Featured Speakers

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Ms. Orumé Hays, CPA, CGMA, MST

  Bio

  Orumé Hays, CPA, CGMA is the Founder and CEO of HAYS CPA LLC and currently serves as President-Elect of the New York State Society of CPAs (NYCPA). She has held numerous leadership positions within the NYCPA, including Director-at-Large, President of the Manhattan/Bronx Chapter, and Chair of several committees, including Small Firms Practice Management, Relations with the IRS, and Audit.

  With more than a decade of experience in accounting, finance, and business operations, Orumé has advised organizations ranging from small businesses to national and international enterprises. Her expertise spans a variety of industries, including architecture, design, entertainment, event production, food and beverage, healthcare, and hospitality, with a focus on financial management, operational excellence, and strategic advisory services.

  An active leader in the profession, Orumé is a member of both the AICPA and the NYCPA and serves on several NYCPA committees, including Financial Accounting Standards, Personal Financial Planning, Not-for-Profit Organizations, and Small Firms Practice Management, where she previously served as Chair. She is also actively involved with the AICPA's Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS).

  In addition to her professional and volunteer leadership, Orumé is a former two-term Treasurer of the University of Benin Alumni Association North America, a Certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, and an Adjunct Lecturer at the Lucille and Jay Chazanoff School of Business at the College of Staten Island (CUNY).

  Recognized for her leadership, industry expertise, and dedication to advancing the profession, Orumé is a respected advisor, educator, and advocate for the accounting and finance community.

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Mr. Alex Lee, CPA

  Bio

  Alexander Lee, CPA is a New York State–licensed CPA who focuses exclusively on the U.S. research credit under §41 and its interaction with §174 and related incentives. He works with CPA firms, CFOs, and privately held companies to scope, quantify, and document R&D credit claims, translating engineering, manufacturing, and software development activity into positions that can withstand IRS and state scrutiny. Alex often acts as a technical bridge between engineering teams and practitioners, helping firms identify qualifying activities, avoid “R&D mill” pitfalls, and integrate credits into broader tax and cash-flow planning. He is an active member of the New York State Society of CPAs, where he delivers CPE programs, and collaborates on practitioner education around credits and incentives. Across his work, Alex’s focus is simple: protect the CPA–client relationship while unlocking meaningful, recurring tax benefits for innovative businesses through clear, defensible R&D credit advice.

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Ms. Aisha Jordan, CPA

  Bio

  Aisha Jordan, CPA, is a finance, operations, and AI transformation executive and advisor with more than 25 years of experience across global financial institutions, operating businesses, and investor-backed environments. Her career includes leading complex financial reporting initiatives, building finance and operating infrastructure as a CFO, and strengthening governance within regulated enterprises.

  As Principal of The Jordan Factor, she focuses on translating AI strategy into operating reality through practical adoption, clear accountability, and sound governance. She serves on NYCPA's Emerging Technologies Committee and is President-Elect of the Manhattan/Bronx Chapter.

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Ms. Katelyn Kogan, CPA

  Bio

  Katelyn has more than 15 years of experience providing accounting, assurance, and advisory services to real estate companies. Her primary clients include real estate funds, real estate investment advisors, owners, operators, developers, and managers. Her clients are invested both in the United States and internationally, across all major asset classes including residential, commercial, industrial, and hospitality. Katelyn has deep experience with technical application of GAAP to real estate companies as well as fair value measurement of real estate investments. Katelyn also has experience evaluating operating agreements and providing assurance on the applicability of profit allocations and cash distributions. She is a member of the American Institute of CPAs. She is also active with the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA). She has served as a vice president and a director on the NYSSCPA’s statewide board. She chaired the NYSSCPA Real Estate Committee from 2017 to 2019 and remains active. As a former member of the steering committee for Women@Forvis Mazars, Katelyn helped to execute the firm’s strategic plan to enhance the development and retention of women leaders. Katelyn is a graduate of Hunter College, New York, New York, with a B.S. degree in accounting, and a graduate of Baruch College, New York, New York, with an M.S. degree in real estate.

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Ms. Toby Ruth Kerslake, CPA

  Bio

  Toby is a senior manager in KPMG’s Metro New York Development and Exempt Organizations (DEO) practice, concentrating exclusively on the tax‑exempt sector. She has 10 years of experience providing tax consulting and compliance services to a wide range of exempt organizations, including colleges and universities, healthcare systems, cultural institutions, exempt trusts, membership associations, private foundations, religious organizations, and other not‑for‑profit entities.

  Within KPMG, Toby helps lead technology and standardization initiatives for the national DEO practice, regularly facilitates firm‑sponsored trainings, actively supports firm recruiting efforts, and is an active member of several Business Resource Groups (BRGs).

  Toby currently serves as a Director for the TEGE Exempt Organizations Council, where she also Co‑Chairs both the Logistics Committee and the Sector Growth Committee. She was formerly the Chair of the Exempt Organizations Committee for the New York State Society of CPAs and remains an active member of the Committee. Toby was selected as a 2025 Emerging Leader by the New York State Society of CPAs.

  Toby began her career in Chicago at a mid‑sized firm and relocated to New York in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a double specialization in Accounting and Management Information Systems (MIS) from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business.

• View Bio

  

  ×

  

  Mr. John D'Amico, CPA

  Bio

  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.