Presenter Spotlight: 2020 ASA International Conference – Multi-Discipline Sessions

The ASA International Conferenceis the leading event for the global valuation profession. Backed by nearly a century of continued success, the Conference attracts thought leaders, practitioners, allied professionals, vendor partners, government agency personnel and more from all parts of the world.

Unlike any conference before, this year’s offering will be completely virtual, promising a fresh and innovative experience, where valuers will learn and connect with results. Attendees will save time and money with our online format; explore the latest ideas, trends and best practices with leading presenters; interact and engage with fellow professionals via e-networking opportunities. Don’t miss this future-changing experience.

Below is a spotlight of the event’s Multi-Discipline session presenters*:

Johnnie White CAE, is CEO of the American Society of Appraisers. He is responsible for the oversight and management of the Society’s business office and executing the directives set by the ASA board of governors and its executive committee. As an association professional with more than 27 years serving in a variety of management and leadership roles, Mr. White has received numerous awards and recognitions for his association work, including being named one of the top 40 Trending Association Innovators by DCA Live in 2017.

Douglas Krieser, ASA, FRICS, is Managing Director of Valcon Partners, LTD. He has performed and supervised valuations and consulting projects on an international basis for over 30 years. His expertise is primarily machinery & equipment/personal property. However, he has broad experience in performing valuations and consulting projects for a variety of purposes. Mr. Krieser has been a designated member of ASA for 23 years, an active volunteer and currently serves as immediate past president.

J. Mark Penny, ASA, BV/IA, ARM/BV, is Managing Director of Hempstead & Co., LLC. He has over three decades of experience as an appraiser of corporate securities, and has performed valuations for a wide range of business, including: manufacturing companies, communications firms, various professional practices, small businesses and agricultural enterprises. Mr. Penny also is a qualified expert witness and lecturer. He has been a designated member of ASA for over 33 years, an active volunteer, most notably serving as International President.

Randy Barcella, is Real Estate Appraiser & Radio & TV Show Host at Real Estate Revealed. He has over 35 years of experience as a real estate appraiser and broker, as well as a background in home building construction technology and business administration. Additionally, Mr. Barcella, for the past 16 years has hosted a popular radio talk show on AM 560 entitled Real Estate Revealed.

Roger Grabowski, FASA, is Managing Director at Duff & Phelps. He has over 40 years of experience in valuation services, and has directed valuations of businesses, interests in businesses, intellectual property, intangible assets, real property and machinery and equipment, as well as been recognized in various courts as an expert on matters of solvency, the value of closely held businesses and business interests, valuation and amortization of intangible assets and other valuation issues. Mr. Grabowski has been a designated member of ASA for 43 years.

Richard-Raymond Alasko, is Principal of the Alasko Company. He has over five decades of experience as a personal property fine art appraiser and art historian, specializing in fine, decorative arts and historic properties. He is also a highly respected lecturer and author. Mr. Alasko has been a designated member of ASA for 48 years, an active volunteer, most notably serving as International President. In recognition of his service to the Society and contributions to the profession, he was conferred the designation of Fellow (FASA) – the highest honor ASA bestows.

Barry Lebow is CEO at Barry Lebow Professional Services Inc. He has over five decades of experience in real estate where he has worked as a realtor, mortgage broker, renovator, builder, appraiser, arbitrator and mediator; as well as an expert witness, commercial arbitrator and frequent author, writer, lecturer, teacher and negotiator. Mr. Lebow is presently back to his roots and working as a broker with Re/Max Ultimate Realty specializing in the 55+ senior market.

Mel M. Justak is a Partner at Reed Smith LLP. He has nearly 20 years of experience in estate and gift tax where he advises clients on sophisticated planning, implementation and administration matters, as well as a range of charitable giving techniques. Mr. Justak has represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service and other various state tax agencies. He was also recognized as a “Rising Star” by Illinois Super Lawyers for 2009-2011.

John C. Sciaccotta is an attorney at Aronberg Goldgehn. He has more than thirty years of experience in trial, litigation, arbitration, mediation, business divorce and business law. Mr. Sciaccotta is also an experienced AAA Commercial Arbitrator and also serves as a Mediator for disputes. He serves on his Firm’s Marketing Committee & Chairs the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Marketing group.

