Below is the Conference Agenda.
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Wednesday, June 21
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
Join Trimble, Spot the Robot Dog, and Buildingpoint Midwest as we dive into the lifecycle of a construction project managed through technology. From design and preconstruction to reporting after the project is complete, technologies to capture, process, and envision data are advancing rapidly and affecting how the industry operates. Learn about the leading-edge technologies in the industry, what they are, and how they will impact you in the back office.
NICHOLAS DiBITTETO, General Manager, BuildingPoint Midwest
Nick is the general manager of BuildingPoint Midwest and Gulf Coast and is originally from Yorkville, IL. After receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, he spent many years in Indiana as an Executive Salesman.
Outside of work, Nick spends time with his wife Stacey and four children, Majerle, Mykkel, Isabella & Gianni. He also plays a very active role in the Plainfield community where he has resided with his family since 2010. For leisure, Nick enjoys going to sporting events and traveling.
Since 1998, Nick has put in hard work at BuildingPoint. As general manager, he oversees the day-to-day operations of the company, annual budgets, yearly forecasts and has direct oversight into the acquisition of talent.
TODD ELLSWORTH, Director of Professional Services, BuildingPoint Midwest
Todd is the Director of Professional Services for BuildingPoint Midwest and BuildingPoint Gulf Coast. He grew up in Tulsa, OK and studied construction management at Oklahoma State University. For fun, Todd bikes around his hometown of New Orleans to explore the area. He also stays involved in community activities and likes to volunteer at a concert series close to his home.
Since 2013, Todd has overseen BuildingPoint’s virtual design and construction process services. He also supports clients through process discovery and works on the training and implementation support on VDC.
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
Brian Cancian will discuss security issues our clients have brought to us as well as client experiences throughout his 20+ years with Foundation.
BRIAN CANCIAN, Business Development Manager
Foundation Software
Brian began his career with Foundation Software in 1997, as a Client Service Representative. He has held several positions since that time including Implementation Specialist, Client Sales Specialist, and Senior Consultant. Brian remained in his role as a Senior Consultant for 15 years educating clients on FOUNDATION®, performing sales and system demonstrations as well as providing high-level consulting services. In 2018, he transitioned into the role of Product Manager. Utilizing his expansive knowledge of the construction industry and the Foundation Software Family of Products, Brian helped design and oversee the development of company projects.
Last year Brian was elevated to the role of Business Development Manager. He continues to use his experience in the construction industry and the Foundation Software Family of Products to work with software partners across the construction space, creating valuable solutions for customers, while learning about their needs in working with trade organizations.
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
We will review the current state of the industry, some of the challenges we are facing and then dive into what construction companies need to do to adapt and stay profitable in today’s market.
JOHN MEIBERS, VP & GM
Deltek ComputerEase
John Meibers is Vice President and General Manager at Deltek. He has more than 32 years of experience serving the construction industry. John has been a leader at Deltek ComputerEase since 2000 serving over 4,500 contractors nationwide. In today’s rapidly changing, fast-paced world, a big part of John’s role is to ensure that Deltek ComputerEase equips customers with the tools they need to manage profitability, drive growth, and meet construction requirements.
Oriental Room (4th Floor)
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
Biograph Room (4th Floor)
CHRIS MAST, CPA, CCIFP
GBQ (Columbus, Ohio)
Chris joined GBQ in 2011, following graduation from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Chris is a Senior Manager within the Assurance practice, where he serves a variety of clients primarily in the construction, real estate, manufacturing, service, and nonprofit industries. He is also part of the employee benefit plan audit group and has experience managing audits for defined contribution plans.
Chris is a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), the sole accounting certification for construction financial professionals. He is also a 2018 graduate of the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio Rising Leader Institute, in partnership with The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
MATT SMITH, CPA, CCIFP
YHB (Winchester, VA)
Matt joined YHB in 2008 after graduating from Radford University. At YHB, he has focused his efforts on providing assurance and consulting services to private companies in the construction and real estate industries. Through his active participation in industry trade associations and continuous industry specific training and education, Matt has obtained a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of these industries.
As someone who has been actively involved in both the audit and attestation as well as tax services, Matt has a strong understanding of accounting issues that are unique to the industries he serves. He is familiar with their unique accounting and reporting needs, as well as industry benchmarks and best practices. Matt excels at analyzing financial statements and key performance indicators, and advising clients about ways to improve their accounting procedures and internal controls.
