Speakers

2025 CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

We are excited to have you join us for Employee Owned 2025 taking place November 2-5 at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Employee Owned 2025 (EO25) is designed to help you adapt to the ever-changing business landscape through insightful speakers, innovative ideas, the latest industry updates, technical content you trust, and a focus on current events.

2025 SPEAKERS

Aaron Geibel

Aaron Geibel

Senior ESOP Consultant

USI Consulting Group

Alan H. Kandel

Alan H. Kandel

Partner

Husch Blackwell LLP

Alex Moss, MPPM

Alex Moss, MPPM

Founding Principal

Praxis Consulting Group, Inc.

Alexander Grasser

Alexander Grasser

Vice President - Consulting

Prairie Capital Advisors

Allison Wilkerson

Allison Wilkerson

Attorney

McDermott Will & Emery

Angela Fisher, CPA

Angela Fisher, CPA

Director

Forvis Mazars

Ashleigh Newlin

Ashleigh Newlin

Managing Director

Chartwell

Ashley Kirchner

Ashley Kirchner

Director

BMO

Avery M. Chenin, JD

Avery M. Chenin, JD

General Counsel

SCJ Fiduciary Services

Barbara M. Clough, QPA, QKC, QKA

Barbara M. Clough, QPA, QKC, QKA

Vice President - ESOP Administration

Blue Ridge ESOP Associates

Barbara Wight

Barbara Wight

CFO

Taylor Guitars

Barry Goodman, CFA,CPA/ABV,CVA,CBA,ASA

Barry Goodman, CFA,CPA/ABV,CVA,CBA,ASA

President

Advanced Valuation Analytics, Ltd.

Becky Streff

Becky Streff

Vice President of People Operations

Holden Industries, Inc.

Ben Holder, CEO

Ben Holder, CEO

CEO

Plastic Products

Bill Frommelt

Bill Frommelt

Principal

Strategic Talent Partners

Brian Bowers

Brian Bowers

President

Bowers + Kubota Consulting, Inc.

Brian Hector

Brian Hector

Partner

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Brian Ippensen, CPA, CMA

Brian Ippensen, CPA, CMA

President

TI-Trust

Brian Sweeney

Brian Sweeney

CPA, Partner, Client Manager

Redpath and Company

Caitlin E. Muradian, MBA, MSA

Caitlin E. Muradian, MBA, MSA

Chief Financial Officer

TETER, Inc.

Cara Benningfield, CPA

Cara Benningfield, CPA

Partner

Forvis Mazars

Carrie-Anne Taylor, MBA, BS Mechanical Engineering

Carrie-Anne Taylor, MBA, BS Mechanical Engineering

Vice President

Echometer Company

Chad Bell, ASA

Chad Bell, ASA

Senior Manager

CBIZ

Chad Duke

Chad Duke

Vice President

Scott Insurance

Chelsea McCarthy

Chelsea McCarthy

Partner

Professional/Attorney

Chelsea Mikula

Chelsea Mikula

Attorney

Tucker Ellis LLP

Cheryl Aschenbrener, CPA

Cheryl Aschenbrener, CPA

Principal

Sikich

Chris Hicks

Chris Hicks

CEO/President

Gemini Industries, Inc.

Christel Jimenez

Christel Jimenez

VP - ESOP Consulting

Principal

Christine Adee

Christine Adee

CEO

OwnersEdge, Inc.

Cindy Turcot

Cindy Turcot

Retired CEO

Gardener's Supply Company

Clifford Canavera, CFP®, MBA

Clifford Canavera, CFP®, MBA

President

Canavera Financial Group, LLC

Connie Woodmansee

Connie Woodmansee

Manager - Client Service

Principal

Curt Rubinas

Curt Rubinas

Managing Director

RBC Wealth Management

Danielle Montesano

Danielle Montesano

Managing Director

JP Morgan

Danny Lamastra, MBA, MA

Danny Lamastra, MBA, MA

ESOP Communication Consultant

Blue Ridge Associates

David T. Paul, P.E.

David T. Paul, P.E.

