San Antonio
Our list of speakers will continue to be updated as they are confirmed for the event. Please check back for updates!
Opening Remarks by
JEFF THOMSON
President and CEO of IMA
Jeffrey C. Thomson, CMA, CSCA, CAE, is president and CEO of IMA® (Institute of Management Accountants). Since assuming this position in 2008, Thomson has led the development of a strategy resulting in IMA becoming one of the fastest-growing accounting associations in the world, with double-digit growth in its CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program over the past five years. In January 2018, IMA crossed the 100,000-member mark for the first time in the organization’s history.
IMA TX
ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2021
Speakers
Featured Speakers
BUD KULESZA
The Man of Many Hats at Budkulesza.com
Bud is a highly accomplished business professional with outstanding multinational, multi-industry experience. He is the recipient of the 2018 IMA Lifetime Achievement Award. He has numerous publications in accounting journals including strategic finance, CFO.com, Management Accounting, Cost Management and the Journal of Accountancy. Bud Kulesza is truly "The Man of Many Hats".
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Mike Brown, CPA CGMA CMA
Director of Product Management
Mike Brown is director of product management for Becker and has extensive experience in public accounting, corporate accounting and education. Michael’s career started with Ernst & Young in their Atlanta assurance practice working with clients in manufacturing, financial services and retail. He then spent several years in corporate accounting as a controller in the real estate and service fields. At Becker, Mike manages all of Becker’s accounting-related product offerings. Michael also has a passion for teaching, serving as a national instructor for Becker’s CPA Review and Continuing Professional Education products. Mike graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor’s in commerce and master’s in accounting. He is a licensed CPA in the State of North Carolina.
Sid Shaffer
Vice President & Chief Delivery Officer, ITEGRITI Corporation
Sid Shaffer, MBA, CISA has more than 23 years of experience in information systems management, cybersecurity, systems auditing, and compliance across many industries. Sid is an expert in the application of internal controls in risk reduction and has extensive experience with developing and assessing cybersecurity and compliance programs, including significant compliance experience with cybersecurity controls related to critical infrastructure. He has managed and participated in multiple cybersecurity exercises and vulnerability assessments, and advised a wide variety of clients on methods of reducing cybersecurity risks.
BLAKE OLIVER
Future Trends in Accounting and Finance
I'm a CPA who specializes in cloud technology and the co-host of the Cloud Accounting Podcast, a weekly news update for accountants and bookkeepers. In 2016 and 2017, I was honored to be named to CPA Practice Advisor's “40 Under 40” list. In 2019, I was named to Accounting Today’s “Top 100 Most Influential People” list.
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LAWRENCE COFFEE
Director, Data Analytics & Quality at Vaco
Lawrence began his career as a financial advisor and a banker before eventually becoming VP of sales. He then pivoted to business and technology, working as an independent consultant over the next 12 years. He enjoys solving organizational challenges with technology that support the human culture and decision making. Lawrence founded the now 100-plus-member San Antonio Power BI User Group in May 2018 and DataNuts, a San Antonio-based networking group of more than 700 data-oriented professionals in January 2019. He's passionate about improving organizations' data literacy, enabling modern business intelligence tools and analytic techniques to find meaning in their data to deliver results.
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NEAL JUERN
President and CEO of Juern Technology
Neal is passionate about educating businesses on how to decrease their threat surface so they can run faster, easier, and more profitably. After spending more than 14 years working for a national company on large enterprise IT systems, Neal knows the challenges that small and large organizations face in cybersecurity and protecting the investment they make in their IT infrastructure.
DONNA MCILVEEN
Managing Director, Executive Research at Vaco
Donna has expertise in the human capital management field as a seasoned consultant, strategist, trainer, resource manager, and coach with executive management experience in highly competitive corporate environments.
KEVIN ELIASEN
Data Management Analyst at Security Service Federal Credit Union
Kevin is an accomplished professional with 20 years of accounting, financial systems, business process, and internal controls experience. He is adept at engaging stakeholders from different levels of business management to identify requirements and target opportunities for improvement.
MARK GOLDMAN
President of MGR Accounting Recruiters
Mark Goldman is the Founder & President of MGR Accounting Recruiters (http://mgrar.com/), where he helps employers hire accounting personnel in the San Antonio, TX area. He also operates MGR Training – a division that provides unique educational opportunities for the accounting and bookkeeping profession. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio and has worked in the niche area of accounting employment for over 20 years. He has previously worked in public accounting and has served/is serving the following organizations on their Board of Directors: Texas Society of CPAs, San Antonio Chapter of TSCPA (Past President, current committee responsibilities), Institute of Management Accountants, and the American Payroll Association.
JERRAD HALL
Partner, Finance Transformation at Vaco
Helping businesses modernize and transform their financial close process by adding efficiency, increasing visibility, and decreasing risk.
Roy Elizondo, MBA CPA CISA CIA (Retired)
Roy E. Elizondo is currently serving in his third term as a City Council Member for Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas. Prior to retiring, he accumulated over four decades of experience primarily in the public utility sector. Roy served in leadership roles in internal audit, IT system implementation & support, application security, corporate planning & budgeting, risk management, enterprise business continuity & disaster recovery planning, and corporate governance. He also served in lead roles for process improvement, organizational change management and leadership training. Roy has also participated on non-profit boards and is now on the Fair Oaks Ranch Municipal Development District Board and Chair of the Fair Oaks Ranch Audit Committee.
Dr. Dennis Elam, PhD CPA
Associate Professor of Accounting at Texas A&M San Antonio
Professor Elam holds a BBA, MBA, and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. He passed the CPA exam on his first attempt and has worked as a County Comptroller, Internal Auditor, Entrepreneur as a CPA in Securities Practice, and a family-owned oilfield service business. He has been recognized by many professional organizations for his fantastic CPE presentations and service. His research interest is how social mood affects financial manias and frauds as well as ethical lapses.
Ryan J Canales, CPFA, NQPA
Director of Institutional Retirement Plans at HUB TCG Trusted Capital Group
As Director of the Retirement Plan Division, I specialize in the efficiency and compliance of Qualified and Nonqualified Retirement Plans. In 2020, I earned the Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor (CPFA®) designation. Advisors who earn their CPFA demonstrate specialized knowledge to act as a plan fiduciary or help plan fiduciaries manage their roles and responsibilities.
Closing Remarks by
ALAN MALLORY
Project Management in Climbing Mount Everest
Alan is an international speaker, author and performance coach who is passionate about leadership and reaching new heights in all that we do! His unique philosophy of life revolves around empowering people and embracing an agile mentality focused on goals and results. By understanding what drives and motivates us, we are able to cultivate more innovative and effective ways of thinking and taking action.
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