Mark Vitner
Wells Fargo

Mark Vitner is a managing director and senior economist for Wells Fargo’s Corporate and Investment Bank, where he is responsible for tracking U.S. and regional economic conditions. Mark writes for the department’s weekly and monthly economic reports and also produces regular publications on residential and commercial construction, regional economies and issues impacting small business.

Mark joined a Wells Fargo predecessor institution in 1993. His commentary has been featured in the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and many other publications. He makes frequent guest appearances on CNBC and many other major networks.
Originally from Atlanta, Mark earned a B.B.A. in economics from the University of Georgia and an M.B.A. from the University of North Florida. He has completed further graduate work in economics at the University of Florida. He also completed the National Association for Business Economics (NABE) Advanced Training in Economics program at Carnegie Mellon University.

Mark is a member of NABE and its inaugural Certified Business Economist class. Mark has been active in the Charlotte community, co-founding the NABE Charlotte chapter, The Charlotte Economics Club. He also recently served as board chair for the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community and chaired the Economic Advisory Council for the California Chamber of Commerce for three years. He is a member of the Blue Chip economic forecasting panel and serves on the Joint Advisory Board of Economists for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Mike Cheng, CPA
Frazier & Deeter, LLC

Mike Cheng joined Frazier & Deeter in 2019 as the Partner who oversees the firm’s professional practices related to accounting and audit. As part of this role, he specializes in assisting clients with complex accounting and financial reporting issues.

Prior to joining the firm, Mike was a Senior Project Manager at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). At the FASB, he served as the Private Company Council (PCC) coordinator, where he was responsible for all PCC related matters.

In addition, Mike led projects to simplify the accounting for non-employee share-based payments, help shape the future of the FASB technical agenda and improve consolidations guidance (VIE guidance). Most recently, he worked on the FASB’s implementation team on revenue recognition (ASC Topic 606) and lease accounting (ASC Topic 842). Prior to joining the FASB, Mike held various management positions with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was an Audit Senior Manager, Private Company Services, in the firm’s Stamford, CT office.

From 2003-2011, he also held roles of increasing responsibility in PwC’s Core Assurance divisions in Buffalo and Rochester, NY.

Holly Sullenger, PhD

Dr. Holly Sullenger is an award-winning, internationally renowned veteran in the fields of corporate speaking, training, and consulting. She offers expert speaking and training opportunities in the areas of leadership, professional development, and technology.

Dr. Holly has worked with individuals representing a vast array of different occupations and industries. She is known for being able to present high-level topics in ways that make the content easy to understand, to assimilate, and to act on. Dr. Holly’s passions include prompting “light bulb moments” in her participants, and helping professionals stay relevant in their fields.

Dr. Holly has a PhD in Adult, Workforce and Continuing Professional Education from NC State University, as well as degrees in Adult Education, Business Management, Computer Science and Liberal Arts. This enables her to combine an in-depth knowledge of business and industry with adult-education techniques and infused humor in order to bring unparalleled knowledge and assistance to those she partners with.

Javier Young
CLA Charlotte

Javier is a Principal within the Cybersecurity Services Group at CLA and has been in the cybersecurity field for over 12 years. Javier leads a team of technology and industry specialists providing IT audits and security assessments for clients in a wide range of industries and diverse operating environments. Prior to joining CLA, Javier spent ten years supporting the Department of Defense as well as a financial services company in the fields of insider threat, incident response, fraud, waste and abuse, analytics, and systems engineering. Since Javier has been with CLA, he has spent the majority of his time providing IT Security, Risk, and Consulting services to clients in healthcare, higher education, and financial related institutions.

Holly Sullenger, PhD

Dr. Holly Sullenger is an award-winning, internationally renowned veteran in the fields of corporate speaking, training, and consulting. She offers expert speaking and training opportunities in the areas of leadership, professional development, and technology.

