FAE Briefing Room: The Next Stage - Navigating PE Consolidation, AI, and the Future of the CPA Firm

Peter Muwonge is the Founder of NextStageCPA, an executive advisory and education platform dedicated to helping independent CPA firms accelerate growth, modernize operations, increase enterprise value, and navigate the evolving landscape of the accounting profession. Through his proprietary Six Growth Disciplines™ framework, Peter works with firm leaders to strengthen the organizational capabilities that drive long-term performance, including strategic planning, operational efficiency, leadership development, business automation, talent management, and client relationship growth.

With more than 20 years of experience advising professional services firms, companies, and investment funds, Peter brings deep expertise in growth strategy, capital formation, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships. He is also the Founder and Managing Partner of Muwonge Capital Advisors, where he has been involved in originating and structuring billions of dollars in capital transactions.

Known for helping firm leaders build stronger, more resilient organizations, Peter focuses on creating Strategic Optionality™, enabling CPA firms to make important business decisions from a position of strength rather than necessity. In collaboration with the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA), his Six Growth Disciplines framework serves as the foundation for executive education programs designed to help accounting professionals succeed during one of the most transformative periods in the profession's history.

Peter is a sought-after advisor, educator, and speaker on firm growth, leadership, enterprise value creation, succession planning, and the future of the CPA profession.

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.

Dr. Sean Stein Smith is an Associate Professor of Accounting at the City University of New York – Lehman College, where he developed the college’s blockchain and cryptoasset curriculum. He chairs the Accounting Working Group of the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance and advises Crescent City Capital, a cryptoasset investment fund. Sean’s award-winning research and thought leadership on blockchain, digital assets, and artificial intelligence have been recognized by the AICPA, AAA, NJCPA, NYSSCPA, IMA, and CPA Practice Advisor, and he was named a 2026 NJBIZ Leader in Finance. He is a former member of the NJCPA Board of Trustees, a Past President of the NYSSCPA Manhattan-Bronx Chapter, and past chairperson of the NJCPA’s Emerging Technologies Interest Group (#NJCPATech). Sean also serves on the Board of Governors of Fairleigh Dickinson University and has served as a Visiting Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research.

Steve Piatkowski is a Loan Officer with Live Oak Bank's Accounting, Tax & Law Firm Lending division, where he helps CPA, tax, and professional services firms secure financing for acquisitions, succession planning, partner buyouts, growth initiatives, and strategic investments.

Steve joined Live Oak Bank in 2019 as a Business Analyst and later transitioned to the Professional Services Lending team as an Underwriter before becoming a Loan Officer. In his current role, he works closely with accounting and tax firms across the country, leveraging his expertise in SBA and conventional lending to support firm growth and long-term success.

Originally from New Jersey, Steve earned his degree in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter and maintaining an active lifestyle.

Dr. Richard A. Vinci is a seasoned financial executive, academic leader, and the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Luminosity Advisors, a diversified private investment and corporate advisory firm established in 1999.

His distinguished 40-year career in investment banking, institutional asset management, private equity, real estate finance, mergers & acquisitions (M&A), and venture capital encompasses an aggregate transaction volume exceeding $500 Billion globally.

Known by colleagues as Rick, Dr. Vinci integrates deep capital markets expertise with advanced scholarly rigor to drive strategic growth, institutional investment excellence, and professional financial education across multiple industries.