University. She later joined Distinct’s U.S. Public Accounting team, where she works with candidates throughout the New York and New Jersey markets. Her role focuses on connecting accounting professionals with career opportunities while helping CPA firms meet their hiring needs.

Jon Lokhorst

Jon Lokhorst, CPA, PCC, is the founder of Lokhorst Consulting LLC where he develops leaders everyone wants to follow, builds teams no one wants to leave and delivers exceptional results . Prior to this role, he served for 18 years at Wallace, Lokhorst & Company, Ltd. before becoming a managing partner at Wallace, Lokhorst & Company. Lokhorst spent 15 years in nonprofit leadership roles, primarily as CFO or development director, and has served clients throughout the U.S. as a speaker, coach and trainer. On top of his coaching and accounting credentials, he is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), on the Board of Directors of the NSA Minnesota Chapter, a certified facilitator of RightPath assessment tools and an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago.

Carla McCall

Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, is managing partner at AAFCPAs where she leads the firm’s strategic vision for the future, while ensuring day-to-day operations are keeping up with today’s urgent demands. She is responsible for driving the expansion of services for clients beyond the core audit and tax, including managed accounting, wealth management, robotic process automation, IT and cybersecurity, system selection and implementation and data analytics. McCall’s dynamic executive leadership, bold practicality and enthusiasm for embracing change is setting the standard for mission driven, growth organizations, and has led her to be named one of the Most Powerful Women in the Accounting Profession in 2021 and 2022 by the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor magazine.

Dawn Brolin

Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, is CEO of Powerful Accounting Inc. and founder of Team Brolin, specializing in transforming accounting practices through innovative leadership and motivational strategies. Brolin is the author of The Designated Motivator and The Designated Motivator for Accounting Professionals and is a sought-after speaker at industry events and webinars, inspiring professionals to elevate both their practice and their personal growth. She has been recognized by Insightful Accountant as a 2020 Top Niche Practice ProAdvisor in forensics and has been named multiple times to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

Brian Kush

Brian Kush, PCC, CPA, is an executive leadership coach and co-founder of Intend2Lead, specializing in empowering CPA firm leaders to unlock their inherent potential and create meaningful shifts in firm culture and performance. Kush spent the first 14 years of his career as a CPA and consultant at EY and AuditWatch, where he discovered coaching as an effective way to support and challenge others. Over the past eight years, Kush has guided numerous CPA leaders to broaden their perspectives, uncover new choices and enhance their ability to lead teams toward meaningful results. He’s a recognized thought leader in leadership and communication, and has delivered workshops, presentations and training sessions to thousands of CPAs nationwide.

Nick Boscia

Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, is a partner at Boscia & Boscia PC, specializing in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses. He began his career at PwC LLP, where he developed a strong foundation in accounting practices before joining Boscia & Boscia PC in 2013. Boscia is actively involved in the accounting community, serving on ADP’s Accountant Advisory Board since 2018, where he contributes insights on emerging trends and best practices.

Jason McKeever

Jason McKeever is Practice Leader for Learning & Development at Whitman Advisory, bringing more than 20 years of strategic leadership experience in the learning field. McKeever previously spent 17 years as Chief Learning Officer at a Top 25 U.S. firm, where he developed and implemented learning strategies aligned with organizational objectives. His experience includes building scalable programs focused on technical, industry, sales, and leadership skills, as well as learning strategy, program design, M&A integration planning, and evaluation strategies.

McKeever has collaborated closely with AICPA-CIMA, facilitated the EDMAX group for learning professionals at Top 25 firms, and led the creation of the LEAD Symposium for Top 100 firms. He is also an experienced facilitator and keynote presenter.

