2021 Honorees

David E. Amiss, CPA, CVA

Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC

Raleigh, NC

David Amiss is focused on advancing the profession through his professional expertise and mentoring those considering or new to a career in business valuation and public accounting. Professionally, Mr. Amiss’ commitment to excellence is what drove him to pursue an expertise in valuation in lieu of being a “jack of all trades” in the tax compliance services space. Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Mr. Amiss recognizes the need for the values to make sense, beyond formulas and theories. In addition to his professional expertise, he is advancing the profession through his commitment to recruiting and developing next generation talent. He leads CRI’s campus recruiting strategy for the NC office and frequently speaks to students about a career in accounting and the opportunities in the valuation specialty. Personally, Mr. Amiss has been married for 13 years to his wonderful wife, Anna, and is blessed to have four children ... or more as he and his wife are licensed foster parents. He and his family are faithful members of their church and enjoy watching their beloved Georgia Bulldogs play football on Saturdays.

Tom DeSimone, CPA

Prairie Capital Advisors

Oakbrook Terrace, IL

Tom DeSimone joined Prairie Capital Advisors in 2011. He has extensive experience in advising middle-market companies on ESOP transactions (representing both companies and ESOP trustees), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financial opinions, corporate valuation and other investment banking advisory services. He also works with boards of directors and companies on mature ESOP planning and sustainability. In addition, he is instrumental in ensuring operational efficiencies across Prairie’s offices and production teams.

Mr. DeSimone is a frequent speaker in various forums, including: the National Center for Employee Ownership, The ESOP Association, the Illinois CPA Society and the Great Game of Business, as well as at corporate speaking engagements. He presents on topics such as ownership transition, ESOP transactions, and culture and communication within ESOP companies. He sits on the board of directors of a company that provides cyber research and development services to the federal government.

Mr. DeSimone holds the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation in the state of Illinois as well as a Master of Accounting Degree and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He also currently holds FINRA Series 63 and 79 securities licenses. He is committed to delivering exceptional results on behalf of Prairie’s clients. He has also been instrumental in leading several internal operational initiatives to support the firm’s growth. Mr. DeSimone demonstrates leadership and commitment in his role as project manager and team leader and mentor’s Prairie staff to help them learn and grow within the organization.

Melissa Diaz, CPA

Rebel Rock

Scottsdale, AZ

Melissa Diaz combines strategy, skillful execution, and the latest accounting technologies to oversee cash flow management, outsourced accounting services, budgeting, due diligence, and audit readiness at Rebel Rock Accounting, where she serves as co-founder and CFO. As a CPA, Ms. Diaz provides valuable financial guidance and expertise for cannabis companies of all sizes and structures, expertly driving company goals with confidence. She takes the anxiety out of the audit process, working closely with leaders to organize, prepare, and complete any necessary processes and reports.

Ms. Diaz’s accounting experience spans numerous industries, both domestically and internationally, including: healthcare, insurance, hospitality, and cannabis. In addition to serving as a principal with Rebel Rock, she co-founded Rebel Strategies, focusing on the M&A side of the cannabis industry. With Rebel Strategies, she prepares companies for acquisitions or funding events while also sourcing the capital behind those transactions. Ms. Diaz is also CFO and partner for High Rock Accounting, which emphasizes utilizing technology to strategically make day-to-day and long-term financial decisions while pursuing company goals and compliancy. With all her endeavors, she helps companies remain competitive and efficient in increasingly high-pressure and high-stakes environments.

Committed to giving back and advancing her industry, Ms. Diaz serves on the AICPA Cannabis Planning Committee. She has presented at MJBizConUS and MJBizConINTL, sharing insights on due diligence for cannabis investors. She is also widely published, including: Green Entrepreneur, Cannabis Business Times, and the Phoenix Business Journal, as well as a regular contributor on the podcast and radio show, Business Roundtable.

