N - Z

Felicity Novak​
Shared Services Controller - KeyBank

Felicity Novak is the Shared Services Controller at KeyBank. She has been at KeyBank for two years and has previously held roles in Financial Systems Support as the Workday Operations team lead as well as a program manager role in Corporate Procurement. Felicity joined KeyBank following her seven-year career with Silicon Valley Accountants (SVA). In her career, Felicity puts an emphasis on building and supporting high-performing teams and facilitating a culture of Continuous Improvement.

David Oriani​
Tax Partner - PwC

David Oriani is a Tax Partner in PwC’s Industry Tax Practice with over fifteen years of experience and is based out of the Cleveland, OH office. His primary focus is providing tax services to both publicly and privately held multinational corporations and pass-through entities in a variety of industries, with a heavy focus around the consumer and industrial products sector. He works with his clients to address the areas of accounting for income taxes, tax planning, tax compliance, and various federal tax consulting issues. David earned a B.A. in Public Accounting and Finance from Marietta College. David is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed to practice in Ohio.

Mario Peña ​
Audit Partner – EY

Mario Peña is a Partner with EY in the Northeast Ohio Assurance Services practice with 20 years of public accounting experience.  He has extensive experience providing services to dynamic public and private companies in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, technology, retail and consumer, mining professional services, medical device manufacturer, diversified industrial products and financial services. Mario has significant experience teaming with companies on debt and equity offerings, registration statements and other SEC filings, and the proper accounting and reporting implications of business combinations and divestitures, restructurings, recapitalizations, and other challenging accounting issues. This also includes advising on transformational activities.

Mark M. Polatajko, Ph.D. ​
Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration - Kent State University

Mark M. Polatajko, Ph.D., CPA, joined Kent State University in January 2016 and serves as the senior vice president for Finance and Administration. He is responsible for the overall finance, facilities, safety, internal audit, compliance, and risk management functions of the university. Polatajko has more than 28 years of government and public higher education experience, along with five years of public accounting experience. Polatajko earned a Ph.D. in Urban Education from Cleveland State University, specializing in leadership and lifelong learning. He also earned an MBA from Ashland University, specializing in finance, and a B.S. in accountancy from the University of Akron. 

Atirek Ratani ​
Partner, International Tax and Transaction Services - EY

Atirek is a partner in EY’s International Tax and Transaction Services practice in Cleveland. Atirek advises clients in many industries, including diversified industrial products, telecommunication, manufacturing, services, retail, and technology. He has experience with global mergers and acquisitions, implementing cross-border transactions, U.S. international tax matters, including the impact of the TCJA and related regulations, quantitative analysis such as earnings and profits and basis computations, withholding tax matters and treaty reviews, and global tax matters, including BEPS Pillar 2. Atirek has over 19 years of international tax advising experience and has provided coordinated and dedicated service to clients, ensuring that the clients’ needs and requests related to their global operations are considered and addressed in a prompt manner. Atirek received his Master of Accountancy in Taxation, and his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Truman State University and is a CPA in the states of Ohio and Missouri. 

Randale Richmond ​
Vice President, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics - Kent State University

Randale L. Richmond became Kent State’s 12th Director of Athletics on May 1, 2021, and will lead through July 1, 2028. Richmond has over 20 years of experience in Intercollegiate Athletics Division 1 leadership. He was promoted to Vice President, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics in the Spring of 2023.  Richmond has placed emphasis on the department’s people and infrastructure and launched the "Play as One" strategic plan, which serves as a blueprint for athletics. Every detail within the plan supports the department’s mission to graduate student-athletes who are boldly prepared for life after sport and to win championships.  He previously served for six and half years as the Sr. Associate Athletic Director for Sport Administration and Student-Athlete Welfare at Old Dominion University after his first 10-year stint at Kent State University working in the Student-Athlete Academic Services and Compliance. Mr. Richmond earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Baldwin-Wallace College and a Master of Education degree from Kent State University. He currently serves on the D1 Baseball Committee and as chair of the Mid-American Conference basketball committee.  