Thomas Stephens Jr

Tommy Stephens Jr., CPA, CGMA, CITP, is a shareholder at K2 Enterprises where he lectures internationally on subjects, such as internal controls for small businesses, technology strategies, computer hardware and software applications, tax strategies and compliance and financial accounting standards and applications. Stephens background also includes his work 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 and serving as CFO for an international engineering organization. In the last 25 years, he has also presented over 2,700 educational sessions to over 70,000 participants throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Nick Boscia

Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, is a partner at Boscia & Boscia PC, specializing in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses. He began his career at PwC LLP, where he developed a strong foundation in accounting practices before joining Boscia & Boscia PC in 2013. Boscia is actively involved in the accounting community, serving on ADP’s Accountant Advisory Board since 2018, where he contributes insights on emerging trends and best practices.

Chelsea Berry

Chelsea Berry is Founder and CEO of Epicenter Collective, a keynote speaker, and an emotional intelligence and leadership strategist. Berry is the creator of Shake the World, a movement focused on helping individuals become intentional leaders through meaningful human connection. Her work centers on communication, leadership, and self-awareness, providing practical strategies that help leaders strengthen relationships and influence organizational culture. Before launching Epicenter Collective, Berry built and sold a financial planning practice, where she gained experience leading teams, growing a business, and building client relationships. Today, she works with organizations across industries to support leadership development, improve communication, and strengthen team performance. Through keynote presentations and leadership programs, Berry shares practical tools and actionable insights designed to help leaders communicate with confidence, build stronger connections, and recognize the impact of their everyday interactions

Michael Platt

Michael Platt is a principal at The Platt Group/INSIDE Public Accounting, and is a sought-after speaker both domestically and internationally, specializing in accounting firm trends, leadership, benchmarking and analysis. In his presentations, Platt weaves together operational metrics, trends, success stories and best practices to illuminate the business of accounting today, and where it is going in the future. He has worked with top international associations, the IPA 400 firms, IPA Best of the Best firms and state societies across the country. Additionally, Platt’s insider perspective helps firms make the changes needed to flourish in the future.

Brian Kush

Brian Kush, PCC, CPA, is an executive leadership coach and co-founder of Intend2Lead, specializing in empowering CPA firm leaders to unlock their inherent potential and create meaningful shifts in firm culture and performance. Kush spent the first 14 years of his career as a CPA and consultant at EY and AuditWatch, where he discovered coaching as an effective way to support and challenge others. Over the past eight years, Kush has guided numerous CPA leaders to broaden their perspectives, uncover new choices and enhance their ability to lead teams toward meaningful results. He’s a recognized thought leader in leadership and communication, and has delivered workshops, presentations and training sessions to thousands of CPAs nationwide.

Nick Boscia

Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, is a partner at Boscia & Boscia PC, specializing in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses. He began his career at PwC LLP, where he developed a strong foundation in accounting practices before joining Boscia & Boscia PC in 2013. Boscia is actively involved in the accounting community, serving on ADP’s Accountant Advisory Board since 2018, where he contributes insights on emerging trends and best practices.

Roman Villard

Roman Villard, CPA is the Founder of Full Send, an accounting and data advisory firm serving growing companies. Villard has more than 15 years of experience in accounting and has worked at four firms in various capacities. He founded Full Send with a focus on improving client experiences through technology, employee engagement, data, and service.

At Full Send, Villard works with growth-stage companies, providing accounting, automation, and AI services designed to support their finance and operations. His areas of experience include accounting, financial reporting, financial technology, business development, go-to-market strategy, and sales processes. His work also includes developing financial systems and reporting, implementing automation, and supporting venture-backed companies with growth and investor readiness.

As an entrepreneur and CPA, Villard is also focused on building teams and workplace culture. His approach emphasizes community, actionable data, and leadership as important components of business growth.

Nora Burns

Nora Burns is the Founder and Chief Curiosity Officer of The Leadership Experts, where she focuses on leadership and workplace culture. Burns is a former Fortune 200 executive who has led teams ranging from two to 200 employees and has experience managing multi-site workplaces and teams across a variety of roles. Earlier in her career, she worked at a Big Six accounting firm, where she supported expatriates through Services to Executives Abroad.

Burns has spent decades helping organizations rethink recruiting, hiring, and retention strategies and their impact on workplace culture. She is also the creator of The Undercover Project™, independent research designed to examine hiring and employment practices from the perspective of candidates and frontline employees.

