Checkpoint Learning Subject Matter Experts

...including F500 companies, tax and accounting firms, law firms, start-ups, elementary schools, teachers, and other groups. She is honored to be the creator and facilitator for Reuters Mindfulness Program, which provides programming for front-line journalists who cover war zones, protests, and natural disasters. She has reached thousands with her unique programs. Amaris is a certified “Ambassador of Compassion” through Stanford’s CCARE & ACA, and is also a certified SIY teacher. She has studied at the Mindfulness Training Institute and is a certified yoga instructor.

Brian earned his undergraduate degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University and his Masters of Science in Taxation from Northern Illinois University.

Bryon has served as in-house counsel in the Tax Law department of ExxonMobil, and as commercial in-house counsel for Hewlett-Packard. After leaving in-house, Bryon was an associate attorney in the Tax Section of Kelly, Hart & Hallman, LLP, serving family offices and private equity and hedge funds in all matters of tax planning, controversy, and entity structure, formation and operation. Bryon’s practice now focuses on small business and startup operations with a special focus on tax and estate planning matters. Bryon also advises CPAs and tax preparers in compliance, planning and controversy matters. Bryon is currently advising the General Services Administration regarding blockchain initiatives in the federal government.

In addition to his instructor activities, he works as a financial, management, accounting and education practitioner/consultant serving clients throughout the US and internationally in Bermuda and India.

He received his finance and accounting education at The Florida State University.

Chris has also served as a tax partner and senior tax member for several local, regional, and national CPA firms. He was a member of the national AICPA S-Corporation Technical Resource Panel and the Qualifications Committee for the California Board of Accountancy. Chris is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in California, Texas, and North Carolina. Chris earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from the California State University, Northridge. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

A former Price Waterhouse management consultant, Garrett has authored 60+ e-books; delivered thousands of seminars and webinars to accounting institutes and enterprises around the globe; and developed dozens of AI apps on accounting technology, tax, and ethics topics.

Full disclosure: Garrett is an independent practitioner who provides objective information and is not affiliated with any vendor. He is based in Vancouver, Canada.

Jacquie focuses her teaching in the areas of leadership, communication and professional development. Through the practice of self-mastery and coaching for competency, Jacquie’s goal is to inspire and motivate professionals to function at peak performance.

Jacquie started her professional career at EY and worked in various executive positions in corporate finance including Assistant VP in a publicly traded health care company and CFO in private industry.

She was successful founder and CEO of Creative Benefits, Inc. which was acquired by WageWorks, Inc. in 2008, with the subsequent acquisition of WageWorks by HealthEquity, Inc. in 2019. She served both WageWorks and HealthEquity in executive leadership throughout her tenure.

Jody focuses on the areas of leadership, communication and professional development, as well as effective performance and accountability. Her practical and direct approach provides attendees a sense of accomplishment following each session. Jody has worked as an individual contributor but most often as a leader of teams as small as five and as large as 100 in various roles, giving her valuable insight and depth in leadership competencies.

His expertise in corporate and other entity transactions includes: adjunct tax professor at both Boston University Law School and Boston College Law School, teaching advanced courses on corporate and partnership tax law and advanced individual tax strategies; teaches an advanced course in the BU Law School Graduate Tax Program on Section 1202 Qualified Small Business Stock and Like Kind Exchanges; has structured and implemented hundreds of acquisition and sale transactions, followed by termination and liquidation of businesses; and the author of treatise Tax Aspects of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Business Sales, Third Edition, published by ALM National Underwriters.

In addition to her practice, Laurie teaches continuing professional education seminars and webinars on ethics, business, and individual income tax issues for Checkpoint Learning. She is the author and editor of several continuing professional education texts and serves as technical editor for Thomson Reuters Checkpoint’s 1040 Quickfinder and Small Business Quickfinder Handbooks.

Prior to forming her firm in 2001, Laurie spent more than a decade with local and regional accounting firms and specialized in providing tax and accounting services to closely-held businesses. She began her public accounting career with the international firm of Price Waterhouse, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Rick also served three years each on (IRSAC) IRS Advisory Committee, (ETAAC) Electronic Tax Administration Advisory Committee and served as a subject matter expert for (ACAT) Accreditation Council for Accounting and Taxation.

2024 will be his 21st year as a presenter for Gear Up seminars and 13th year as a webinar presenter for Checkpoint Learning. Rick has been a licensed LPA in Iowa since 1983 and has been an Enrolled Agent since 1975.

He has also instructed courses in Financial Auditing and Accounting on an adjunct basis for the UCLA Certification of Accounting Program. He graduated with a Business Degree from California State University, Northridge and has an Inner MBA from New York University. He is licensed to practice in New Mexico and California.

Sunish has been leading programs with Checkpoint Learning since 2010 which includes Gear Up and Checkpoint Learning Webinars.

She served as director of development for the AICPA and as accounting department/MBA chair for two universities. She has practice expertise in compliance auditing for nonprofit organizations, governmental entities, employee benefit plans, HUD, financial institutions, broker-dealers, CIRAs, and contractors. After graduating from the University of Michigan, she joined a national accounting firm, where she received extensive auditing experience with governmental agencies, Fortune 500 companies, and in business consulting.

Tim has also served as a tax partner and senior tax member for several CPA firms. He was an editorial adviser for the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy and served on several committees with the Virginia Society of CPAs. Tim earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Maryland. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors, and the American Bar Association.

He is the former president of the Pennsylvania Society of Public Accountants and for the last 17 years has been a lecturer with Gear Up Seminars and Checkpoint Learning Webinars and has authored several publications concerning tax and financial planning. Tim currently lives in Havertown, PA.