The CFMA Southwest Regional Conference is designed for CFOs, controllers, and financial managers in the construction industry; construction CPAs; banking and financial service professionals; insurance professionals; surety underwriters; attorneys; and other construction industry specialists.

Sessions are designed as group-live programs at the basic level and unless otherwise indicated in the session description, there are no prerequisites or advanced preparation required.

This year's conference will include 1 1/2 information-packed days, including expert keynote speakers who provide great insight about topics such as surety and bonding, technology, human resources, taxes and overall industry changes and updates.

You have no-doubt been very aware of how changing market demands are forcing change on how you do business.

Pricing

EARLY BIRD*:

Member: $295

Non-Member: $370

REGULAR:

Member: $345

Non-Member: $420

Thursday Evening Cocktail Reception Guest- $50
*Early Bird pricing valid through 7/28/22

Stephen Bacchetti, CPA, CIA, CCA

Partner- Moss Adams

Steve has practiced public accounting since 2014. He focuses primarily on construction and performance audits for construction projects and capital improvement programs. Steve works closely with universities, K-14 school bond programs, hospitals, Tribes and casinos, and federal contractors on construction and capital improvement projects where project costs range from millions to billions of dollars. His experience includes planning, managing, and delivering performance audits, resulting in significant cost savings and control and reporting improvements. In addition to his construction auditing and internal controls experience, Steve has a background in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in the transportation industry.

Julie Barraza

Controller- WestCor Companies

Julie Barraza has worked in the construction industry for 31 years. She started in the pool business as a coordinator facilitating all aspects of building a pool from excavation through to the final phase. She also started designing and getting plans ready for permits.

After leaving the pool business, Julie went into the electrical field and worked as a clerk assembling electrical packages within the software that went out to the warehouse to prep for the field. Within a short period, Julie went on to become the assistant to the controller and learned the accounting side of the business. Three years later, she took over the position as Controller full time.

For the last 17 years, Julie has been working for Westcor Companies as Controller & recently has been promoted to CFO.  She manages the Accounting Department including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Contract Admin and produces Financials and maintains day-to-day operations. 

In March 2013, Julie got involved in NAWIC, immediately after joining she became a Director on the board.  Julie worked her way through the ranks becoming the Recording Secretary and then the Vice President. Shortly after being elected as the Vice President, the President resigned and Julie took over the vacated office. Due to this, she has served her chapter as President for almost 3 years. She then served as Treasurer for a year.  Julie has also been very involved with multiple committees, including chairing the Las Vegas Chapter Scholarship Fundraising Committee 4 years in a row.  Along with NAWIC she is the current President of the Las Vegas Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) chapter and has coordinated prior yearly fundraisers as well. 

Other volunteer events she’s chaired is with Make A Wish, Candlelighters Adopt-A-Family for Christmas, Toy Drives for Candlelighters and has coordinated events within Westcor.  Julie loves being involved with her community and meeting new people.

Julie is married to her best friend and has two children along with two stepchildren and 4 grandchildren.  In her spare time, she enjoys camping, and spending time with her husband.

James Benham

CEO - JBKnowledge

James Benham is a maker, a creator and an innovator. He started his journey as a tech entrepreneur in his Texas A&M dorm room in 2001 and has had a wild ride of challenges and successes ever since. James and his amazing team at JBKnowledge built and sold one of their products, SmartBid, in a groundbreaking deal with ConstructConnect in 2018. They have since built and grown two other products, SmartCompliance and TerraClaim.

JBKnowledge currently has over 240 employees in the USA, Argentina and South Africa and is a leading provider of technology products and services for Insurance and Construction. Based in College Station, Texas, James served two terms on the College Station City Council and served for 5 years as an adjunct professor of Construction Science at Texas A&M. He’s a pilot with a passion for aviation and flies himself to most of his meetings and also plays the piano and the guitar.

James’s philosophy for fellow entrepreneurs is to build self-funded businesses that are financially sustainable and growth oriented - an ideology that was passed down to him by his successful entrepreneur father. As the CEO of JBKnowledge, James continues to innovate tech for the Insurance and Construction industries.

You may have even heard him sharing his wisdom and insights as the host on his popular weekly podcasts: The ConTechCrew and The InsureTech Geek, or in one of over 400 conferences he has spoken at in the last 15 years. James also was recently appointed by Texas Governor Abbott to serve as a Regent on the governing board of Texas Southern University.

