Ralph is the
author and instructional designer of the popular Accounting and Auditing Clinic™ presented
annually across the U.S. for scores of firms and thousands of attendees.
He is a sought-after conference speaker and course facilitator throughout the
U.S. and internationally.
Ralph has served the accounting profession for over 45 years in a variety of
capacities including audit partner, quality control director, and external peer
reviewer. He also served as a partner in the National Office of Accounting and
Auditing of the fifth largest international accounting firm, the U.S. Chief
Learning Officer for American Express Tax and Business Services, Inc., an
adjunct lecturer in accounting, finance, and economics at Northwestern
University in Evanston, Illinois, and the co-author, for a ten-year stint, of
the annual updates to the popular handbook, Wiley GAAP: Interpretation and
Application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
In his current capacity, Ralph also serves as a technical quality control
consultant and pre-issuance financial statement reviewer for U.S.-based CPA
firms.
Michael P. (Mike) Glynn is an Associate Director in the
AICPA Audit and Attest Standards Team. In this capacity, Mike serves as the
staff liaison to the Accounting and Review Services Committee (ARSC). In
addition, Mike supports the activities of Auditing Standards Board (ASB) and its
subcommittees by assisting members in drafting and deliberating authoritative
professional standards and interpretations. Prior to joining the Audit and
Attest Standards Team, Mike was a technical manager in the AICPA SEC Practice
Section (SECPS). In that capacity, Mike supported the Quality Control Inquiry
Committee (QCIC) by participating in deliberations of QCIC cases and
participating in meetings with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding
the SEC’s oversight of the self-regulatory process. Prior to joining the SECPS,
Mike was a technical manager in the AICPA Professional Ethics Division. Prior to
joining the AICPA in April 1998, Mike worked at Ernst & Young LLP in New
York. Mike is a graduate of Pace University with a BBA in public
accounting.
Dr. LynnMarie Burks is an accomplished 30-year education
executive. Burks currently serves as CSO for the Brent Sopel Foundation is a
Chief Associate for HYA, is an assessment/student success leader for HLC, a
member of the Innovative Executives League, and serves on the Exec Board member
for AAUA, and co-hosts a Podcast “The Next Frontier”. In higher ed, Burks'
launched a Learning Institute and was awarded a 3M DOL grant to transform
workforce systems, a tenured professor, chair, and Dean, and Dean of Faculty/The
Center for Excellence led 3K faculty/staff Burks led multiple system-wide
transformation efforts including an LMS migration, AI/predictive analytics, and
hyperflex modality adoption. Burks spent 25 years in the classroom, founded
experiential global programs, and received multiple awards recognizing her
leadership/teaching excellence, including Professor of the Year by The Carnegie
Foundation. In P-12, Burks served as the Board of Ed President.
Over her 24-year tenure, she led a district of 10K students through
innovation and growth. Under her leadership, the district doubled its footprint
and exponentially grew educational outcomes. Burks fostered collaborative
relationships between community partners to expand funding and programming. Her
tenure saw the launch of a community-based early childhood center, and full-day
kindergarten, a Freshman Academy, 1:1/blended learning, and outcomes-based
grading, and pioneered a dual language program. Before moving to education,
Burks was a senior analyst and served as special assistant to the Sr VP of
Research at NORC at the University of Chicago engaging in work for NIH, NICHD,
ETS, and US News & World Report. Burks has produced over 100 publications,
keynotes, workshops, and presentations, is a certified career coach, and is
certified in Design Thinking. Relentless in her support of learners of all ages
and systems, Burks’ core strength lies in her proficiency across the entire
spectrum of education and business.
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.
Sean Prince, CFA, CPA , is a National Office Partner at
Crowe LLP. He advises clients and engagement teams on complex U.S. GAAP, with
emphasis on revenue recognition (ASC 606), leases (ASC 842), consolidation (ASC
810), crypto asset accounting, and transfers of financial assets (ASC 860). Sean
leads Crowe’s revenue recognition topic team, and is responsible for firmwide
trainings and review of high-risk technical positions. He began his career on
the staff of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). Beyond Crowe, he
chairs the Audit & Accounting Oversight Committee for the NYCPA and serves
on the AICPA’s Digital Assets Working Group (DAWG). He is a graduate of Brigham
Young University.
Boz Bostrom is a professor of accounting and finance at
the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Boz teaches a variety
of accounting and finance courses and speaks nationally on the topics of ethics
and leadership. Boz is the author of three books and serves on the board of
directors of the Minnesota Society of CPAs. Prior to becoming a professor, Boz
was a senior manager in Deloitte’s international tax practice.