ACCOUNTING PANEL SESSION SUMMARY TOPIC: ACCOUNTING

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1 ACCOUNTING PANEL TOPIC: ACCOUNTING PANELISTS: Industry: Accounting Who should attend? All College of Business Majors Session: 10AM Moderator: Dr. Marvin Williams, Professor, FACIS Department Name Title Company Karen Riggs Field Operations Audit Texas Comptroller s Office Terri Wilson Process Project Manager Center Point Energy David Pichon Senior Tax Advisor ExxonMobil Terry Gaul SALT Senior Manager Grant Thornton Rolando Garcia International Tax Manager RSM US LLP SESSION SUMMARY Accountant encompasses a diverse and vibrant career path that includes public accountants, forensic accountants, management accountants and government accountants. This is a profession for those who have a passion for numbers and their practical applications, and an eye for detail. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 15.7 percent growth for accountants between 2010 and 2020, which is much faster than the average growth for most other professions. An additional 190,700 accounting and auditing jobs will need to be filled during that time period. In 2011, the median annual salary for an accountant was $62,850. The best paid 10 percent. Usually working within the federal executive branch, earned approximately $109,870. The aftermath of the financial crisis and the Great Recession include a new regulatory and business environment in the U.S. Our panel of speakers will address growth opportunities for accountants in Houston.

2 MODERATOR DR. MARVIN WILLIAMS Professor, FACIS department College of Business, UHD Dr. Williams is a Professor, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and an Attorney At Law. Dr. Williams currently teaches various federal taxation courses (traditional and on line) as well as having taught numerous other accounting courses in the past. He has published research in respected taxation and accounting (and other) journals and has assisted in the update of taxation textbooks. Dr. Williams remains current in the area of federal taxation by engaging in activities related to the area of federal taxation. He has obtained a Doctor of Jurisprudence of Law, an MBA in finance and a BBA in Accounting from the University of Houston. PANELISTS TERRI WILSON Process Project Manager Center Point Energy Terri Wilson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and International Business from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and an MBA from The University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. Terri joined CenterPoint Energy in 2001 and has worked as a Financial Analyst within its Electric business unit and Finance function areas. Increasing levels of responsibility in these areas provided the opportunity for gaining knowledge and accountability for business unit and corporate management reporting, analyzing financial statements and financial planning and forecasting. In 2012, Terri transitioned into her current role as a Process Project Manager where she supports improvement of business processes and supporting technology within Finance using project management, facilitation, change management and technical writing tools and techniques.

3 DAVID PICHON Senior Tax Advisor ExxonMobile Current Sr. Tax Advisor, Indirect Tax, ExxonMobil, Houston Provide multistate tax advice to all ExxonMobil affiliated companies for primarily the southern region states Previous Director, Transaction Tax, global consulting firm, Houston office Specialized in providing multistate tax services to clients from a wide variety of industries Senior Manager, national consulting firm Public Sector Experience Member, Accounting Advisory Board, University of Houston CL Previous Sales and Use Tax Auditor, Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Assistant Auditor, Harris County Auditor s Office Public Presentations Mr. Pichon has spoken on various state and local tax topics for the following organizations: University of Houston Clear Lake & Downtown Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Houston CPA Society HISD and FBISD American Petroleum Institute Professional Affiliations Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants Board of Directors Houston Chapter, TSCPA Board of Directors Chair, Strategic Planning Committee CPAs Helping Schools Committee Chair, Accelerate Leadership Committee Institute for Professionals in Taxation Education/Accedidation Master of Business Administration (Emphasis in Management Information Systems), University of Houston Clear Lake Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting, University of Houston Downtown Certified Public Accountant, Licensed in Texas

4 TERRY GAUL Managing Director Grant Thornton LLP Terry Gaul is a Managing Director with the Tax Department of the Houston office of Grant Thornton specializing in state taxation. Terry has 38 years of experience in state taxation in addition to extensive federal income tax and tax accounting experience. Prior to joining Grant Thornton during 2006, Terry worked for various Fortune 500 firms during which time he gained multi state tax experience in the telecommunications, utility, mining, commodity trading, chemical, oil and gas and waste services industries. Terry is a member of the firm s national Tax Accounting and Risk Advisory Services ( TARAS ) Practice. Grant Thornton s TARAS Practice offers a proven methodology, technology and experienced professionals to help companies enhance tax function performance, identify risks, and manage audits of complex tax provisions. Within the TARAS Practice, Terry specializes in accounting for state income taxes under financial reporting standards. Terry s experience in multi state taxation includes: - Identifying and implementing tax planning opportunities to achieve effective state income tax rate reductions. - Establishing compliance with ASC 740 and ASC 450 (fka SFAS 109 and SFAS 5, respectively) and related pronouncements. - Evaluating tax legislation to establish compliance and identify tax minimization strategies. - Structuring tax efficient mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and project development. - Managing state tax audits, appeals and litigation. Education & Certification Bachelor of Business Administration Kent State University Master of Business Administration, with concentrations in Taxation and International Business University of Houston Certified Public Accountant State of Texas

5 ROLANDO GARCIA Attorney/CPA RMS US LLP Summary of Experience Mr. Garcia is a Manager in RSM s Private Client Services/International Tax group. RSM is the fifth largest U.S. assurance, tax and consulting firm and the leading firm focused on the middle market with 7,000 people in 75 cities domestically and access to more than 32,000 people in 100 countries around the world. RSM is focused on serving clients with a strong local touch and a high level of partner attention. Mr. Garcia s primary expertise is in tax matters related to tax planning involving inbound international tax issues, as well as tax compliance for individuals, partnerships and corporations. He works extensively with high net worth individuals, families and closely held businesses. Professional Affiliations Mr. Garcia is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants, and the State Bar of Texas. He is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States of America, as well as all federal and state courts in Texas. Mr. Garcia serves on the Advisory Board of Directors of The Stacey and Bo Porter SELF Foundation. In addition, he is a member of the Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA). Education and Employment Mr. Garcia received his BBA cum laude in Accounting from Pan American University (now University of Texas Pan American) (Edinburg) and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from South Texas College of Law (Houston). Mr. Garcia was a sole practitioner primarily handling business, tax and legal matters for professional athletes prior to joining Margolis, Phipps & Wright, P.C. (predecessor firm to RSM in Houston) in August In December 2013, he joined the partners and staff members of MP&W in opening the Houston office of McGladrey now RSM US, LLP. Personal Mr. Garcia resides in Houston, Texas. He has 4 daughters. He raises commercial and registered black Brangus in South Texas, and his hobbies include photography and deep sea fishing.

6 KAREN RIGGS TEXAS COMPTROLLERS OFFICE FIELD OPERATIONS AUDIT I graduated summa cum laude from UH D in December I was also honored to be the recipient of the Red Rose Scholarship and the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Scholarship during my last year at UH D. I started working for the Audit Division of the Texas Comptroller s Office immediately after graduation. Over the past 25 years, I have worked in our Houston offices, San Angelo and Abilene offices, and one of our out of state offices in Tulsa, OK. For the first fourteen years, I audited various taxes including sales, hotel, mixed beverage, franchise, and motor vehicle. In 2004, I entered management generally supervising a group of seven to ten sales tax auditors. Most recently, I became the supervisor of the Oil & Gas group in the Houston North Audit Office. My family includes four sons and three daughter in law s and twelve beautiful grandchildren!