NJCPA Virtual Convention (E2106010)

Jordan D. Amin, CPA is a tax partner at EisnerAmper LLP with more than 15 years of experience in both public and private accounting. He has a unique blend of expertise in tax, auditing, business consulting, financial planning and forensic accounting. His expertise includes the review of corporate, individual, partnership and fiduciary tax returns. He advises the owners of closely held companies on the management and growth of all phases of their business, from tax planning to the successful transition of management to subsequent generations in family owned businesses. He has experience in a wide variety of industries including distribution, manufacturing, retail, financial services, real estate and construction. Mr. Amin has advised his clients on exit strategies and worked closely on the sale of several of his clients’ businesses. He is a graduate of Boston University, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA). Jordan is the Immediate Past Chair of the AICPA’s National CPA Financial Literacy Commission, an initiative to improve personal financial education in the United States, and is Chair of the NJCPA’s Strategic Planning Committee. He is also Treasurer of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.

Kiley is an accounting manager at LeaseQuery. She started her career as an auditor at Arthur Andersen and became a CPA certified in the state of Georgia. From there, she moved into accounting roles of increasing responsibility in companies across multiple industries including healthcare, transportation, media and manufacturing. In her most recent role as assistant controller, Kiley led the IFRS 16 implementation team for a global manufacturing company.

Sam is the national director of channel of sales for CallTower. In this capacity, he brings years of channel experience to CallTower, where his leadership drives sales and business development initiatives. Sam has extensive experience in the communications industry, with a strong focus in national and international hosted voice, unified communications and contact center solutions. His innovative leadership and management practices create customized opportunities to close business. His passion is delivering tailored cloud strategies and direction to customers, which improves their overall business productivity, and meeting the growing demands of CallTower’s channel sales partnerships.

Ryan is a senior manager in the accounting and advisory group at Mazars USA LLP. He has over eight years of experience providing accounting, tax, financial planning and advisory services to individuals and businesses in the professional services industry. His clients include law firms, food and beverage, textile and linen, manufacturing and distribution and other specialized, service-related professions. He has a substantial background in income tax planning, accounting services, costs savings, profitability studies and value-added consultation. He is also a member of the NJCPA Emerging Leaders Council, and a mentor through the NJCPA mentor program.

An influential journalist in New Jersey for more than two decades, Tom is the founder, editor and co-owner of ROI-NJ, a digital and print outlet covering the world of business and politics in New Jersey that he helped launch in the fall of 2017. The 25-year veteran of journalism, who previously worked at The Star-Ledger, Yahoo! and NJBIZ, has established himself as one of the most well-known and trusted sources for business leaders, industry heads and government officials in the state by building a reputation of being fair and thorough in his reporting and presentation. Bergeron is a graduate of the University of Virginia.

Gary is CEO of Boomer Consulting, Inc., which provides planning and consulting services to leading accounting firms. Gary, a 2011 CPA Practice Advisor Top 25 Thought Leader, is recognized in the accounting profession as the leading authority on technology and firm management. For more than a decade, he has been named by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting. Gary is also a past president of the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) Council and the accounting advisory board at Kansas State University. He is the past chairman of the AICPA’s Information Technology Executive Committee and has served on the AICPA’s Academic and Career Development Executive Committee. Gary is the creator of and a facilitator for The Boomer Technology Circles.™

Jim is a partner at WithumSmith+Brown, where he serves as director of firm technology and managing director of advisory services. He is a frequent speaker at many international accounting and trade associations, such as the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and state CPA societies, as well as industry technology organizations, incubators, accelerators and others on topics specifically related to various accounting, technology, practice management and advisory services. Jim is also global advisory and technology leader for HLB International. He is a past president of the NJCPA and past board and council member for the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants.

Mitch is president of Unionwear, a company he started in 1992 with six sewers and a contract to make baseball hats for Ralph Lauren. Unionwear is now one of the largest private employers of Newark residents, with contracts to manufacture accessories for every branch of the armed services, every Democratic candidate for president and brands, such as Vineyard Vines and Supreme. In 2016, Mitch won the New Jersey Manufacturing Lifetime Achievement Award from NJBIA and was named to NJBIZ magazine's 50 most powerful people in New Jersey Manufacturing. He is on the board of Newark Regional Business Partnership, NJ Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Newark Workforce Development Board, where he has served as chairman.