To further his commitment to the construction industry, Matt became a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (CCIFPs) in 2018. He is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Associated General Contractors (AGC), the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), National Association of Homebuilders, Construction Financial Management Association and Construction Industry CPAs/Consultants Association. In addition to his active participation, he is also the current Treasurer for the American Subcontractors Association of the Shenandoah Valley and on the Board of the Top of Virginia Homebuilders Association.
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
DR. CHRIS KUEHL
Armada Corporate Intelligence (Kansas)
Dr. Chris Kuehl is a Managing Director of Armada Corporate Intelligence. He provides forecasts and strategic guidance for a wide variety of corporate clients around the world. He is the chief economist for several national and international organizations – Fabricators and Manufacturers Association, National Association of Credit Management, Finance, Credit and International Business and the Business Information Industry Association. He is also the economic analyst for several state accounting societies – Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
Biograph Room (4th Floor)
CHRIS MAST, CPA, CCIFP
GBQ (Columbus, Ohio)
Chris joined GBQ in 2011, following graduation from Olivet Nazarene University in Bourbonnais, Illinois.
Chris is a Senior Manager within the Assurance practice, where he serves a variety of clients primarily in the construction, real estate, manufacturing, service, and nonprofit industries. He is also part of the employee benefit plan audit group and has experience managing audits for defined contribution plans.
Chris is a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), the sole accounting certification for construction financial professionals. He is also a 2018 graduate of the Builders Exchange of Central Ohio Rising Leader Institute, in partnership with The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.
MATT SMITH, CPA, CCIFP
YHB (Winchester, VA)
Matt joined YHB in 2008 after graduating from Radford University. At YHB, he has focused his efforts on providing assurance and consulting services to private companies in the construction and real estate industries. Through his active participation in industry trade associations and continuous industry specific training and education, Matt has obtained a wealth of knowledge and a deep understanding of these industries.
As someone who has been actively involved in both the audit and attestation as well as tax services, Matt has a strong understanding of accounting issues that are unique to the industries he serves. He is familiar with their unique accounting and reporting needs, as well as industry benchmarks and best practices. Matt excels at analyzing financial statements and key performance indicators, and advising clients about ways to improve their accounting procedures and internal controls.
To further his commitment to the construction industry, Matt became a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professionals (CCIFPs) in 2018. He is a current member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Associated General Contractors (AGC), the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), National Association of Homebuilders, Construction Financial Management Association and Construction Industry CPAs/Consultants Association. In addition to his active participation, he is also the current Treasurer for the American Subcontractors Association of the Shenandoah Valley and on the Board of the Top of Virginia Homebuilders Association.
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
CHAD BELL, ASA
Marcum LLP
Chad Bell is a manager in the Valuation and Litigation Support Services group at Marcum LLP. He has performed valuations of business interests for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, employee stock ownership plans, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder litigation, transactions, and litigation. Chad specializes in employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) transactions, fairness opinions and other consulting advisory services. Chad has advised to a diverse range of middle-market construction companies nationwide delivering highly strategic consultation and financial advisory services, and leads several transactions each year involving contractors and subcontractors.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
The Florentine (2nd floor – hotel restaurant)
Menu (a set menu will be offered)
Thursday, June 22
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
ANDREW FASTOW
Corporate Culture Speaker, Former CFO of Enron Corp.
Despite today’s more regulated and enlightened business environment, we continue to witness “Enron-esque” failures of corporate governance. Enron’s former CFO will make observations about how the ambiguity and complexity of laws and regulations breeds opportunity for problematic decisions and will discuss what questions corporate directors, management, attorneys, and accountants should ask in order to ensure that their companies not only follow the rules, but uphold the principles behind them.
Andy Fastow was the Chief Financial Officer of Enron Corp. from 1998 – 2001. In 2004, he pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud, and was sentenced to six years in federal prison. He completed his sentence in 2011, and now lives with his family in Houston, Texas. Andy currently provides litigation support at a law firm, and he consults with Directors, attorneys, and hedge funds on how best to identify potentially critical finance, accounting, compensation, and cultural issues.
Andy received a BA in Economics and Chinese from Tufts University and an MBA in Finance from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Prior to joining Enron, he was a Senior Director in the Asset Securitization Group at Continental Bank N.A.