Dr. Holly has worked with individuals representing a vast array of different occupations and industries. She is known for being able to present high-level topics in ways that make the content easy to understand, to assimilate, and to act on. Dr. Holly’s passions include prompting “light bulb moments” in her participants, and helping professionals stay relevant in their fields.

Dr. Holly has a PhD in Adult, Workforce and Continuing Professional Education from NC State University, as well as degrees in Adult Education, Business Management, Computer Science and Liberal Arts. This enables her to combine an in-depth knowledge of business and industry with adult-education techniques and infused humor in order to bring unparalleled knowledge and assistance to those she partners with.

David Randall Peters, CPA
Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting

David Peters is the Founder and Owner of David Peters Financial Group and Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting, PC. David has over fourteen years of experience in financial services, including 3 years in the hedge fund industry and six years in the insurance industry. David was the first-ever Chief Financial Officer at Compare.com – a position he held for more than three years.

Currently, David is a National Instructor for the AICPA, Surgent, and Kaplan. He regularly teaches courses in accounting, finance, insurance, financial planning, and ethics throughout the United States. David holds four masters degrees, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Financial Planning. He contributes regularly to various CPA publications, including NCACPA’s Interim Report, SCACPA’s CPA Report, and VSCPA’s Disclosures. David was also a co-author of the 2018 Virginia CPA Ethics course – a required course for all CPA’s licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Aprille Caudill Bell, CPA
FORVIS, LLLC

Aprille serves as the Managing Partner of Central and Eastern North Carolina for FORVIS and is a member of the FORVIS Governing Board. As an assurance partner, she has served a variety of companies throughout her career, gaining broad and extensive knowledge of accounting principles, auditing standards and financial reporting. Aprille enjoys working closely with clients and owners to identify strategic and operational issues facing their individual businesses and creating a plan to address these challenges.

Aprille has worked with numerous privately held companies and government agencies. Her advisory services have assisted clients with regulatory requirements, complex accounting issues, mergers and acquisitions, internal control structure design and modification, and cash flow analysis and budgeting.

Aprille often facilitates training sessions for the firm and her clients. She has served as a CPE presenter is a frequent speaker at industry association conferences and is a leader in several firm-wide initiatives

David Randall Peters, CPA
Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting

David Peters is the Founder and Owner of David Peters Financial Group and Peters Tax Preparation & Consulting, PC. David has over fourteen years of experience in financial services, including 3 years in the hedge fund industry and six years in the insurance industry. David was the first-ever Chief Financial Officer at Compare.com – a position he held for more than three years.

Currently, David is a National Instructor for the AICPA, Surgent, and Kaplan. He regularly teaches courses in accounting, finance, insurance, financial planning, and ethics throughout the United States. David holds four masters degrees, and is currently pursuing his PhD in Financial Planning. He contributes regularly to various CPA publications, including NCACPA’s Interim Report, SCACPA’s CPA Report, and VSCPA’s Disclosures. David was also a co-author of the 2018 Virginia CPA Ethics course – a required course for all CPA’s licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Jon Kirchoff
East Carolina University

Jon F. Kirchoff, Ph.D. (University of Tennessee, 2011) is an Associate Professor of Supply Chain Management at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. His primary areas of research include sustainable supply chain management, healthcare supply chains, and functional integration. He has published articles in Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Supply Chain Management, International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, Journal of Purchasing and Supply Management, and other academic outlets. Prior to academia, he worked 15 years in global purchasing and logistics management at several Fortune 500 companies, including Mercedes-Benz U.S. International and Dish Network

Tom Hood, III, CPA,CITP, CGMA
Business Learning Institute

Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA is currently the EVP Business Growth & Engagement for AICPA-CIMA and the Business Learning Institute.

Tom recently stepped onto the global stage of the largest association of certified professional accountants in the world, representing over 690,000 CPAs, CGMAs, and students. He was named the second most influential person in accounting by Accounting Today Magazine for the tenth year.

His focus is elevating and accelerating the role of CPAs and CGMAs in corporate and management accounting.

