Our presenters for 2026 are being lined up, you'll find them here soon. We appreciate all of your praise and feedback from 2025, which was our highest rated and best attended Ensuring Success to date - so you've set the bar very high!
Our 2025 Moderators
Gail Perry, CPA
She is also the creator of Ensuring Success, a unique annual conference that brings leaders of the profession together to offer continuing professional education to thousands of accountants from the comfort of their own offices or homes. Gail is a member of the AICPA’s PFS Credential Task Force, and the creator of a workshop for CPA.com designed to help tax accountants advance their practices to include personal financial planning services. Gail also maintains a small tax practice where she serves real estate agents and performing artists, and she has taught an online financial planning course for more than 10 years. Gail is a graduate of Indiana University where she earned her bachelor's degree in journalism. After returning to school to study accounting at Illinois State University, Gail earned her CPA and worked for Deloitte's Chicago office as a state and local tax specialist. She is a former tax columnist for the Indianapolis Star newspaper, has been a community college adjunct accounting professor, and was on staff for 10 years at the Indiana CPA Society as a computer applications instructor. Gail was the publisher and editor-in-chief of AccountingWEB before joining the CPA Practice Advisor team.
Alexandra DeFelice
Alexandra has more than 25 years of diverse business development, coaching, and communications experience. Prior to joining JMBM, she served as Director of Marketing and Business Development for a midsize law firm in Orange County, and worked at a large regional firm in Portland, Oregon, where she served as a business development manager for two of the firm’s six core industry groups, driving strategy, writing business plans, and contributing to year-over-year revenue growth. She previously served as senior manager for the North American headquarters of an international group of accounting firms and worked as a journalist for the first decade of her career in New York and California.
She is a frequent speaker and moderator at legal and accounting seminars, utilizing her journalism background to drill into important issues and translate technical concepts into easily understandable information.
Our 2025 Presenters
Vicky Basile, CPA, PMP
Aaron Berson, CPA
Jason Blumer, CPA
Jim Buttonow, CPA, CITP
Jim has been an IRS partner in improving IRS operations and post-filing service to taxpayers. Jim served as chairperson of the IRS Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee (ETAAC) in 2015 and 2016 during which ETAAC played a central role in promoting the IRS digital strategy to develop transformative technology solutions to systemic challenges in tax administration. Jim also served as the North Carolina representative on the IRS’ Taxpayer Advocacy Panel (TAP) from 2020-2022.
Jim regularly speaks on areas of tax administration and problem solving to national associations and has testified before Congress in areas of tax administration. He has also published many articles in industry publications. In his articles, Jim focuses on delivering practical insights, advocating for IRS transparency and efficiency, and proposing innovative large-scale solutions for taxpayers and tax professionals.
Jim currently authors the Tax Problems and Solutions Handbook, a publication aimed at helping tax pros work more effectively in post-filing matters and resolving their clients’ most common tax problems, and the IRS Collection Solutions Handbook, which focuses on practical step-by-step solutions to all types of IRS tax debt issues. Jim can be reached at Jim@buttonowcpa.com or at his website at http://buttonowcpa.com .
David Cieslak, CPA.CITP, CGMA
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.
Jin Chang
Ellen Choi
Todd Cooper
Todd joined the CPA.com team (an AICPA company) with an extensive leadership background at some of the most recognized technology providers in the accounting and finance industry. As Director of Channels he oversees the execution of the CPA.com channel strategy that focuses on developing, maintaining, and expanding relationships and contributions across the entire channel network. Todd collaborates with strategic partners to create and implement a mutually beneficial channel partner program that supports awareness, engagement, marketing, and revenue goals. This includes firm associations, industry alliances and networks, state societies, and industry thought leaders. Todd has been a featured speaker throughout his career in practice management, technology, and FinTech.
He lives outside Houston, TX where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, is active on multiple youth sports boards, and serves as an alumnus advisor for the college of business for his alma mater.