R. Drew Sellers, Ph.D. ​
Associate Professor - Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Kent State University

R. Drew Sellers, EDM, CMA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Accounting at Kent State University. He teaches undergraduate and graduate students, supervises the internship program, and coordinates the department's Master of Science in Accounting, MSA program. Prior to joining Kent State, Sellers worked in practice and industry for 30 years. He received a B.A. from Kent State University and a Doctorate from Case Western Reserve University. 

Mark Sheldon ​
Associate Professor - The Kramer School of Accountancy and Information Sciences at the Boler College of Business, John Carroll University

Mark Sheldon is an Associate Professor in the Kramer School of Accountancy and Information Sciences at the Boler College of Business, John Carroll University. He began his career in PwC’s Risk Assurance practice in Cleveland before being selected as an Accounting Doctoral Scholar and completing his Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. Since joining the John Carroll faculty in 2016, Mark has conducted research on emerging technologies, ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues, and the oversight of the CPA profession. He teaches courses in accounting information systems, data analytics, financial and managerial accounting, and the role of emerging technologies in accounting. Mark is a Certified Public Accountant (Ohio) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor. 

Piotr Skomra ​
Doctoral Candidate in Accountancy - Case Western Reserve University

Piotr is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Management Accountant, Certified Financial Manager, Certified Fraud Examiner, and Certified Information Systems Auditor. He has 18 years of experience in internal audit at Pitney Bowes Inc., corporate accounting at IBM Corporation, and public accounting at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Frankfurt, Germany. He is currently pursuing a PhD degree in Accountancy at Case Western Reserve University. His research focuses on technology in both financial statement and operational/controls audit; he is also interested in audit quality and governance. 

Matt Soful ​
Director, Business Development - Consulting

Matt Soful is a results-driven business development professional with a strong track record of enabling organizations to execute critical business initiatives. With extensive experience in consultative sales, strategic partnerships, and revenue growth, Matt excels in connecting companies with highly experienced consultants and subject matter experts to solve their most pressing challenges.​ Currently serving as Director of Business Development at RGP, Matt partners with large enterprises to provide expertise, capability, and capacity for transformative projects. His ability to understand complex business needs and align them with tailored solutions has made him a trusted advisor across industries.​ Prior to RGP, Matt held roles at CBIZ, EY, and other firms, where he helped organizations enhance productivity, mitigate risks, and drive financial success. He also founded The Business Quarterback, helping businesses optimize financial strategies and achieve sustainable growth.​ In 2023, Matt was recognized by Crain’s Business as a Notable Leader in Accounting & Consulting, highlighting his impact in the industry and his ability to drive meaningful business outcomes.​ Matt earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Heidelberg University, where he developed a strong foundation in financial management, strategic decision-making, and business operations.​ Outside of his corporate career, Matt is deeply committed to community service and philanthropy. He serves on the Board of Directors for NEOPAT, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military service members, veterans, and their families. His involvement reflects his passion for giving back and supporting those who have served our country.​ Beyond his professional achievements, Matt is a dedicated husband and father of four who values teamwork, collaboration, and community. A former collegiate athlete, he applies his competitive spirit and leadership skills to drive success for the organizations he serves.​ 

Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D. ​
Dean - Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship at Kent State University

Deborah F. Spake, Ph.D., joined Kent State University in January 2013 as Dean of the Ambassador Crawford College of Business and Entrepreneurship. She previously served at the University of South Alabama's Mitchell College of Business and has served on the faculties of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and Western Michigan University and as a visiting professor at the University of Applied Sciences in Worms, Germany. Prior to earning her doctorate in marketing, she worked as the marketing research director of a publishing company and later for consulting firms in Atlanta, Georgia. Spake's research interests include services marketing, advertising, and business ethics. Her research has appeared in numerous publications. She is a member of the editorial review board of the Journal of Business Research and facilitates a seminar for new associate deans of business for AACSB International, the accreditation body for colleges and schools of business. She has previously served as a judge for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Program. 

Lisa Stiffler ​
Managing Director, Risk Consulting - KPMG

Lisa is a managing director in KPMG’s Risk Consulting practice with over 23 year specializing in internal audit, SOX compliance, and enterprise risk management. She specializes in the Industrial Manufacturing and Consumer Market industries, helping companies navigate risk considerations for new IPO’s, significant, complex transactions, and enterprise-wide transformational changes.

