Lauren
is a senior manager in Deloitte's Accounting & Reporting Advisory practice
based in Chicago. She has over 10 years of experience providing accounting
advisory services to clients across all industries. Lauren specializes in
assisting clients navigate complex transactions, accessing the public markets
through traditional IPOs and SPAC mergers, and the adoption of new accounting
standards. Lauren spent three years in Deloitte's National Office - Accounting
and Reporting Services practice, where she provided accounting consultation to
the firm’s client service personnel, particularly in the areas of revenue
recognition, leasing, and consolidations.
Lauren
led National Office’s Revenue Recognition subject matter team for two years.
Additionally, she co-authored many of Deloitte's firm publications, including
Deloitte's Revenue Recognition and Leasing Roadmaps, along with numerous Heads
Up and Accounting Spotlight publications. Prior to joining Deloitte, Lauren
worked as a Postgraduate Technical Assistant at the Financial Accounting
Standards Board, where she assisted with the development of the revenue
recognition guidance codified in ASC 606. Lauren is a licensed Certified Public
Accountant in the state of Illinois and is a member of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and Illinois CPA Society.
Ray Beste is the Principal AI Strategist at Sikich, a
leading professional services firm providing transformative technology and
business solutions across diverse industries. With over 36 years of experience
in IT consulting, system architecture, and AI strategy, Ray has dedicated his
career to managing and optimizing information. Ray’s expertise in data modeling,
solution architecture, and enterprise systems led him to Softbite, where he
managed a team of developers and consultants to design database-driven solutions
that empowered businesses to better utilize their data. As enterprise software
evolved, his focus expanded to CRM, ERP integration, and data strategy, helping
organizations unify their systems, improve efficiency, and make smarter business
decisions. Now, at the forefront of AI innovation, Ray leads Sikich’s AI
initiatives, guiding businesses through the responsible and strategic adoption
of Generative AI, intelligent automation, and advanced analytics. His work spans
a variety of cloud, AI, and enterprise technologies, including Microsoft,
OpenAI, AWS, and other emerging AI platforms. As a sought-after speaker, Ray has
presented at executive roundtables, industry conferences, and corporate events,
sharing insights on AI in business, data strategy, and the evolving role of AI
in enterprise applications. His career-long commitment to architecting and
managing information systems has come full circle, as Generative AI represents
the next evolution in how businesses can structure, interpret, and act on data.
Beyond his technical expertise, Ray is a dedicated educator, mentor, and
strategist, helping organizations cut through AI hype, identify real
opportunities, and implement AI responsibly. His ability to translate complex AI
concepts into practical, business-driven solutions has positioned him as a
trusted leader in digital transformation across industries and
technologies.
Ayala Clinkman, CPA, PMP
Ayala Clinkman is a Sr. Director of Business Solutions at BT Partners, a
Chicago based Technology Consulting firm. Ayala works closely with clients to
determine their unique needs while managing projects to help the teams succeed.
With over a decade of experience at BT Partners, she also helps manage the ERP
practices to make sure business processes are continually improving.
Ayala received her Master of Science in Accounting from University of
Illinois Chicago, which ignited her interest in business management solutions.
Years later, she still enjoys working with information systems to help small to
medium size businesses leverage technology. She works with a variety of
businesses in diverse industries and has played a major role in hundreds of
technology projects.
Ayala also has her CPA and PMP credentials, is an active member of the
Information Technology Alliance and the Illinois CPA Society.
She happily resides in Morton Grove with her family.