SPEAKERS

Keynote Speaker

BOB PHILLIPS

Texas Country Reporter

The back roads of Texas have been the home office for Texas Country Reporter Bob Phillips for almost 50 years. His "Texas Country Reporter" television series is a celebration of the Texas way of life and a tribute to the "real" heroes of our time--the everyday men and women who make our state such a special place.

Bob is a 1973 graduate of Southern Methodist University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in broadcast-Film-Art.In 1976, he received a Master of Liberal Arts degree from SMU. Bob started his television career at KDFW-TV (Channel 4) in Dallas, Texas, while he was a student at SMU. Texas Country Reporter is also seen nationally on RFD-TV and in 22 Texas television markets. Rating services estimate that more than 2 million people see Bob’s program each week. Bob divides his time between homes in Dallas and a ranch in the Texas Hill Country. He is married to Kelli Phillips who formerly anchored the evening news on the Beaumont, Texas, CBS affiliate. Kelli now works at Phillips Productions and is co-hosting “Texas Country Reporter” with Bob.

TONY BOX

Partner - Gray Reed

Tony Box represents businesses and high-net-worth individuals in all types of civil and criminal tax controversies, white-collar defense cases, regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, and compliance matters focused on preventing government inquiries and minimizing business disruptions. He protects U.S. and international clients spanning several industries, including construction. Before joining Gray Reed, Tony developed a diverse skill set while serving in several public and private sector positions. Tony is also a licensed CPA and spent three years at a Big Four accounting firm overseeing multi-million-dollar financial audits and investigations in the U.S. and abroad. Tony has an extensive background in federal law enforcement as well. He served as an FBI special agent for nearly a decade. Tony’s leadership skills and appreciation for collaborationwere honed while serving on active duty inthe Army as atank commander and later as a JAG officer in Iraq.

BILL BRADSHAW

CEO – Simplified Sales Strategies, LLC

Bill Bradshaw currently serves as the CEO of two companies: Simplified Sales Strategies, LLC is a sales management consulting firm focused on process, people, accountability, and replicability. Rockin’ R Search is a nationwide Key Employee Recruiting Firm headquartered in Houston, TX. Bill has a proven track record of success of over 20 Years of experience.  He is a disciplined and innovative leader.

Bill has a high degree of expertise in working with businesses with $5mm to $150mm in annual revenues. Alongside being an entrepreneur who started six companies, Bill has consulted for over 15 years in a multitude of industries. He has first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced by businesses in developing the right people, processes, accountabilities, and discipline to maintain growth in an organization. Bill holds a BS in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin.

GREG BROWN

Assurance and Consulting Services Partner, Crowe LLP’s Real Estate and Construction Service

Greg Brown is an assurance and consulting services partner within Crowe LLP’s Real Estate and Construction Service group in Dallas, Texas. He has over 16 years of experience in providing assurance and consulting services to construction industry clients throughout the United States and locally. His expertise has helped numerous clients evaluate and implement industry best practices, provide restructure advisory services, and identify ways to evaluate and improve profitability. Greg has served in several leadership roles within the CFMA and ASA and currently serves on the executive committee at CFMA National.  During 2020, Greg was awarded the “Bob Moulder” award from his local DFW CFMA Chapter. This award is given to a member who has volunteered their time and effort to promote and serve the chapter in multiple capacities over multiple years.

DIRK COCKRUM

Environmental, Social, Governance - ESG Practice Leader - FORVIS

Dirk Cockrum is the national environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practice leader for FORVIS National Enterprise Risk Solutions Practice. He has more than 25 years of experience working in the energy and transportation industries’ operations and financial systems. His background includes leading ESG program development and strategic energy transition initiatives, helping improve operations performance and risk management processes, and leveraging information technology and business process improvement to help improve efficiency and quality.

Prior to coming to FORVIS, Dirk spent 20 years with one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America where, under his leadership, their ESG rating improved from 80th to first out of 185 companies in their industry group. Before that, he spent six years at an engineering firm in their water, environment, and energy consulting practices, and two years at a research institute in their hydrologic sciences division.

He is a licensed professional geologist and a member of the AICPA and the Project Management Institute.

