40th Annual Nonprofit Conference (NYC)

David C. Ashenfarb, CPA, Partner, Sax, LLP is the practice leader of the nonprofit industry group at Sax, LLP, a Top 75 nationwide firm. David merged his firm, Schall & Ashenfarb, CPA’s into Sax on January 1, 2023, with the goal of integrating his diverse nonprofit audit and tax practice into Sax and training the team on efficient approaches to client service. This includes developing a consulting services team that can assist nonprofit organizations that have needs beyond traditional audit and taxes. David is a past chairperson of the NYSCPA’s Not-For-Profit Organization’s committee (2002–2004) and has been published in several professional publications including the CPA Journal, the Nonprofit Governance Management Handbook of the American Bar Association, the AICPA FVS Eye on Fraud quarterly report and The Trusted Professional. As a regular speaker at the FAE Annual Nonprofit Conference, he has focused his most recent attention to presenting on Single Audits under Uniform Guidance and other Office of Management and Budget initiatives. Professor Ashenfarb designed and teaches the graduate level course on nonprofit accounting, auditing, and management at Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business. As of 11/10/2023

Allan brings more than 28 years of experience to the clients he serves, providing a wide range of audit and accounting transaction services. He works with a variety of entities within the nonprofit and healthcare industries, including hospitals, social service agencies, and religious organizations. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA), where he is a former chair of the not-for-profit organizations committee. A regular speaker, Allan has presented for NYSSCPA, New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants, and Connecticut Society of CPAs. Topics have included mergers and acquisitions, fair value measurements, endowments, related-party disclosures, and general accounting and auditing updates for nonprofit and healthcare organizations. He is a 1989 graduate of Queens College, City University of New York.

Rick Cole is a partner in the New York City office of BKD specializing in audits and advisory services for not-for-profit and higher education organizations. Rick is widely regarded nationally for his knowledge related to Not-for-Profit accounting standards and has been a frequent speaker with NACUBO, the AICPA, and various state societies of CPAs. He joined the firm recently from the FASB. Before joining BKD, Rick worked at the FASB, where he served as a supervising project manager. In that role, he was the project manager on Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14, Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-for-Profit Entities; ASU 2018-08, Clarifying the Scope and Accounting Guidance for Contributions Received and Contributions Made; ASU 2019-03, Updating the Definition of Collections; and the Financial Performance Reporting for business entities project. He was also the coordinator for FASB’s NFP Advisory Committee and the Private Company Council. Prior to joining the FASB, Rick was the Vice President and Controller at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, where he worked for over seven years, and before that was a senior manager with KPMG LLP, where he worked for over fourteen years and specialized in audits of higher education institutions and other NFPs. Rick is a lecturer at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies in their Non-Profit Management program. Rick earned a BS and an MBA from Montclair State University. He is a CPA in New York and New Jersey and is a member of the AICPA and the New York State Society of CPAs.

James Connors is a partner in the Not-for-Profit Services Group and is in charge of the firm’s governmental audit practice. He has more than 30 years of experience with commercial and not-for-profit auditing, accounting and financial reporting. His experience includes the structure of the audits of the financial statements and employee benefit plans of community support organizations, social service agencies, independent schools, private foundations, and other types of not-for-profit entities. In addition to numerous traditional attestation engagements, Jim has performed many audits with reporting requirements related to government funding, including those required by the New York State Consolidated Fiscal Report; the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; and federal Uniform Guidance. He is thoroughly familiar with the U.S. Single Audit Act and generally accepted government auditing standards (GAGAS). Jim is extremely well versed in both the conceptual and practical applications of accounting and tax/compliance rules for not-for-profit entities. He also has developed and taught technical seminars and webcasts for the firm, as well as for such organizations as the Accountants for the Public Interest, the Staten Island Not for Profit Association, the Greater New York Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). Jim has a solid background in accounting for real estate and construction activities as well. Jim serves on the governing boards of a housing development enterprise and a social service organization, and is the Treasurer and former chair of the board of a local community not-for-profit entity, and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the NYSSCPA, currently serving on the latter’s committee on not-for-profit organizations. In addition, Jim serves as an advisor and former Trustee of one of the largest parishes in the New York Archdiocese and serves on various advisory committees of the parish.