In 2012 LinkedIn recruited Tom as one of their Top 100 Influencers and he now has a following of over 730,000. He is a member of Forbes Finance Council and was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame. He is the former CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and former CFO of a highway construction company. He has a Master’s in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loyola University of Maryland.

He lives in Baltimore with his wife Sharon.

James Lindell, CPA, CSP, CGMA, MBA
Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc.

Jim Lindell is President of Thorsten Consulting, a Wisconsin-based strategic and financial consulting provider. The firm offers professional speaking, training, and executive coaching. He has extensive senior management experience, including Chief Financial Officer, VP-Finance, Corporate Controller, and Corporate Assistant Controller. Industries served include manufacturing, healthcare, not-for-profit, distribution, and food processing. Jim has participated in more than 50 M&A projects.

Jim is a CPA and has received the Certified Speaking Professional designation, the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association. Jim is a Vistage Chairman (Executive Coach and Facilitator) and responsible for two groups in the Milwaukee area.

Jim is the author of Controller as Business Manager, Controllers Annual Update (Best Seller,) Analytics and Big Data for Accountants, and many other courses on strategic and financial leadership. Jim has been published by the AICPA and Wiley.

Jim is an eleven-time recipient of the AICPA’s Outstanding Discussion Leader Award.

Also, Jim is a member of the Irish rock/folk music group “Deep Pool” and is unwilling to admit that he may have played his last rugby match.

Tommy Stephens, Jr., CPA, MS, CITP
K2 Enterprises

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. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a 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 a variety of small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,800 educational sessions to over 71,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

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

James Lindell, CPA, CSP, CGMA, MBA
Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc.

Jim Lindell is President of Thorsten Consulting, a Wisconsin-based strategic and financial consulting provider. The firm offers professional speaking, training, and executive coaching. He has extensive senior management experience, including Chief Financial Officer, VP-Finance, Corporate Controller, and Corporate Assistant Controller. Industries served include manufacturing, healthcare, not-for-profit, distribution, and food processing. Jim has participated in more than 50 M&A projects.

Jim is a CPA and has received the Certified Speaking Professional designation, the highest earned designation from the National Speakers Association. Jim is a Vistage Chairman (Executive Coach and Facilitator) and responsible for two groups in the Milwaukee area.

Jim is the author of Controller as Business Manager, Controllers Annual Update (Best Seller,) Analytics and Big Data for Accountants, and many other courses on strategic and financial leadership. Jim has been published by the AICPA and Wiley.

Jim is an eleven-time recipient of the AICPA’s Outstanding Discussion Leader Award.

Also, Jim is a member of the Irish rock/folk music group “Deep Pool” and is unwilling to admit that he may have played his last rugby match.

Tommy Stephens, Jr., CPA, MS, CITP
K2 Enterprises

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. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a 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 a variety of small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,800 educational sessions to over 71,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

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

Nicole Andrews, MBA, MHRD
Nicole Andrews International, LLC

Nicole is known as The Career Disruptor® and created Nicole Andrews International, LLC in 2019 offering career coaching, organizational consulting, speaking, memberships, online courses and events all focused on teaching and inspiring ambitious women how to disrupt the status quo on purpose in their careers. She also helps organizations do the same through her unique approaches to leadership development, career development and inclusion using her custom frameworks, tools and strategies. Nicole is a primary breadwinning mom, wife, former corporate executive, thought leader and online entrepreneur. She formerly served as a Vice President of Human Resources for an Architecture Firm and prior to that role, she served as a Senior Manager in a Top 20 Certified Public Accounting Firm.