ANGELA CONNOR

Partner - Peckar & Abramson

Angela Connor, a partner in Peckar & Abramson’s Houston office, is board certified in construction law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and focuses her practice on construction litigation, dispute resolution and contract negotiation. Known for her sound and practical legal advice, she routinely finds creative solutions to meet her clients’ business needs. Angela represents a wide range of construction industry clients and regularly handles complex construction-related matters involving mechanic’s liens, payment bonds, contract disputes, collections, delay claims and construction defects. She is also involved in the drafting and reviewing of contract documents and regularly performs contract risk assessment and risk management for a range of construction projects. Having represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state court, federal court and in arbitration proceedings, Angela brings to bear a wealth of knowledge in nearly all aspects of litigation and dispute resolution. She prides herself on utilizing the most efficient and cost-effective means for resolving complex disputes. She received her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Texas A&M University, and her law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston, where she served as Student Bar Association President.

FRANK DEVAY

Managing Director of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group - Chaffe & Associates, Inc.

Mr. deVay is a Managing Director of the Mergers & Acquisitions group of Chaffe & Associates, Inc., with emphasis in services to privately held companies.  He has more than 20 years experience in the structuring and negotiation of transactions, the valuation of small and mid-sized companies, and the development and execution of competitive processes for the sale or purchase of businesses.

Prior to joining Chaffe in 2000, Mr. deVay began his career as a Cost Manager with Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems in New Orleans which eventually lead him to become Chief Financial Officer for ProComp, Process Technologies, and Premier Industries.  He left the corporate world to enter into the investment banking industry in 1999.

Mr. deVay holds licenses for the Series 7,63, and 79 and is a Financial Industry Authority (FINRA) Registered Representative.. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Loyola University New Orleans.

ADAM DIMMICK

Partner - Audit and Assurance Group, Crowe

Adam Dimmick is a partner in the audit and assurance group at Crowe. He specializes in auditing and accounting services. Adam has more than 19 years of experience improving business processes and systems to help optimize operations and produce accurate financial reporting.

BILL EGGER

Senior Consultant, FMI

Bill Egger provides executive and thought leadership to help organizations build high-performing leaders, teams and cultures. Bill is passionate about helping organizations accelerate individual and organizational performance through developing strategic thinking, identifying barriers limiting effectiveness, building trust, and creating peak leadership and team performance. Bill brings expertise in leadership and organization of family-owned, public and private equity-backed companies. He has worked with many diverse companies advising on leadership, corporate development, strategic planning and execution, mergers and acquisitions, and process innovation. Bill’s industry experience includes executive-level positions (CEO, CAO, VP) in general contracting, industrial and aerospace firms. He has worked with organizations from 10 to 10,000 employees and with companies consisting of a single-site operation to those with global operations in more than 20 countries.

MATTHEW GIBBONS

Group Head & Managing Director of Construction & Engineering Commercial Banking Group – CIBC

Matthew Gibbons is Group Head of the Construction and Engineering commercial banking group with CIBC U.S. in Chicago, IL. Matt has over 18 years of experience in financial services and is currently responsible for managing a group of relationship management professionals that deliver a comprehensive suite of commercial banking, treasury management, investment products, capital markets, private banking, and wealth management services to owners and businesses in the construction industry, including GCs, specialty contractors, architects and engineers, and building materials suppliers.

NICK GRANDY

Construction and Real Estate Senior Analyst - RSM

Nick Grandy is a construction and real estate senior analyst at RSM. His experiences include serving clients across the country by providing industry-specific insights that allow them to stay at the forefront of the changes within their industry. In this role, Nick works with RSM’s economists and other senior analysts to understand, forecast, and communicate economic, business and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. Nick’s focus is on the construction and real estate industry.

In 2021, after nine years in RSM’s assurance practice, Nick transitioned into the management consulting practice, with a focus on working with the office of the CFO to help define finance and technology strategy, understanding financial systems and how they support finance and accounting operations, as well as identifying overall business process improvement opportunities and proposed solutions. Prior to this, Nick worked in RSM’s audit and advisory practice, providing financial statement audit services, attest engagement services and specific transaction related services with a focus in construction.

MISTY H. GUTIERREZ

Partner - Thomas, Feldman & Wilshusen, L.L.P

Misty H. Gutierrez is a partner at Thomas, Feldman & Wilshusen, L.L.P. and is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Misty advises clients from all segments of the construction industry regarding contract formation and negotiations, pre-litigation dispute management, and formal dispute resolution involving breach of contract claims, delay claims, foreclosure of mechanic's and materialman's liens, design defect claims, and other construction-related claims.