Scott joined Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. in 1990, and has held a variety of investment roles at the firm over the past 34 years. His career began in international equities, where he was an analyst and portfolio manager of European and Asian equities, working out of the firm’s New York and London offices. He since broadened his responsibilities into domestic equity management and research, and managed the New York office of the firm’s Private Wealth Management business. In 2010 he was appointed Chief Investment Strategist, and is today one of the firm’s primary writers and speakers on topics related to the economy, financial markets and investing. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, and a member of the New York Society of Security Analysts and the CFA Institute. Scott serves on the boards of the Morgan Library and the Grolier Club in New York City, as well as the board of the Research Corporation for Science and the Journal of the History of Ideas.

Colin is one of the busiest performers on the planet. Regularly performing to over 300 audiences a year, he's no stranger to adapting his material and content to ensure that it is perfectly suited to an event and audience. He has written and performed bespoke material for his own one-man shows, Broadway productions and TV shows around the world. Not only is he unique, but so is the way in which he presents everything he does. Originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, Colin now performs nightly in the Mirage Resort and Casino with sleight of hand expert Shin Lim. Colin was accepted to study forensic investigation at the age of 15 at the university in Glasgow, specializing in criminal profiling. He eventually decided his love of live performing was the route he wanted to explore. His audiences ultimately become the stars of his show.

Tom has worked at the intersection of accounting, finance, education, technology and decision making for over 25 years. Based on these experiences, Tom founded CPE University to provide accounting and finance professionals with quality certification review courses and “cutting edge” continuing professional education (CPE) programs. Prior to founding CPE University, Tom was a founding partner and vice president of client services for FirstQuarter, Inc., a performance management consultancy. He is a Business Fellow and the associate director of the Center for Business Analytics at the Villanova University School of Business, where he also teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in accounting and analytics.

Melissa is the founder and managing member of MD Advisory, a boutique forensic firm. She has an extensive background in forensic accounting, data analytics, and cash flow analyses, as well as in diagnosing and remediating business problems. Melissa is a member of several NJCPA interest groups, including the Cannabis Interest Group, the Student Loan Debt Task Force and the Emerging Leaders Council.

Nicole M. DeRosa is a tax partner with Wiss in Florham Park, NJ and has more than 15 years of public accounting experience, specializing in taxation for closely held businesses and individuals. In addition to working with clients in an array of industries, she was also an adjunct professor at Raritan Valley Community College, where she taught Tax Accounting for Individuals for four years.

Ms. DeRosa is a member of the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants and is active on the Content Advisory Board and Federal Taxation Interest Group; she is currently a member of the Board of Trustees. In 2019, she was awarded the “Women to Watch” Ovation Award, which applauds the growth and success of female members for their leadership, potential, contributions, and commitment to fostering the success of their colleagues. In 2022, she was awarded the “Impact” Ovation Award, which recognizes those who exhibit exemplary efforts and stellar achievement in advancing the interests and needs of New Jersey’s accounting profession through active engagement, leadership, and advocacy. Ms. DeRosa was also named to the 2022 edition of the NJ BIZ Power 50 List for the third year in a row; this list accounts for the most influential men and women in the accounting profession that helps to keep the states’ business on track. In Nicole’s spare time, she enjoys staying active at the gym, volunteering at the local animal shelter, and is active in various charitable organizations, such as St. Jude.

Ms. DeRosa is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, with degrees in accountancy and a Master of Science in Accountancy.

Kerry is a supervisor with WilkinGuttenplan where she has worked since graduating Ramapo College of New Jersey. In this capacity, she specializes in various accounting services for clients in the real estate industry. Kerry has a concentration in yellow book audits for low-income housing tax credit projects as well as HUD subsidized properties. She is an active member of the NJCPA, including being a member of the Emerging Leaders Council as well as a chapter volunteer for the Bergen Chapter Board of Directors. She serves on numerous NJCPA interest groups, including the Emerging Leaders Interest Group, the Student Programs & Scholarships Committee and the Accounting & Auditing Standards Interest Group. In 2019, Kerry won the “Women to Watch” Ovation Award and in 2020, she attended the American Institute of CPA’s 2020 Leadership Academy.

