Meonske Professional Development Conference Presenters and Panelists

View the speakers and presenters for the 2026 Meonske Professional Development Conference.

Lisa Barrow
Vice President, Research Department - The Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

Lisa Barrow is a vice president in the Research Department of the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, leading the department’s regional analysis and outreach group. Before joining the Research Department, Dr. Barrow was a senior economist and economic advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and an affiliated researcher at the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research. Her research focuses on a variety of education issues, including the impact of attending a selective high school on student outcomes, a randomized evaluation of computer-aided algebra instruction in large urban school districts, and evaluations of performance-based scholarship impacts on academic outcomes and student time use at the college level. Her prior research on school choice, education production, and the earned income tax credit has appeared in numerous economic and policy journals. Barrow has also served as senior economist on the White House Council of Economic Advisers, a visiting assistant professor at the New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations at Cornell University, and a visiting lecturer at the Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. Barrow holds a BA in economics from Carleton College and an MA and a Ph.D. in economics from Princeton University.

Justin Breidenbach
Assistant Professor of Accounting - Capital University

Justin Breidenbach is an Assistant Professor of Accounting at Capital University, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate accounting courses. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration (Accounting) and a Master of Accountancy from Bowling Green State University. A CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), he previously taught at Ohio Wesleyan University and Lake Erie College. At Ohio Wesleyan, he also served as Faculty Director of The Woltemade Center for Economics, Business, & Entrepreneurship. Justin owns Breidenbach Consulting Services LLC, providing accounting and tax services to individuals and businesses across various industries. Since 2013, he has specialized in accounting and regulatory consulting for the cannabis industry, advising cultivators, processors, and retailers on CFO services, tax compliance, internal controls, and licensing. He regularly presents at domestic and international conferences on the state-legalized cannabis industry and professional ethics.

Ted Christy
Senior Manager, Audit - KPMG

Ted is a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Audit practice and was a founding member of the audit practice’s ESG Center of Excellence. Ted is a collaborative and team-oriented leader in KPMG Cleveland’s Audit practice. Eleven years of experience providing financial statement audits and is responsible for the execution of reporting and assurance procedures related to ESG subject matter. Most recently, Ted has spent the last 4 years developing the US firm’s resources and capabilities in ESG, including the execution of a variety of ESG reporting and assurance engagements.

Shelby Collins
Founder - WNY Research Solutions

Shelby has devoted her career to accounting research and finds great joy in sharing these skills with others. Shelby currently works as a consultant assisting companies with new standards adoptions and technical accounting research. Prior to her current role, Shelby taught the accounting research course at the University at Buffalo for seven years and authored a highly regarded textbook, Skills for Accounting Research (5th edition). Her early career experiences with many facets of accounting research, from a position at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) as a postgraduate technical assistant, to KPMG's Accounting Advisory Services group, to a position in accounting policy at Exelon Corp in Chicago, have led her to appreciate research from many perspectives. Shelby is a CPA and holds a Masters in Accounting from the University of Georgia.

Tiffany Crosby
Chief Learning Officer - The Ohio Society of CPAs

Tiffany Crosby is the Chief Learning Officer for The Ohio Society of CPAs. She is responsible for organizational development, workforce development and learning. Crosby is also one of OSCPA’s premiere instructors for ethics. Prior to her work with the society, she was the Founder and President of Petra Learning LLC, a professional training and development company. Additionally, Crosby was an Executive Director in the Advisory Risk Practice of Ernst & Young, LLP. She spent more than 13 years at EY leading various types of internal audit, internal control, finance, and enterprise risk management projects. She has helped numerous companies define and implement processes and procedures to comply with new financial accounting standards, strengthen governance processes, and reduce costs. Crosby teaches financial management and business leadership classes as an adjunct faculty member at Southeastern University. She previously taught financial accounting and managerial accounting as an adjunct faculty member at Columbus State Community College (CSCC). Crosby is a CPA licensed in Pennsylvania and Ohio. She received a B.S.B.A. in Accounting from Duquesne University and MBA from Franklin University and is a doctoral student in Southeastern University’s Organizational Leadership Program.