Reneé Fair, CVA

Trustee Capital, LLC

Tampa, FL

Reneé Fair is the managing partner and co-founder of Trustee Capital LLC, a certified business valuation and analytics consulting firm specialized in business valuations, custom analytics, and robotic automation (RPA) solutions in Tampa FL. Prior to Trustee Capital LLC, Mrs. Fair spent over 15 years working in the financial and healthcare industries in areas of corporate regulatory reporting, wealth and retirement planning, financial compliance, and (most recently) data science, process automation, and financial analytics. She has developed numerous world-class automation and business intelligence solutions, including, but not limited to: the identification of more than $500MM in free cash-flow improvement opportunity, automation of suspicious order monitoring using anomaly detection models, and development of predictive models to predict non-compliance for the compliance and policy initiatives.

Over the years, Mrs. Fair crafted her valuation and financial skills by working with local Tampa Bay firms and leading Fortune 500 companies to increase profitability and operational efficiency, empower stronger decision making, mitigate risk, and enhance value capture during Mergers and Acquisition activity.

Mrs. Fair is currently serving as a member of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA). She is also an active member of the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC), the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) to help drive emerging and middle market growth.

Mrs. Fair spends time giving back to her community to support several non-profit organizations, including: Tampa Bold Goal Health Collaborative, Healing Meals, Animal Based Charities (ABC), and Feeding Tampa Bay. She is an avid tennis player and enjoys traveling and spending time with family and friends. Mrs. Fair graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Corporate Finance from Arkansas State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Tampa.

Samantha Fisher, CPA, CVA

BDO USA, LLP

Baltimore, MD

Samantha Fisher, a manager in Forensic Investigations and Disputes, performs consulting services in forensic accounting investigations involving fraud and embezzlement, and has assisted with writing expert reports for shareholder disputes, personal injury claims, lost profit claims, and other civil matters. She also performs valuations for marital dissolutions, gift and estate tax, buy-sell agreements, ESOPs, shareholder buyouts, mergers and acquisitions, and other business valuation purposes. Ms. Fisher joined Hertzbach & Company, PA in 2014 and was a supervisor in Business Valuation, Forensics, and litigation Support prior to joining BDO in 2020. She graduated in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Finance concentration. She earned the Certified Public Accountant designation from the State of Maryland and the Certified Valuation Analyst designation from the NACVAs.

Outside of BDO, Ms. Fisher is a board member for the NACVA, Valuation Credentialing Board. She is also the president of the Maryland and DC Chapter of the NACVA and the secretary for the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants Forensics and Valuation Services Committee.

Anna Hardy, CPA, ABV

Whitley Penn

Fort Worth, TX

Anna Hardy has more than 10 years of public accounting experience in forensic, litigation, and valuation services; focusing primarily on marital dissolution and fraud matters. Specific areas of Ms. Hardy’s experience include business valuation, forensic accounting, tracing and characterization of assets, litigation support and consulting services, calculation of damages, and lost profits. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) as well as Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV).

As a dedicated mom of three, Ms. Hardy’s continuous hard work in the field has allowed her to climb from associate to managing director while providing excellent client service. In a world of analyzing, she has learned that being present and forward-thinking is the best way to succeed. Ms. Hardy’s life influencers have helped escalate her career to the next level through inspiration, encouragement to lead, belief in self, and expanding personal boundaries. Additionally, she is a member of the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants (AICPA), the Forensic Valuation Services Section of the AICPA, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA), the Fort Worth Chapter of the TXCPA, the Financial Consulting Group (FSG), a Candidate Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Treasurer for the Legacy Family Court Foundation, which supports the Legacy Family Court in Dallas, and a member of Sigma Iota Epsilon, the national honorary and professional management society.

John Helms, CPA, CFE

Abacus CPAs

Springfield, MO

John Helms III joined Abacus CPAs, LLC, in October of 2006 as an intern while obtaining his undergraduate degree at Missouri State University. In January 2009, he was promoted to a full-time staff accountant after obtaining his Master of Accountancy degree. He obtained his Certified Public Accountant credential in 2010 and, shortly after, the Certified Fraud Examiner credential in 2012. He is currently serving Abacus CPAs, LLC, as a partner and oversees quality control and personnel in all departments. He specializes in fraud, tax, and accounting work. He has over 15 years of experience in providing accounting guidance and solutions to individuals and small businesses in Southwest Missouri.