President/CEO

Aqua Engineers

David Thrush, CPA, MSA

David Thrush, CPA, MSA

Principal

Doeren Mayhew

David Whaley, JD

David Whaley, JD

Partner

Thompson Hine

Doug Dell, CPA/ABV (Inactive)

Doug Dell, CPA/ABV (Inactive)

Executive Director

JP Morgan

Drew Larson, JD

Drew Larson, JD

Attorney

BrownWinick Law Firm

Emily M. Rickard

Emily M. Rickard

Attorney

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Eric Dollin, ASA

Eric Dollin, ASA

Director

GBQ

Gary Irwin

Gary Irwin

President and COO

Creative Financial Staffing

Greg Daugherty

Greg Daugherty

Partner

Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Greg Fresh

Greg Fresh

Managing Director

Chartwell

Gregory Cook

Gregory Cook

Director

Prairie Capital Advisors

Gregory Kniesel

Gregory Kniesel

Managing Director

Value Management, Inc.

Harvey M. Katz, Esq.

Harvey M. Katz, Esq.

Partner

Fox Rothschild

Holly Jones, JD

Holly Jones, JD

Associate Attorney

Maselan & Jones

Ivy Wan-Beltejar, ASA, CFA

Ivy Wan-Beltejar, ASA, CFA

Director

Empire Valuation Consultants

Jack Moriarty

Jack Moriarty

Executive Director

Lafayette Square Institute

Jacob Cook, CPA

Jacob Cook, CPA

Director

BDO Capital Advisors, LLC

Jade Palermo

Jade Palermo

Senior Manager & Proud Employee Owner

Empire Valuation Consultants, LLC

Jake Cravens

Jake Cravens

Managing Director

Verit Advisors

James F. Joyner III

James F. Joyner III

Managing Member

Integra Benefits Consulting LLC

Jamie Walrack

Jamie Walrack

Executive Vice President

First American Bank

Jason P. Wellman

Jason P. Wellman

Director of Client Advocacy

ESOP Partners

Jenna M. Hayes

Jenna M. Hayes

Corporate Counsel & CCO

Palmer Holland, Inc.

Jennie Msall

Jennie Msall

Director

Ventura Trust Company

Jim Bonham

Jim Bonham

President & CEO

The ESOP Association

Joe Marx

Joe Marx

Vice-President, ESOP Consulting

Principal

John Williams

John Williams

President/Founder

Elucidate Resources

Jon Shell

Jon Shell

Chair

Social Capital Partners

Jon Williams

Jon Williams

Vice President, ESOP Administration

Blue Ridge Associates

Jordan Bergkamp, JD

Jordan Bergkamp, JD

Partner

Husch Blackwell

Jose Jara, JD

Jose Jara, JD

Counsel

Fox Rothschild

Joseph Faucher

Joseph Faucher

Director

Trucker Huss, APC

Joseph Labetti

Joseph Labetti

Vice President, Co-Leader Capital Markets

Prairie Capital Advisors, Inc.

Julie Govreau, JD, LLM University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

Julie Govreau, JD, LLM University of Illinois Chicago School of Law

Senior Vice-President and General Counsel

GreatBanc Trust Company

Justin King

Justin King

Director

Ryan Valuation

Kaitlin Wilusz Long, ASA, CFA

Kaitlin Wilusz Long, ASA, CFA

Director

Value Management Inc.