Mike Cooney counsels charitable and other nonprofit entities, providing the nonprofit corporate and tax-exempt context in which these organizations drive mission and margin. Mike helps optimize their ability to identify opportunities for enhanced fundraising and grant access, project management, governance and legal compliance. He also works with colleges/universities doing life sciences research and helps donors and entrepreneurs wanting to leverage PRIs to advance life science research. Mike directs NP’s higher education and exempt organizations teams. Mike has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2017 in the fields of Nonprofit/Charities Law and Tax Law. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in America since 2007. He has also been recognized in Super Lawyers New York—Metro in Nonprofit, Schools & Education, and Health Care (2012

John D'Amico, a Managing Director with CBIZ and Shareholder with CBIZ CPAs in the National Attest Office, has over 30 years of experience in providing audit, accounting, and consulting services to not-for-profit organizations and governmental agencies. Prior to joining CBIZ, John worked at a Big 4 firm, as well as other regional accounting firms. His areas of expertise include not-for-profit accounting, GASB, Single Audits, government auditing standards, cost allocations, and internal controls.

John is the previous Chair of the NYCPA Not-for-profit committee. John is also an Instructor for the AICPA, a Subject Matter Expert for Single Audits for the AICPA Peer Review Oversight Program, and a member of the AICPA Peer Review Task Force. John was previously an executive committee memeber of the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center.

John has authored articles, conducted workshops and seminars, and presented them at various conferences on topics Including Not-for-profit Accounting, Single Audits, Government Auditing Standards and Uniform Guidance requirements.

Allen L. Fetterman, CPA, MBA lectures extensively on nonprofit accounting, auditing, federal single audits, tax-exempt issues and governance. He speaks at conferences, seminars and webcasts throughout the country. Allen was an assistant professor of accounting at a local college and a guest lecturer at Yale University and New York University. He was a member of the Faculty Bank of the Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE). He is a past recipient of both the AICPA's and the FAE's Outstanding Discussion Leader Award. He has written articles published in national accounting periodicals in the United States and Israel on accounting and taxes for not-for-profit entities. Allen served on the American Institute of CPAs Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee, Not-for-Profit Audit and Accounting Guide Task Force and Joint Trial Board. He chaired the New York State Society of CPAs Not-for-Profit Organizations, Professional Ethics, Audit, and Quality Controls Committees and the AICPA Joint Trial Board. He also served as Vice-President of the New York State Society of CPAs and as a Trustee of the Foundation for Accounting Education. Allen retired in 2003 from Loeb & Troper, where he spent thirty-six years serving nonprofit organizations as an auditor and consultant, the last twenty-five years as a partner. In addition to his client responsibilities, he was the partner in charge of the firm’s quality controls and technical resources. Allen received his BBA in Accounting from The City College of New York in 1968 and his MBA in Accounting from the Bernard M. Baruch College in 1972. He was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, the national honorary society in business. He received his CPA certificate in 1973 and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants. Allen has served on the governing boards of nonprofit organizations, including positions as President, Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee and the Finance Committee. Allen and Mimi, his wife of 56 years, live in West Nyack, New York. They have two sons and five grandchildren. . As of 9/10/2025

Derek Flanagan, CPA, Partner, Not-For-Profit Services, has over 30 years of experience providing audit and accounting services exclusively to not-for-profit organizations. Derek's clients include social services agencies, private and charter schools, arts organizations, private foundations and special needs providers. He has given lectures before the New York Society of Association Executives, the Inter-Agency Council of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and the New York Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSCPA). Derek is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJSCPA), where he serves on the Society’s Not-For-Profit Organizations and Exempt Organization Committees. Derek is Past-Chair for the Society's Not-For-Profit Organizations and Public Sector Oversight Committees. Derek received his BBA from Manhattan College.