In 2014, Mr. Helms was awarded the Department of Defense award for Outstanding Support of Military Personnel. In 2019, he was recognized as a Trusted Advisor by the Springfield Business Journal. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Southern Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Mr. Helms resides in Southwest Missouri with his wife of 16 years, Angela, and two children, Samantha and John IV. He enjoys spending time with his family, exploring at the lake, and watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball or Green Bay Packers football.

David H. Hern, CPA, ABV, ASA, CEPA

Sofer Advisors

Suwanee, GA

David H. Hern is the founder and chief executive officer of Sofer Advisors, LLC focusing on business advisory services related to litigation assistance, estate and tax planning, and business enterprise valuations for various privately-held and public companies. He is a qualified financial analyst with a proven ability to simply and clearly communicate analysis to boards of directors, presidents, CEOs, CFOs, controllers, and private equity portfolio managers.

Mr. Hern has been recognized for enabling organizations to determine their enterprise and equity value for a variety of situations including strategic planning, sale or IPO, mergers and acquisitions, financial reporting (common stock, stock options grants, purchase price allocations, impairment analyses, etc.), and tax compliance (estate and gift, 409A, NUBIG). Industry experience includes, but is not limited to, professional services, business service, healthcare, information technology, financial services, and manufacturing and distribution.

Lana Hout

First Choice Business Brokers Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Lana Hout is a top business broker and M&A advisor with First Choice Business Brokers, Los Angeles. Ms. Hout specializes in small business transactions across all industries with transaction sizes from approximately $50,000 to $50 million.

Awarded Top Sales Associate Nationwide, Ms. Hout has worked with over 250+ small businesses to date. She has a proven track record of success helping her clients maximize the value of their businesses while managing an efficient and smooth transaction process.

Ms. Hout graduated summa cum laude from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business with a degree in Business Administration and concentrations in Finance and Marketing. Prior to launching the First Choice Business Brokers office in Los Angeles, she gained experience in business valuation and business development at top global firms, including: Duff & Phelps, Deloitte, and NBCUniversal, with an emphasis in the media and entertainment sector. Her experience, which includes transaction advisory, financial analysis, and corporate strategy, gives her the skills necessary to effectively sell your business. Ms. Hout is motivated, intelligent, and committed to results. She is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California (Lic#01957174).

Ryan Hutchins, CPA, ABV

Peak Business Valuation, LLC

Lehi, UT

Ryan Hutchins is the strategic and analytical driver behind Peak. As the managing partner, he creates an environment of growth and continuous improvement where his team and clients all succeed. Mr. Hutchins has a cutting-edge ability to empower others and has an acute focus on providing the best experience for all with whom he interacts.

Prior to Peak, Mr. Hutchins spent over eight years in finance and accounting; where he learned the importance of positivity, putting people first, and providing value that exceeds expectations. As a top producer, Mr. Hutchins works with complete integrity and applies world-class analytical skills and personal drive to every business valuation engagement.

Mr. Hutchins and his team have completed more than 4,000 business valuations across various industries with a focus on small transactions. In addition to providing valuation services, he advises on the value of equity interests for a variety of purposes. Some of these include corporate planning, ownership transactions, recapitalization, mergers and acquisitions, and estate and gift tax planning.

Jennifer Krieger, CVA

Weaver

Oklahoma City, OK

Jennifer Krieger has provided financial reporting, analysis, and valuation for clients in a wide range of industries for almost a decade. She is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) with experience valuing businesses for employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), financial reporting compliance, tax compliance, mergers and acquisitions including fairness opinions, entity dissolution, and litigation. Ms. Krieger earned both master and bachelor degrees in Finance from St. Thomas University, Houston, Texas. She is proud to be the co-chair of the Texas Center for Employee Ownership and a member of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, the National Employee Ownership Center, and the ESOP Association.