Karen D. Ng

Karen D. Ng

Shareholder

N&G Legal Group, APC

Katelyn W. Harrell

Katelyn W. Harrell

Attorney

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

Kathleen McInerney Kane

Kathleen McInerney Kane

President

Praxis Consulting Group

Kevin Rettler

Kevin Rettler

Sr. ESOP Consultant

Principal Financial Group

Kevin Rusch, CPA

Kevin Rusch, CPA

Vice President, Consulting

Blue Ridge ESOP Associates

Kip Kuster

Kip Kuster

Manager, ESOP Administration

Blue Ridge

Kjersti Cory

Kjersti Cory

Independent Trustee

SCJ Fiduciary Services

Kyla Alterman

Kyla Alterman

Senior Consultant

Prudent Fiduciary Services, LLC

Kyle Wishing, CFA, ASA

Kyle Wishing, CFA, ASA

Director

PCE Investment Bankers

Larry Goldberg

Larry Goldberg

Partner

ESOP Law Group, LLP

Lars Golumbic, MA, JD

Lars Golumbic, MA, JD

Principal

Groom Law Group

Laura Isaacs, PHR, SHRM-CP

Laura Isaacs, PHR, SHRM-CP

ESOP Administrator

Rosendin

Laurie-Leigh White, CPA/ABV, ASA

Laurie-Leigh White, CPA/ABV, ASA

Partner, ESOP Advisory

BVA Group

Leah Turnbull

Leah Turnbull

Managing Director

BMO

Linda Jones, SHRM-CP

Linda Jones, SHRM-CP

VP of Administration

Software Solutions

Lindsay Shafer

Lindsay Shafer

Principal

Praxis Consulting Group

Linshuang Lu, MSOD

Linshuang Lu, MSOD

Managing Principal

Praxis Consulting Group

Lori Stuart

Lori Stuart

Managing Director - Client Relationships

SCJ Fiduciary Services

Madison Rennie, SHRM-CP

Madison Rennie, SHRM-CP

HR Specialist

PERRY proTECH

Mark R. Fournier, CFA

Mark R. Fournier, CFA

Managing Director

Stout

Mark Russell, MBA, J.D., BBA

Mark Russell, MBA, J.D., BBA

Sr. Managing Director

SES ESOP Strategies / Griffin Financial Group

Martin Pangrace, JD

Martin Pangrace, JD

General Counsel

Donley Companies, Inc.

Mary Beth Gray

Mary Beth Gray

Partner

Klein Bard

Mary S. Josephs

Mary S. Josephs

Founder and CEO

Verit Advisors LLC

Matt Hancock, MBA

Matt Hancock, MBA

Principal

Praxis Consulting

Matthew Goedert

Matthew Goedert

Attorney

N&G Legal Group

Mayya Bower, PHR, SHRM-CP

Mayya Bower, PHR, SHRM-CP

Organizational Development Director

NCM Associates

Megan Glidden

Megan Glidden

CFO

Web Industries

Melissa Thomas

Melissa Thomas

CEO

SCJ Fiduciary Services

Meredith Fiocchi, CEPA

Meredith Fiocchi, CEPA

Associate Vice President - Investments

Wells Fargo Advisors

Michael Easter

Michael Easter

Bestselling Author, Speaker, and Professor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV)

Michael Morosi

Michael Morosi

Chief Invesment Officer

3LS

Michael S. Hatlee, QPA, QKC, QKA, QPFC

Michael S. Hatlee, QPA, QKC, QKA, QPFC

Senior Plan Consultant

The Menke Group

Michael T. Graham

Michael T. Graham

Partner

THOMPSON COBURN LLP

Michael Zermeno, CPA

Michael Zermeno, CPA

Shareholder

Roorda, Piquet & Bessee, Inc.

Miguel Paredes

Miguel Paredes

ESOP Trustee

Prudent Fiduciary Services

Mike Frommelt

Mike Frommelt

Co-Founder

Strategic Talent Partners

Mike Mangiore, CCIFP

Mike Mangiore, CCIFP

CFO

S.M. Wilson

Nicholas Francia, CEPA

Nicholas Francia, CEPA

Managing Director

The Capital ESOP Group - UBS Financial Services Inc

Nick Viner

Nick Viner

VP

Prairie Capital Advisors

Patrick DeCraene

Patrick DeCraene

Executive Vice President

GreatBanc Trust Company

Perry Walter

Perry Walter

Director of ESOP Transactions

SCJ Fiduciary

Pete Shuler

Pete Shuler

VP / Senior Consultant

Blue Ridge ESOP Associates

Peter Abrahamson

Peter Abrahamson

Managing Director & Founder

ESOP Structuring Specialists, Inc.

Peter Aliferis

Peter Aliferis

Managing Director

Pendo Advisors

Peter Allport

Peter Allport

Partner

Levin Schreder & Carey, Ltd.