Nicole was a 2021 40 under 40 honoree by GSA Business Report, a 20 under 40 honoree by Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce and was recognized as a Top 100 Corporate Executive in America under 50 by Chicago based DiversityMBA Magazine. She was also awarded the 2018 and 2021 Greenville Society of Human Resource Management’s Unsung Hero Award in Diversity Excellence. Nicole holds a Certified Master of Career Services credential from the National Career Development Association and earned two Masters from Clemson University: MBA and Masters in Human Resources Development. She also has a Bachelor’s in Business Management with a minor in Psychology from Clemson. Nicole is driven to help individuals and organizations be their absolute best and does this by leading them in positively disrupting the status quo in their careers and organizations on purpose to get from where they are to where they want to be in order to thrive and compete in the new future of work.

Tommy Stephens, Jr., CPA, MS, CITP
K2 Enterprises

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. Presently, Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Information Technology Professional, and a 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 a variety of small and emerging businesses.

In 1995, Tommy began authoring and presenting continuing professional education courses to accounting and finance professionals. In 2003, he affiliated with K2 Enterprises, and in 2007, he joined the firm as a partner. Over the past twenty-seven years, Tommy has presented over 2,800 educational sessions to over 71,000 participants throughout the United States and Canada.

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

Dr. Gary Kohut, PhD
UNC Charlotte
The Belk College of Business

Dr. Kohut is Director of the MBA Program, Director of the Dual MBA Program with EGADE Business School in Monterrey, Mexico and Professor of Management in the Belk College of Business at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in business and executive communication, leadership and negotiation. A recognized expert on communication in business, he is the coauthor of three books: Business Communication: A Functional Perspective, Contemporary Business Report Writing, and Write to Win.

Dr. Kohut is active as a consultant and speaker on communication and management development for organizations such as American Express, Balfour Beatty Construction, Bank of America, Duke Energy, Eastwood Homes, General Dynamics, Greer & Walker, LLP, Harris Teeter, Inc., IBM, Ingersoll Rand, Lowe’s, Muratec Machinery USA, Inc., North Carolina Association of CPAs, TIAA, and WSOC television.

Among numerous teaching and speaking awards, Dr. Kohut is the 2002 recipient of the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, the university’s most prestigious teaching honor and a 2003 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Kohut has also received the 2015 North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants’ 5.0 Discussion Leader Award.

Jeremy Paul Colombik, CPA
Management Services International

Jeremy Colombik is the president of Management Services International (MSI), which currently is one of the largest captive managers in North Carolina and manages over 100 businesses that are utilizing a captive insurance company structure.

Jeremy Colombik is an experienced, licensed financial professional. He is a graduate of Western Illinois University, where he obtained a bachelor of business degree with a major in finance. Mr. Colombik is a licensed certified public accountant (CPA) and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. He has been in the captive industry for over 10 years, is a member of the Captive Insurance Companies Association, and is a member and former chairman of the North Carolina Captive Insurance Association.

Mr. Colombik is president of Management Services International (MSI). MSI currently manages over 100 businesses that are utilizing a captive insurance company structure. MSI currently is one of the largest captive managers in the state of North Carolina.

Mr. Colombik specializes in IRC Sec. 831(b) captives. He is a sought-after speaker for professional groups, such as CPAs, lawyers, and financial advisers, on how a captive structure works and its benefit to their clients.

Dr. Gary Kohut, PhD
UNC Charlotte
The Belk College of Business

Dr. Kohut is Director of the MBA Program, Director of the Dual MBA Program with EGADE Business School in Monterrey, Mexico and Professor of Management in the Belk College of Business at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in business and executive communication, leadership and negotiation. A recognized expert on communication in business, he is the coauthor of three books: Business Communication: A Functional Perspective, Contemporary Business Report Writing, and Write to Win.

Dr. Kohut is active as a consultant and speaker on communication and management development for organizations such as American Express, Balfour Beatty Construction, Bank of America, Duke Energy, Eastwood Homes, General Dynamics, Greer & Walker, LLP, Harris Teeter, Inc., IBM, Ingersoll Rand, Lowe’s, Muratec Machinery USA, Inc., North Carolina Association of CPAs, TIAA, and WSOC television.