As part of The Undercover Project™, Burns participated in more than 350 job interviews across the country and spent 15 months working in frontline positions within Fortune 500 organizations without revealing her background as an executive and leadership and workplace culture professional.

Kassi Rushing

Kassi Rushing is the owner of Kassi Rushing Consulting, where she helps organizations align people and processes to strengthen workplace culture. Rushing has worked at the intersection of business and people strategy since 2002, with experience in workplace culture, high-performing teams, leadership development, employee experience, talent pipelines, and communication strategy.

Rushing specializes in accounting firms and finance organizations and has worked in the accounting profession since 2007. Her clients range from small local firms to Big Four firms, and she regularly works with state CPA societies, accounting associations, and networks. She previously served as Director of People Growth and Engagement for a Top 50 public accounting firm and as a corporate communicator at a large financial institution.

Rushing holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Corporate Communication and Public Relations from Mississippi College. She also holds a Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from the Yale School of Management and serves as a strategic partner, facilitator, and designated Thought Leader with the Business Learning Institute, a division of AICPA-CIMA.

Robert Fletcher Bryant III

Robert “Rob” Bryant, Esq., CPA is Senior Vice President of Tax Controversy Services and Quality Control, where he manages the national audit representation and project implementation teams. Bryant has successfully defended numerous tax credit claims before the IRS and state tax authorities across the United States. He also manages R&D tax credit appeals for clients and has extensive experience with the appeals process.

Bryant has more than 30 years of accounting and tax experience. He began his career in public accounting with Deloitte and PwC and later held senior accounting and tax roles with private companies in the technology and manufacturing sectors, including steel, structural engineering, and electronics manufacturing.

Bryant holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Finance and Accounting from the University of Idaho and a Juris Doctor from Roger Williams University School of Law. He also maintains an active CPA license.

David Humphrey

David Humphrey, CPA, CVA, brings over a quarter-century of experience as a deal maker, business owner, accountant and business appraiser. He has successfully completed numerous multi-million-dollar transactions with entrepreneurs, private equity and publicly traded corporations, including one transaction that touched five continents. In addition to his work at Beacon Equity Advisors, Humphrey was a partner at Star Engineering, a leading manufacturer of populated circuit boards and wire harnesses for the high tech, military and medical industries. He believes by telling better stories, owners receive stronger offers for their business by conveying the value to buyers, advisors and bankers. He has created the highly successful Pothole Analysis™ program, a customized review of 43 aspects of a business an owner should address in the years leading up to an exit to enhance value and is the author of Think Like a Buyer, a collection of deal stories, tips and advice on preparing a business for sale.

Jay Galasso

Jay Galasso is a director at Beacon Equity Advisor, where he brings 30+ years of engineering experience and company leadership. Galasso recently helped a Massachusetts company in the rechargeable battery and solar energy space grow from $15M revenue to $35M revenue in three years as they prepared for a strategic sale. His current focus is on tech businesses, including software, solar and robotics companies.

Nik Vasilakos

Nik Vasilakos, CFA is Senior Vice President and Head of Strategic Partnerships & Corporate Development at ConnectPay. Vasilakos has nearly 30 years of experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate development, valuation, investment management, and banking, with a focus on the financial services sector.

Throughout his career, Vasilakos has led strategic growth initiatives, evaluated and executed acquisitions, and advised on complex corporate transactions. He holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Boston College and is a CFA Charterholder.

Melissa Hiatt

Melissa Hiatt is a Tax Strategist at MSC, where she works with real estate investors and business owners on tax efficiency strategies, including cost segregation and depreciation planning. Hiatt brings a background in both operational leadership and financial strategy to her role.

Prior to joining MSC, Hiatt served for seven years in the United States Coast Guard as a Boatswain’s Mate specializing in Heavy Weather and Surf Search and Rescue. During her military service, she led high-risk missions and managed critical assets in demanding environments.

Following her Coast Guard service, Hiatt transitioned to the private sector and joined MSC. In her role as a Tax Strategist, she applies her experience in risk assessment, problem-solving, and decision-making to help clients evaluate cost segregation and depreciation strategies.

