Bruce has 20 years diversified experience in internal audit, professional services, IT security, and anti fraud management. His industry experience includes diversified financial institutions, asset custody, capital markets, transaction processing, payments technology, and mergers and acquisitions. His experience prior to joining Crowe includes 11 years with subsidiaries of First Data and Metavante, where he held division level positions as Vice President/Director, Internal Audit and Vice President, Risk and Fraud Solutions. Mr. Sussman has built internal audit functions and anti fraud strategies while focusing on enterprise and technical risk management issues. Mr. Sussman’s product and technological knowledge base includes Cisco Firewalls, Routers, IPS/IDS and Penetration Studies; Data Encryption, Message Authentication and Wireless Security; Mobile Banking and Remittances; Tandem Non-stop platforms, ACI Base 24 and client server; Federal Banking Regulations, FFIEC, ACH, & Anti Money Laundering; Sarbanes-Oxley, COSO and COBIT.

After starting his career as an internal auditor for two money center banks, Bruce joined NYCE Corporation as its first internal auditor. Bruce grew the function into a respected resource for helping NYCE grow from a small, entrepreneurially focused company into the 2nd largest payment network in the US. Bruce played key roles in representing NYCE before regulators and financial institution owners. During several critical mergers and acquisitions, Bruce provided time critical due diligence reviews on behalf of NYCE’s CEO and Board of Directors, including representatives of several global, diversified financial institutions. Subsequent experiences included management of large Sarbanes Oxley testing projects; design of anti fraud products and services, internal audit peer reviews and conduct/supervision of third party (SAS 70) reviews. Bruce can read, write and speak Spanish fluently, a skill most recently used during due diligence work in Central America.

Bruce is currently Chairman of the New York State Society of CPAs – Technology Assurance Committee. He is a frequent speaker with industry and trade groups such as the Bank Administration Institute, Institute of Internal Auditors and ISACA, on topics which include anti fraud controls, banking and payments technology. Bruce’s articles and bylines have appeared in several states and national publications, and was most recently featured in the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy.

Bruce’s Financial Services experiences include projects with Morgan Stanley, Bank of New York/Pershing Securities, JP Morgan Chase, FNMA, American Express, and numerous regional and community bank holding companies.

Mr. Sussman received a Bachelor of Arts degree in accounting from Rutgers University, and also attended New York University.

Harvey G. Beringer, C.P.A., M.B.A.

Harvey G. Beringer is currently a sole practitioner. He has previously held financial positions at medium size companies. His interest in technology derives from his experience in implementing accounting software. He is a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor. He helps his clients improve their performance by preparing budgets, cash flow analysis and such tools as performance measurement and flash reports. This helps business owners understand the financial impact of the decisions they make to achieve their goals and objectives.

He is a member of the AICPA, NYSSCPA and NCCPAP. He is a graduate of New York University with a B.S. in economics and an M.B.A. in accounting from C.W. Post. He can be reached at hgbcpa@aol.com. Visit his web site at www.Precisecpa.info.

Gary E. Carpenter, CPA

Gary E. Carpenter is a past Chair of the Technology Assurance Committee and owner of Carpenter Information Technologies, Inc. (CIT) which buys, sells and leases high tech equipment. Gary has been involved with the third party computer market since 1976 in various positions from controller to chief financial officer to president of his own company.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPA’s. He has previously served on the NYSSCPA’s Financing and Leasing Committee. Mr. Carpenter currently serves on the boards of several non-profit organizations. He can be reached at cit@twcny.rr.com.

Matthew Clohessy, MBA

Matthew Clohessy is currently employed at M&T Bank as an internal auditor and has prior experience as a systems administrator with Prentice Office Environments.

His is a graduate of Canisius college with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems, and an MBA with a concentration in Accounting.

David Daniels, CPA, MBA

David Daniels is currently the Senior Director of Financial Controls at Time Warner’s Publishing Division, Time Inc. He is responsible for Financial Controls, Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance, Accounting Reviews of Time Inc.’s Operating Divisions, and Acquisition Due Diligence. David also supports FCPA Investigations, Systems Implementations and Outsourcing efforts. He has worked in this capacity since 2003. Prior to joining Time Inc., David was most recently employed as an Audit Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche, where he worked from 1990 through 2003. At Deloitte, David specialized in assisting public and private companies and advised both U.S. and Asian based clients on SEC and Technical Accounting matters.