Ellen Labita, CPA, is a Partner at Baker Tilly US, LLP. She is the firmwide professional practice leader for not-for-profit and the team leader for healthcare/not-for-profit services in the New York business unit. Ellen has more than 35 years of experience in public accounting, and concentrates exclusively on providing audit, tax, and consulting services for not-for-profit organizations. Ellen has been a speaker for the AICPA National Not-for-Profit Conference and has served as Vice Chair of the NYSSCPA Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee Annual Conference. She is a member of Long Island Business News’ Top 50 Most Influential Women in Business’ Hall of Fame and currently serves on the boards of the Long Island Association and American Red Cross on Long Island. Ellen is a summa cum laude graduate of Adelphi University. As of 11/10/2023

Ronald F. Reis, CPA, CGMA, Partner, WeiserMazars LLP, is currently a partner in the Not-For-Profit Services Group at WeiserMazars LLP. Ron has significant experience providing audit, tax and consulting services to both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations. Over the past 20 years, he has concentrated on the not-for-profit sector, including public accounting work with the firm Goldstein Golub Kessler LLP where he ultimately because head of their Not-For-Profit Services Practice. More recently, he spent five years as Chief Financial Officer at Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services Agency. After experiencing the opportunity and perspective provided by working at a not-for-profit organization, he decided to re-enter public accounting with WeiserMazars, where he could again serve clients by helping them improve their operating, fiscal and management functions. He currently sits on several Boards of Not-for-Profit organizations, including as both Treasurer and Chair of their Audit Committees. He lectures and writes frequently on operating and fiscal matters in the not-for-profit sector and received his BBA degree from The City College of New York.

David M. Rottkamp, CPA, is a Partner and Nonprofit Practice Leader at Grassi. David has over 38 years of experience providing audit and advisory services to the Nonprofit and Healthcare industries. David focuses on organizations serving individuals with special needs, community-based and social service organizations, religious organizations, educational institutions, membership associations, healthcare providers, foundations, and the arts and culture world. David’s technical knowledge allows him to provide specific services, including Single Audits/Uniform Guidance compliance and retirement plan audits. David has counseled some of the region’s most successful nonprofit and healthcare organizations on strategic planning, risk management, sustainability, and succession planning. His expertise includes developing financial forecasts, implementing financial reporting systems, applying FASB accounting standards, and delivering high-quality board education and governance guidance. Through this advisement, David has strengthened the governance and internal structures of numerous clients, reflecting his leadership within the industry. David is a member of the AICPA and the New York State Society of CPAs (NYCPA), where he previously served as Chair of the Not-for-Profit Committee and several of its subcommittees, including those focused on government funding sources and cost reporting updates. David also chaired the statewide Not-for-Profit Conference for the NYCPA for four years. He has presented to the Financial Managers Association (FMA) for over 25 years, the Interagency Council of Developmental Disabilities Agencies, Inc. (IAC), the New York State Society of CPAs Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant (AICPA), and the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON) at their annual Camp Finance. David is also an adjunct professor at New York University (NYU) in Manhattan. At Grassi, David leads internal education sessions and webinars and writes articles for the firm’s external newsletter, focusing on the nonprofit and healthcare industries. David also serves on the Board of Directors of the Greater New York City/Long Island Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, where he has served in all officer roles. David is also on the board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (National MS Society). He is on the National MS Society’s finance committee and the past chair of its audit committee, demonstrating his broad impact on the organization’s well-being. David also serves on the boards of the New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), a membership organization that serves over 3,100 nonprofit industry members throughout New York State, and BoardStrong, Inc. David received his BBA in Accounting from Pace University. As of 9/10/2025

Amy West is currently the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of AHRC New York City (“AHRC”). AHRC is an organization that provides critical services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. In her role Amy oversees the wide array of financial and administrative functions, strategic financial initiatives, real property and special projects that enable AHRC to fulfill its mission. Amy has direct responsibility for AHRC's operating budget of over $380 Million and manages a staff of 90.   Prior to joining AHRC, Amy served for eight years as the Director of Finance of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation. Amy also held the position of Vice President of Finance and Budget at the United States Fund for UNICEF and worked as an auditor for Ernst & Young LLP specializing in the healthcare and not-for-profit industries. She began her career as the Coordinator of Fiscal Operations for the New York Public Library. Amy graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. She is the Chair of the AICPA’s Not-For-Profit Industry Conference and serves on the AICPA’s Not-For-Profit Advisory Council. She is also Co-Chair of the Nonprofit Finance Leadership Roundtable NYC. As of 9/10/2025