Anne DeTraglia
Vice President of Global Audit and Enterprise Risk Management - Sabre Corporation

Anne is a risk management professional with thirty years’ experience building teams and capabilities across multiple disciplines, including internal audit, compliance, enterprise risk management, and fraud risk management at Fortune 500 companies such as Home Depot, Sears Holdings, Nike, United Airlines, and Whole Foods. She is currently working at Sabre Corporation as their Vice President of Global Audit and Enterprise Risk Management. Anne is a graduate of Illinois State University, with a degree in Spanish Linguistics and Literature. She earned an MBA from The American Graduate School of International Management and is proud to be a Certified Internal Auditor and Fraud Examiner. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her children who have all recently graduated from college, eating fun meals with her foodie husband, and working off those calories by running and biking.

Ben Franjesevic
Director - Protiviti

Ben is a Director with over 17 years of experience focused on helping organizations assess and manage their technology risk. Ben has supported engagements in numerous areas including AI/ML, robotic process automation, process mining, cybersecurity, data analytics, IT governance, IT general controls, system development, and asset management. He has worked with organizations in various industries acting in roles across the three lines of defense. Ben helps to support Protiviti’s Next Gen Internal Audit initiatives globally, is a member of Protiviti’s global AI governance and risk management center of excellence, serves as a leader for Next Gen enabling technologies, and is a frequent speaker on topics including AI / ML, process mining, advanced analytics, Agile audit, and RPA risk and control. Prior to joining Protiviti in 2012, Ben worked for the Internal Audit Department of a local government entity where he was responsible for leading and executing operational and IT audits.

Stacy Gilbert 
Chief Accounting Officer & Corporate Controller - KeyBank

Stacy Gilbert is the Chief Accounting Officer & Corporate Controller at KeyBank and oversees financial accounting operations and technical accounting, external reporting, capital markets controllership, credit and credit risk controllership, and finance risk & controls. With over 25 years of accounting and financial reporting experience with publicly traded financial institutions, Stacy began her career as a public accounting auditor at KPMG in Cleveland, Ohio. She originally joined Key in 2002 where she had various responsibilities in accounting policy and KeyBank Capital Markets accounting operations. In 2008, Stacy had an opportunity to join FirstMerit Corporation, a $25B financial services company, where she led the automation of the company’s SEC reporting process and was promoted to assistant corporate controller before returning to Key in 2016. Since re-joining Key, she has held increasing responsibilities over accounting operations, accounting policy and external reporting. Stacy earned her B.B.A. in accounting from Cleveland State University and is an active certified public accountant in the State of Ohio.

Patrick Gilmore 
Partner - Deloitte

Patrick Gilmore is a Partner with Deloitte in its national office, where he specializes in matters pertaining to SEC rules and regulations related to financial reporting. Patrick joined Deloitte in 2021 after 17 years on the staff of the SEC in the Division of Corporation Finance. Prior to joining Deloitte, from 2017 until his departure, Patrick served as the Deputy Chief Accountant in the Division of Corporation Finance’s Office of the Chief Accountant at the SEC, where he led the staff in providing technical accounting and reporting support for the Division’s disclosure review program, led various rulemaking efforts, and answered interpretive questions and waiver requests related to the form and content of financial statements to be included in SEC filings. During 2020, Gilmore also served as the Acting Disclosure Review Program Director, where he oversaw the Division’s selective review of transactional and periodic filings. He spent the earlier part of his career with the SEC in various management and staff positions in the Division of Corporation Finance’s Office of the Chief Accountant and the disclosure review program in the computer and software industry group. Gilmore earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Towson University and is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA.

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Managing Director, Valuation Advisory - Stout

Rob is a Managing Director in Stout’s Valuation Advisory practice with more than 25 years of business valuation experience. He provides valuation services to clients for numerous purposes, including purchase price allocations (ASC 805), goodwill impairment testing (ASC 350), acquisitions and divestitures, corporate and strategic planning, estate and gift taxation, and for litigation related matters. Rob holds the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and Accredited Senior Appraiser – Business Valuation (ASA) designations.

Sean Humphreys 
Managing Director - Protiviti

Sean is a Managing Director in Protiviti’s Internal Audit and Financial Advisory practice. As the Market Leader for the firm’s Northeast Ohio practice based in Cleveland, he brings over two decades of diverse experience, including Management experience with a large Fortune Global 500 organization, to lead the firm’s client services across Northern Ohio and Eastern Michigan. In that role, Sean helps connect our client organizations with dynamic advisory teams to help them solve critical business challenges.

Stephen Latza
Financial Reporting Accountant - Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Stephen Latza is a Financial Reporting Accountant with Cuyahoga County of Ohio, with a strong focus on organizational efficiencies. He is a Certified Ohio Public Manager and holds a Black Belt in Process Improvement certification issued by Cuyahoga County.  He has over 10 years of experience in process reviews and implementing process improvements, with a specialization in the creation of new processes.

