January 18, 2007
Panel: Defining the Future of Professional Service Firms - Alvarez & Marsal; Wealth & Tax Advisory Services; Protiviti
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Robert Lowe Alvarez & Marsal
Topic: TBA
Bob Lowe is the CEO of Alvarez & Marsal Tax Advisory Services, LLC.
Previously, Mr. Lowe had a 21-year career with Arthur Andersen's Tax and Business Advisory practice. During his career with Andersen, he held several leadership positions including Global Managing Partner for Expansions and Alliances, Member of the Global, U.S., and U.S. Tax Leadership Teams, and Managing Partner of the Florida Caribbean Market.
Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Lowe was a Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of a private equity firm with $1.5 billion under management.
Mr. Lowe holds both a B.S.Acc. and M.Acc. from the University of Florida. He is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is active in many civic and charitable organizations, and serves on the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting Steering Committee and Warrington College of Business Dean's Advisory Board.
Michael Kohner Wealth & Tax Advisory Services
Topic: Types of Consulting Projects for Interesting Clients
Michael is a founding member of Wealth and Tax Advisory Services (WTAS) and currently heads the firm in the Southeast region. In this capacity, he coordinates the activities of tax, accounting, financial planning and valuation professionals in servicing public companies, closely-held businesses, venture capital firms, wealthy families and corporate executives. Additionally, he currently chairs the WTAS Corporate Technical Advisory Group.
Michael's professional experience includes more than twenty years in technology, franchising, pharmaceuticals, distribution, real estate and venture capital. He consults with his clients with respect to various corporate issues such as federal and state income tax planning, deal structuring, merger and acquisitions, due diligence, joint ventures, reorganizations and FAS 109/FIN 48 as well as estate planning.
Michael was previously a tax partner with Arthur Andersen. While at Andersen, he was in charge of both the Real Estate Tax Group for the State of Florida and the West Palm Beach Tax Department. In addition, he was a member of the Arthur Andersen firm wide technical advisory groups for both Corporations and Pass-through entities. Prior to that, Michael was a tax manager with Price Waterhouse in West Palm Beach. He graduated from the University of Florida with both a B.S. in Accounting with Honors (1984) and a Masters in Accounting (1986).
His professional and business affiliations include: Member of Fisher School of Accounting Advisory Council; University of Florida Foundation - Leadership Gifts Committee; Former Past-President of the Palm Beach County Gator Club; Treasurer of the Education Foundation of Palm Beach County; member of the Palm Beach Economic Council; National Ambassador of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science; the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County Business & Professions Cabinet Member and Foundation Professional Advisory Committee; member of the Florida Venture Forum; guest lecturer at the University of Florida, Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA), and the Florida Bar Tax Division; member of the tax section of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and a member of the FICPA.
Katy Thompson Protiviti
Topic: TBA
Katy is a Director in Tampa's Risk Consulting Practice with over 18 years of process improvement, internal audit and financial accounting experience. She received her B.S. in Accounting from the University of West Florida and is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor. Katy leads Protiviti's Business Risk Consulting practice for Central Florida with focus on control and process optimization, cost reduction, and workflow improvement strategies. Katy also directs Internal Audit and Sarbanes Advisory services for a variety of clients.
In addition to her client service experience, Katy is actively involved in training and professional development areas. She is a common facilitator at Protiviti's central training facilities and has assisted in the design of many of Protiviti's risk consulting training programs.
February 1, 2007
Chet Wood Deloitte & Touche
Topic: The Changes and Opportunities in the Tax Marketplace
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Chet Wood is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte Tax LLP. He has led the Tax practice since April 2003. Based in New York City, Mr. Wood is responsible for the strategic direction, operational execution and overall management of the largest tax organization among all professional services firms. He also serves as a member of Deloitte & Touche USA LLP's Executive and Operating Committees and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu's Global Tax Management Committee. Mr. Wood is involved in a number of client activities, including serving as Advisory Partner on a number of The Deloitte U.S. Firms' largest Fortune 500® clients.
Mr. Wood began his career with the organization in 1981 in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a staff professional. He was promoted to manager in 1986 and was transferred to the San Francisco, California office.
In 1990, Mr. Wood moved to Boise, Idaho, and one year later was admitted to the partnership, serving several years as Lead Tax Partner on a number of Boise-based, global clients. In 1995, he joined the organization's Office of the Chairman program, providing strategy and service to a number of top global clients.
Beginning in 1997, Mr. Wood served three years as Country Managing Partner for Tax and Legal in the Australian member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu in Sydney. Under Mr. Wood's leadership, the Australian Tax and Legal practice doubled in the number of client service professionals, tripled practice revenue, elevated in overall market position from Number 5 to Number 2, and was recognized by International Tax Review as one of the top tax practices in Australia.
Mr. Wood returned to the United States in 2000 and, prior to his current appointment, served as Deputy Managing Partner of the U.S. tax practice.
Mr. Wood is a Certified Public Accountant and holds active licenses in Idaho and New York. He is also a member of the AICPA, and the state societies of CPA's for both Idaho and New York.
Born in Reno, Nevada, Mr. Wood is a cum laude graduate of Albertson College of Idaho with Majors in finance and accounting. He resides in Stamford, Connecticut, and New York City, and is active in various community organizations and with his alma mater.