LENA HO

VP of Finance - Austin Industries

Lena is a licensed CPA, Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). She began her career at Austin Industries in Dallas as a Sr. Internal Auditor in 1998, and was subsequently promoted to be the Director of Internal Audit in 2004.  In 2009, she rotated to Austin Commercial as Director of Performance Reporting, and subsequently promoted to be one of the two controllers of Austin Bridge & Road and Austin Commercial in 2015. In 2019, Lena was promoted to be VP Finance of Austin Industrial in Houston, overseeing the ERP migration project, development of operating policy and procedure, and its subsequent implementation. Beginning in January 2021, Lena becomes the VP Finance of Austin Industries in Dallas, the parent company of 3 different construction companies.

MICHAEL HO

CEO - Bespoke Metrics Inc.

Michael Ho is an accomplished executive with extensive experience in credit risk, data analytics, and software development. After working in finance for 15 years and helping lead a Credit Rating Agency into the 4th largest Rating Agency in the world, Mr. Ho utilized his experience in P3, Infrastructure Finance, technology and growth initiatives and founded Bespoke Metrics in 2016. With its inaugural product, COMPASS, Bespoke Metrics is now one of the leading Construction Software companies focused on Preconstruction Risk Management.

STEVE KESTEN 

Shareholder, Business Group Chair – Boyar Miller

Having corporate, securities, bankruptcy and litigation experience, Steve Kesten can counsel firm clients in multiple areas of the law; however, his primary practice focus is transactional law. Steve's practice includes private placements and other sales and purchases of debt or equity securities; mergers, asset acquisitions and sales; formation and representation of private equity funds, venture capital funds and hedge funds; entity selection and formation and general contract review. He also has experience representing both lenders and borrowers in asset-based lending transactions involving senior lenders, mezzanine lenders and factoring companies. Most recently, Steve’s practice has centered on the purchase and sale of middle-market companies, private placements, private equity and venture capital investment and representing foreign companies with the expansion of their businesses into the United States, in particular the State of Texas.

MICHAEL K LANDERS

Partner – UHY LLP

Michael K. Landers, CPA, is a partner at ABIP, P.C. with 20 years of experience. He has a strong focus on delivering unmatched client service and leading social and technical business development activities. Michael is a proactive, results oriented professional with an effective team building approach and a hands-on work style. He has the proven ability to innovate, analyze, organize, lead and manage others, problem-solve and communicate.

Michael has extensive experience in many areas including financial & operational reporting and analyses, SEC reporting, GAAP compliance, internal controls, strategic financial planning and M&A. In the past, Michael provided due diligence reviews in corporate transactions and applied his industry knowledge and an understanding of business drivers to perform evaluation and financial analyses of operational performance.

LYNN LEDNICKY

Partner – Newport, LLC

Lynn has a diverse background as an executive, advisor, and board member. He uses his strategic, commercial, financial, operational, and leadership knowledge, skills, and tools to drive change and increase value. He has worked with a variety of middle-market companies, ranging from private equity investors to family-owned businesses, in sectors including service-providers, distributors, and infrastructure. Lynn is an outstanding collaborative problem-solver who can get you from point A to point B better than anyone else; great for multi-factor challenges or change management initiatives required to meet financial, commercial, and operational needs.

CURTIS MARTIN

Partner - Peckar & Abramson

Curtis W. Martin represents contractors and owners on large construction projects and advises clients on all facets of the construction process, from the preparation of contract documents to counseling on risk management, business and legal issues that arise during projects, and dispute resolution. He is an active mediator and arbitrator.

Curt draws on extensive experience in the construction industry, where he has focused his professional life since 1979 as both a construction lawyer and an industry executive. He served as President and Chief Operating Officer of an ENR-400 construction company. He is Board Certified in Construction Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He has taught construction law at the undergraduate and graduate level at US universities including Colorado State University and Georgia Tech.