Ron Lewis 
Senior Vice President & Head of Finance Shared Services - KeyBank

Ron Lewis is the SVP and Head of Finance Shared Services at KeyBank. He brings more than 30 years of banking experience to this role. He is responsible for Corporate Procurement, Corporate Reconcilement, Financial System Support and Information Delivery, and serves as the CFO of KeyBank’s Technology and Operations division. Prior to his current role, he was the Assistant Controller for KeyBank responsible for Month End Close, Consolidation Accounting, and a number of other Accounting operations areas. During his time as the Assistant Controller, he led a significant finance transformation through the implementation of Workday technology.

Wei Li, Ph.D. 
Chair for the Department of Accounting and the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics, & Associate Professor - Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at �Ը�� University

Wei Li, Ph.D., is the Chair for the Department of Accounting and Chair of the Department of Information Systems and Business Analytics at the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at �Ը�� University. She joined the �Ը�� faculty in 2006 after receiving a Ph.D. from Washington State University. Li’s main research interests examine whether and how psychological and social factors influence investors’ decision making. In addition, her work has explored the areas of management financial reporting decisions and donors’ decision processes. Li’s research is international in scope. She is a co-recipient of two research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 

Ron Marcin 
Partner - Audit, KPMG

Ron Marcin is a Partner in KPMG’s audit Practice. He has over 20 years of client service experience in several industries including consumer goods, retail, industrial manufacturing and financial services. Ron has experience serving clients in a number of geographic regions and his client base has ranged from large international public companies to private enterprises. Ron currently serves as the lead partner for two public companies in the Cleveland area. Ron is a proud alumnus of �Ը�� University (2001) and currently serves as the Accounting Advisory Board Chair.

Steve McKechnie
Vice President, Finance Transformation and Global BlackLine Practice Leader

Steve brings over 25 years of domestic and international experience in both corporate and consulting leadership roles working in numerous industries, in both business and IT environments. He currently leads RGP's BlackLine Practice and previously led RGP's System Selection Practice. Steve is a thought leader who takes the client's perspective to best solve their challenges. From assessments and strategy development to roadmap and framework design to leading solution implementations. Steve finds success for his clients by aligning and bridging their corporate strategies to department operations and to management of teams, while directing the portfolio of programs, resources, and budgets. Prior to joining RGP, Steve worked for Ernst & Young Consulting and Hewlett-Packard; was an independent consultant; and co-founded a start-up internet development company.

Stephen McNally 
CFO, Treasurer & Secretary - Plastic Technologies Inc. (PTI)

J. Stephen McNally, CMA, CPA, is the Past Chair of IMA's Global Board of Directors and continues to serve on the Global Board, the Global Board’s Global Markets Committee, and the Small Business Committee. In addition, Steve is a proud member of the IMA Toledo Chapter. Steve is CFO, treasurer, and secretary of the Plastic Technologies Inc. (PTI) Group of Companies. Based in Holland, Ohio, the PTI Group serves nearly every major consumer goods company and is recognized worldwide for sustainable packaging innovation. Prior to PTI, Steve spent a lifetime at Campbell Soup Company.

Norman Meonske 
Meonske Professional Development Conference Founder & �Ը�� Professor Emeritus

Norman Meonske, Ph.D., has conducted many continuing professional education presentations for state CPA societies, corporations, CPA firms, IMA meetings, and other professional organizations. He is the recipient of IMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also the 2004 recipient of IMA’s prestigious R. Lee Brummet Exemplary Educator Award and IMA’s Ohio Regional Council’s Distinguished Service award. Meonske was recognized in 2011 as the Outstanding Educator of the Year by the OSCPA/The Ohio Region of the American Accounting Association. His prior public accounting experience was with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Josh Messina 
Partner - Cohen & Company

Josh Messina excels in client service, offering clear communication, consistent follow-up, and collaboration with service providers to ensure smooth business operations. He advises S Corporations, partnerships, and C Corporations in manufacturing, transportation, and service industries, including start-ups. A key focus of his work is helping clients maximize the R&D tax credit. Josh specializes in complex, multi-entity client groups with diverse ownership structures, including families, investors, and private equity. He takes a business-first approach to tax issues, guiding clients through transactions like business sales and succession planning while ensuring daily operations stay on track. He is a Certified Public Accountant (Ohio). He holds a Master of Taxation from The University of Akron and B.S. from �Ը�� University.

