Webinar: Member Appreciation Free CPE Days - Maximize Your Membership

Jacqueline Sciammerella

Jacqueline Sciammarella is a Human Resources Professional with over 20 years of progressive consulting and operations experience. Jacqueline’s comprehensive background in managing employee relations, training & development, risk mitigation and strategic planning has resulted in strong and trusted partnerships with leaders and business owners in a variety of industries from all over the United States.

Jacqueline is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) - National and Long Island Chapters. She is a senior certified professional, maintaining her SPHR and SHRM-SCP designations. She enjoys and welcomes the challenges that come with the ever-changing landscape of labor regulations and Human Resources Management.

Fady Salama

SimplifyIT A-Z was founded in 2007 by Fady Salama, who has over 20 years of experience managing, consulting, and securing CPA firms. His deep knowledge of the industry allows him to understand the unique pain points CPA firms face. Built on the core principle, “We do what’s right when no one is looking,” the company treats each partner as though it were their own. Acting as a virtual Chief Information Officer, SimplifyIT A-Z helps clients define five-year goals and create SMART goals, while providing top-tier customer service and real-time security monitoring. The team confidently states, “We’re doing it better than anyone else.”

TJ Sponsel

TJ Sponsel II co-founded McGuire Sponsel to deliver specialty tax consulting services to leading local and regional CPA firms across the country. His experience maximizing clients’ credits has grown McGuire Sponsel into a leading national consulting firm. As a highly sought-after speaker, Sponsel is able to share his practical experience and technical knowledge to CPA firms and industry trade associations throughout the country. His involvement in guiding clients through the R&D Tax Credit process has made him a trusted industry leader. Partnering with clients ranging in size, he maximizes available tax credits that withstand IRS scrutiny. During the tax planning process, Sponsel is transparent with clients and identifies potential opportunities for each specific situation. With vast experience in public accounting and tax consulting, he understands the importance of a CPA firm’s relationship with each of its clients. Sponsel’s approach to client service has included producing consistent results with personal service so firms can confidently integrate McGuire Sponsel into their strategic tax planning. Sponsel earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Manchester College.

Christopher Rasmussen

Chris is the Assistant Director of Regulation and Compliance with the Arizona State Board of Accountancy (Board). He has been with the Board for approximately nine years and has led its investigations program for eight years, overseeing hundreds of investigations. He and the rest of the Board’s staff work diligently to support the Board in its mission to protect the public from unlawful, incompetent, unqualified, or unprofessional CPAs through certification, regulation, and rehabilitation. He is a native Phoenician and also a graduate of Arizona State University.

Melisa Galasso

A CPA with nearly 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Galasso designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting. Galasso is a Certified Speaking Professional, a Certified Professional in Talent Development and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer designation. Within the industry, Galasso serves on FASB’s Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council and serves as a Subject Matter Expert for the Center for Plain English Accounting. She previously served on the AICPA’s Technical Issues Committee (TIC), the VSCPA’s Board of Directors and is past-Chair of the NCACPA’s A&A Committee.

Duncan Will

Mr. Will leverages his more than 40 years of experience in accounting, including public accounting, forensic accounting, consulting, and audit and tax compliance, to deliver to policyholders the high-touch, high-quality CAMICO experience. He works closely with the Loss Prevention Specialists to manage the department’s efforts to deliver policyholder service. Will’s specialties are accounting and auditing and business valuation-related risk management. He advises policyholders through the CAMICO Loss Prevention Hotline, speaks to CPA groups, and writes articles on a wide range of accounting risk management and ethics topics. Topics of particular interest include complying with the AICPA’s Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services, doubts about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, cyber-security, and serving clients in the cannabis industry. Will began his accounting career in 1979 as a staff accountant in the Washington, D.C. area and spent most of his public accounting career in California and Florida. He earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Maryland and is Accredited in Business Valuation and Certified in Financial Forensics. A Certified Fraud Examiner, Will is an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; has supplemented his education with college courses at the University of Baltimore, Golden Gate University, and Florida Atlantic University; and welcomes opportunities to expand his knowledge over a broad spectrum of accounting-related curricula.

Deanna Peterson

Deanna Peterson, CPA, joined YPTC in 2019, where she leads the Phoenix market and serves clients in Arizona and New Mexico. Before leading the market, Deanna spent two years as a Client Manager and about one year as an Associate at the firm. Deanna earned both Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and Master of Professional Accounting Degrees from the University of Washington. She has over 20 years of accounting experience from a blend of Big 4 Accounting, nonprofit controllership, and nonprofit accounting consulting capacities. She is a frequent trainer and presenter, most recently for various nonprofit leadership conferences, such as AZ Impact for Good, Northern Arizona Nonprofit Leadership Summit, and United Way Western Regional Conference.