David is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPA’s. He also serves on the NYSSCPA’s Publishing and Printing Committee.

Adam Dunning

Adam Dunning graduated from SUNY at Buffalo's School of Management with a B.S. in Business Administration and concentrations in Accounting and MIS. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers' Systems and Process Assurance practice for two years prior to joining Palladian Health, LLC. Adam is a Business Analyst at Palladian where he works closely with the product development team as well as providing analysis to support Palladian's sales and value proposition activities.

Adam's has delivered presentations on topics such as "Accounting Fraud Basics" and "Business Process Controls." He can be reached at adunning@palladianhealth.com.

Matthew C. Giordano, CPA

Matthew Giordano graduated from St Joseph's College on Long Island in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers through 2000 where he specialized in both IT and Financial Auditing. He joined Credit Suisse First Boston in 2000 with a position in their Treasury Control Function and special focus on FAS 133. In 2005, he rejoined PwC as a manager in the Albany Systems and Process Assurance practice.

Mudit Gupta, CPA

Mudit Gupta is the Data Analytics leader at Metlife. Prior to that, Mudit worked as a Senior in Ernst & Young’s Technology and Security Risk Services practice in New York’s Financial Services Office. His core competencies are in Continuous Auditing and Continuous Monitoring using Data Analytics. He is responsible for setting up Metlife's Data Analytics group by building a team of qualified analysts and publicizing the idea within the company. Mudit and his team use ACL and SQL to validate financial reports, identify any data anomalies, and assess financial and operational risks for Metlife's Institutional, Individual Business, Finance, International and Investments. Mudit also has experience applying similar techniques to other companies with Equity, Fixed Income and Foreign Exchange Derivatives businesses.

He is a member of the AICPA and NYSSCPA. He is a graduate of Rutgers University-New Brunswick, New Jersey with a B.S. in Accounting and Computer Science. He can be reached at mgupta@metlife.com.

Patrick Helmes, CISA

Patrick is an Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in the System and Process Assurance Group. He has a BS in Information Technology from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a specialization in web and database technologies. Patrick has experience with application controls; Sarbanes-Oxley audits and performing IT risk assessments for large fortune 500 companies.

Lucas Kowal, CPA, CISA, CISSP

Lucas Kowal has worked within the Internal Audit departments at several major Financial Services firms in an officer capacity. Mr. Kowal has several years of audit and consulting experience of information systems and technology applications, having also worked with Arthur Andersen’s Technology Risk Consulting Group.

In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA-NY), Lucas has attained both the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) accreditation and the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) accreditation. Additionally, Lucas also holds a NASD Series 7 registration. Lucas is a graduate of the prestigious BS (Public Accounting) / MBA (Management Information Systems) program from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Joel Lanz, CPA, CITP, CISA, CISM, CISSP, CFE

A former “Big 5 CPA firm” partner and banking executive, Joel’s niche CPA practice provides services that encompass critical aspects of information technology, financial management and regulatory compliance, including IT audit, technology governance, security risk assessment and testing, system implementation and related financial management services. Joel is a member of the Editorial Board of The CPA Journal and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant's (AICPA) Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) Credential Committees as well as various AICPA Task Forces. Joel maintains various specialist certifications including the AICPA's specialist credentials in information technology (CITP) and financial forensics (CFF), ISACA's Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), ISC(2)'s Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), ACFE's Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and the National Security Agency's IAM and IEM methodologies. Joel also teaches graduate-level courses in Advanced Assurance Services, Advanced Information Systems, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination at State University of New York – Old Westbury and Long Island University. Previously, Joel taught graduate courses in IT Auditing and Business Continuity Planning at New York University and Systems Planning and Policy at Pace University. He is the immediate past Chair of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountant’s Information Technology Committee and former Chair of the society’s Technology Assurance committee.

Rich Lanza, CPA /CITP, CFE, PMP

Rich Lanza, President of Cash Recovery Partners, LLC, helps companies identify their hidden financial assets, mostly using technology and referring them to specialists. He has a decade and a half of experience in audit technology and recovery auditing, becoming a leading authority in these areas. His free website, www.findmillions.net, helps companies to identify cost recovery and prospective savings in all areas of their business.