Brady Bryan, BBA, JD, CQIA

Founding Member and CEO- BRAYN

As BRAYN’s founder and CEO, Brady brings optimal value to mid- market clients through specialty tax incentives in a number of industries including architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and software. A licensed attorney in California and Texas himself, Brady has assembled an all-star team of BRAYNiacs. This powerhouse team is composed of lawyers, engineers, and accountants hailing from Big-4 and other national consulting firms. Brady’s goal is to educate businesses and people on how to avail themselves to the little-known tax incentives that are designed for them. In this way he knows BRAYN can make a meaningful impact with real people.

Prior to founding BRAYN in 2010, Brady spent many years in industry, as well as Big-4 accounting. During his tenure at Deloitte, he first learned about several of the tax incentives his company now specializes in. He also spent several years doing indigent defense work. Brady has a Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School, and a BBA in Management from Sam Houston State University. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, three children, and three French bulldogs.

Shary Dye, CPA

Director, Digital Practice- CLA

With over 20 years’ experience working within the construction industry implementing, consulting and selling construction-specific software, Shary brings a unique understanding of the finance and operational workflows (and challenges) within the construction industry  - and a passion for challenging the industry to embrace and adopt technology tools currently available.  In addition to experience in audit, Shary has worked with over 500 different construction firms ranging from $1M specialty subcontractors to $3B+ general contractors and heavy civil contractors.  Her product experience includes Sage products, Maxwell Systems Products, Viewpoint Products and several estimating and project management products.  Shary is currently leading the Acumatica practice within CLA’s Digital practice.

Anthony Huey, CSP

President- Reputation Management, LLC

Anthony Huey, CSP®, is a highly-rated international speaker who offers session attendees pragmatic communications tools, tips and techniques they can use immediately. Anthony has presented more than 3,000 paid communications workshops, seminars and speeches in his career, and was named a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) by The National Speakers Association, an honor awarded to less than 12% of its speakers worldwide.

Anthony’s 25-year career includes tenures as a news reporter and senior editor, crisis management specialist, media relations consultant and executive speech coach. He owns Reputation Management, LLC, one of the nation’s leading communications training and crisis consulting companies.

His past client work includes a wide variety of advertising, public relations and communications initiatives for hundreds of trade associations, municipalities and companies, including Nike, Victoria’s Secret, Eli Lilly, Nationwide Insurance, The Kroger Company, Procter & Gamble, and many more.

Anthony holds a Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from The Ohio State University.

Kyle Kamerlander, CPA

Partner- Aldrich Advisors

Kyle primarily works with privately held companies throughout the business lifecycle within the construction, manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries. He helps his clients develop meaningful strategies and deliver high-quality services that align with company goals.  Kyle enjoys serving his clients by assisting them in understanding financial statement analysis and presentation, setting profitability targets, implementing tax planning strategies, and providing business consulting services, including supporting a company’s transition or exit.

Prior to joining the firm in San Diego in 2007, Kyle worked for a big four accounting firm serving public and private companies in various industries throughout Chicago, Illinois. Kyle graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Wheaton College and received his master’s degree from Northern Illinois University.

Carmela Little

CFO - Brycon Corporation

Carmela Little serves as Chief Financial Officer for Brycon. Over the past 13 years, she has worked as a controller in both the private and municipal sector of the construction industry. She has helped companies streamline accounting operations, introduced internal controls, and driven powerful financial initiatives. She has implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems to help information flow between all business functions, providing efficiencies and business resources. Carmela graduated from the University of New Mexico with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and was a voting member on the City of Albuquerque’s Investment Oversight Committee. She is an active member with the New Mexico Society of CPAs, the Association of Governmental Accountants, and the Construction Financial Management Association.

Henry Morris

Construction Audit- Moss Adams

Henry Morris is a senior consultant focusing on construction audit services. He is experienced in working with owner representatives and subcontractors as well as monitoring cash flows, the profitability of contractor-owned equipment, and other metrics. Prior to joining Moss Adams, Henry worked as a project accountant for GLY construction.

Danielle Puente, CPA

CFO- DP Electric

Danielle has a background in public accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She is versed in all areas of accounting and works with Human Resources, Operations and Safety to reduce risk and maximize value. Danielle serves on the board of the directors for the Valley of the Sun Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) and she is currently the Vice President of their young professional group.

Danielle enjoys beach time in Cabo and frequently vacations there with friends and family. She lives in Scottsdale with her rescue puppy Everest.