Jeff Hiatt

Jeffrey Hiatt is director of New Business Development at MS Consultants, LLC. Since joining the firm in 1999, he has developed and fostered relationships with CPA firms, real estate professionals and accounting societies throughout the New England area helping to make MS Consultants the leading provider of Cost Segregation Studies in the Northeast.

Corey Adams

Corey Adams is a regional manager for Robert Half International, the world’s first and largest staffing firm specializing in accounting, finance and information technology. During his nearly 15 years with the company, Adams has helped clients locate highly skilled professionals in the areas of finance and accounting, with a primary focus on temporary, contract, consulting and permanent searches in the Greater Boston Area for mid to senior level roles.

Richard Austin

Thought leader, mentor and influencer, Rich Austin is the executive director of Integrated Partners’ Business Owner Solutions and family-focused office groups. With the mind of an attorney and the heart of a financial advisor, Rich consults with high-net-worth clients, business owners and Integrated’s network of financial advisors on estate planning, charitable planning, business succession planning and tax planning strategies. Armed with more than 20 years of industry experience, Rich previously served as vice president at Lincoln Financial Advisors and a staff attorney at the AYCO Co. LP. A renowned thought leader, Rich has been quoted in publications including MarketWatch and CNBC on various topics including:

Family Office: Rich works with high-net-worth families to bridge the gap between family wealth and familydynamics with a goal of creating a sustainable family legacy.

Business Planning: Your business is your baby. It needs attention to grow. For decades, Rich has beendedicated to helping business owners go from growth planning to exit transfer.

Tax Planning: Rich breaks down complex tax strategies and works with advisory teams to implement the bestsolutions for the client.

Listening with Intent: Rich is focused on developing long-standing, trusting relationships with his clients byactively listening and being attentive to their needs.Rich has the street cred and the acumen to back it up. He has earned the following degrees and designations:

JD, cum laude Pace University School of Law

LLM in Taxation New York University School of Law

Certified Investment Management Analyst (CIMA®) The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

CEPA (Certified Exit Planning Advisor)Rich lives in Valhalla, NY with his wife, Tara and their three sons: Max, Dylan and Logan

Robert Albertini

Robert is a senior risk advisor at Aon and brings more than 20 years of experience working extensively in professional liability insurance for professional services firms. He is a nationally licensed Property & Casualty insurance agent. He studied business management and communications at Rutgers University.

Stan Sterna

Stan is Vice President and Risk Control Lead for Aon, the broker and national administrator for the AICPA Member Insurance Programs. Stan has specialized in the defense of professionals for 30 years. Since 1998, he has been exclusively involved in defending accountants and the accounting profession. Stan serves as Claim, Coverage and Risk Management Lead, providing strategic quality control, coverage advocacy, claim/litigation management services and risk control advice for some of the country’s largest accounting firms. He also supports client relations and business development initiatives for the AICPA Insurance Programs. Stan is also a member of the Aon Global COVID-19 Infectious Disease Task Force. Stan is a frequent lecturer and published author on accountants’ risk. He is a past winner of the Florida State Society of CPAs’ “Excellence in Writing Award” as well as the Florida Magazine Association’s “Charlie Award” (the association’s highest honor) and an honorable mention selection to Accounting Today’s list of The Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2019. Stan is a licensed attorney and a member of the Illinois and Federal bar. He is past Vice Chair of the Defense Research Institute (DRI) Professional Liability Committee’s Accountants Specialized Litigation Group and the American Arbitration Association’s Accountants Professional Liability Rules Committee. Prior to joining Aon, Stan was Director of Accountants Claim for CNA Insurance Companies – the nation’s largest carrier of accountant liability insurance. Stan also previously practiced law in the Chicago area, specializing in the defense of professionals.

Konrad Martin

Konrad Martin, CPA, CEO of Tech Advisors and head of the company’s business development department, is a technology industry veteran. Konrad is also the technology reporter on Radio Entrepreneurs and can be heard on WBNW, WPLM and WESO Radio Stations as well as online at www.radioentrepreneurs.com. He graduated from the University of Maine, Orono with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Konrad worked for several CPA firms in Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts before venturing out into the private sector to become owner and CEO of Tech Advisors Inc.