He is the author of 12 publications and training courses in audit software and has over 75 articles for major audit and accounting publications. Rich has worked for companies ranging in size of $30 million to $12 billion and in all, has helped them save money through the use of technology and recovery auditing. While he has over 15 years of experience and is a recognized leader in the use of technology, Rich also founded AuditSoftware.Net, a free website devoted to using technology for generating bottom line results.

Yosef Levine, CPA

Yosef Levine is employed as an Audit Senior Manager by Deloitte & Touche, LLP and is the firm’s Northeast Regional Audit Technology Leader (RATL) specializing in the application of data analysis on audit engagements. Mr Levine is also responsible for ACL education in the Northeast and also serves as the regional Audit and Enterprise Risk Services liaison with MIS and National IT.

For the past 9 years, Mr. Levine has been a manager/ player of the company’s softball team and also serves as the Deloitte’s recruiting captain at his alma-mater, Yeshiva University's Sy Syms School of Business.

Mr. Levine is the Treasurer of the Anshei Lubavitch Outreach Center in Fair Lawn, NJ and currently the Alumni President of Chabad of Yeshiva University. He has also devoted 7 years as a member of the Fair Lawn Volunteer Ambulance Corp. and served as its Treasurer in 2001.

Mr. Levine is a member of the AICPA, NYSSCPA and Association of Certified Fraud Examiners currently serves on the Technology Assurance Committee of the NYSSCPA.

Jennifer A. Moore, CPA

Jennifer Moore is a manager in the Assurance & Advisory Business Services practice at Ernst & Young. Moore is a 2003 graduate of Canisius College, where she obtained a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems. She also minored in Computer Science and was a graduate of the All Honors College. Moore has authored several articles and presented on topics such as Wireless Security Risks and XBRL. She has more than five years of experience serving both privately held and public companies in the Upstate New York area. She specializes in industries such as provider care, hospitality and manufacturing.

Moore serves as a member of the curriculum committee for the Canisius College Department of Accounting. She also is a manuscript reviewer for The CPA Journal. Moore is a member of the NYSSCPA and AICPA. She can be reached at Jennifer.Moore1@ey.com.

Bruce H. Nearon, CPA

Bruce H. Nearon, CPA, is the national Director of IT Audit for J.H. Cohn and directs the Firm’s IT audit procedures for over 150 financial statement audits, SAS 70, privacy, IT security assessment, and SEC Regulation AB attestation engagements. He is a member and former Chair of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants’ Technology Assurance Committee, and a former member of the Auditing Standards and Procedures Committee and is a member of the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

Bruce has published numerous articles in professional publications on IT auditing and related subjects. He is the co-author of “Life After Sarbanes-Oxley: The Merger of Information Security and Accountability,” in the Summer 2005 issue of Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. He is the co-author of The Discovery Revolution: E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, a best selling book published by the ABA.

Yossef Newman, CPA

Yossef Newman is an audit senior manager and project leader for XBRL at Deloitte. He has spent much of his career specializing in technology assisted auditing with a focus on the Securities and Banking Industry. As a financial auditor he has served a wide range of clients including multinational brokerage and investment firms, government securities dealers and mortgage banking entities. Yossef has also served as a member of Deloitte’s technology innovation team, helping to develop and deploy new technologies and tools within Deloitte’s Audit and Enterprise Risk Services practice.

Since 2003 Yossef has been an active member of the XBRL International Consortium where he currently serves as chairman of the Taxonomy Recognition Task Force and as a member of the XBRL International Standards Board, the group responsible for managing the production of the consortium's technical materials.

Prior to joining Deloitte, Yossef served as a financial accountant with D.E. Shaw & Co. L.P. As a member of the financial operations group Yossef worked with management to develop reporting processes for both domestic operations and overseas subsidiaries, participated in financial statement preparation and was responsible for the accounting and regulatory filings of a startup online broker dealer.

Yossef is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of CPA’s. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Touro College and also studied abroad at Yeshivas Toras Moshe, Israel. Yossef can be reached at ynewman@deloitte.com.