Eleanor Galt-Lin, CFP®, is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and a Senior Vice President in the financial industry in New Jersey. She serves individuals and small business owners, often working closely with the CPAs and lawyers. After completing the rigorous requirements to attain her CFP® designation, Eleanor pursued even more advanced coursework in the area of Social Security benefits and Medicare. With 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day during the next two decades, Eleanor believes it’s crucial for clients to understand their Social Security benefits.[1] She is a frequent speaker on Social Security and Medicare to various groups, including professionals such as CPAs and lawyers.   Eleanor graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Economics, and attained her CFP® designation in February 2012. A native of New Jersey, Eleanor loves to golf and scuba dive in her spare time.  

Julius is a retired tax partner and regional tax leader for the Philadelphia tax services group at Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP. With nearly 30 years of experience working with tax-exempt organizations, Julius provides consultation on tax compliance and consulting matters that impact the firm's non-for-profit, healthcare, senior living, higher education, membership organization, social clubs and private foundation clients. He retired from Baker Tilly in June 2019 and is currently a part-time Business Fellow with the Villanova School of Business Department of Accountancy. Julius is also an associate diversity coach which qualifies him to provide executive coaching to individuals around issues of diversity.

Jay is currently a partner at SRG Advisors, LLC. He began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Legg Mason and BDO Seidman, where he worked mainly in financial services and various departments. He has been serving clients in accounting, tax and auditing at various Fortune 500 companies as well as local businesses and organizations. Jay specializes in and devotes a substantial amount of his time consulting and planning with clients in the real estate and not-for profit industries. He is also the leader of the firm's New Business Formation and the Credits & Incentives programs. He provides tax and consulting advice to many of the firm's individual and small business clients as well as works on the firm’s financial statement audits, Part Time CFO program, and estate and trust issues. Jay was a certified EMT in the US and Israel, but is currently a non-active member.

Tate has always been obsessed with problem-solving. It led him to Polay+Clark and now co-founding Arc Management. Whether it’s helping design a proprietary royalty database, integrating a cloud-based merchandise fulfillment system for a Grammy-Winner or running a Net Present Value calculation on a contract proposal for an NBA All-Star, he’s yet to come across a problem he can’t solve. Tate brings this love of efficiency to the cloud accounting landscape via custom-curated ecosystems for his clients. This results in additional free time for his passion in music and quality time with his wife and two young daughters.

Theresa is the chief operating officer of the NJCPA. She oversees the management of all programs that support the organization's strategic plan, mission and objectives. Theresa provides overall staff supervision as they work to achieve the organization's goals and objectives. She also manages all aspects of budgeting and resource requirements. Theresa has been with the organization for more than 15 years. Prior to her role as COO, Theresa worked with NJCPA chapters, committees and interest groups as director of member engagement.

Barry has over 30 years of professional accounting experience and works in Withum's New York office. He is the team leader of Withum’s Tax Services State and Local Tax Group and advises clients in residency and nexus issues, entity level taxes, sales and use taxes and other business and personal tax matters. He also counsels clients in strategic planning, transaction reviews, risk assessment, tax law compliance and corporate restructuring. As an active member of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) and the NJCPA, he lectures on tax issues to chapters and to organizations including Baruch College and CW Post College. He is a current member of the NYSSCPA’s Multistate & Local Taxation Committee and served as chairman in prior years. He is also a member of the NJCPA’s State Taxation Interest Group. He was formerly an appointed member of the Commissioner’s Advisory Council for both the NYS Department of Taxation & Finance and the NYC Department of Finance. He is a contributor for The Trusted Professional as well as several other industry and professional publications. He was also a former editor of The CPA Journal.