Thomas Stephens Jr

Tommy Stephens Jr., CPA, CGMA, CITP, is a shareholder at K2 Enterprises where he lectures internationally on subjects, such as internal controls for small businesses, technology strategies, computer hardware and software applications, tax strategies and compliance and financial accounting standards and applications. Stephens background also includes his work 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 and serving as CFO for an international engineering organization. In the last 25 years, he has also presented over 2,700 educational sessions to over 70,000 participants throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Roman Villard

Roman Villard, CPA is the Founder of Full Send, an accounting and data advisory firm serving growing companies. Villard has more than 15 years of experience in accounting and has worked at four firms in various capacities. He founded Full Send with a focus on improving client experiences through technology, employee engagement, data, and service.

At Full Send, Villard works with growth-stage companies, providing accounting, automation, and AI services designed to support their finance and operations. His areas of experience include accounting, financial reporting, financial technology, business development, go-to-market strategy, and sales processes. His work also includes developing financial systems and reporting, implementing automation, and supporting venture-backed companies with growth and investor readiness.

As an entrepreneur and CPA, Villard is also focused on building teams and workplace culture. His approach emphasizes community, actionable data, and leadership as important components of business growth.

Misty Resendez-Woods

Dr. Misty Resendez-Woods, MS, is a senior consultant at InvigorateHR, where she brings more than 18 years of experience in business administration and leadership development. She has held both clinical and management roles across for-profit and nonprofit sectors, giving her a well-rounded perspective on how to coach and mentor leaders to drive organizational success.

Her work focuses on advancing cultural diversity and inclusion, leading organizational change and building effective leadership at all levels. Resendez-Woods is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and the Organizational Culture Inventory (OCI).

In addition to her consulting work, she serves as an assistant professor in leadership studies at Indiana Wesleyan University and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management, the International Leadership Association and the Diversity Roundtable of Central Indiana.

Jon Lokhorst

Jon Lokhorst, CPA, PCC, is the founder of Lokhorst Consulting LLC where he develops leaders everyone wants to follow, builds teams no one wants to leave and delivers exceptional results . Prior to this role, he served for 18 years at Wallace, Lokhorst & Company, Ltd. before becoming a managing partner at Wallace, Lokhorst & Company. Lokhorst spent 15 years in nonprofit leadership roles, primarily as CFO or development director, and has served clients throughout the U.S. as a speaker, coach and trainer. On top of his coaching and accounting credentials, he is a member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), on the Board of Directors of the NSA Minnesota Chapter, a certified facilitator of RightPath assessment tools and an adjunct faculty member in the School of Business and Nonprofit Management at North Park University in Chicago.

Dawn Brolin

Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, is CEO of Powerful Accounting Inc. and founder of Team Brolin, specializing in transforming accounting practices through innovative leadership and motivational strategies. Brolin is the author of The Designated Motivator and The Designated Motivator for Accounting Professionals and is a sought-after speaker at industry events and webinars, inspiring professionals to elevate both their practice and their personal growth. She has been recognized by Insightful Accountant as a 2020 Top Niche Practice ProAdvisor in forensics and has been named multiple times to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.

Jason McKeever

Jason McKeever is Practice Leader for Learning & Development at Whitman Advisory, bringing more than 20 years of strategic leadership experience in the learning field. McKeever previously spent 17 years as Chief Learning Officer at a Top 25 U.S. firm, where he developed and implemented learning strategies aligned with organizational objectives. His experience includes building scalable programs focused on technical, industry, sales, and leadership skills, as well as learning strategy, program design, M&A integration planning, and evaluation strategies.

McKeever has collaborated closely with AICPA-CIMA, facilitated the EDMAX group for learning professionals at Top 25 firms, and led the creation of the LEAD Symposium for Top 100 firms. He is also an experienced facilitator and keynote presenter.