Kyle Moffatt 
Partner - PwC

Kyle Moffatt joined as a partner with PwC in April 2020. He has also worked for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and held titles of Chief Accountant and Disclosure Program Director, Chief Accountant, Associate Director of Disclosure Operations, Associate Director of Disclosure Standards, and Branch Chief Accountant. Moffatt received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Ron Monteiro 
Founder & Owner - KICT Inc.

Ron is an accomplished business executive with extensive experience in the CPG industry, having held senior leadership roles (Director/VP) at Kraft Foods, Campbell’s, Kruger Products, and other leading organizations. He now runs KICT Inc., his own speaking, training, and coaching practice. Ron specializes in both virtual and in-person experiential training, delivering sessions in locations such as Nashville, San Francisco, New York, India, Vietnam, Hawaii, and Malta. He is a dynamic speaker, equally effective with large audiences (300+) and intimate groups (including executive teams), helping individuals unlock their full potential. He is also the author of the recently published book, Love Mondays, which guides individuals and teams toward greater fulfillment, joy, and productivity in their work.

George Mount 
Founder & CEO - Stringfest Analytics

George Mount is the founder and CEO of Stringfest Analytics, a consulting firm specializing in analytics education and upskilling. He has worked with leading bootcamps, learning platforms and practice organizations to help individuals excel at analytics. George regularly blogs and speaks on data analysis, data education and workforce development and is the author of Advancing into Analytics: From Excel to Python and R (O’Reilly Media, 2021) and Modern Data Analytics in Excel: Using Power Query, Power Pivot and More for Enhanced Data Analytics (O’Reilly Media, 2024). He is a recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award for exceptional technical expertise and community advocacy in the field of Excel. George holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hillsdale College and master’s degrees in finance and information systems from Case Western Reserve University. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio.

David Oriani
Tax Partner - PwC

David Oriani is a Tax Partner in PwC’s Industry Tax Practice with over fifteen years of experience and is based out of the Cleveland, OH office. His primary focus is providing tax services to both publicly and privately held multinational corporations and pass-through entities in a variety of industries, with a heavy focus around the consumer and industrial products sector. He works with his clients to address the areas of accounting for income taxes, tax planning, tax compliance, and various federal tax consulting issues. David earned a B.A. in Public Accounting and Finance from Marietta College. David is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in Ohio.

Chris Pedersen
Vice President, Business Technology Global SAP Practice Head - RGP

Christopher leads RGP’s Global SAP Practice and is a seasoned SAP executive recognized for delivering complex SAP programs on scope, on schedule, and on budget, while successfully stabilizing and turning around challenged initiatives. Since earning his SAP Financial Accounting and Controlling certification in 1997, he has led 25 SAP deployments across R/3, ECC, and S/4HANA, driving large-scale, finance-focused transformations. He has guided SAP programs across Aerospace & Defense, Energy and Utilities, Government, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, and Retail, consistently aligning technology strategy with Finance objectives to enable enterprise transformation. His experience spans practice development.

Bryan Sinclair
Vice President, Technical Accounting Solution Leader - RGP

Bryan leads RGP’s Technical Accounting solution and is an accomplished accounting and finance professional with extensive knowledge in technical accounting matters, including US GAAP and IFRS, initial public offerings, internal controls and financial reporting functions within dynamic growth companies as well as mature organizations facing financial and operational challenges. Bryan has provided technical accounting analysis/guidance on significant transactions and events for clients, including initial public offerings, mergers & acquisitions, divestitures, carve-outs, and restructurings. Bryan began his accounting career with the Big Four, spending nearly nine years between KPMG and PwC, and is a Certified Public Accountant (State of Texas).

James Skakun
Tax Partner - BMF

James Skakun is a Tax Partner at BMF with deep expertise in business taxation and transaction advisory services. Since joining the firm in 2011, James has built a reputation as a trusted advisor to closely held businesses, private equity firms, and strategic buyers navigating complex tax and transactional matters. James focuses primarily on business tax, with a significant specialization in mergers and acquisitions. He co-leads BMF’s Transaction Tax Services (TTS) practice and has authored over 175 tax diligence reports while playing a critical role in transaction structuring, risk identification, and post-deal tax planning. Over the past six years, the TTS practice has worked on over 20 sell-side transactions with an average equity value of $75M. Working closely with BMF’s Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) group, James brings a collaborative, deal-oriented approach that aligns tax strategy with financial, operational, and commercial considerations. His experience spans acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, and restructurings, helping clients anticipate tax exposures, optimize deal economics, and achieve successful outcomes. James is known for his practical mindset, technical strength, and ability to communicate complex tax issues clearly to executives, investors, and deal teams. His hands-on approach and commitment to client service make him a key resource for clients navigating high-stakes transactions and long-term growth initiatives.