JUSTIN MAZZA

Manager, Strategy/Management Consulting Practice - RSM

Justin Mazza is a manager with RSM’s Strategy/Management Consulting Practice. Justin provides strategy advisory services to a variety of Fortune 500 & middle market companies in real estate, construction, industrials, manufacturing, and consumer products. Justin’s areas of expertise include strategy development, risk assessment and mitigation, financial modeling and project management. Justin has experience with general contracting, construction management, cost estimating and project scheduling and has delivered projects with major Fortune 500 clients and middle-market firms. Before joining RSM, Justin managed multiple clients with a Big 4 serving clients in commercial construction, residential construction, aviation, energy, education, hotel & leisure, and retail.

REEMA PARAPPILLY, CISA, CDPSE

Partner - IT Advisory Services Weaver

Reema Parappilly has more than 17 years of experience in providing IT advisory services, including three years of Big Four experience. Her focus includes continuous controls monitoring, IT internal audits, SOX Compliance and external audit support. She has experience in performing IT risk assessments and executing IT internal audit plans, including strategic electronic asset management, cybersecurity maturity assessments, data loss prevention, remote technology (post-COVID assessment) and system implementations.

A Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE), Reema is an active member of numerous industry associations, including Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA), the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), and Cloud Security Alliance (CSA). She’s spoken at over 30 conferences throughout her career. Reema earned a Master of Science degree in information systems technology and a Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and information systems from George Washington University.

KIMBERLY PIERCE

Management Consulting/Software Advisory/Construction - Plante Moran

Kimberly Pierce has more than 15 years of experience in information technology and operations improvement for primarily construction and manufacturing companies. Kim is a leader in assisting clients with evaluation, selection, and implementation of prepackaged enterprise systems. Areas of focus include enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and business intelligence (BI). Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from Michigan State University.

ANTHONY G. “TONY” STERGIO

Shareholder - Andrews Myers

Anthony G. “Tony” Stergio is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has extensive experience in the defense of State and Federal employment discrimination claims, wage and hour compliance and claims, OSHA compliance and contests, Davis-Bacon Act compliance, noncompetition agreements, Department of Labor and TWC investigations and employment policy design and review. He speaks frequently at employment-related seminars and also counsels clients regarding developments in various areas of State and Federal employment law. Tony received an AV© Preeminent™ Judicial Rating from Martindale Hubbell, the nation’s leading legal services resource. He scored a 5 out of 5 rating, the highest rating achievable in both Legal Ability and Ethical Standards. He previously received an AV© Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating from Martindale Hubbell.

JEREMY W. STOVALL, LEED AP

President - Brookstone Construction

Jeremy W. Stovall, LEED AP, has more than 22 years experience in the Houston commercial construction market. During this time, he has successfully managed a variety of religious, community, and commercial projects throughout the Greater Houston area and southeast Texas. He has experience in preconstruction management, estimating, project supervision, and project management. Jeremy is a graduate from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Construction Science. Jeremy is currently serving as a board member with the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Houston Chapter, Chair for the AGC Texas Building Branch, and Co-Chair for the AGC Houston Government Affairs Committee. Additionally, he is serving as Chair of the Dean’s Advisory Board for the College of Architecture, and is the Immediate Past President of the Construction Industry Advisory Council at Texas A&M University.

BOB TINGLESTAD

Management Consulting/ Business Analyst/Construction - Plante Moran

Bob Tinglestad has over 20 years of experience in the business technology with an emphasis in business analytics and data-driven decision making, focused in construction. His specialty is helping organizations build and mature their analytics programs leveraging data management, performance management and business intelligence technologies to drive improved results. Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems from Purdue University and participates in the CFMA Heavy / Highway Committee.

CORBIN VAN ARSDALE

President and General Counsel - AGC Texas Building Brand

Corbin Van Arsdale is a fifth-generation Texan who attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he earned degrees in finance (BBA) and law (JD)—and lettered in baseball. Corbin previously served as a Texas state legislator from Harris County and as a mayor and council member from the Austin suburb of Cedar Park. While in the Texas Legislature, Corbin served on the following House committees: Calendars, Appropriations, State Affairs, Insurance, Judiciary, Urban Affairs, Texas Legislative Council, and the Joint Select Committee on the Texas Youth Commission. Corbin also served as Cedar Park’s mayor throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and Winter Storm. During his time in local elected office, Corbin chaired the Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG) and served on the boards of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA). Corbin currently serves on the following boards in his role with AGC-Texas Building Branch: Texas Civil Justice League, Texas Business Roundtable, and the Texas Comptroller’s Business Advisory Group.