Randy Crabtree, CPA
You can find articles from Randy in Accounting Today's Voices column, the AICPA Tax Adviser, CPA Trendlines, Intuit Accountants TaxPro Center and he is a regular presenter at conferences and training events hosted by national accounting associations, state CPA societies and other industry associations.
In May 2022 Randy was appointed, for a 3-year term, to the Intuit Tax Council. Prior to starting Tri-Merit, Crabtree was managing partner of a CPA firm in the greater Chicago area. He has more than 35 years of public accounting and tax consulting experience in a wide variety of industries and has worked closely with top executives to help them optimize their tax planning strategies.
He lives outside Houston, TX where he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, is active on multiple youth sports boards, and serves as an alumnus advisor for the college of business for his alma mater.
Brian Davis, CPA, CFE
He is also the creator of The Growth Lab for Accountants, a community and training platform that helps small-firm practitioners implement scalable systems, automation, and AI-driven tools to modernize their firms. A frequent speaker at events such as AICPA Engage and Digital CPA, Brian is passionate about helping accountants work smarter, scale faster, and serve clients better. He also serves on the board of a South Florida housing nonprofit.
Michael T. Dillon, Esquire
With over 30 years of state and local tax experience, including 17 with his own firm, Mike has both public accounting and private industry expertise. Mike began his career as a tax attorney for a multi-billion dollar international communications company, which he successfully represented in over fifty sales and transaction tax audits before state tax authorities around the country, resulting in savings exceeding $20Million. He also defined the tax billing rules for the company’s residential and commercial billing platforms.
Mike is a nationally renowned lecturer / author on sales and transaction tax topics, for the AICPA, Avalara, MdACPA, Strafford Publications, and the Center for Professional Education. Mike’s articles and interviews on sales tax have been published in Bloomberg BNA’s Weekly Tax Report, Tax Analysts’ State Tax Notes, CCH’s Journal of State Taxation, the Financial Accounting & Management Report and Baltimore Business Journal.
Felecia Dixson, EA, ATA
As an Enrolled Agent and Accredited Tax Advisor, Felecia brings technical expertise, real-world insight, and practical strategies to every stage she graces. Known for her engaging and approachable style, she equips professionals with tools to overcome client challenges, build stronger practices, and achieve greater work-life balance. Felecia’s mission is simple: to inspire, educate, and transform the way tax professionals serve their clients.
Sean Duncan, CPA
CPAs across the United States possess so much valuable knowledge about business, finances, AND taxes; but all too often they shy away from sharing their wisdom in a timely and actionable manner.
Over the last 25+ years, Sean has accumulated a diverse and unique set of credentials and knowledge that he shares through speaking at conferences and events, in private seminars, one on one with clients, and with his very talented team at SMD.
A recognized expert on comprehensive financial and business strategy, Sean M. Duncan, CPA has been a speaker at AccountingWeb Live, Insightful Accountant’s Future Forward, Scaling New Heights, and many other conferences. He is a member of ADP’s Accountant Advisory Council, and Ignitions Client Council.
He has contributed to Intuit’s Accountant blog, and is a frequent contributor to articles in The Dallas Morning News, Insightful Accountant and other publications and has made numerous appearances as a TV or radio show guest, and often speaks at conferences across the United States.
Todd M. Gray, CPA
Rob Hamilton
Andrew Hatfield
Kacee Johnson, NACD.CD
Kacee serves as an independent board member and innovation partner, bringing deep expertise in go-to-market strategy, product positioning and emerging tech adoption. She is NACD Directorship Certified™, demonstrating advanced proficiency in corporate governance, strategic oversight, and leadership for high-growth companies in the $10–300M ARR range.
Deeply embedded in the fintech ecosystem, Kacee spent 7 years building the AICPA/CPA.com Startup Accelerator and recently completed Harvard Business School's Executive Program for Private Equity and Venture Capital, expanding her focus into the private capital space.
