Governance: July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024

Shelia Bedford is a Senior Professorial Lecturer at the American University where she has taught for over 16 years. She is an active member of the GWSCPA and sits of the FAR subcommittee of the AICPA. Sheila received her BS in Accounting from Oklahoma Christian University and her MBA from George Mason University. She is a licensed CPA in Virginia. 

Laurie is the Office Managing Partner for assurance services in the Greater Washington, D.C. market. She is also the Executive Director of BDO’s Institute for Nonprofit Excellence.

Laurie has more than 25 years of experience in public accounting. She is responsible for operations of the local audit practice, which serves clients across several industry segments including Technology, Life Sciences, Real Estate, Government Contractors, Healthcare and Nonprofit organizations. She is responsible for overseeing the growth and people strategies for the office with a particular focus on audit quality.  

Laurie is a regular speaker at internal and external seminars on topics including accounting practices and internal controls, mergers and acquisitions, governance issues, leadership development, and diversity and inclusion.

Laurie was awarded one of the 2013 Women to Watch Awards by the Greater Washington Society of CPAs for her contributions to the profession. She is a member of the firm’s Inclusion - Women National Strategy Team.

Alex Galeano is ICBA's Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, based in our Washington, DC office. In this role, Alex will provide leadership to the association as a steward, strategist, and catalyst for the financial resources and activities of ICBA and its subsidiaries.

Alex started his career in the for-profit industry, serving in public accounting, consulting, and fortune 500 companies. Over time, Alex felt that he wanted to apply his accounting and financial management background to work for an organization with a social, charitable, or community mission.  In 2003, he accepted a role with AARP and went on to have a 9-year tenure there. 

After AARP, Alex held senior financial positions at the National Association of Broadcasters and recently served as Chief Financial Officer for ASIS International, a global membership organization for security management professionals.

Alex received both his Bachelor's degree in Accounting and MBA from Strayer University.  He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the Commonwealth of Virginia and recently obtained his Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation.

Brittney Gordon, CPA is Director of Business Development at The Alliance Group, through which she provides her professional network of Executive leaders with access to consulting, advisory, executive search, and interim staffing to tackle projects and talent challenges in Accounting, Finance, IT, and Financial Systems.  Brittney has led Alliance's nonprofit presence for the last 4 years, in addition to serving clients in the Fortune 500, private companies, and multinational firms.  As a result of her efforts and those of her team, Alliance has achieved a 3-year organic growth rate of 175% and has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing private companies in Greater Washington as a 5-time recipient of the Inc 5000 award and Moxie Award nominee. Prior to Alliance, Brittney spent several years in public accounting as part of EY's commercial Assurance practice in Greater Washington, where she worked with multinational clients and established her professional reputation for client service, transparency, and integrity. Brittney has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the College of William & Mary, is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and is a member of the AICPA and the Greater Washington Society of CPAs.

Michael Harris currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, at Gateway Homes, Inc. In this executive level role, he is responsible for leading all administrative functions and launching the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group. In prior roles, he has led large finance teams, human resources, operations and IT functions, with responsibility for payroll and benefits administration, performance management, onboarding, training and development.

Carl L. Hairston is Area Executive Vice President for First Citizens Bank where he is responsible for the local operations in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia. In the DMV, First Citizens Bank manages almost $700 million in business and commercial loans and deposit portfolios with a primary focus on business and commercial clients throughout our six branch and corporate office locations. Total number of full-time equivalents is almost 60 that is anticipated to continue to grow with the recent announcement of FCB’s planned merger with CIT Group that is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2021. Carl possesses over 31 years of financial services experience, holding various roles over the span of his banking career. Carl was formally-credit trained in Fleet Bank’s (now Bank of America) Corporate Credit Training Program over 20 years ago.

Carl completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Marketing and Human Resource Development) and Master’s of Business Administration degree at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York. In 2014 Carl completed M&T’s Senior Leadership Development Program at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business. He is a 2014 recipient of a Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader Award, 2011 recipient of an Emerging Leader Award from Associated Black Charities, 2008 recipient of the Minority Business Summit’s Men of Influence Award, 2007 recipient of the Baltimore Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Award, and 2003 recipient of the Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 Award and an Alum of Leadership Greater Washington’s Class of 2012.