Honorable Thomas R. Mulroy is an Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has over four decades of experience in commercial litigation as an attorney and judge. In his present role he serves as a trial judge in the Division’s Commercial Calendar Section, where he was directly responsible for implementing a successful mandatory arbitration program for cases under $75,000 and is now the supervising judge. Judge Mulroy is an active alum with the Loyola University School of Law, where he serves as a member of their Board of Governors, and has established the Thomas R. Mulroy Prize for Excellence in the Area of Evidence to recognize a Loyola law student each semester who achieves the highest level of excellence in the area of Evidence.

Steve Hills is Managing Director, Technical Accounting Practice Leader at Stout Risius Ross, LLC. He has over 15 years of experience in accounting and financial leadership roles, including the areas of technical accounting, financial reporting, and transaction advisory. Mr. Hills has a diverse transaction background, including experience with acquisitions and initial public offerings, serving a variety of industries such as technology, consumer products, financial services, and energy.

Brendan Smith is a director at Stout and a member of the firm’s Complex Securities & Financial Instruments practice, advising clients on matters related to the valuation of financial instruments and alternative assets, including structured products, residential and commercial loan portfolios, convertible debt, corporate loans, contingent payments, and a broad array of equity and credit derivatives. Brendan’s specific focus on advising Stout’s alternative investment management clients on matters related to portfolio valuation as well as the valuation of investment manager and general partner interests.

Troy Szopo, ASA, is a Director in the Valuation Advisory Group at Stout Risius Ross, LLC. He has over 13 years of experience in the concentration in machinery & equipment appraisal for numerous purposes including, purchase price allocation, goodwill impairment, impairment or disposal of long-lived assets, financing, insurance placement, estate planning, federal tax, and property tax appeal. Mr. Szopo has been a designated member of ASA for 8 years.

Gary K. DeClark, MAI, CRE, FRICS, R/W-AC, is Senior Managing Director and Principal at Valbridge Property Advisors. He has nearly 40 years of experience in real estate, where he has focused on conducting conventional appraisal work for financing and portfolio review, as well as unique and unusual valuation assignments to support litigation activities. Mr. DeClark is presently focused on the expansion of his practice to include non-appraisal analysis related counseling work.

Andrew Ciocca is a Managing Director for Valbridge Property Advisors. He has worked for ELSA and was hand picked for his expertise in specialty appraisal valuations for jewelry, furniture, antiques and other collectibles. He helps oversee every aspect of valuation accommodating the needs and schedules of executors, professionals, family and owners without sacrificing quality of valuation in several disciplines.

Matthew Lubawy, MAI, CVA is a member of the Appraisal Institute; Past President of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Appraisal Institute; Chairman of the Board for Nevada State Development Corporation; Current President of the Durango Business Park; President of Lubawy & Associates. His specialties are: Real Estate Appraisal and Consulting, Business Valuation, Fractional Interest Valuation, as well as Machinery and Equipment Valuation.

Jeffrey W. Brend, ASA, CPA/ABV, CFE, CFF, AAML is an Attorney at Levin & Brend, P.C. He has over 20 years of experience in mediation and family law; additional specialties in financial mediation, forensic accounting and business valuation; and named a LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell AV-rated attorney and a 2007-2016 Illinois Super Lawyer. Mr. Brend has been a member of ASA for 23 years.

Craig M. Capilla is an Attorney at Franklin Law Group. He has over a decade of experience in professional liability. In his present role as trial lawyer, he has defended individuals and businesses in a wide range of civil matters including numerous residential and commercial appraisers and appraisal firms accused of negligence or improper activity in their valuation services. Mr. Capilla has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Illinois Super Lawyers for 2018-2020.

Mark A. Munizzo, MS, ASA-RP, MAI, CAE, RWAC, IFAS, CIAO, is the founder and President of The Equity Network, Inc. a Real Estate Appraisal, Advisory, and Consulting services group, and an Adjunct Professor for Roosevelt University’s Chicago School of Real Estate. Mr. Munizzo has practiced in the Chicagoland market and surrounding states for over 40 years and has authored, co-authored, or edited over two dozen titles including the entire curriculum required for appraisal licensing and certification across the United States.