Rachel Organist, CFE

Workman Forensics

Tulsa, OK

Rachel Organist obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, and a Master of Science from Penn State University. Originally trained as a geologist, when her work in petroleum exploration did not provide the career satisfaction she was looking for, she looked into other fields. She found her scientific background and analytical skills could be readily applied to forensic accounting and fraud investigation. Now a Certified Fraud Examiner and the Data Analytics Manager at Workman Forensics, Ms. Organist develops and executes investigative processes that harness the power of data to better serve clients dealing with embezzlement cases, partnership disputes, economic damages claims, and other financial puzzles.

Jonathan A. Patterson, CPA, CVA

Belfint, Lyons & Shuman, PA

Wilmington, DE

Jonathan A. Patterson serves the needs of for-profit entities through the preparation of tax returns and financial statements. He also has experience in performing multiple domestic functions for for-profit companies. Mr. Patterson handles individual tax compliance for business owners and high net worth individuals.

Mr. Patterson co-leads the firm’s valuation and bookkeeping service lines where he specializes in business valuations, litigation, and consulting. He is the firm’s go-to team member for providing expert testimony in court, when needed, and has extensive experience in marital law consulting. He also serves on the firm’s engagements relating to law firm IOLTA pre-certifications and enjoys working with law firms. Due to Mr. Patterson's experience and commitment, he has been recognized in both New Castle and Sussex County Delaware as an expert in Family Court related to tax compliance and business valuations.

Within the firm, Mr. Patterson assists with the firm’s recruiting efforts by dedicating time to their internal new hire interview and orientation process. He has also written articles for various local trade publications.

Markus Pellet

Rabel & Partner

Styria, Austria

Markus Pellet has excellent theoretical and practical knowledge in business valuation, high developed project management skills, comprehensive teaching experience, and a supportive and charming personality.

He is the managing partner of financial advisory services at Rabel & Partner GmbH, Graz, Austria, since 2017. He also is a lecturer in company valuation at Danube University Krems, Austria; a guest lecturer at WU Vienna; and presenter of valuation and M&A seminars at ARS Academy in Vienna.

Mr. Pellet co-authored several articles, including: the “The Wertabschlag Credit Spread (WACS) in the APV Method” published in the German journal, Bewertungspraktiker and “Debt Beta and Consistency of Valuation Results” published in the Austrian journal, RWZ.

Allan Raulerson, CPA, ABV, CVA, ASA, CFE

IAG Forensics

Atlanta, GA

Allan Raulerson is a senior manager at IAG Forensics and Valuation in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Raulerson has approximately 16 years of forensic accounting, litigation services, and business valuation experience. He has experience in matters involving shareholder disputes, accounting malpractice, forensic investigations, economic damage calculations, and data analysis. He has performed business valuations for closely held businesses (under ASC 718/§409A), intangible asset impairment testing (under ASC 350), and purchase price allocations (under ASC 805) for both private and publicly held companies. Additionally, he has performed valuations for litigation purposes, tax purposes, and transactional support.

Mr. Raulerson has a Bachelor of Science degree from Berry College where he majored in Finance, and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He has completed additional masters level coursework in accounting at the University of Rhode Island. Mr. Raulerson is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), holds the Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) credential from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) credential from the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts, the Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) designation in Business Valuation from the American Society of Appraisers, and the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential from the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Michelle Repko

AlixPartners

San Francisco, CA

Michelle Repko, originally a turnaround restructuring professional, has continued to leverage her finance education and skill set to assist valuation and data analytics supporting complex litigation and business improvement initiatives. She is well respected among her peers and a leader among her group. During her term on the IWIRC NY board, Ms. Repko led membership (growing by over 300% in two years) and substantive programming, hosting numerous NY based programs. Her crowning jewel was the creation of Pitch Perfect. The event had a team of junior professionals from different disciplines get together and present to the board of a fictional company and made up of more senior professionals from their corresponding industries. After the presentation, the "company" gave the girls real time feedback. It was direct, it was constructive, it was sometimes uncomfortable, and it was all the things one wishes one had as they were learning these skills. In true Ms. Repko fashion, this was not in your average conference room, the team pitched on the stage at Carnegie Hall. This event was picked up by multiple chapters around the world and is still running annually. Ms. Repko is a strong professional and powerful mentor.