Benjamin Hays

Ben Hays is a Manager with Your Part-time Controller, LLC (YPTC) in the Arizona and New Mexico market. YPTC is an outsourced accounting consulting firm specializing in accounting for non-profit organizations.

Ben is a purposeful and passionate professional accountant who combines over 24 years of experience from Big 4 firms, regional establishments, and successful self-employment ventures in public accounting, tax consulting, and accounting consulting for both profit-oriented and nonprofit organizations. His expertise includes strategic planning, delivering the story behind the numbers to executives, board members, and stakeholders to enable effective decision making, and optimizing processes and procedures. Ben’s exceptional background offers a diverse fusion of accounting, taxation, budgeting, strategic planning, reporting, and nonprofit industry expertise.

Ben is driven by a profound passion for delivering accounting services that serve a higher purpose. He takes pleasure in leveraging his accounting expertise to support nonprofits in advancing their mission, empowering communities, and fostering positive change in the world.

Brian Hartstein

Brian Hartstein serves as Director of Corporate Development for Bayntree Wealth Advisors. Through educating clients and partnering with accountants and legal advisors, he creates efficiency in planning, leading clients toward the value they seek in their lives and the lives of their families. His areas of focus include tax, business and retirement planning, as well as specialized and general insurance planning. Over two decades of diverse experience has allowed Brian to provide guidance to thousands of individuals and families.Publications where Brian has been published or recognized include Accounting Today, Journal of Financial Planning, Journal of Financial Service Professionals, Arizona Republic, 401K Specialist Magazine and more. In the past, he served as president of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Phoenix and held a Board of Director position for over a decade with the organization. Additionally, Brian serves on the Board of Directors of the Phoenix Tax Workshop, First Financial Resources and is a member of the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Brian is also a national speaker and educator, especially in the accounting industry, and actively works with various charities.Brian’s financial experience began with a job at his family’s pension firm in his early teens. As a third generation financial professional, he learned early on the importance of communication in creating successful long-term client relationships. Originally from Edison, New Jersey, Brian’s family relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona when he was in middle school. Brian earned his bachelor’s degree from Lafayette College and his master’s degree in financial services from The American College of Financial Services. He enjoys spending time with his wife and three teenage sons. In addition to reading, traveling, mountain biking, and paddle boarding, he enjoys live music and coaching various youth sports for his sons.

Don Minges

Don Minges, MBA, has presented live CPE in thirty US states and also serves as a fractional CFO. His expertise is in profitability enhancement, mergers & acquisitions, strategic planning, venture capital, turnarounds and financial analysis. He has experience raising equity for several organizations and has invested equity capital into promising businesses. Don graduated with highest honors from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Ryan DeMenna

Ryan DeMenna is a partner with DeMenna Public Affairs, which he and his brother, Joe, formed in 2017. DeMenna Public Affairs is the next generation of DeMenna & Associates, which was formed by Ryan and Joe’s father, Kevin DeMenna, in 1998. DeMenna Public Affairs has over 70 years of combined success in government relations and consulting services, impacting opinion leaders in virtually every manner possible. That success is due in part to the integrated approach of bringing multiple disciplines together to provide the firm’s clients with a competitive advantage. Ryan served in various capacities at the Arizona State Senate before joining DeMenna & Associates in 2008. He has extensive experience in the legislative process, and is primarily responsible for the public affairs and lobbying needs of the firm’s clients. DeMenna is a 4th generation Arizonan, and has been around the legislative process his entire life. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Meagan, and their son, Dylan. He is a proud graduate of Brophy College Preparatory, and the University of Arizona.

Emily Webb

Emily Webb is a dedicated government relations professional originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin, now based in Phoenix, Arizona. A graduate of Arizona State University, Emily began her career in local government, gaining valuable experience in community engagement and policy development. Currently, she works with the Arizona Society of CPAs, where she advocates for the interests of certified public accountants and supports professional development. Outside of work, Emily enjoys life in Phoenix with her husband and two beloved dogs, Mimi and Rodger.

Adela Jimenez

Dr. Adela E. Jimenez is an accomplished executive and career coach with 35+ years of experience in leadership development, strategic planning, organizational management, accountability systems, auditing, and project management in multiple for-profit and non-profit organizations, including multiple Fortune 500 companies and the Arizona Society of CPAs. Dr. Jimenez has conducted seminars and speaking engagements nationally and internationally, has been a contributor to the Phoenix Business Journal and has served on several non-profit boards. Dr. Jimenez is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Global Management Accountant.