Matt Soful
Director, Business Development - Consulting, RGP

Matt Soful is a results-driven business development professional with a strong track record of enabling organizations to execute critical business initiatives. With extensive experience in consultative sales, strategic partnerships, and revenue growth, Matt excels in connecting companies with highly experienced consultants and subject matter experts to solve their most pressing challenges. Currently serving as Director of Business Development at RGP, Matt partners with large enterprises to provide expertise, capability, and capacity for transformative projects. His ability to understand complex business needs and align them with tailored solutions has made him a trusted advisor across industries. Prior to RGP, Matt held roles at CBIZ, EY, and other firms, where he helped organizations enhance productivity, mitigate risks, and drive financial success. He also founded The Business Quarterback, helping businesses optimize financial strategies and achieve sustainable growth. In 2023, Matt was recognized by Crain’s Business as a Notable Leader in Accounting & Consulting, highlighting his impact in the industry and his ability to drive meaningful business outcomes. Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Heidelberg University, where he developed a strong foundation in financial management, strategic decision-making, and business operations. Outside of his corporate career, Matt is deeply committed to community service and philanthropy. He serves on the Board of Directors for NEOPAT, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families. His involvement reflects his passion for giving back and supporting those who have served our country. Beyond his professional achievements, Matt is a dedicated husband and father of four who values teamwork, collaboration, and community. A former collegiate athlete, he applies his competitive spirit and leadership skills to drive success for the organizations he serves.

Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D. Deborah Spake
Dean - Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at �Ը�� University

Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., joined �Ը�� University in January 2013 as Dean of the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. She previously served at the University of South Alabama's Mitchell College of Business and has served on the faculties of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Western Michigan University and as a visiting professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Worms, Germany. Prior to earning her doctorate in marketing, she worked as the marketing research director of a publishing company and later for consulting firms in Atlanta, Georgia. Spake's research interests include services marketing, advertising, and business ethics. Her research has appeared in numerous publications. She is a member of the editorial review board of the Journal of Business Research and facilitates a seminar for new associate deans of business for AACSB International, the accreditation body for colleges and schools of business. She has previously served as a judge for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program.

Lisa Stiffler
Managing Director, Risk Consulting - KPMG

Lisa is a managing director in KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice with over 23 year specializing in internal audit, SOX compliance, and enterprise risk management. She specializes in the Industrial Manufacturing and Consumer Market industries, helping companies navigate risk considerations for new IPO’s, significant, complex transactions, and enterprise-wide transformational changes.

Robert “Cujo” Teschner
Founder, CEO, Chief Consultant - VMax Group Consulting

Robert “Cujo” Teschner has more than 20 years of hands-on leadership experience in high-reliability organizations and brings all that experience with him wherever he speaks, teaches, or coaches. He has a special way of connecting with his audiences, blending high-impact stories of fighter aviation and personal humility to achieve the intended outcome. He served as Commander of the 7^th Fighter Squadron, responsible for transitioning a start-up squadron to the Far East for four months. He was hand-selected to serve as an F-15 “Eagle” instructor pilot at the United States Air Force (USAF) Weapons School. He also served as a senior staff officer at Headquarters U.S. European Command, where he was a key architect of a major multi-billion-dollar overseas security initiative requested by the President of the United States.

Luke Wilson
Manager, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk - KPMG

Luke Wilson is a manager in KPMG's Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk practice based in Cleveland, with more than seven years of internal audit and accounting experience. His work involves leading the execution of internal audit, enterprise risk, SOX, and ESG engagements for clients across a variety of industries. With the increasing need for ESG guidance, Wilson has been focused on helping to develop KPMG's methodology and approach to ESG processes and controls to address emerging risks surrounding ESG reporting. Luke has presented to IIA chapters and other groups on ESG and Internal Audit's role.

Jenelle Wolfe
Director, International Tax Strategy - Eaton Corp.

Jenelle Wolfe is a Director, International Tax Strategy, for Eaton Corp. where she is responsible for overseeing global tax policy and tax planning for the company. Jenelle has over 18 years of combined experience, including prior roles in M&A tax for Eaton Corp. and tax compliance in public accounting. She is a CPA and holds a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver and a B.B.A. degree in Accounting from �Ը�� University.

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