Elizabeth obtained her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in accounting from the University of Kentucky. She worked in KPMG’s audit group for six years and joined Dean Dorton in 2000. She has over 30 years of experience in public accounting and currently serves as the chair of the Dean Dorton Board of Directors. Elizabeth is a leader on the firm’s Forensic and Valuation Services team, specializing in bankruptcy accounting matters, litigation support, and forensic accounting services. In addition to her Certification in Financial Forensics (CFF), Elizabeth is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She has served in several fiduciary roles, including Chief Restructuring Officer, Receiver, and Fee Examiner. She has acted as a Compliance Ethics Monitor/Independent Monitor of a rural electric cooperative, reporting to two branches of the Federal government. Elizabeth has testified in state and federal courts and currently serves as a Subchapter V Bankruptcy Trustee.

As Managing Director of Wealth Management at Choreo’s Charlotte, NC office, David is a trusted advisor to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, business owners, and multi-generational families, specializing in wealth strategies that preserve and grow wealth. He is especially passionate about working with entrepreneurs and has helped countless successful companies from start-up to a life changing exit event by developing tailored plans for business succession, estate and gift planning, and sophisticated asset management. His expertise ensures that clients have a clear, strategic roadmap for accumulating, managing, and transitioning wealth with confidence. David’s approach beings with understanding each client’s vision and personal goals, allowing him to craft strategic financial plans that align with their long-term objectives. His deep knowledge of wealth management includes investment management, philanthropic planning, asset allocations, retirement planning, and private investments. He also specializes in business transition and transaction planning, strategic partner alignment, and maximizing tax-efficient strategies.

Jeremy is the Managing Partner of Bland & Associates, P.C. (Bland), based in Omaha, Nebraska. The firm currently has nearly 120 employees and became Nebraska’s first and only 100% employee-owned ESOP in January 2020. In addition to his role as Managing Partner, Jeremy serves in both the Visionary and Integrator roles as part of Bland’s Traction/EOS framework. He also serves on the Americas and Worldwide Boards of Directors for BKR International. On a personal note, Jeremy has been married to his wife, Renee, for nearly 23 years. They have one son who is about to begin his senior year at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida, and twin boys who will soon be seniors in high school.

Amy Vetter, CPA, CGMA, RYT500, CSP, and CEO of The B³ Method Institute, is a dynamic leader known for integrating business strategy with mindfulness. With over 25 years of experience across finance, SaaS, and corporate governance, Amy has transformed organizations by aligning business goals with personal fulfillment. As a best-selling author, podcast host, and sought-after speaker and consultant, she helps professionals across industries create balanced, purpose-driven cultures. Her innovative approach, The B³ Method®, empowers leaders to embrace authenticity and achieve sustainable success.

With over 20 years of taxation experience in construction, real estate and high net worth individuals, Tanya Valle provides valuable support to Aldrich’s Southern California based clients. Prior to joining Aldrich in 2021 as the Director of Construction, Tanya served as a Principal of Construction and Real Estate at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, and spent over 15 years at a California-based accounting firm, where she was a Partner. Tanya has been recognized by organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction and Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. An active participant in the industry, Tanya is a member of multiple organizations, including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA).

Sean Taylor is CEO of Smith + Howard, a national accounting and advisory firm headquartered
in Atlanta. Since stepping into the role in 2019, he has led the firm through significant growth —
from just over 100 employees to more than 700 today, and from a single Atlanta office to a
national footprint spanning ten U.S. cities and one in India. This expansion has been driven by a
bold 10-year vision, multiple strategic acquisitions, and a partnership with private equity firm
Broad Sky Partners.

Under his leadership, Smith + Howard has expanded its capabilities, talent base, and
geographic reach. In recognition of his impact, Sean was named “Top Leader” among midsize
workplaces by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and received a “Lifetime Achievement Award”
from Vistage Worldwide, a global executive-coaching and peer-advisory organization for CEOs.
He has also been recognized as a “Most Admired CEO” by The Atlanta Business Chronicle and
honored with the “Public Service Award” from the Georgia Society of CPAs.

Sean is the host of The Worst Advice I Ever Got, a podcast where leaders share lessons
learned from misguided advice and the experiences that shaped their careers. His candid and
curious approach reflects the authenticity he brings to leadership.