Since his release from prison, Andy has been a guest lecturer at universities and corporations, and at conferences for management, corporate directors, attorneys, accountants, and certified fraud examiners. Andy was recently keynote speaker at the United Nations’ Principles of Responsible Management Education Conference, the FBI’s Advanced Financial Crimes Seminar, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Annual Conference, the American Accounting Association Annual Conference, and the Financial Times’ Outstanding Directors Conference.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
JIM LUNDY, CPA
Marcum LLP (Nashville, TN)
Jim Lundy is a partner in the Tax & Business Services division and a member of Marcum’s national Construction Industry Practice group. With more than 30 years of experience in both public and private practice, Mr. Lundy is one of the most respected tax consultants in the construction industry. He works regularly with more than 350 construction entities to provide a wide range of tax services. Services include performing tax physicals to provide a full overview of a construction company’s tax compliance and planning opportunities, establishing continuity and succession plans for contractors, dealing with federal and state authorities regarding tax issues important to contractors and leading in the timely completion of tax reporting required for the construction industry.
Mr. Lundy is an accomplished speaker and the author of many articles published on construction tax-related issues. The Tennessee Society of CPAs has honored him as Speaker of the Year more than 10 times; the Alabama Society of CPAs has presented him with their Thomas A. Ratcliff Outstanding Discussion Leader Award; and he has been the highest-rated speaker at both the American Institute of CPAs’ National Construction Industry Conference and the AICPA National Tax Conference.
He is often sought out to provide in-house training to other CPA firms and organizations interested in obtaining the most up-to-date and practical applications of the tax rules and regulations pertaining to the construction industry. He has also testified before the Tennessee Tax Commission regarding the taxation of multi-state contractors.
Mr. Lundy is a past chair of the TSCPA Construction Committee and is former chairman of the AICPA National Construction Committee. He helped direct the very successful initial statewide construction conference and has been active in other committees, including the Continuing Education Committee, the Accounting Careers Committee, the Tennessee Road Builders Investment Committee and the Board of Directors of the Middle Tennessee Associated Builders and Contractors.
Chicago Room (4th Floor)
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
MIKE STEPHENS, CPA, Principal
Clifton Larson Allen (Oak Brook, Illinois)
Mike has over 15 years of public accounting experience, which includes performing audit, tax, and consulting services for closely held contractors and engineers. Mike helps lead CLA’s Chicagoland construction services group. Technical experience includes:
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- External reporting and financial statement presentation including acquisitions and consolidated entities
- Succession planning and exit strategies
- Nontraditional compensation methods and accounting treatment
- Prequalification reports and capacity limits
- Best practices for controls, processes, and internal reporting
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PAULIUS VALAISA, CPA, Principal
Clifton Larson Allen (Oak Brook, Illinois)
Paul is a Principal within CLA’s construction services group. Paul specializes in audit and consulting services for privately-held contractors and related entities ranging from local to large multi-jurisdiction and multi-entity organizations. He specializes in analysis of complex accounting matters, work-in-progress schedules, joint ventures and business combinations, internal control processes, and implementation of accounting standards and policies and related best practices. Paul is active and frequently presents as a subject matter expert on relevant accounting and auditing matters within the construction industry and its associations.
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
CARL OLIVERI, CPA, CCIFP, CFE
Grassi (Long Island, New York)
Carl Oliveri is the Construction Practice Leader and a partner at Grassi. Carl possesses over 20 years of experience advising owners and executives within the Construction industry, particularly in regards to project-centric and companywide financial modeling, operational strategy development, financial statement attest services and income tax method analysis. This extensive industry experience allows him to provide insight and advice to construction clients on marketplace trends and best practices.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
NICK BOKIOS, President / Illinois
American Global
At American Global Nick will be leading our Illinois team, based in Chicago. Nick has distinguished himself in the Midwest surety market as a results-oriented and collaborative professional who brings solutions to his clients and team members he supports. Nick’s leadership and industry experience will take our presence and capabilities in the Midwest to the next level. Prior to joining the American Global team, Nick held the position of Vice President, Sr Contract Underwriting Officer overseeing the Midwest region for Liberty Mutual Surety. In this position Nick provided strong leadership and in-depth analysis to clients and the underwriting team while leading the strategy on some of the most complex surety accounts. Nick currently holds a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation. Nick graduated from Illinois State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance, and from Colorado State University with his Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
The member’s roundtable will be moderated by:
CHRISTINA CHIFICI, CPA, CGMA, CIT, CCIFP
LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors (Metairie, LA)
Christina has extensive experience providing auditing and consulting services to the construction industry, principally for non-residential, heavy and highway, specialty trades, marine/shipbuilding, and oilfield services. In addition to traditional audit and accounting services, Christina has assisted clients with internal control evaluations, benchmarking analyses, preparation of state contractor license applications, proper allocations of indirect cost, business combinations, joint ventures, implementation of technical pronouncements, and more.