Based in Southern California with her husband and daughter, Kacee is committed to mentoring emerging leaders, advocating for women in technology, and supporting environmental preservation through community beach cleanups.
Al-Nesha Jones, CPA, MBA, MOM
She is currently a Participant in the ProConnect Customer Council for Intuit Inc., 2021 – 2024, a member of the Intuit Trainer/Writer Network, an inaugural member of the CHIP Professionals Council (CHIP is bridging the gap between consumers of financial products and financial professionals of color), a member of the National Society of Black CPAs (NSBCPA), a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), and a mentor at her high school (Saint Vincent Academy) and college (Montclair State University) alma maters. Outside of being a self-proclaimed 'cool mom', her biggest accomplishment to date has been creating rewarding career opportunities for her team members that mirror the opportunities she didn’t have when she left her corporate career. She currently leads a 100% female team, where they have flexibility in both their schedule and work location, to ensure they can prioritize all of the nouns that bring them joy.
Roman Kepczyk, CPA.CITP, CGMA, PAFM
Roman was named by INSIDE Public Accounting as one of the profession’s Most Recommended Consultants from 2005 through 2022, CPA Practice Advisor’s Top 25 Thought Leaders from 2011 through 2023, and Accounting Today’s Most Influential People in Accounting (17 years and counting). He currently writes for AICPA Professional Insights, Thomson Reuters Audit and Accounting Update, and CPA Practice Advisor.
Kenji Kuramoto
Today, Kenji is an investor, founder, and advisor focused on reimagining the future of the accounting profession. He is the founder of 404 Invests, which makes early-stage investments in Accounting Technology, SaaS, FinTech, and Crypto companies.
Earlier in his career, Kenji served as the CFO of an Inc. 5000 tech company and began his career in the assurance practice at Arthur Andersen.
He has served as a board member or advisor for organizations including The Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Staplehouse/The Giving Kitchen, Refuge Coffee, and Synergies Seed Fund, as well as on advisory councils for Xero, Gusto, FreshBooks, Expensify, Intuit, and Mercury.
Kenji holds an accounting degree from Wake Forest University and has been recognized as an Atlanta Business Chronicle 40 Under 40, TIE Top Entrepreneur, and Hubdoc Top 50 Cloud Accountant.
Terry Lemons
Before joining the IRS in 1998, Lemons worked for 15 years as an award-winning newspaper reporter and editor, including serving as Washington bureau chief of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He covered the White House and Congress for the Little Rock-based newspaper following Bill Clinton’s victory in the 1992 presidential election.
During his government and journalism career, he has conducted hundreds of media interviews, ranging from NBC’s Today Show and the PBS Newshour to dozens of major newspaper and radio outlets. Since leaving government, Lemons has been interviewed by The New York Times, The Associated Press and other publications.
After retiring from the IRS, Lemons has returned to writing, with recent articles appearing in publications including Forbes and The Hill. A St. Louis native, a University of Missouri graduate and a die-hard Cardinals fan, Lemons’ first book – on baseball, not taxes – is scheduled to be published in 2026.
TJ Lewis
Becky Livingston
Her corporate career expanded to non-profits, large companies, and CPA firms. She has supported businesses in the chemical engineering, dot com, and Big Four CPA firm (KPMG) areas. In her management roles, she has been able to bring complex ideas into reality while keeping an eye on the big picture. Becky’s ability to understand the details, estimate the project timelines, and see how each piece of the project can impact others is key to her success.
Her forte is big-picture thinking and strategic management of complex initiatives. But don’t let that scare you. Her technology background has taught her a great deal about project management and what it takes to make projects come to life.
For her, learning is key and sharing that learning is even more powerful. That’s why she attends several events, as well as speaks at conferences across the country ranging from CPA-related conferences and social media forums, to non-profit groups and educational settings.
