January 22, 2009
Trent Gazzaway
Grant Thornton
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Trent GazzawayTopic: Corporate Governance - What does "right" look like?
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Trent is an audit partner and the partner-in-charge of corporate governance at Grant Thornton LLP. In addition to his audit role Trent is one of four steering committee chairmen who led the development of the Open Compliance and Ethics Group's framework for integrating governance, risk management and compliance into business processes and is a member of the advisory board of the Enterprise Risk Management Initiative at NC State University's College of Management. In 2007 Trent was appointed by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission board to lead a project to develop guidance regarding the monitoring of internal control. He was recognized in 2005 and 2008 by Treasury & Risk Management magazine as one of the "100 most influential people in finance" and in 2006 by Business Finance magazine as one of 60 top "Influencers" in finance and accounting. In 2008, Trent was selected "Auditor of the Year" by Institutional Investor's Compliance Reporter publication.
January 29, 2009
Speaker Panel
Protiviti and WTAS
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Speaker TBA Protiviti
Topic: TBA
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Michael Kohner and Stephanie MurrayWTAS
Topic: Tax Planning: Taking Advantage of a Down Economy
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Michael Kohner
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.
Stephanie Murray
A manager in the West Palm Beach office, Stephanie specializes in providing tax compliance and consulting services to high net worth individuals, their families and closely-held businesses. Since joining the firm in 2003 Stephanie has been involved in various projects addressing a wide variety of tax issues. These issues relate to partnerships, S corporations, individual income tax, private foundations, and trusts. She has been responsible for the preparation and/or review of multiple federal and state tax returns, quarterly and year-end income tax projections, and has been involved with helping clients with IRS and state tax audits. She has worked directly with multiple family offices.
Stephanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting, as well as her Masters of Accounting (Taxation) at the University of Florida. She is a licensed CPA in the state of Florida. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
February 5, 2009
Mike Willis
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Mike WillisTopic: "Naked AND Buff" - Improving corporate performance through enhanced transparency
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Mike is a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers and served as Founding Chairman of XBRL International, a market consortia of over 600 organizations around the world promulgating the reporting standard that has been mandated by the US SEC, China's CSRC, Japan's FSA, Singapore's ACRA, the Korea Stock Exchange, the Australian government, Israeli Securities Authority, US Banking Regulators, and many others. XBRL is an information format standard specifically designed to enhance business reporting supply chain processes benefiting preparers, distributors, aggregators and consumers. Mike speaks frequently, publishes papers and blogs on the topic of business reporting. Mike has been interviewed for and/or published articles in a range of business periodicals on a more efficient business reporting supply chain including the Harvard Business Review, Financial Times, Business Week, Wall Street & Technology, FEI Magazine, CFO Magazine, and CIO Magazine.
March 5, 2009
Scott Funston
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Scott FunstonTopics: "Sarbanes Oxley Today" and "International Financial Reporting Standards: The Next Step?"
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Scott currently serves as Director Financial Reporting, Walt Disney Parks & Resorts and is based in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. He has both Parks & Resorts segment-wide responsibilities as well as business unit specific responsibilities.
Segment responsibilities include consolidation and reporting of all Parks & Resorts segment financial statements and related information used both internally for management decision making, as well as, externally to be filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other responsibilities include consolidation and forecasting of all cash flow financial planning, as well as, all technical accounting research, guidance and recommendations for the Parks & Resorts segment.
Business unit specific responsibilities include all financial reporting and accounting support for the Disney Cruise Lines and Disney Vacation Clubs. In addition, Scott leads a domestic based team responsible for consolidating all international Parks and Resorts into the Segment.
Scott joined Disney in 1989 and has advanced through various key leadership positions throughout the Walt Disney Parks & Resorts Finance organization, becoming Director Food & Beverage Finance in 2004. He assumed the role of Director Financial Reporting in January 2007. Prior to joining Disney, Scott was a Senior Auditor with Arthur Andersen & Co.
A graduate of Auburn University, Scott received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1985. He went on to earn his Masters of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University in 2002.
Scott, his wife Charlotte, and their three children live in Orlando, Florida.
March 19, 2009
Speaker TBA
Johnson & Johnson
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Speaker TBATopic: TBA
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
March 26, 2009
Leigh Ann Horton
CFO Strategic Partners
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Leigh Ann HortonTopic: One Entrepreneur's Thoughts about Owning a Business
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Leigh Ann Horton graduated from the University of Florida in 1994 with her Bachelors in Accounting and her Masters in Tax. She began her career with IBM as an accounting intern in Somers, New York. She later joined KPMG Peat Marwick in the Mutual Fund Tax Practice in New York City. In 1996, Leigh Ann transferred to the Orlando KPMG office, where she gained more a diverse tax background. In the fall of 1998, Leigh Ann became the International Tax Manager for Hard Rock Cafe International. In 2000, she became a partner at CFO Strategic Partners, offering a wealth of experience for the company's clients.
Leigh Ann was a member of the Board of Directors of Second Harvest Food Bank for eight years and served as President in 2004 and 2005. She also served on the Florida Economic Education Council in 2002. Leigh Ann was in the 2003 Class of Greater Orlando Leadership Foundation (GOLF) and was in the Leadership Orlando Class 68. In December 2005, she was appointed to the Executive Board for the Orlando Chamber of Commerce and the 2006 - 2008 Board of Governors and has since been elected to another three year term for 2009 - 2011. Currently, Leigh Ann is serving as the Treasurer for Summit Church and is on the Board of Directors for J4, Nine 12, Grace Medical Home, the Florida Fellowship Foundation, and Foundation for Foster Children. In addition, Leigh Ann enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.
April 2, 2009
Doug Thompson
CPAmerica
Time and Location: 6:15 - 8:15 PM, Gerson 126
Doug ThompsonTopic: TBA
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.

