Michael is part of the team responsible for forecasting
and analyzing the North American economy and financial markets. He has spent his
career working in either economics or financial markets research for firms on
both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. Prior to his current role, Michael headed
up the Financial Services Analysis team at Bank of Montreal, focusing on
regulatory and industry restructuring issues, before shifting to BMO Capital
Markets Economics in 2004. He moved to Chicago in 2013, providing research
support for the U.S. and Canadian fixed income business, before returning to
Toronto in 2016. Michael is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal and
Western University in London, Ontario. He did doctoral studies at Fordham
University in New York City, and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst
designation.
Lauren is a Partner in Deloitte's Accounting,
Controls & Reporting Advisory practice based in Chicago. She has over 12
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.
Heather Holland, SPHR is the Founder and Chief People
& Culture Strategist of The Holland Collective, a boutique advisory firm
that helps leaders build organizations where people, performance, and
possibility can all thrive. With more than 20 years in executive HR and people
leadership roles, she partners with CEOs, boards, and senior teams to align
talent, culture, and organizational design with the realities of modern
business. Heather’s career spans Fortune 500 and high-growth companies across
energy, oil and gas, consumer goods, manufacturing, education, and
transportation, including Mars, Inc. and TC Energy, where she supported
multi‑billion‑dollar U.S. and Canadian energy infrastructure portfolios. She
brings a pragmatic, business-first lens to people strategy—equally comfortable
in the boardroom, on a pipeline project site, or in a workshop with emerging
leaders. Known for her interactive and candid style, Heather is a sought-after
speaker for conferences, corporate events, and podcasts on leadership,
organizational culture, conflict resolution, career development, the future of
work, and the evolving role of AI and technology in HR. Recent engagements have
focused on inclusive leadership, coaching and feedback cultures, and preparing
leaders and organizations for the next wave of workplace transformation. Heather
serves on the Executive Board of Chicago SHRM, a member of Hacking HR’s Experts
Council and has contributed thought leadership to outlets including CultureCon
Blog and Well + Good Magazine. She holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources
and Labor Relations from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, a certificate in
Organizational Development and Change Management from Queen’s University in
Ontario, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications from the University of
Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. A Chicago native and unapologetic sports fan, she
chases good architecture, live music, and the joy of both domestic and
international travel whenever she’s not in a room helping leaders reimagine how
work gets done.
Eric Uquillas is a Vice President in Palm Tree’s
Strategic Finance practice. At Palm Tree, Mr. Uquillas implements finance
transformation initiatives for private-equity-backed portfolio companies across
multiple industries (manufacturing & distribution, chemicals, CPG, durable
goods, medical equipment, construction). He serves as a strategic partner to
CFOs and sponsors to stabilize operations, professionalize reporting, and drive
value creation through process improvement and analytical insight. His
functional expertise includes FP&A, cash flow forecasting, operations
accounting, internal controls compliance, and financial modeling and reporting.
Before joining Palm Tree, Mr. Uquillas worked in the Finance & Planning
group at Cheniere Energy, the largest U.S.-based provider of liquified natural
gas. Additionally, he held positions within the finance and accounting groups at
Resource Environmental Solutions and Siemens’s Dresser-Rand business. Mr.
Uquillas earned an M.S. in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas, as
wells as a dual B.B.A in Finance and Accounting from the University of
Houston-Downtown.
Mark Esshaki works on engagements across all lines of
Palm Tree’s Strategic Finance services, bringing nearly a decade of finance
experience across diverse industries. Mark is a seasoned finance professional
specializing in delivering strategic financial solutions. Mark is adept at
guiding businesses to identify opportunities through thoughtful, data-driven
analytics and is uniquely skilled in collaborating with executive leadership to
drive informed decisions while leading teams to execute with precision. Prior to
joining Palm Tree, Mr. Esshaki gained extensive experience across various
corporate finance roles at three Fortune 500 companies where he developed deep
expertise in FP&A, Sales Finance, Marketing Finance, and Cash Management
across multiple sectors. Mr. Esshaki earned a B.A. in Finance from Lake Forest
College, where he was Captain of the NCAA hockey team. Following graduation, he
spent two years playing professional hockey before transitioning to corporate
finance, bringing a unique perspective and discipline to his financial
career.
Vladimir heads the Strategic Outreach and Engagements
program for BMO’s Financial Crimes Unit where he relies on over 12 years of
experience partnering with U.S. and Canadian government and private sector
entities to build relationships and share information on cybersecurity
intelligence and partnerships initiatives. The Strategic Outreach program serves
as the nexus to public and private sector organizations to gather and share
information and intelligence on potential threats that could impact BMO as well
as used to present on BMO thought leadership covering a wide range of subjects
including the latest threats in financial crimes, AI, and cybersecurity and
fraud. Vladimir also works closely with the FBI, DHS, US Secret Service, RCMP,
and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies across the U.S. and Canada.
Previously, Vladimir has worked for the Department of Homeland Security, FIS
Global, PwC, and a cybersecurity and threat intelligence consulting firm,
DarkTower, that he helped co-found. Vladimir is a natural relationship builder
and excels in bringing organizations together to share information and
strengthen organizational culture. Vladimir graduated from American University
in Washington D.C., with a degree in Political Science.
Joining BMO in March of 2019 Doug’s responsibilities
include the FCU Training Academy, Enterprise Security Education, External
Partnerships, and Crisis Exercises. Doug works with external partners in the
financial industry and government agencies to ensure solid relationships and
open lines of communication allowing BMO to be as engaged and aware as possible.
Previously, Doug was a Senior Vice President at Citigroup in their Global Cyber
Security program where he served as the Global Compliance and Standardization
Lead helping to build out four global cyber security fusion centers; the first
of a kind in the financial sector. He is a retired US Navy Officer and Pilot who
has extensive experience in both the government and commercial sectors where he
has led many highly technical, diverse, cross functional teams for large, global
organizations as well as smaller more focused start-ups. Doug holds a Bachelor’s
Degree in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York, Maritime
College and a Master’s Degree in Strategic Planning and National Security
Affairs from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey,
California.
Adam J. San Juan is a Financial Advisor and Managing
Director of Retirement Plan Services with RWS Retirement & Wealth
Strategies. He advises business owners and organizations on retirement plan
strategy, leadership decision-making, and the human dynamics that shape
professional outcomes. Adam is the author of The Human Series, including What
Are You Looking At?, What Am I Doing Here?, and What Was I Thinking?, a body of
work that explores how people communicate, connect, and make decisions under
pressure. His writing and speaking focus on practical frameworks for handling
conflict, navigating complex environments, and leading effectively when
conditions are less than ideal. Adam regularly speaks to professional and
executive audiences on leadership, communication, and collaboration, helping
individuals and teams better understand the human factors that influence
performance and culture.