Mike Tokich​
Chief Financial Officer - STERIS

As senior vice president and chief financial officer at STERIS, he has primary responsibility for financial reporting, financial planning and analysis, investor relations, information technology, business development, strategic planning and other areas.

Brett Tomoff​
Vice President of Finance - TravelCenters of America

Brett Tomoff is the Vice President of Finance at TravelCenters of America, where he has played a pivotal role in the company’s financial transformation and integration into bp’s global reporting systems post-acquisition. His leadership has streamlined financial operations and enhanced forecasting efficiency. Brett has developed advanced financial strategies, incorporating non-financial performance metrics and innovative cost allocation methodologies to improve profitability assessments and resource allocation. Recognized as a strategic partner, Brett has led initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and cost reduction. He is also a leader in leveraging technology to automate manual processes, drive data-driven decision-making, and foster a culture of performance management and continuous improvement.

Michael Trabert​
Managing Director, Advisory Services - CBIZ

Michael Trabert is a managing director in the Firm’s Advisory Services group. He is the leader in the Value Acceleration/ Exit Planning Services group. Mike understands the diverse goals and objectives of privately held business owners and helps them build, develop, and eventually exit their businesses, and was recognized with the Exit Planner of the Year award from the Exit Planning Institute (2017). He has worked extensively with clients ranging from startups to multinational organizations with over $1.5 billion in annual sales. As a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Mike understands the intrinsic value of the elements of a business and assists clients in maximizing their value. He regularly hosts Owners’ Roundtable workshops - a full- day, interactive workshop designed for business owners who want to maximize the value of their businesses and exit on their terms.

Dana Whitted​
Owner & Founder - DW Business Solutions, LLC

Mike Willis​
Associate Director of the Office of Data Science and Innovation - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Mike is the Associate Director of the Office of Data Science and Innovation at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he leads the development and implementation of technological processes, tools, and innovations to support the SEC’s data analytics needs. He oversees the creation, deployment, and maintenance of structured data systems used to capture, analyze, and disseminate information from SEC registrants’ filings. In addition to his SEC role, Mike represents the Commission on the Regulatory Oversight Committee, where he previously served as Chair. He is also a retired Partner of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Luke Wilson ​
Manager, Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk - KPMG

Luke Wilson is a manager in KPMG's Internal Audit & Enterprise Risk practice based in Cleveland, with more than seven years of internal audit and accounting experience. His work involves leading the execution of internal audit, enterprise risk, SOX, and ESG engagements for clients across a variety of industries. With the increasing need for ESG guidance, Wilson has been focused on helping to develop KPMG's methodology and approach to ESG processes and controls to address emerging risks surrounding ESG reporting. Luke has presented to IIA chapters and other groups on ESG and Internal Audit's role. 

Jenelle Wolfe ​
Director, International Tax Strategy - Eaton Corp.

Jenelle Wolfe is a Director, International Tax Strategy, for Eaton Corp. where she is responsible for overseeing global tax policy and tax planning for the company. Jenelle has over 18 years of combined experience, including prior roles in M&A tax for Eaton Corp. and tax compliance in public accounting. She is a CPA and holds a Master of Taxation degree from the University of Denver and a B.B.A. degree in Accounting from Kent State University. 

Jody Zarrell ​
Director of Financial Services & Insurance - Workday

As a Director at Workday, Jody Zarrell works closely with strategic Financial Services and Insurance organizations, helping them to effectively implement, optimize, and expand their use of Workday. She draws on more than 12 years of SaaS experience at companies like Workday and Salesforce to guide Fortune 500 companies in their transition from traditional on-premise software to cloud solutions. Ms. Zarrell earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Valparaiso University.  

Gabriel Zubizarreta ​
CEO & Founding Principal - Silicon Valley Accountants

Gabe Zubizarreta is the CEO and Founding Principal of Silicon Valley Accountants. His role at Silicon Valley Accountants is focused on building both technical and soft skills. Zubizarreta designed a Financial Effectiveness Framework which delivers continuous improvement-based results to optimize financial processes by focusing on people, processes, and systems. This Framework is based on a balanced approach of training, leadership, process improvement, and system optimization. He has more than 10 years of prior experience at PwC, has held various Controller positions, and has led several merger integration projects. Zubizarreta is focused on delivering exceptional results and is a passionate advocate for process improvement and financial transformation.