Session 1 (8:10AM – 9:00AM): Professional Resiliency
Speaker: John Lynskey, CGFM, CPA
Bio:
John H. Lynskey, CGFM, CPA of AGA’s Washington DC Chapter, is the Controller and Deputy Division Director for financial management at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). His responsibilities include fiscal stewardship of NSF’s daily financial operations including budget execution and funds control; financial statements and reporting; accounting operations; and grant payments and administration. As controller of a $7 billion CFO Act agency, he leads NSF programs for internal control, improper payments, financial audit and strategic financial initiatives. He also oversees NSF’s shared service, cloud-based financial system and spearheads grantee financial outreach to NSF’s 1,700 institution customers. Under his 18 years of stewardship, NSF has achieved sustained success in obtaining “clean” audit opinions and in financial reporting excellence.
Before joining NSF, Mr. Lynskey served with the U.S. Secret Service for 8 years where he developed the Secret Service's first financial statements and a budget model for protective events under the CFO and in protective operations. He was also part of the security teams for events such as political conventions, UN General Assemblies and the Olympics. Prior to his federal government service, he worked in public accounting for Deloitte and other firms. He graduated from Virginia’s James Madison University with a degree in accounting.
Mr. Lynskey has been very active in AGA’s Washington DC Chapter, serving in many positions. At the national level, he served on and led AGA’s Finance and Budget Committee for 6 years and is a member of the Professional Certification Board. Over the last 6 years, he has been a member of AGA’s National Executive Committee (NEC), first as AGA’s 23rd National Treasurer and then as a Senior Vice President. He is currently AGA National President Elect
Session 2 (9:10AM – 10:00 AM) Government Revenue GASB 33
Speaker: Brian Hemmerle, CPA, CFE
Bio
- Henry+Horne, Senior Manager, Governmental Services
- Graduated from the University of Arizona
- Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner
- Experience in Municipalities, School Districts, State Agencies, Nonprofits and Industry
- Serves on the Board of Directors for the Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus Pine Council as the Treasurer
- Member of the AICPA, ASCPA, GFOA, GFOAz, AASBO • GFOA Special Review Committee Member
Session 3 (10:10AM – 11:00 AM) Arizona Management System
Speaker: Ryan Allison
Bio
Currently, serves as the Senior Lean Coach within the Office of Continuous Improvement at the Arizona Department of Corrections (2016 – present)
- Formerly, worked in the private sector with Caterpillar Inc.
- Began at the staff level at Caterpillar (11 years of experience)
- Played a significant role in the development of Cat Production Systems from (2005 – 2010)
- Deployed and implemented Lean principles throughout the organization’s facilities and also with the supply base (2010 – 2014)
- Served as Facility Manager of external supplier for Cat in Power Generation to launch a Lean Deployment (2014 -2016)
- Six SigmaGreen BeltandBlack Belt(2006)
- CertifiedLeanSix SigmaBlack Belt(2009)
- Graduate of the University of Illinois (2005)
Session 4 (11:10AM – 12:00 PM) IT Risks and Best Practices
Speakers: MichaelHiett and Ricardo Carrillo
Bio
Ricardo Carrillo:
Ricardo Carrillo is a graduate of Devry University with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. Ricardo has been with the Auditor General’s Office since 2005. He has worked on both Federal and Financial audits. Most recently Ricardo has been involved in state audits that have incorporated the review of IT controls.
Michael Hiett:
Michael Hiett is a graduate of Devry University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, and has been with the Auditor General’s Office since August 2017. Michael has been involved in multiple IT Division of School audits as well as an audit of the Arizona Universities. Michael plans to continue his education in practical areas of technology and certifications.