Larry Hoellwarth, is a Partner at Karbal, Cohen, Economou, Silk & Dunne, LLC. He has over 37 years of experience in professional liability coverage litigation, including reported appellate opinions on Prior Awareness coverage defense; rescission; no duty to defend during rescission action; and retroactive date enforcement. Mr. Hoellwarth also advises insurer clients on policy drafting, claims management oversight, and loss prevention strategies for national programs, including use of waivers and arbitration clauses.

Peter Philippi is Founder/Chairman at Strategex LLC. He has over 30 years of direct experience working with top level management to drive change, profitability, and growth. In his present role he manages a vast range of long-term client relationships and conducts 80/20 Seminars and Workshops across the country in both the manufacturing and service sectors. Mr. Philippi also works closely with client management teams to effect change, provide focus and ongoing direction for increased profitability and aggressive growth.

Joel D. Gonia, ASA-ARM & MTS/M&E, is a Senior Review Appraiser at KATS M & E, LLC. He has over three decades of experience within the valuation profession with a special focus in machinery & equipment appraisals for professional services providers servicing middle market firms. Mr. Gonia has been a designated member of ASA for 31 years, an active volunteer, an active volunteer with numerous leadership positions, including presently serving on ASA’s Appraisal Review & Management Discipline Committee as Vice Chair and ASA’s Budget and Finance Committee as a member.

John Russell, is Senior Director of Government Relations and Business Development for the American Society of Appraisers, where he is responsible for the advancement of legislative initiatives that benefit members and is responsible for seeking out opportunities to grow ASA’s influence, membership and revenue base in the U.S. and globally. He serves as the staff liaison to ASA’s PAC and Real Property Committee and is ASA’s representative to the Appraisal Foundation Advisory Committee. He has been with ASA for over 8 years. His vast government relations accomplishments along with his educational background and nearly 10 years professional experience, provides ASA with valuable strategic insight on issues that impact the appraisal profession. He has a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Syracuse University College of Law and a Bachelor of Art degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from State University of New York at Oswego.

Sharyn Fisk, is Director of Professional Responsibility for the Internal Revenue Service. She has extensive experience in the tax community, including having represented thousands of individuals, businesses and corporate taxpayers before the IRS, the Department of Justice Tax Division, federal and state courts and state taxing authorities. Ms. Fisk, a certified tax law specialist with the California State Bar, has also served as an adjunct professor teaching graduate and undergraduate level tax at several colleges and universities and recently concluded a term as a member of the IRS Advisory Council (IRSAC), as well as previously served as an attorney-advisor for the Honorable Maurice Foley, United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C.

Cheryl Teifer, is Director Field Operations Engineering in the Eastern Compliance Practice Area in the Large Business and International (LB&I) Division for the Internal Revenue Service, where she provides executive leadership to a national program with employees who serve as subject matter experts in the area of engineering, with several disciplines, real estate appraisals and valuation. The program provides technical expertise to support IRS compliance strategies. In this position, she coordinates complex tax administration services to meet the needs of large and mid-sized businesses and individuals with international activity. Prior to this assignment, Ms. Teifer served as the Director, Field Operations (Southeast) in the Eastern Compliance Practice Area in the Large Business and International (LB&I) Division.

Brendan O’Dell, is the Promoter Investigations Coordinator within the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Services and Enforcement for the Internal Revenue Service. Mr. O’Dell is responsible for IRS-wide coordination of efforts to effectively and efficiently address promoters and return preparers of abusive tax schemes. From 2019-2020, Mr. O’Dell was a senior advisor to the Commissioner of the IRS’s Large Business & International Division. From 2016-2019, Mr. O’Dell was an attorney-advisor in the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy. Before joining the government, Mr. O’Dell was in the private sector as an attorney practicing tax controversy and litigation in Washington, D.C.

*Presenters subject to change, please visit www.appraisers.org/asaic20 for latest line up.

Register now at appraisers.org/asaic20 or (800) 272-8258.