Chaim is is a director at Goldstein Lieberman & Company LLC, with over 40 years of accounting and taxation experience. Specializing in state and local taxation issues, he advises clients on income tax and sales tax matters and represents them before the Internal Revenue Service and various states on tax audits and appeals. He also counsels multistate and multinational clients regarding Federal, state and local taxation. In addition, he provides comprehensive accounting services to businesses and ultra-high-net worth individuals and families. Chaim is a member of the American Institute of CPAs; the New York State Society of CPAs, where he served as past committee chair of the New York, Multistate & Local Taxation Committee and is a member of the International Taxation Committee; and the NJCPA, where he is a past leader of the State Taxation Interest Group.

Phil is a valued partner emeritus in the tax services group of Wiss & Company, LLP, specializing in state and local tax (SALT) issues. A respected industry leader, Phil speaks on various topics including economic development incentives, state, local and multistate income tax as well as sales tax matters. As the former chair of the New York State Society of CPAs' (NYSSCPA) New York, Multistate, and Local Tax Committee, he has extensive contacts with tax professionals and administrators throughout the U.S. Phil currently serves on the NYSSCPA Legislative Task Force and is also the chair of the Tax Division Oversight Committee and is on the Board of Directors of the NYSSCPA. Most recently, Phil has worked with New York State Legislative members and staff to assist in passing tax and administrative laws that aid the profession. He was instrumental in the effort to allow electronic signatures on authorizations and has been working on pass through entity taxes and credits in the current New York budget.

Jeff Mechanick is Assistant Director for Nonpublic Entities at the FASB. In that role, he provides strategic and technical oversight of all activities involving not-for-profit (NFP) organizations and private companies, chairs the FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee, oversees support of the Private Company Council, and participates in some of the FASB’s broader outreach activities. He is also a member of the Technical Advisory Group of the International Financial Reporting for Nonprofit Organizations initiative (#IFR4NPO).

Jeff has also been the overall lead staff member for the Blue-Ribbon Panel on Standard Setting for Private Companies and the FASB/IASB Financial Crisis Advisory Group.

Prior to joining the FASB staff in 2006, Jeff spent 20 years working in and with the not-for-profit sector, as the CFO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc., and before that, as a Senior Manager with KPMG, LLP, in the firm’s New York office. From 1992 to 1994, he served as the National Technical Senior Manager for the firm’s Higher Education, Research, and Other Not-for-Profit Organizations (HERON) practice. He is also a past member of the AICPA’s NFP Expert Panel. Jeff received his MBA from Rutgers University and his AB from the University of Chicago, and he is a member of the AICPA and the New York State Society of CPAs. He is also an adjunct instructor in Columbia University’s MS program in Nonprofit Management.

Barry is the president and chief executive officer at the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). As head of the largest body of CPAs in the world, Melancon is called upon to represent the Institute with state, national and international organizations and is sought after by key opinion leaders for his expertise. Under Melancon, the Institute has spearheaded a number of initiatives designed to benefit not only the profession, but also investors, business owners, lenders and the general public. These include audit quality centers; an Audit Committee Effectiveness Center; private company reporting standards; eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL); the computerized CPA Exam; and two consumer financial literacy education programs. Under Melancon’s leadership, the AICPA and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) developed a joint venture to establish the Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) designation to elevate management accounting globally.

Thomas is a man of many facets. As an executive coach, he has 20 years of experience working with top tier global companies in the telecommunications, chemical, medical device and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industries. He has worked to facilitate change at the top level of global corporations, working with clients in North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Central Europe, the Middle East, Russia and Asia. Thomas is also a comedian, improviser, actor and writer. He studied acting in the William Esper Studio’s Two Year Meisner Training Program, completed the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch and improv programs, and was accepted into the advanced improv training curriculum there. He has also performed stand-up comedy at various top tier New York City comedy club showcases.

Don is the chief marketing officer of the NJCPA, responsible for setting the vision, strategy and direction for the organization’s marketing, communications and membership campaigns and for driving the success of a deep and broad swath of organizational initiatives. Functional areas of accountability include digital assets (web, social media, email), content and news distribution (including the organization’s flagship publication, New Jersey CPA), membership, media relations, public relations, next generation recruitment, executive communications and internal communications. He also oversees graphic design, market research, and advocacy and legislative communications. Don came to the NJCPA from the Craft & Hobby Association, where he was director of marketing and public relations.