Session 5 (12:30PM – 1:20 PM) 2018 Treasurer’s Updates
Speaker: Treasurer’s Office Representative
Bio
Awaiting
Session 6 (1:30PM – 2:45 PM) 2018 GASB Updates
Speakers: Donna Miller, CPA and MichaelStelpstra, CPA
Bio
Donna Miller:
Donna Miller, CPA, is the Professional Practice Group Director for the Arizona Office of the Auditor General responsible for the Office’s quality assurance and training functions. Her responsibilities include providing technical research and assistance, overseeing accounting and auditing standards implementation, and performing quality assurance reviews of audit reports and other publications. Donna began her career with the Office in 1994 and previously served as a Financial Audit Manager responsible for governmental financial and compliance audits as well as special Legislature-requested audits. She has been actively involved in various accounting and auditing standards committees and work groups, including the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers, and Treasurers pension and OPEB standards accounting and auditing work groups, and has lead peer reviews of other state audit organizations.
Michael Stelpstra:
Michael Stelpstra, CPA, has served the Arizona Office of the Auditor General since 1993 and is currently a manager in the Professional Practice Group responsible for the Office’s quality assurance and training functions. His responsibilities include providing technical research and assistance, assisting with accounting and auditing standards implementation, and performing quality assurance reviews of audit reports and other publications.
Session 6 (3:15PM – 4:30 PM) Issues in Implementing Accounting Systems, Panel Discussion
Speakers:
Robert Harwood, CPA and Angie Flick - Maricopa County
Tanya Wright, CPA - Town of Gilbert
Michael Smarik, CPA - State of Arizona
Bios
Robert Harwood:
Robert Harwood is a Finance Manager with the Maricopa County Department of Finance and has been with Maricopa County for 11 years. Robert was a lead on the implementation team for the new Advantage Financial 3.10 ERP system. Robert is responsible for Grants Management, coordinating the yearly Single Audit for the County, Cost Allocation, and Accounts Payable. He has also been responsible for Property Taxes, the Expenditure Limitation Report, and Business Systems. Before that, Robert worked for the State of Arizona Office of the Auditor General for 7 ½ years as a Financial Audit Senior. During that time, he audited State Agencies, Counties, and Community College Districts for financial review and compliance with laws and regulations. He graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Arizona.
Angie Flick:
Angie Flick is a Finance Manager with the Maricopa County Department of Finance and has been the ERP Administration Manager for a year; prior to that she held various positions within the Office of Management and Budget for ten years including Budget Supervisor and Strategic Planning Administrator. In her current role, Angie is responsible for the functional administration of the financial, budget and reporting systems for Maricopa County including daily operations, training, and working with the county’s IT and CGI on all ERP issues. She is starting her second 3-year term on the CGI State and Local Government User Steering Committee providing guidance on CGI’s Advantage product development. Angie holds a Bachelor’s of Science and Masters of Business Administration with majors in Finance, Accounting and IT from the University of Arizona; and will be graduating with her Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration from Arizona State University in May.
Tanya Wright:
Tanya is currently employed at the Town of Gilbert as the Accounting Manager in the Finance and Management Services Department. She oversees general accounting, accounts payable, and payroll. She graduated from Arizona State University with a Bachelor’s in Accountancy, received her CPA and is currently attending ASU to obtain a Master’s in Public Administration and will be graduating this summer.
She began my career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen and when the firm closed, she moved into the private sector and worked for a national homebuilder. She then moved into the public sector to work at the Town of Gilbert and has been employed with Gilbert since 2007. She took a short break between 2012 and 2014 to work for the City of Ventura, California, but then returned to Gilbert.
At Gilbert, the Town is currently working towards the end of a financial system implementation with Munis, which began in September 2016. This implementation includes General Ledger, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Billing, Purchasing, Budget and Project Ledger. They will also begin the implementation of their HR/Payroll software next month, also with Munis.
Michael Smarik:
MichaelSmarikhas a long career of service to the State of Arizona. He is currently the Deputy State Comptroller at the Arizona Department of Administration, General Accounting Office.
He has held several previous positions with the ADOA and with the Arizona Department of Corrections, including the Division Director of Support Services, Assistant Director for Administrative Service and the Chief Financial Officer.
He has also worked for the Arizona Auditor General’s Office.
Mr.Smarikholds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, Accounting from the University of Arizona.
He is also a Certified Public Accountant; Board Member for the Arizona State Committee for Tax Deferred Annuities and Deferred Compensation Plans; and a Board member with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Correction Officer Retirement Plan, Local Board.