Peter Jones

Peter Jones

Partner

Tucker Ellis LLP

Phillip Chou

Phillip Chou

Senior Managing Director

AmbroseAdvisors, LLC

Randy R. Shrake, QKA

Randy R. Shrake, QKA

Vice President, ESOP Administration

Blue Ridge Associates

Rebecca Glasgow, CFP, CEPA

Rebecca Glasgow, CFP, CEPA

Managing Director

RBC Wealth Management

Renee Lewis

Renee Lewis

Shareholder

Polsinelli

Renee Stadtmueller, CPA, QPA

Renee Stadtmueller, CPA, QPA

Vice President, Administration

Blue Ridge ESOP Associates

Rick Pearl

Rick Pearl

Partner

Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

Rob Hilton

Rob Hilton

Managing Director

South Park Advisors, LLC

Ryan Graham

Ryan Graham

Managing Director

Chartwell

Ryan J. Kuchta

Ryan J. Kuchta

Director of Administration

ESOP Partners, Inc.

Sandra Smith, CPA, CGMA, CVA

Sandra Smith, CPA, CGMA, CVA

Managing Director

Atlantic Management Company, Inc.

Sandy Shoemaker, CPA

Sandy Shoemaker, CPA

Outside Director

Shoemaker Consulting

Scot Storjohann

Scot Storjohann

Senior Vice-President

GreatBanc Trust Company

Scott Freund

Scott Freund

Senior Vice President - ESOP Administration

Blue Ridge Associates

Scott J. Stitt

Scott J. Stitt

Partner

Tucker Ellis LLP

Sean Power

Sean Power

Employee Stock Ownership Plans Co-Chair

Polsinelli

Serena Amlie, CFA, ASA

Serena Amlie, CFA, ASA

ESOP Client Advisor

Spinnaker Trust

Seth Webber, CFA, ASA, CVA, CPA

Seth Webber, CFA, ASA, CVA, CPA

Principal

BerryDunn

Shelby R. Sledge, MBA

Shelby R. Sledge, MBA

Managing Partner & Co-Founder

Sledge Works

Stacey Dolden, MA

Stacey Dolden, MA

Chief People Officer

SCS Engineers

Stefanie Couch

Stefanie Couch

Founder & CEO

Grit Blueprint 

Stephen C. James, CPA

Stephen C. James, CPA

Founder & Chairman

SCJ Fiduciary Services

Steven Greenapple, J.D.

Steven Greenapple, J.D.

Partner

Stevens & Lee, P.C.

Sugar Ray Leonard

Sugar Ray Leonard

Legendary Boxing Icon with Championship Titles in five weight divisions, Olympic Gold Medalist, Hall of Famer, Bestselling Author, Television Personality, Ringside Analyst, Philanthropist, and Founder of the Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Sugar Ray Leonard Foundation

Ted Margarit, JD, MBA

Ted Margarit, JD, MBA

Managing Partner

Paralign Capital Partners

Tiara Letourneau

Tiara Letourneau

Co-founder and CEO

Rewrite Capital Advisors

Tim Lang

Tim Lang

Managing Director

Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc.

Tina Fisher

Tina Fisher

Managing Director - ESOP Consulting

Principal

Todd Wozniak

Todd Wozniak

Partner

Holland & Knight LLP

Tracy Hawthorne

Tracy Hawthorne

Chief Financial Officer

Donley's

Tracy Robinson

Tracy Robinson

Senior ESOP Consultant

Principal

Tracy Woolsey

Tracy Woolsey

Senior Vice President

GreatBanc Trust Company

Ty Fukimoto

Ty Fukimoto

Executive Vice President

Prudent Fiduciary Services

Wayne Fjeld, CFA, ASA

Wayne Fjeld, CFA, ASA

Managing Director

Acclaro Valuation Advisors

Wendy Lankes, QKA

Wendy Lankes, QKA

Manager-Operations

Principal

Witold Telezynski

Witold Telezynski

Assistant Director - Consulting

Principal Financial Group

Zachary Freeman

Zachary Freeman

SVP/Insurance Broker- Mgmt Liability, E&O, Cyber Practice Leader

Christensen Group