Supporting her construction practice, Christina serves as a member of the Construction Industry Advisor National Editorial Board and is a member and former leader of LaPorte’s Construction Industry group. As a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), she has been an instructor for the course “Basics of Construction Accounting” and has delivered presentations at various trade association events. She is also an at-large director and serves on the Assurance Thought Leadership Committee for Construction Industry CPAs/Consultants Association, a national association. She has created presentations and white papers on significant technical pronouncements such as Revenue Recognition and has provided several speaking engagements on the subject matter.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
Friday, June 23
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
KRISTIN BAILEY, CPA, CCA, CCIFP
KatzAbosch (Timonium, Maryland)
Kristin is a Principal with KatzAbosch and co-chair of the firm’s Construction Services Group. Kristin joined the firm in 2003 and has over 10 years experience working with contractors. Kristin holds the prestigious distinction of Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP.) She is also a Certified Construction Auditor (CCA.) Areas of expertise include reviewed financial statements, tax planning and preparation, and job costing services.
Kristin provides a full range of accounting and tax services for clients, including: tax planning, financial reporting, assistance in obtaining bonding and financing, business valuations, business succession planning, estate planning, job cost systems evaluation, software consultation, industry specific advice and assistance to construction and real estate companies.
Burnham Ballroom (4th floor)
J. PATRICK WHITE, Of Counsel
Hahn Loeser (Chicago, Illinois)
J. Patrick White is Of Counsel in Hahn Loeser’s Chicago office and is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice area. Patrick handles a wide variety of commercial litigation construction, real estate and related transactional and zoning matters. He has extensive litigation experience in state and federal court, having first-chaired or co-chaired multiple jury trials to verdict. He also has experience practicing before administrative tribunals.
Prior to joining Hahn Loeser, Patrick was an Assistant General Counsel for the District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs where he regularly represented the District before the D.C. Board of Zoning Appeals, Real Property Tax Appeals Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings. During his tenure, he successfully defended the District in an appeal before the D.C. Board of Zoning Appeals challenging the approval of the subdivision of the lot occupied by the historic landmark Scottish Rite Masonic Temple and the building permit issued for the development of a 140-unit residential community on the site.
In addition to being a licensed attorney, Patrick holds a master’s degree in real estate from Georgetown University and applies his in-depth understanding of zoning, land use and real estate transactional skills to help owners, developers, institutions, and public entities achieve their goals.
Burnham Ballroom (4th Floor)
CHRISTINE ULIBARRI, CPA, CCIFP
BeachFleischman (Phoenix, Arizona)
Christine Ulibarri is a Principal for BeachFleischman where she co-leads the firm’s Construction Client Service Team and serves as a member of the Tax Department. Christine’s public accounting experience spans over 30 years, and she engages individuals and owners of closely-held and private companies with strategic tax planning, compliance, consulting, and research services.
Specifically, Christine has extensive experience advising clients operating in the construction and financial & professional services sectors. She has given several presentations for industry-related organizations on topics pertaining to taxation and operational strategies. Christine is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in Arizona, and she also earned the Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional designation.
Refreshments served in the Exhibit Hall.
BRYAN ETO, CPA, CCIFP, CFE, CGMA
Beach Fleischman (Tucson, Arizona)
Bryan Eto is a Principal for BeachFleischman with 25 plus years of experience in both the Assurance and Tax departments. Bryan’s specialty is working with construction companies and is the firm’s Construction Industry Practice Leader. Bryan has a diverse background and experience with business formation and consulting, succession planning, financial statements, forecasts and projections, forensic accounting, litigation support, and tax consulting.
CARL OLIVERI, CPA, CCIFP, CFE
Grassi (Long Island, New York)
Carl Oliveri is the Construction Practice Leader and a partner at Grassi. Carl possesses over 20 years of experience advising owners and executives within the Construction industry, particularly in regards to project-centric and companywide financial modeling, operational strategy development, financial statement attest services and income tax method analysis. This extensive industry experience allows him to provide insight and advice to construction clients on marketplace trends and best practices.
Chicago Room (4th floor)
MATT NEELY, CPA
MCM LLP (Louisville, Kentucky)
Matt Neely has more than 13 years of experience in public accounting. He is a partner in the firm’s Tax Services Team, and he is the Co-Leader of MCM’s Construction Services Team. Matt’s practice focus is in providing tax and consulting services to closely-held construction businesses. He also has significant experience in multi-state tax planning and compliance.
Madison Room (3rd floor)
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