Dhara Shah

Knowcraft Analytics

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Dhara Shah has over 11 years of experience in business valuation, financial and strategic advisory, and investment banking roles across the life sciences, healthcare, and technology industries. She has worked on several valuation and advisory engagements involving financial modeling, management planning, transaction advisory, financial reporting, tax planning, employee stock ownership plans, and portfolio valuations.

Ms. Shah leads the technical and training initiatives at Knowcraft Analytics and played a key role in enhancing the learning and development practice at the firm. She is also a trainer and conducts sessions covering a range of valuation topics for seasoned industry professionals in India. Ms. Shah is an active member of the global financial modeling community and has implemented some of the modeling best practices at Knowcraft. Ms. Shah has been instrumental in setting up the Association of Certified Valuators and Analyst (ACVA), NACVA’s India Chapter, and has served as its interim CEO.

She obtained CVA accreditation from NACVA in 2021 and has completed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exam. She holds an MBA with a concentration in Finance.

Christopher M. Sheridan, CPA, CVA

Yeo & Yeo, PC, CPAs and Business Consultants

Saginaw, MI

Christopher M. Sheridan is a senior manager in the firm’s Saginaw office and leader of the firm’s Business Valuation and Litigation Support Group. His areas of expertise include business valuation and litigation support, business consulting, and fraud investigation and prevention. As a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Mr. Sheridan provides defensible, objective business valuation services for attorneys and business owners.

Mr. Sheridan is a member of the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts, the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants’ Manufacturing Task Force, and the Michigan Manufacturers Association. In the community, he serves as a board member for the Great Lakes Bay Economic Club, the Delta College Accounting Advisory Committee, and Bay Future.

Adrianna Smith

First Choice Business Brokers Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA

Adrianna Smith is a Top Business Broker and M&A Advisor with First Choice Business Brokers, Los Angeles. Ms. Smith specializes in small business transactions across all industries with transaction sizes from approximately $50,000 to $50 million.

Awarded Top Sales Associate Nationwide, Ms. Smith has worked with over 250+ small businesses to date. As a third generation broker, She has a proven track record of success in maximizing business value while managing an efficient and smooth transaction process.

Ms. Smith graduated cum laude with a degree in Business Administration and Finance concentration from the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business. Prior to launching First Choice Business Brokers office in Los Angeles, she gained several years of experience in transaction advisory at a top global professional services firm, Deloitte, with a focus in the media and entertainment industries. Her experience includes business valuation, financial analysis, client service, and project team management, giving her the necessary background and skills to execute business transactions. She is driven, smart, and results oriented. Ms. Smith is a licensed real estate broker in the State of California (Lic#01957172). She is also licensed as a NV real estate salesperson (S67794) and a NV business broker (BUSB6700).

James M. Spencer, CFE, CVA, CCA, MBA

The Sargent Consulting Group, LLC

Mokena, IL

James (Jim) M. Spencer is a director at The Sargent Consulting Group. He is integral in securing many of the firm’s largest wins in industries as diverse as automotive, construction, family law, healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, real estate, and utilities. He uses his strong background in finance to lead business valuations and damage calculations. Mr. Spencer is a trusted advisor to trial attorneys and in-house counsel from pre-litigation fact finding to expert testimony. He also has extensive experience in consumer electronics which helps keep SCG's technology cutting edge and the firm fully informed about advancements in e-discovery and computer forensics. When not solving complicated problems, Mr. Spencer loves to spend time vacationing with his family, playing with his young son, or catching a ball game at Wrigley Field.

Dylan Stone, MBA, CVA

Petrucelli, Piotrowski & Co., Inc.