February 8, 2007
Siemens: Opportunities in a Global Network of Innovation
Siemens
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Steve Conner - 20+ years experience with Siemens
- CFO of Siemens Power Generation
- CPA and public company audit experience
- Former Commercial Head for Gas Service in the Americas
- Involved in due diligence and integration of Siemens acquisition of Westinghouse
Mark Bennie - 25+ years experience with Westinghouse and Siemens
- Controller for Siemens Power Generation, Inc
- Former Head of Internal Audit
- Worked on due diligence for several acquisitions including US Filter
Andrew Schrader - 14 years experience; 9 with Power Generation Industry
- Financial Manager in Environmental Systems and Services
- CPA & CMA
- Fortune 50 experience includes IBM, AlliedSignal, and Siemens
Lou Zaltsberg - 32 years of experience in Corporate Finance/Business Administration; 29 years in Management positions
- 13 years of experience in the Power Generation Industry
- Two expatriate assignments--Singapore and Australia; Domestic Assignments in Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Chicago, and Orlando
- BS in Accounting from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
February 22, 2007
Jorge Diaz Rachlin & Cohen
Topic: A Day in Public Accounting - Partner Experiences
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Jorge Diaz is a principal within the firm's Assurance division. He has more than 25 years of experience providing accounting, auditing and advisory services to domestic and international companies, both publicly traded and privately held. One of Mr. Diaz's role at Rachlin is leading the firm's financial institutions practice.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Diaz served clients in performing international financial due diligence, debt restructurings and project management. He assisted in restating financial statements, preparing mapping templates, drafting internal representation letters and completing external auditors' accounting disclosure checklists.
Mr. Diaz is a frequent speaker at New York University's Stern School of Business. Lecturing to students within the Master of Business Administration program, his subjects included mergers and acquisition considerations and due diligence engagements. Mr. Diaz has also written a chapter in Due Diligence for Global Deal Making. Published by Bloomberg Press, this textbook is used by business students at New York University.
Professional & Civic Affiliations
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
- Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA)
- California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA)
- Cuban American CPA Association
- Florida International University Business School Dean's Advisory Council, former Member
- Mercy Hospital, former Board of Trustees and Executive and Finance Committee Member; former Treasurer
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami, former Chairman of the Board and President
Articles, Lectures & Seminars
- New York University Stern School of Business, Lecturer
March 22, 2007
Doug Thompson CPAmerica
Topic: Aim So High You Will Never Be Bored! Join a Top, Local CPA Firm. You Can Have Everything You Want in Life If...
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Doug Thompson grew up in Belle Glade, Florida, and later attended the University of Florida. He graduated in June 1965 with a BSBA in accounting and also attended law school.
While at UF, Doug was a member of Florida Blue Key and Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He was a recipient of the President's Award and a member of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities.
Other University of Florida affiliations include adjunct professor of accounting (1976-1981), member of the State University System Commission on Outreach and Services (1975-76), member of the UF Presidential Advisory Search Committee (1989-1990), and past president of the Alachua County UF Alumni Association (1973-74). He was also one of three founding members of the Fisher School of Accounting Steering Committee (1974-present), serving as chairman in 1988-89. He was honored in 1991 as a Distinguished Alumnus of the Fisher School of Accounting. Through the years he has also actively supported the UF Athletic Association, Gator Boosters, Inc. (served on executive committee) and the Gainesville Quarterback Club.
Professionally, Doug has been CEO of CPAmerica International since 1983. Under Mr. Thompson's leadership, CPAmerica has grown from 17 U.S. CPA firms with gross revenues of $17 million to 347 firms across the U.S. and in 85 countries becoming one of the world's largest networks of independent CPA and consulting firms, in conjunction with Horwath International. The network includes more than 10,000 professionals worldwide with global firm revenues surpassing $2.0 billion.
Doug is also founder and CEO of CPA Mutual Insurance Company of America, established in 1987 and also based in Gainesville. He also established the associated companies CPA Partners in 1988 and Claims Professionals Associated, Inc. in 1993. He was elected chairman of the National Risk Retention Association in 1995-96.
Previously, Doug served as executive director of the Florida State Board of Accountancy (1968-80) and public accountant auditor with the Auditor General's office of the State of Florida (1966-68). He was also founder, publisher and president of The Independent Professional and Florida Business Journal.
As a member of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Doug has served on the Board of Governors and numerous committees. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has served on various committees including Continuing Professional Education Standards, Relations with Educational Institutions, and Accountants Liability Subcommittee.
He currently serves on the AICPA's Professional Ethics Executive Committee charged with investigating all potential disciplinary matters, interpreting the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct and proposing amendments to the Code. He also served on the AICPA's prestigious Group of 100 to help identify and prioritize issues and trends that will impact the future of the CPA profession.
Extremely active in civic and philanthropic causes, Doug has served on the board of directors of United Way (1973-78), the Salvation Army (1972-78), Florida Heart Association (1974) and The Boggy Creek Gang (1990-present).
He and his wife, Sally, have two sons, Scott and Ryan.
March 29, 2007
Cory Walker Brown & Brown
Topic: Perpetuating Success through Building a Strong Corporate Culture
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Cory T. Walker is Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Brown & Brown, Inc. (NYSE:BRO), ranked by Business Insurance magazine as the United States' sixth largest independent insurance intermediary.
Mr. Walker was initially Brown & Brown's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1992 to 1994, during which time he directed the financial matters of the Company that included the Company's merger with Poe & Associates, Inc. He then moved into the commercial insurance sales side of the business and was named a Divisional Executive Vice President and Retail Profit Center Manager for the Company's Oakland, California office. In early 2000 Mr. Walker was named the Company's Vice President, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. In April of 2004 he was promoted to his current position. Along with directing the Corporate Finance Division, he is heavily involved in all merger and acquisition activity.
Prior to joining Brown & Brown, Mr. Walker was a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Senior Audit Manager with Ernst & Young LLP. He graduated from Florida State University in 1978 with degrees in Finance and Accounting and an MBA in 1980. He has earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) designation, as well as the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) and Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designations.
April 5, 2007
Dr. Allen C. Jones Turnaround Management Association
Topic: When Everything Goes Wrong
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
coming soon