Joseph B. O’Donnell, Ph.D., CPA, CISA

Joe O’Donnell is an Associate Professor of Accounting Information Systems and Chair of the Department of Accounting at Canisius College. He has published articles and presented conference papers in the areas of information systems, auditing, and accounting. His research interests include Information Technology Auditing, Web-based Financial Reporting, Accounting Information Systems Education, and E-business. Joe played a central role in designing Canisius College’s Accounting Information Systems program and teaches courses in Accounting Information Systems, Information Systems Auditing, Ebusiness, Enterprise Systems, Financial Accounting and Managerial Accounting.
His prior experience includes six years as an information systems auditor and financial auditor with the accounting firm that is now known as PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He received a Ph.D. and a MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame. Joe can be reached at odonnelj@canisius.edu.

Karina Pinch, CPA, CITP, CISA, CISM

Karina Pinch works for PricewaterhouseCoopers and has experience with the Systems and Process Assurance group and Portfolio Management team. She is also an adjunct professor of Accounting Information Systems at Canisius College. She completed an M.B.A. in Accounting and graduated Summa cum laude in 2004 with a dual major in Accounting and Accounting Information Systems from Canisius College. She has authored articles and presented on such topics as XBRL, Database Normalization, and Auditing Application Controls.

Michael W. Pinch, CISA, CISM, PMP

Mike Pinch is a Senior Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Rochester, NY, in the Systems and Process Assurance department. Pinch has extensive experience in IT auditing, business process work, SAS70 engagements, IT consulting, and project management. Pinch's research is currently concentrated on web based computer security, for which, he often gives lectures to academic and professional organizations. Prior to joining PwC, Pinch was CEO of a web based software company, Ruby Bay Development. Pinch is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), a Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), and Project Management Professional (PMP).

Pinch is a graduate of Union College with a B.S. in Computer Science, and has an M.B.A. with dual concentrations in Technology Management and Management Information Systems from the Rochester Institute of Technology. He is presently working on a Master of Science degree in Computer Security and Information Assurance at RIT.

Michael Pinna, CPA

Michael Pinna is the Director of Risk Management & IT Services at WeiserLLP. He has over 18 years experience in the field of IT Audit and Controls across a wide variety of industries and specializes in performing SAS 70 and Sarbanes-Oxley IT reviews. He has also held positions with First Data Corporation as a Director of Technology Audit, with Ernst & Young as a Senior Manager, and with Deloitte & Touche as a Manager.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the NYSSCPA serving on the Technical Assurance committee. He previously earned a MBA in Finance from Binghamton University and a BS in Applied Economics from Cornell University. Mike can be reached at mpinna@weiserllp.com.

Yigal M. Rechtman, CPA, CFE, CITP, CISM

Yigal Rechtman is a director for information technology, technology assurance and forensic services at Buchbinder Tunick & Co. LLP.

Rechtman specializes in fraud investigation and forensic accounting; information technology and internal controls; and computer aided auditing and statistical analysis. He manages audit engagements including consultation for SOX 404 and audits under OMB A133 (“Yellow Book”). Rechtman’s experience is in industries such as technology, education, employee benefit plans and not-for-profit, real-estate and professional services.

Rechtman is a member and a registered peer-reviewer of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and a certified member of the Association for Certified Fraud Examiners and served as chair of the Technology Assurance committee at the New York State Society of CPAs from 2005-2007. Yigal Rechtman is also a Certified Information Technology Professional (AICPA) and a Certified Information Security Manager (Information System Audit Association).

Rechtman graduated from New York University with a B.A. in computer science, and has a M.S. in accounting from Pace University; He is the author of articles focusing on issues in information technology, accounting, attest and audit. Rechtman is a professor at the Lubin School of Business, Pace University, New York campus.

Robyn E. Sachs, CPA, CIA, CISA, CFE, MBA

Robyn Sachs is New York licensed certified public accountant with a professional background in external audit, public accounting, internal audit including SOX testing, information technology audit, general accounting and the taxation of individuals, trusts, estates, partnerships and corporations.

She holds a Master of Business Administration in Accountancy and a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics.