Vaughan Long, EA
Vaughan has previously taught for the Virginia Society of Enrolled Agents (VASEA), the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), CPA Academy and is currently in his 2nd year as the Director of the VA Tech Income Tax School for whom he has also taught for the past 8 years.
Vaughan has been married for 24 years to his wonderful wife and has 2 great children, a son and a daughter.
Nancy McClelland, CPA
Eric McMillen, Chief Security Architect
Prior to forming The McMillen Group, he was a Manager in both
the Network Security and Infrastructure practice and the National Information
Systems Assurance practice for BDO, LLP, an international accounting and
consulting practice; previously, he was the Chief Technology Officer for an
international consulting firm, specializing in the Accounting and Professional
Services sector.
Lynn Mucenski-Keck, CPA
Lynn provides clients and Withum team members with the latest information on new federal tax legislation and treasury guidance. She offers in-depth analysis on changing legislation, particularly regarding research and experimental expenditures, interest expense limitation rules, and clean energy credits. Additionally, Lynn assists various clients in maximizing clean energy credits and provides strategies to optimize cash flow through the purchase or sale of clean energy credits.
Lynn is a licensed certified public accountant in New York and has a Masters in Taxation. Before joining Withum, Lynn worked for six years at a Big-4 public accounting firm, including a three-year international rotation at a U.S. Corporate tax desk in Brussels, Belgium. She also oversaw the European region for a Fortune 500 global eyecare company and was an Associate Professor at St. John Fisher University. Her diverse background makes her a valuable asset to the Firm and its clients
Patrick Nelson
Byron K. Patrick, CPA
For decades, Byron has been a respected national speaker and writer, translating complex accounting technology topics into practical guidance. As co-founder of TB Academy, Byron equips accountants with generative AI skills, empowering them to become tech-enabled industry leaders. He frequently shares his insights nationwide, making advanced technology approachable and practical for finance professionals. Outside the accounting-tech scene, Byron lives on a horse farm, balancing family, dogs, horses, and a passion for helping accountants redefine their profession.
Kane Polakoff
His wide range of expertise includes strategic visioning and implementation; technology innovation, P&L management, global operations and account management; client accounting advisory services; business process outsourcing, and management consulting. Kane’s experience includes helping businesses restructure and reestablish operational excellence by transforming from a discrete service provider to a value-added integrated solution provider. In addition to working with US companies, he has led business process solutions deployment internationally, including in Australia, China, Europe, India, Israel, Mexico, and the Philippines.
Kane was recently named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting by Accounting Today. His thought leadership has been featured extensively in national publications including Accounting Today, CPA Practice Advisor, and US News & World Report. He has been a featured presenter for key industry organizations including the AICPA, Financial Executives International, Information Technology Alliance, and Digital CPA.
Before joining CohnReznick, Kane was the National Client Accounting Advisory Services (CAAS) Practice Leader for a major public accounting firm.
Jodi Ann Ray, CAE, CCE, IOM
She holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from the University of San Diego, a bachelor’s degree from Fairfield University, and the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She is the immediate past chair of the CPA Society of Executives Association (CPA/SEA) and a past chair of the Texas Society of Association Executives (TSAE).
Jodi Ann currently serves the CPA profession as a member of the Uniform Accountancy Act (UAA) Committee responsible for developing and updating the UAA.
She and her family reside in Celina, Texas.
Nadia Rodriguez, CPA, CTC
She founded the Nadia CPA Inner Circle, a community where tax professionals learn together and solve real client problems. Nadia is also the founder and lead educator of Tax Training Academy, delivering bilingual courses that provide practical, code-based tax education for working pros.
Her background includes contributions within Fortune 500 environments on initiatives that improve practitioner enablement, and modernization across the tax profession. Nadia has presented for organizations including state CPA societies, NATP, the IRS Tax Forum, AICPA Engage, CPA Practice Advisor’s Ensuring Success, Intuit Tax Pro Webinars, Latino Tax Fest, and Telemundo. Recognized as a “20 Under 40” Top Influencer for 2022, she serves her community in English and Spanish with clarity, care, and credibility.