Among numerous teaching and speaking awards, Dr. Kohut is the 2002 recipient of the Bank of America Award for Teaching Excellence, the university’s most prestigious teaching honor and a 2003 recipient of the UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. Dr. Kohut has also received the 2015 North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants’ 5.0 Discussion Leader Award.

David Cieslak, CPA, CITP, CGMA, GSEC
RKL Esolutions, LLC

David Cieslak is Chief Cloud Officer and EVP with RKL eSolutions, a leading business process automation consulting firm with offices across the US. In his role, he is responsible for helping companies grow strategically with cloud-based solutions and industry-specific service expertise for ERP, CPM, CRM, AP Automation, and other critical business processes.

He is a frequent speaker for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) and other state accounting societies as his alter ego “Inspector Gadget.” He is a Sage Intacct Certified Consultant and holds the GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC). He is the past Chair of the AICPA IT Executive Committee and past president of the California CPA Education Foundation.

Jeanie Chang, LMFT, CMHIMP, CCTP
Your Change Provider, PLLC

Jeanie Chang is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Founder of Your Change Provider, PLLC®, an interdisciplinary practice founded on solutions and her unique framework cultural confidence®. Jeanie is a bestselling author and an accomplished international speaker for corporations, community organizations, and colleges on topics such as burnout, resilience, mindfulness, stress, workplace wellness, and mental health conditions including anxiety, depression, and suicidality. Jeanie is also a corporate wellness and DEI consultant, executive leadership advisor, and clinical expert for college student organizations. In addition, she provides support groups around the country for DEI and AAPI leaders as well as journalists.

Jeanie founded the national Cultural Confidence® program which she created to provide psychoeducation in all sectors from professionals to the school system. She has presented her trademarked curriculum for corporations such as Cisco, Eaton, Hallmark, Lenovo, Microsoft, National Football League, Salesforce, SAS Institute, Inc., SC Johnson, Truist, and VMLY&R. Currently, she is spearheading her program for non-profits including the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), the Council of Korean Americans (CKA), The Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE), and the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP). This year, Jeanie launched her own YouTube Channel called, “Noona’s Noonchi” where she does a deep dive into Korean dramas from a mental health perspective. Her first book, A is for Authentic: Not for Anxieties or for Straight A’s, is a #1 international bestseller on Amazon.

Jeanie is a Certified Mental Health Integrative Medicine Provider (CMHIMP) and a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP) with experience in grief and trauma. In addition, Jeanie holds specialized training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). Jeanie followed a calling in mental health after a diverse career path. She first started as a broadcast journalist in Washington, DC, then went on to attend business school. Her work in the corporate sector includes business operations, marketing, public relations, and client success management.

Jeanie is an active volunteer in the Asian American community. She serves as President and Board Chair of Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) and co-leads the Women’s Affinity Group for the Council of Korean Americans. She is also the founder of the Self-Care & Wellness program for NAAAP. Recently, Jeanie founded her own non-profit organization called, Authentic Self-Care & Wellness, Inc. whose mission is to support non-profits and its leaders around the country.

For her own self-care, Jeanie loves going on date nights with her husband of 23 years, enjoys spending time outdoors with her four children ages 14-20, and planning family vacations.

Denise Ryan, MBA, CSP
Firestar Speaking

Denise Ryan, MBA, CSP, helps light the fires of enthusiasm so people can do great things. She is an author, an MBA and a CSP (Certified Speaking Professional), a designation of excellence that is held by less than 10% of professional speakers.

Her programs have been heard by audiences around the country – ranging from corporate leaders to federal prison employees. She has worked with IBM, Wells Fargo, even the Department of Homeland Security. And she recently made Meeting & Convention Magazine’s list of planners’ favorite speakers alongside Bill Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Anderson Cooper.

She has spoken at many CPA conferences and events and was NCACPA’s Speaker of the Year in 2008 and again in 2015. She has worked with several CPA firms to help their people communicate more effectively, be more productive, and have more fun.