Walter Schmidt, CPA, VSO CTM

Walter Schmidt has been involved with technology since 1965. This includes: Microsoft VIP status; a Microsoft Expert Zone Associate; Chair of the General CUDP Committee, and member and Chair of a variety of IT and other State level committees.

Walter has published in Lotus Magazine, PC Magazine, The Chamber of
Commerce Executive Network, The CPA Journal, and NCS's CIMS UNITE
Newsletter; and has spoken before a variety of events including: Spring and Fall Comdex and NYSSCPA's IT, Industry and Annual conventions. He is also a Past-President of the Suffolk Chapter of CPAs.

Currently Walter is the Town of Oyster Bay's Veteran Services Officer and head of its Veteran Services Division, where he brings to the table his three-plus decades of experience as a CPA, along with his own "still a work-in-progress" journey through the VA health system. A continuing journey that resulted from his three tours in Vietnam (October 1967 to December 1969) and his contact with Agent Orange
herbicide Dioxins. This contact, over twenty-five years later, caused him to become paralyzed and lose the use of all but partial use of his right arm and hand. While now in a wheelchair fulltime, he continues to work a full five-days-a-week schedule (from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm!).

During his 30-plus years in public accounting Walter's name became synonymous with computers, the Internet, and technology. And while today he and a computer are still never too far apart, when asked for the current "words of the day," he will quickly tell you: "Let No Veteran Ever Stand Alone!"

Walter can be reached at waltsdorsai@gmail.com. Visit his web site at
http://www.waltsdorsai.net/.

Sheryl K. Skolnik, CPA, CISA, CISM

Sheryl has over 25 years experience in information systems consultancy, risk management and financial auditing in both public accounting and private industry.

As a Partner and the National Director of Information System Assurance services, she is responsible for managing BDO’s national IS audit practice which specializes in the evaluation of IT general, business process and automated application controls. She is a leader in her firm in evaluating internal controls and integration of the control assessments into the audit practice. In addition, Sheryl manages BDO's SAS 70 (Service Auditor’s Reports) practice. She is a member of the IT Audit Sub-Committee of the AICPA’s PCAOB Task Force and serves on the Firm’s Sarbanes-Oxley committee, developing and refining her firm’s methodologies and tools, as well and training and supervision. Sheryl is also the IS Assurance Partner on many of BDO's larger, more complex engagements.

Sheryl is a former Audit Partner from Ernst and Young. At E&Y she managed the IT Audit Practice Group for the New York Region, directly served the larger organizations and led the firm’s efforts in integrating IS and financial auditing. Sheryl left E&Y to start up her own consulting practice. Her firm, Total Business Solutions, Ltd., delivered various risk, process and financial management services, including internal audit and financial accounting outsourcing, corporate governance, process improvement, and technology related services. Her clients ranged from small businesses to major global organizations.

Sheryl is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) and is a member of the AICPA, NYSSCPA, ISACA and the Academy of Women Achievers. She has been an active committee member at the NYSS including past chair of the Computer Usage and Data Processing committee. At ISACA, she was the Vice President of Certification for the CISA exam, served on the CISM task force charged with developing the Certification for Information Security Managers and assisted with the development of the IT Governance Institute’s (under ISACA) COBIT for Sarbanes-Oxley. She has also been a frequent speaker at these and other professional organizations.

Inga Sokolova, CISA

Inga Sokolova is a Senior IT Auditor at J.H. Cohn LLP at Roseland, New Jersey. She works with clients from a variety of industries providing IT audits of internal client systems, SAS 70 and SEC Regulation AB attestation.

Inga received her Masters of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from Baruch College, Zicklin School of Business. She is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Information Systems Audit and Control Association.

Irwin Winsten, CPA

Irwin Winsten is president of The Software Consultants, Scarsdale NY. He received a BS degree from Yale University and MS degree from Columbia University. In addition to writing magazine articles and speaking to professional organizations, he is the author of Accounting Software and the Microcomputer published by John Wiley & Sons, and Computerized Bookkeeping.

Mr. Winsten has served on Committees of the New York State Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs, and is on the faculty of Lehman College. He also has been active in many community activities, serving as an officer for a number of non-profit organizations and providing pro bono services for others. Irwin can be reached at ecru@prodigy.net.