Cathy Rowe
During her time at Wolters Kluwer, she has delivered several award-winning solutions to the audit industry, led multiple contextual design projects, and won the Wolters Kluwer 2019 Global Innovation Award. Rowe was recognized by CPA Practice Advisor as a “40 Under 40” leader in 2013 and has been named by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People for 2024. She holds a patent for a blockchain innovation.
Michael Smith, CPA, Director of Tax, ADP Tax Credits
Leveraging advanced analytics and technology, Michael guides organizations in identifying and maximizing tax credits, grants, and incentives to drive stronger financial results. His unwavering focus on excellence and client success positions him as a trusted advisor for businesses navigating today’s complex and evolving tax environment.
Christine Triantos
Ian Vacin
Michelle Voyer, CPA, MBA
At CohnReznick, Michelle advances the firm’s Client Advisory Services practice by scaling technology and delivery models to enhance efficiency, visibility, and agility across global teams. Her work spans industries including real estate, renewable energy, hospitality, life sciences, professional services, technology, and not-for-profit.
A recognized voice in the profession, Michelle shares insights on AI, automation, and the evolving role of business leaders through frequent speaking engagements, thought leadership, and publications. She is known for her practical, forward-looking approach to change and her ability to translate complex ideas into actionable strategies that deliver lasting results.
Garrett Wagner, CPA.CITP
Garrett works with CPA firms across the country helping them to implement lasting change by understanding the unique needs of each organization.
Garrett specializes in corporate taxation and can successfully implement ideas and change by using his communication style to get support from key members of the Firm. With his ability to think outside the box, develop procedures, and train staff it has allowed Garrett to have tremendous success in bringing about lasting change.
Garrett believes that the public accounting landscape is undergoing a tremendous change and that by focusing on developing the next generation of leaders and understanding the shift in the profession to providing value added consulting services, that Firms can obtain long lasting success.
Started the LinkedIn group Innovating Trailblazers to provide support for the next generation of leaders by allowing them to share ideas, frustrations, and support each other's growth.
Specialties: CPA, CITP specializing in helping business owners achieve personal and professional success.
Diane Yetter, CPA, MST
As a speaker, Diane is frequently asked to present to industry groups concerning sales and use tax issues. As an author, Diane regularly contributes to various publications and has published three books and numerous articles concerning sales and use tax issues. She is also the author of the US Sales Tax Chapter for the IBFD VAT Worldwide Research Database. Diane was invited to testify before the Senate Committee on Finance and Subcommittee twice regarding the impact of the Wayfair decision on small businesses and remote sellers. She has also appeared as an expert witness in legal matters and litigations. She is a board member and Secretary of the Business Advisory Council of the Streamlined Sales Tax Governing Board.
Diane was named in Accounting Today’s 100 Most Influential People in Accounting eight times between 2011 and 2022. As an entrepreneur, she was honored as Woman Business Owner of the Year 2020 and a 2024 Corporate Women of Achievement by the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Chicago Chapter, a 2024 Woman to Watch by the Illinois CPA Society, and a 2024 Female Voice Award by WomELLE. In 2025, she was named the Distinguished Alumna of the KU School of Business where she serves on the Dean’s Advisory Board and is a KU Endowment Association Trustee. She also sits on the Avalara Partner Advisory Board.
Diane earned a BS in accounting and business administration from the University of Kansas in 1985 and a MS in taxation from DePaul University in 1994. Prior to founding the company, Diane was a state and local tax manager in the Chicago office of Arthur Andersen LLP, the sales and use tax director for the Quaker Oats Company, and a sales and use tax auditor for the Kansas Department of Revenue.
Thanks to Our 2025 Sponsors