Currently, Carl serves as Treasurer of the National Association for the Education of Young Children where he sits on the Executive Commitment and Chairs the Finance and Investment Committee. Carl is also a Past Board Chair of the DC Chamber of Commerce and Culture Capital (f/k/a The Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington). Carl’s other prior board experience includes serving Treasurer and Executive Committee member, Morgan State University Foundation; and board member of the Washington DC Economic Partnership. He is also a member of professional fraternity, Sigma Pi Phi and a Financial Literacy Facilitator for Wilderness Leadership and Learning, Inc. 

Angela Juvelis is a Senior Audit Manager with Buchbinder Tunick & Company LLP, a full service accounting firm specializing in providing audit, tax and advisory services to employee benefit plans and labor unions. With over 20 years of experience in public accounting, Angela's practice areas include performing and supervising audits of pension, health and welfare, and 401(k) plans, as well as audits of charitable and other nonprofit organizations. Her expertise includes the disclosure and reporting requirements mandated by the DOL, IRS and ERISA.  Angela received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.  Angela is on the Board of Governors of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs, is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is currently the Vice President of Finance for the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.

John P. Langan, CPA is the Managing Partner of Nonprofit at CliftonLarsonAllen, LLP (CLA) a top 10 national accounting and consulting firm. Before joining CLA and its predecessor LarsonAllen, Mr. Langan was the Founder and Managing Partner of Langan Associates, PC an exclusive provider of not-for-profit accounting, tax and consulting services. CLA serves over 6,000 not-for-profit organizations nationwide across eight sub-industries including associations, foundations, social service and higher education organizations. The Nonprofit Group within CLA is the firm's largest industry group with annual fees in excess of $60 million. Mr. Langan established Langan Associates in 1988 after several years with the international accounting firm of Arthur Andersen. He has over 25 years experience serving not-for-profit organizations and has a national reputation as an expert, author and presenter on financial, tax and technology topics facing not-for-profit organizations. He has served as a trusted advisor to major not-for-profit including the American Society of Association Executives and Center for Association Leadership, United Way Worldwide, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Clubs, and many others.

Jessica is currently the Chief Financial Officer for the Girl Scout Council of the Nation's Capital. Prior to this role Jessica served as the Controller for Brand USA, the destination marketing organization of the United States. Before transitioning to the not-for-profit industry, Jessica spent 11 years in public accounting performing and overseeing financial and information technology audits. Lastly, Jessica is an adjunct professor with Nichols College teaching as part of the college's Master of Science in Accounting Program.

Jessica is passionate about the accounting profession. She serves on several American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) volunteer committees such as the AICPA Foundation Board of Trustees and the AICPA Student Recruitment Committee. Jessica is a Council Member-At-Large with the AICPA and is a former AICPA Women's Initiatives Executive Committee member. Jessica serves on the Boards of the Maryland Association of CPAs Foundation and the Greater Washington Society of CPAs. Lastly, Jessica is a Board Member of the Towson University Accounting Advisory Board.

Jessica gives back to the community as an appointed Board Member of Maryland 529 (formerly the College Savings Plan of Maryland), where she serves on the Audit and Governance Committee. She is also a member of the community service organization Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Jessica's accomplishments include being named a Maryland Association of CPAs 2021 Women to Watch- Emerging Leader, a Black CPA Centennial's 40 Under 40 Black CPA Award Winner, a Maryland Daily Record 2021 VIP List Honoree, a 2021 AICPA Outstanding Young CPA Award recipient, a 2020 and 2021 CPA Practice Advisor 40 Under 40 Professional, Maryland Daily Record 2020 Leading Women Award winner, Maryland Daily Record 2021 VIP List Honoree, and a Practice Ignition's Top 50 Women in Accounting for 2020. Jessica is also a graduate of the highly competitive AICPA Leadership Academy.

Jessica earned her bachelor's degree in business administration from Towson University and her master's degree in accounting from George Washington University. Jessica is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Virginia. She is also a Certified Information Systems Auditor, Project Management Professional, Certified Information Technology Professional, and Certified Government Financial Manager.

Jonathan Miller is the Controller of Justice Federal Credit Union. He joined the organization to lead and oversee finance and accounting departments, integrating best practices and process improvement to expand operational strategy and support the organization’s objectives. Jonathan serves as the technical accounting resource in the organization, conducting research to ensure adherence to regulatory requirements and compliance standards. Additionally, manages finance operations and ad hoc projects for the company with $38MM in revenue and $6MM in net income annually.