Anthony Mongeluzo, CEO of PCS, is a serial entrepreneur and founder of a 250-person IT-managed services and support firm called PCS. Anthony is also the founder or a partner in eight other companies, four of which are in the IT sector. Anthony is Fox 29’s on-air “Tech Guy” and appears locally and nationally on TV. Anthony also writes for numerous publications and speaks on various topics, including technology, cyber security, and entrepreneurship. Anthony lives in Southampton, NJ, with his wife, Shelly, and daughters, Ally and Ashley.

Chuck is the northeast manager of channel sales for CallTower, where he focuses on developing channels and strategic partnerships to improve CallTower’s premier solutions. As a proven leader in the development and growth of sales channels, he has an exceptional track record in channel business models. His passion is delivering tailored cloud strategies and direction to customers, which improves their overall business communications requirements. Chuck has extensive experience in the communications industry, with a strong focus in Microsoft Office, hosted voice and UC solutions.

Rachel is a technical accounting manager at LeaseQuery. Her experience includes working in the audit practice at Ernst & Young (EY), where she served clients across a wide variety of industries in both the public and private sectors.

John Reitmeyer is the budget and finance writer with NJ Spotlight News and covers the annual New Jersey budget, the public-employee pension system, tax policy and more. He has received numerous honors and awards including most recently first-place recognition from the New Jersey Press Association for specialty writing in 2020. He has appeared as a guest on CNN, CBC, Fox, MSNBC, and News 12 New Jersey, and now analyzes tax and budget issues on a regular basis for NJ Spotlight News' evening broadcasts. Mr. Reitmeyer received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from The College of New Jersey.

Jason is a principal at Withum in the state and local tax practice in New York. He has over 10 years of experience, within state and local tax at large international accounting firms. As a specialist, he provides compliance, provision and consulting services for a wide array of clients within a mixed industry base, which includes manufacturing, bioscience, real estate and technology. His practice areas include multi-state income tax planning, business compliance, nexus considerations, income tax accounting, group filings, state apportionment, personal residency and audit defense. Jason is the leader of the NJCPA State Taxation Interest Group. He is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs and is licensed as an Enrolled Agent by the Internal Revenue Service.

Rhonda Schaffler is the anchor of NJ Business Beat, a weekly business program on NJ PBS that takes an in-depth look at the stories, trends and influencers shaping New Jersey's business landscape, featuring insight from industry experts. She also serves as the business correspondent on NJ Spotlight News with Briana Vanozzi, providing a nightly recap of the day's business and economic news. Prior to working at NJ PBS, she covered global business and economic stories while reporting and anchoring for CNN, Reuters and Bloomberg.

Chris is a senior financial adviser with Wealth Enhancement Group. He has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry in the areas of accounting and financial planning, and is well-versed in the financial challenges faced by most individuals. Chris has also authored articles on financial planning, divorce and the financial markets. He was the 2018/19 president of the NJCPA Middlesex/Somerset Chapter and is currently the leader of the Business & Industry Interest Group. Chris is also a member of the Financial Planning Association.

Alan is the managing partner of SobelCo, where he is responsible for facilitating the strategic direction and the day-to-day management of the firm. He provides expertise on financial reporting, tax planning for businesses and high net worth individuals and strategic business planning. He has considerable experience with mergers and acquisitions and delivers added value working with clients on sourcing deals, negotiating and structuring transactions, financial and business due diligence and transaction financing. Alan is the 2020/21 president of the NJCPA. He developed the concept for the Pass-Through Business Alternative Income Tax Act and played the lead role in writing the legislation and making it fit within New Jersey’s tax structure. He is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). He is the former chairman of the NJCPA Audit Committee and was a former vice president and trustee of the NJCPA and a past president of its Essex Chapter and has served on various committees. Alan was a former adjunct professor of taxation and frequently lectures.

Philip C. Sookram, CPA, MAcc, is a professor at Saint Peter’s University (Jersey City, New Jersey). He is a tenure-track Accounting professor with broad-based experience in performing audits of financial statements and preparing tax returns for public accounting firms, specifically in the real estate development, renewable energy, and non-for-profit industries. He was the recipient of a 2020 NJCPA Ovation Award in the Emerging Leader category in recognition of exemplary efforts and stellar achievement in advancing New Jersey’s Accounting profession.