A graduate of the University of Georgia, Sean earned a BBA in accounting and began his career
at Smith + Howard as an intern. He became a partner in 2003, led the Assurance practice
beginning in 2010, and was named CEO in 2019. Over the course of his career, he has advised
nonprofits and privately held businesses with deep expertise in succession planning and
organizational transition. More recently, he has guided accounting firm leaders through private
equity considerations, drawing on Smith + Howard’s own experience to help others navigate
both the opportunities and complexities of outside investment.

Sean is deeply committed to mentorship and community impact. He actively champions the
firm’s mentoring initiatives and works with team members across the organization. He serves on
the Board of Trustees for Wesleyan School and on the finance committee of the Community
Foundation for Greater Atlanta. In 2012, he co-founded FoodStock, Georgia’s largest one-day
meal-packing event, which has helped provide nearly 5 million meals to children around the
world.

Val Steed graduated from Utah State University where he received both his Bachelors of Science (BS) in Accounting and his Masters of Accounting (MA).  

After college, Val worked for Deloitte Haskins and Sells of Salt Lake City, Utah, and then with Hansen, Steed, Bradshaw & Malmrose P.C. of Salt Lake City.  Val was with Hansen, Steed, Bradshaw & Malmrose P.C. for twelve years and was a shareholder for six years before leaving to start K2 Enterprises.  In June 2019, Val joined Zoho Corporation as the Director Accountants.  He has twelve years’ experience in public practice and has been involved with the accounting technology industry since 1985.

Steve Stagner is the Chief Executive Officer at Crete Professionals Alliance (“Crete PA”) with a focus on value creation initiatives enabling the growth of Crete PA network firms. Crete PA is an Accounting focused professional services platform that partners with ambitious practices across tax, assurance and advisory services catering to clients in the United States and around the world. Crete PA was founded in 2023 by ZBS Partners and is backed by strategic investors Thrive Capital and Bessemer Venture Partners. Steve maintains an Operating Partner role in the LightBay Capital’s Operating Performance Group, supporting Clarion Home Services Group and Infinity Home Services Group as a board member. Most recently, Stagner was Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Clarion Home Services Group, leading execution and growth in the residential HVAC services platform. Additionally, he held positions as Executive Chairman of Infinity Home Services Group, Foundry Brands, and Alliance Animal Health. Stagner was the former Executive Chairman and CEO of Mattress Firm. In this role, he was responsible for the strategic vision of the Company as well as all of its core functions, including sales, marketing, merchandising, finance, and operations. Stagner joined the company as a franchise owner in 1996 with a dream to build Mattress Firm into the leading national specialty mattress retailer in the U.S. He was promoted to President and Chief Executive Officer in February 2010. He oversaw Mattress Firm’s initial public offering in 2011 and guided the Company’s growth from $400 million in sales to over $3.5 billion in pro forma sales in 2015. Stagner has also served in various capacities with the Mattress Firm Foundation, including as its President since January 2011 and director from January 2007 until December 2010. He also serves as director of the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston and the Rusche College of Business Advisory Council at Stephen F. Austin State University. Additionally, he serves on the Advisory Board for the Translational Genomics Research Institute as well as the TGen Foundation Board.

Marci is a Tax Partner and the Private Client Services Leader for Cherry Bekaert. In this role, she oversees the Firm’s approach to serving the unique tax, accounting and advisory needs of individuals and families who are in various stages of accumulating wealth. Marci’s expertise is in federal and multi-state individual and fiduciary income tax planning and compliance, gift and estate tax and investment partnerships. Prior to joining Cherry Bekaert, Marci was a Principal at a privately-owned wealth management firm where she worked with families to successfully navigate the tax consequences of life and law changes. Earlier in her career, Marci held a progression of tax roles in which she worked with ultra-high earners and wealthy families, including spending the first seven years of her career in the private client practice at a Big Four firm. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the American Institute of CPAs and the Georgia Society of CPAs

John has over 25 years of tax compliance and audit experience, to include Sales / Use, Telecommunications, income and Property Tax. John has worked in various roles supporting Sales, Marketing, Tax Operations and Processing, Implementation and Training through webinars, speaking engagements and on-site presentations.