Kathy, our President and Founder, created the firm in 1999 after serving as a senior manager in KPMG, LLP’s not-for-profit practice, where she found her passion for supporting not-for-profit organizations while developing her expertise in audit and outsourcing. Kathy’s goal in founding the firm was to create a unique firm focusing on supporting and solving the higher-level issues facing not-for-profits and forming long-term trusted advisor relationships with clients that promote on-going services and collaboration. Since the firm’s inception, Kathy has focused on building an incredibly skilled team that shares her passion for servicing the DC not-for- profit community. Her dedication to the not-for-profit industry spans over 30 years, serving not-for-profit organizations with revenues ranging from $1 million to $1.2 billion. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Villanova University and holds an active Certified Public Accountant license in the State of Maryland. Kathy has also served the community by serving on the Board and Audit committees for several not-for-profits, currently including the Greater Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants (GWSCPA) Board of Governors and Audit Committee Chair. In November 2014, Kathy received the AICPA Women to Watch - Experienced Leader Award from the GWSCPA and speaks at various local conferences on not-for-profit issues.

Mike recently retired from RSM US where he served as a Tax Senior Director.  Prior to that, he was National Director of Nonprofit Tax Services for BDO USA for more that 15 years.   He has provided tax consulting services to a wide spectrum of tax-exempt organizations including colleges and universities, hospitals, national & international charities, trade associations, & private foundations.  He currently is providing tax compliance and consultation through EO Tax Services LLC. Mike's expertise and experience include:Federal and state compliance for nonprofits, Large, complex multi-entity organizations including related corporations, partnerships and PACs, Analysis, planning and calculation of unrelated business income including income from advertising, debt-financed property and alternative investments, lobbying and political activity, IRS examinations, exemption applications, reinstatements and exempt status issues, State and local tax consultation and compliance.

Mike frequently writes and speaks on a variety of issues affecting tax-exempt organizations.  He has been a regular presenter at nonprofit industry conferences such as the AICPA National Nonprofit Industry Conference, the GWSCPA Nonprofit Symposium, the Higher Education Tax Institute, the Washington Nonprofit Tax Institute, and many state CPA society meetings.  

Professional affiliations and credentials: Certified public accountant, Maryland and Virginia, GWSCPA, past president, nonprofit section member and emeritus board member, AICPA, former national council member

Education: Bachelor of Arts, history/government and politics, University of Maryland.

Mr. Thomas is a partner in KPMG’s audit practice in the Washington, DC office. He has more than 24 years of experience providing financial statement audits in the government and nonprofit sector. He also has experience in providing performance audit and attestation services to federal agencies and state and local governments.  

Professional and Industry Experience:

Mr. Thomas has significant experience managing large audit engagements primarily in the government sector. These audits require multi-location audit strategies, statistical sampling for substantive and control tests, various automated audit techniques, and testing for compliance with certain laws and regulations. Mr. Thomas has extensive experience providing professional audit services to state and local governments in accordance with U.S. GAAS, Government Auditing Standards; and OMB Circular No. A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. In addition, Mr. Thomas’ federal financial statement audits are performed in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) current audit requirements for federal financial statements, Government Auditing Standards, Government Accountability Office/President’s Council on Integrity and Efficiency (GAO/PCIE) Financial Audit Manual (FAM), and Federal Information System Controls Audit Manual (FISCAM). Federal financial statements are prepared in accordance with OMB Circular No. A-136, Financial Reporting Requirements (or its predecessors). Mr. Thomas has a thorough understanding of these requirements and government accounting standards.  

Venus Tuazon is a director in CLA's Arlington, Va office and has more than 15 years of audit and public accounting experience, serving the needs of the firm’s not-for-profit clients, including membership organizations, charitable organizations, independent schools, small businesses, and other service organizations. As a not-for-profit specialist, she is very knowledgeable with the accounting and tax complexities of not-for-profit organizations.

Venus has extensive experience with audits and tax return preparation of not-for-profit organizations of all sizes, with a diverse range of important missions. Venus assists clients in evaluating internal controls and policies to address deficiencies and advises clients on best practices and proper implementation; she prides herself on being a valued resource to her clients.

Mr. Williams has worked in public accounting since 1996. He has extensive experience with audit functions, contractual compliance rules, regulations, policies, procedures and accounting operations. He is active in the firm’s implementation of the latest Statement on Auditing Standards concerning the assessment and response to audit risk in a financial statement audit.

As a partner, Mr. Williams is responsible for all aspects of client service and engagement administration. He manages the overall planning, budgeting, and completion of audit engagements, as well as the preparation, review and presentation of financial statements and management comments to those charged with governance. Additionally, he assists and supervises staff to ensure accurate and efficient completion of fieldwork and report presentation.

Mr. Williams is the director of GRF’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiative founded in 2019.