Boca Raton, NJ

Dylan Stone is a director at Petrucelli, Piotrowski & Co., Inc. Mr. Stone has over 12 years of accounting experience and has spent the last three specializing in forensic accounting, valuations, and complex damages analysis, with a concentration in commercial litigation matters and forensic investigations. Mr. Stone is a mature professional and a dedicated family man. He is heavily involved and oversees multiple simultaneous projects. In addition, he is also charged with growing the newly opened Florida branch and manages the firm’s expansion in the southeast region. Mr. Stone has evolved into a key player in his firm’s forensic practice through consistent quality and practice development. His personable nature has also allowed him to become a reliable contact for clients. He effectively represents the firm at industry and Florida bar events.

Kate Tarr

Healthcare Valuation, LBMC

Nashville, TN

Kate Tarr is committed to her community, her industry, and advancing her profession, beyond her success as a thoughtful, strategic leader. She has served on several boards for multiple years. In 2020, she excelled in her second year as a shareholder (serving high-profile national companies and health systems across the country), completed her master in Healthcare Business Administration, and welcomed her first child. She has built an exceptional reputation, not only in her place of work as the youngest person in the firm’s history to be named shareholder and the valuation practice’s first female shareholder, but also nationally within the healthcare valuation community. Since returning from maternity leave in August of 2020, she was featured in a Modern Healthcare cover article published by AHLA, and selected for a leadership panel at an Ohio HFMA conference. The depth of Ms. Tarr's expertise is extensive, magnified by the breadth of her commitment to her profession and industry. Ms. Tarr’s true success can be seen in the leadership she instills in those she works with, training the next generation of valuation professionals.

Thomas Theurkauf

Sun Business Valuations

Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

Thomas Theurkauf is a principal at Sun Business Valuations where he actively manages valuation engagements and supports the investment banking division. He has extensive knowledge of business valuation principles and has completed over 1,000 valuation engagements for many different purposes, including: M&A, succession planning, buy-sell agreements, marital dissolutions, partnership disputes, partnership acquisitions, and estate and gift tax purposes. He is a frequent lecturer and writer on M&A and business valuation issues and serves regularly as an expert witness in cases involving business valuation disputes. Mr. Theurkauf has qualified as an expert witness in the superior courts of New Jersey, Florida, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Colorado, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. After graduating from St. Bonaventure University with a bachelor degree in Finance, Mr. Theurkauf continued to pursue academic accomplishments, which include the CVA, ASA, and CFA designations.

Terrell Turner, CPA

TLTurner Group

Charlotte, NC

Terrell Turner is the managing partner of a NYTimes recognized accounting firm and a 2021 40 Under 40 CPA that focuses on making accounting and finance less complicated for business owners and business leaders. He has spent 13+ years in various finance leadership roles with multiple Fortune 500 companies and also served as the finance leader for a private equity backed tech company.

After years of helping large businesses grow and attract millions of dollars year after year, Mr. Turner decided to use all of his experience and insight to help small-medium sized businesses. Along with being a managing partner of his own firm, Mr. Turner also leads an internationally trademarked media company called Business Talk Library. The media company creates and produces multiple podcasts, web-based business shows, and on-demand training for entrepreneurs and business leaders.

Outside of being a founder and business owner of multiple businesses, Mr. Turner also serves as a member of the board of directors for the Lander University Foundation as well as the Jeffrey and Harriet Lampkin Foundation. In all that he does, Mr. Turner’s goal is to take what he knows from accounting, finance, business strategy, and content creation to make business and organizational leadership a little less complicated.

Chris Van Schooneveld, CPA, CVA

Lurie, LLP

Minneapolis, MN

Chris Van Schooneveld is a director in the Business Valuation and Litigation Support Department at Lurie, LLP and performs a wide range of valuation and consulting services. Mr. Van Schooneveld is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Science in Business (BSB) degree in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant, licensed by the Minnesota Board of Accountancy and holds the Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA) credential from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA).