Professor Sookram received his B.B.A. from the University of Miami in 2012 (major in accounting, minor in finance), and his MAcc in Financial Accounting from Rutgers Business School – New Brunswick and Newark in 2017. He is a licensed CPA in the State of New York since 2016.

Heather is vice president of Sales Operations for the ADP Accountant Channel. With a career spanning two decades, Heather steadily progressed through the global human resources and payroll company, moving from district sales manager and corporate sales trainer to her current position. Throughout her career with ADP, she has leveraged her expertise in roles that take advantage of her competencies in sales, human resources, benefits administration, talent management and talent acquisition. This encompasses internal associate and leader engagement to drive results, as well as well as a high level of interaction with the accountant community. Heather is sought after nationwide to lead speaking engagements such as interactive workshops to foster attendees’ personal and professional development. She has coached thousands of professionals on improving selling and overall communications skills. She is also a board member of the Hope for Children Foundation.

Marc is the chief innovation & information officer at Boomer Consulting, Inc. In this capacity, he helps meet the growing needs of CPA firms by leveraging his experience to provide strategic technology assessments, planing, visioning and coaching. A firm believer that technology should be an enabler – something that’s approachable, aligned with and integral to the success of each firm, Marc is known for his ability to create and articulate corporate vision and move teams to embrace it. He is a regular speaker, author and panelist on technology in the accounting profession, cloud computing, mobile tecnology, leadership and vision. Prior to joining Boomer, he was principal and chief information officer (CIO) at CohnReznick.

Sean is an expert and sought-after speaker, focusing on the intersection of financial services, blockchain and cryptocurrencies. He is a regular contributor to IBM’s Blockchain Unleashed website, analyzing applications for blockchain technology on business at large, as well as being a regular expert guest on China Global TV Network discussing blockchain and related applications. Sean is a member of the Advisory Board for the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance, which coordinates with the AICPA in developing standards and reporting frameworks in this emerging area. Sean continuously works with, and consults for, the AICPA and several professional training organizations in the creation and delivery of blockchain and cryptocurrency related content. He is currently under contract to publish two books focusing on blockchain applications for financial services and other industry sectors. Sean is the host of the NJCPA TechTalk Podcast, a past leader of the NJCPA Emerging Technologies Interest Group and a member of the NJCPA Board of Trustees. He is a professor at the City University of New York - Lehman College.

Ralph is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. He was appointed to AICPA’s National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and the AICPA Foundation Board. Ralph is a former national and chapter president of the National Association of Black Accountants, was chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s State Society Relations Committee and is a member of the accounting advisory boards of Lehigh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Montclair State, Felician and Thomas Edison universities and Middlesex County College. In January 2018, he was invited by Senate President Steve Sweeney to join his bipartisan Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group. Additionally, Ralph was selected for the last eight years by Accounting Today as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.”

Amin is vice president and chief product owner for DataCloud, ADP's Big Data and Analytics platform. He is responsible for driving growth and product innovation in ADP's people analytics and data-as-a-service portfolio built on top of the 30M+ US workers ADP pays monthly. He has been a practitioner and developer of analytics for over 15 years. His thinking on how data and machine learning shapes the future of work has appeared in Harvard Business Review. Amin holds a Master in Data Science from UC Berkeley as well as a BSE and BAS from the University of Pennsylvania, where he has a Management and Technology scholar.

Michele is the tax manager at Dassault Falcon Jet Corp. In this capacity, she covers a range of tax topics, from income and sales taxes to VAT and aviation excise taxes. Prior to entering the private sector, Michele was in public accounting focusing on corporate taxes and state and local tax issues. She is the chairwoman of the NJCPA State Tax Interest Group and participates in the Director's Work Group. Michele also actively participates in the Global Business Alliance.

Amanda has a computer science background but she’s not your average geek. With two decades of technology experience, she has spent more than 11 years driving change and process improvement through innovative technology solutions working across firms of varying sizes in the public accounting industry. She is a recognized industry expert who regularly speaks and writes on blockchain and cryptocurrency and its impact on the profession. Amanda volunteers her time and experience to an organization that works with impoverished young adults.