Mr. Van Schooneveld served in the U.S. Army from September 2004 through December 2008. During this time, he received numerous awards, including: five Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, and an Iraq Campaign Medal. In addition, Mr. Van Schooneveld was named the 101st Airborne Division Soldier of the Year and the 18th Airborne Corps Soldier of the Year in 2006. Mr. Van Schooneveld was honorably discharged from the Army in December 2008 at the rank of Sergeant.

Nick Viner

Prairie Capital Advisors

Cedar Rapids, IA

Nick Viner rejoined Prairie Capital Advisors in 2020. He advises middle-market companies on employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), corporate valuation, financial opinions, and other investment banking advisory services. Mr. Viner is responsible for providing project management services, corporate valuations, and transaction analyses in support of capital structuring engagements, including the following: ESOP implementation, leveraged recapitalizations, management buyouts (MBO), mergers and acquisitions (M&A), fairness opinions and other corporate finance-related topics. He also regularly presents webinars on the topic of valuation.

Mr. Viner has been instrumental in working with clients to understand key value drivers. He breaks down complex financial models to understandable explanations of financial theory, valuation, and key drivers. Through the willingness to help educate clients and report users, he has been a trusted advisor to many institutional trustees.

In terms of contributions, Mr. Viner has worked tirelessly to enhance Prairie’s main proprietary valuation model. He has an eye for detail and deep technical understanding of modeling and valuation theory. He does a great job of incorporating insights and input from other valuation professionals to develop a more robust template. Mr. Viner earned both a Master of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from the University of Iowa.

Garrett Wagner, CPA, CITP

C3 Evolution Group

Rochester, NY

Garrett Wagner, an entrepreneurial CPA, is an industry thought leader and on a mission to fuel the entrepreneurial spirit and passion within the industry. With his ability to break free from the traditional CPA box, he has embraced the entrepreneurial mindset and is on a mission to help others embrace the skills and knowledge needed to succeed.

Mr. Wagner focuses on monitoring the evolving technologies and best practices in the industry to achieve the highest degree of success without being afraid to break free from traditional methods. Mr. Wagner’s background includes working inside successful CPA firms, speaking at conferences and events, and consulting for CPA firms across the country helping them to ignite lasting change by understanding the unique needs of each firm organization.

Mr. Wagner believes that the public accounting landscape is undergoing a tremendous change and that by focusing on developing the next generation of leaders through education and leveraging technology, any sized firm can be successful.

Daniel Werner, PhD, CPA

NERA Economic Consulting, Inc.

San Francisco, CA

Dr. Daniel Werner, CPA, is a senior consultant within the San Francisco office of NERA Economic Consulting, where he specializes in economic, financial, and statistical analysis to support complex litigation and other business challenges. Dr. Werner has extensive experience in matters involving: economic damages, lost profits, and lost wages, asset valuation, intellectual property valuation, business valuation, consumer fraud and false advertising, class certification issues, anti-competitive behavior, and breach of contract claims, among other issues. His economic consulting experience has covered a wide range of industries, including: consumer retail products, technology (hardware and software), real estate, energy and utilities, professional services, manufacturing, and food processing, among others. Dr. Werner has also provided oral and written expert testimony for federal and state court cases in connection with his economic analyses.

Dr. Werner is a thought leader in the profession, and regularly publishes articles in various academic, professional, and/or legal publications on the topics of valuation, damages, economics, statistics, and/or accounting. In addition, he often presents on these topics as part of accredited continuing legal education courses for lawyers and continuing professional education courses for accountants. Dr. Werner also serves as a peer review referee for academic journal publications that cover issues in economics.

Prior to joining NERA, Dr. Werner served as an economist at a boutique consulting firm in the San Francisco bay area and analyzed financial data while working at a “Big 4” accounting firm. Dr. Werner also conducted empirical academic research in the field of applied microeconomics, presenting his work at several academic conferences. Dr. Werner received his PhD and MS degrees from the University of Maryland, College Park, and received his BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, from which he graduated with highest honors.