Luke joined New York University Stern School of Business in 2012 as the executive director of the W.R. Berkley Innovation Lab and clinical associate professor of Marketing and Entrepreneurship and was previously an adjunct professor. Luke is also a Fellow at frog design. He is a leading consultant, educator and speaker specializing in disruptive innovation. Luke is the author of Disrupt: Think the Unthinkable to Spark Transformation in Your Business. For more than a decade, he has worked internationally with industry leaders such as American Express, GE, Sony, Crocs, Virgin, Disney and Hewlett-Packard to develop new products, services and brands. Luke is routinely invited to speak worldwide, and his views have been featured in Bloomberg Businessweek and Fast Company and on National Public Radio (NPR).

Melanie is the executive director of the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC). Named one of New Jersey’s most influential economic development leaders in 2021, she is no stranger to the New Jersey business community. Before joining the NJBAC in 2018, Melanie served as the chief government affairs officer of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA).A seasoned government relations strategist, Melanie has worked with state and local levels of government as an advocate for businesses of all sizes. Prior to joining NJBIA, she served as the president and CEO of the New Jersey Retail Merchants Association, a statewide retail business organization representing over 3,500 stores. Her personal motto, “I’m from state government and I’m here to help," reflects her commitment to aiding New Jersey business owners.

Harry is a partner with Bowman & Company LLP in Voorhees and the Immediate Past President of the NJCPA. Harry's area of focus is in taxation and the audits of employee benefit plans. His clients include law firms, insurance agencies, construction and manufacturing corporations, wholesalers and distributors, hotels and investment entities. Harry is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs (PICPA). He was a former adjunct instructor at Drexel University LeBow College of Business and Rutgers – Camden. He is also a board member and finance chair of Symphony in C and was a past president of the Voorhees Gibbsboro Rotary Club.

David is a senior managing director at Whitman Business Advisors, LLC. In this capacity, he ensures the success of his team as well as creates and delivers coaching and training programs that will help clients reach their goals. He has been an entrepreneur and a guide for entrepreneurs throughout his adult life. After graduation from the University of Arizona, David started A Bridgewater Copy and Print. Remaining within the printing industry for the next 17 years, David next started In A Bind, and merged his operation with Action Fast Print. Action Fast Print became the second largest quick printer in New Jersey for 2002 -2004, according to NJBIZ.

Anthony is a tax manager at Smolin Lupin & Co., P.A., where he has over eight years of experience assisting closely-held businesses and high net worth individuals. He compares and reviews complex tax returns and provides tax saving strategies and tax consulting services. Anthony also handles the operational needs for a wide variety of industries, such as real estate, high net worth individuals and medical practices. He also works closely with Smolin Wealth Advisors and Premier Lifestyle Services, which enables him to provide clients with a greater array of financial services.

Tony brings more than 40 years of experience working with hundreds of organizations on strategy, growth, leadership and organizational performance. He provides consulting services to accounting firms ranging in size from $3 million to over $150 million and has extensive speaking and writing experience, authoring two books, The Performance Power Grid and Leading from the Edge. Prior to retiring in 2015, he was the managing partner of the consulting practice of CohnReznick, responsible for strategy, growth, profitability and talent. When he retired, the consulting practice had revenue of $70 million, 24 partners and over 250 staff, compared with $1.5 million revenue with five employees when he started.

Ed is a partner with the firm of Thomas, Zollars & Lynch, Ltd, in Phoenix, Arizona, and specializes in tax issues for closely held businesses and individuals. He has served on committees with the American Institute of CPAs' (AICPA) Tax Section and currently serves on the Arizona Society of CPAs' (ASCPA) legislative tax liaison committee. Ed has published tax podcasts on tax matters and is currently producing the weekly audio and video for the Current Federal Tax Developments podcast on current tax matters for Kaplan Financial Education and the related blog with regular tax updates throughout the week. Along with writing, editing and presenting courses for the past 15 years, Ed has written articles published in Practical Tax Strategies and The Tax Adviser. He is a frequent contributor to a number of online professional tax discussion groups, including the NJCPA Member Open Forum.