Susan Amat
Venture Hive
Founder, Venture Hive
Susan Amat
Venture Hive
Founder, Venture Hive
Dr. Susan Amat is the founder of Venture Hive, which focuses on democratizing entrepreneurship education through a global network of accelerators, universities, and K-12 programs. A serial entrepreneur, she built businesses in the entertainment industry for over a decade, including the first CD-ROM magazine and a national television show. After completing her MBA, Dr. Amat developed pediatric health monitoring products and earned a Ph.D. in Strategic Entrepreneurship (coursework in industrial engineering, business, and education). While teaching at the University of Miami, she founded The Launch Pad, which was considered the top model in entrepreneurship education. Her program and platform was replicated throughout the United States as Blackstone LaunchPads. Dr. Amat served as the founding Chair of the STEM Board for Miami-Dade County Public Schools and actively speaks about entrepreneurship education internationally. She has consulted with the US State Department, The Kauffman Foundation, and the World Bank on ecosystem development. In 2012, Dr. Amat was honored as a 'Champion of Change' at the White House.
Shaun Budnik
KPMG
Partner, KPMG Audit Innovation Leader
Shaun Budnik
KPMG
Partner, KPMG Audit Innovation Leader
Shaun Budnik is a Partner and the KPMG Audit Innovation Leader, steering the audit practice’s journey to transform the audit culture and professional mindset so that KPMG is positioned to deliver high quality and relevant audits. In her role, she has implemented new governance models, programs and technologies to advance the audit practice’s people, processes and technologies.
She established the Audit Innovation Leaders Network, a collaborative group of partners across the firm dedicated to encouraging new ways of thinking and educating the practice on how the technology transformation will impact the audit. In addition, she’s started a series of planning labs for auditors to apply innovative design thinking and collective techniques to their engagements and visioning sessions to raise awareness about an innovative culture and marketplace trends. In the initial 2016 launch, nearly 400 KPMG audit professionals participated in these innovation sessions. Shaun served on the judging panel of the firm’s first ever Audit Innovation Challenge and was instrumental in making this Shark Tank type challenge a reality at KPMG. More than 300 professionals submitted their innovative ideas, demonstrating the significant interest the Challenge generated.
She is currently serving on KPMG’s Women’s Advisory Board, dedicated to creating a compelling work environment and enhancing career opportunities for women.
Previously, she was a partner (now retired) at Deloitte LLP on assignment to DTTL, Deloitte’s Global Firm. She was part of the Global Audit Innovation Leadership team and supported Global Audit Strategy initiatives.
Prior to her global leadership role, she was president of the U.S. Deloitte Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports educational programming that is shaping the talent of the future. Shaun helped the Foundation to expand its support of existing academic programs and to develop new programs to address challenges facing the business. In addition, she previously served on the Board of Directors of the American Accounting Association and the Board of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). She currently serves on the AACSB’s Business Practices Council and Accounting Accreditation Committee. She is an Advisory Board member for her alma mater, the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University (Chicago), and serves on the Tulane Freeman School of Business Advisory Council and the Western Connecticut State University Accounting Advisory Board.
Also at Deloitte, Shaun drove partners’ succession planning initiatives and served as partner-in-charge of the Assurance practice in Stamford, Connecticut, advising clients in the manufacturing, life sciences, satellite services, and distribution industries on accounting and SEC matters.
A catalyst for women’s advancement, Shaun has spoken at many conferences on issues facing women in the workplace. She was Deloitte’s National Director for the Retention and Advancement of Women, and prior to that served as leader of their Tri-State Women’s Initiative.
Prior to her executive roles at Deloitte, Shaun was a senior manager in KPMG’s audit practice. She resides in Danbury, Connecticut, with her husband, Greg (partner, RSM), and their three grown daughters.
Mike McCracken
McCracken Alliance LLC
Founder and Chairman
Mike McCracken
McCracken Alliance LLC
Founder and Chairman
Mike McCracken has been the founder of many companies throughout his career including McCracken Alliance, LLC which focuses on building business and leadership networks and programs that foster peer-to-peer relationships, provide leverage through knowledge sharing and facilitate access to innovative value added business solutions. Central to these peer networks are the convergence of disciplines to create a way to build a stronger bond between industry and academia for the ultimate betterment of business, universities and students.
McCracken Alliance (MA) has been instrumental in the design, build and operation of financial leadership networks across the United States in concert with universities and leading companies. McCracken Alliance Leadership Networks provide a unique platform for participants, university faculty and the business community to engage in an ongoing sharing knowledge and experience. In addition, MA designs, builds and operates leadership programs such as Leadership Finance® and Leading the Office of the CFO™ which support the growth of finance leaders in their journey to broader roles in finance. Recognizing that recognition is a key component of leadership development, MA created the FLY Awards™ sponsored by notable Universities and members of finance communities to recognize both finance teams and finance individuals for meritorious efforts demonstrated in financial leadership. Some of the universities which sponsor MA’s programs include Georgia State University, Rollins College, University of North Florida, University of South Florida, Florida Atlantic University and CUNY Baruch College.
Previously, Mike was a founder of Tatum LLC, which became the first National Professional CFO Firm with annual sales of $200 million, and in 2010, merged with a $2.0 billion NYSE registrant. Earlier Mike formed an internet services provider which sold in the late 90’s for several million dollars. He was also a partner with Ernst & Young LLP in New York, reporting to the Chairman and CEO, after being a Regional Director of Marketing and Strategy for the seven-state SE Region during the reorganization period to introduce a specialized industry focus and merger with Arthur Young creating the largest global professional services firm at that time. He served as coordinating partner on the team of professionals that designed the spin-off of Eastman Chemical Company, a $4.0 billion Fortune 500 manufacturer, from Eastman Kodak and was business development advisor to the EY’s member firm in Japan. He has been a CPA in four states and CMA, and he has served on numerous boards including serving as a founding member and executive chairman of more than 10 university-based executive leadership networks.
Dan S. Meader
Trinity Private Investment Group
Founder and Managing Partner
Dan S. Meader
Trinity Private Investment Group
Founder and Managing Partner
Dan is the founder and a managing partner of Trinity Private Equity Group (TPEG), a middle market Private Equity investment company based in Southlake, Texas. TPEG currently has an investment team of 25 with 47 active assets in the portfolio and an FMV in excess of $1 billion. For more information on TPEG, visit www.trinitypeg.com.
Prior to starting Trinityin 1999, Dan served as an executive vice president for Tara Capital Partners, LP, a hedge fund focused on investing and trading in retail and restaurant-oriented public securities. He also spent nine years participating in private equity investments at Sowell & Co., a family office located in Dallas, Texas. Dan began his career at InterFirst Bank of Dallas (now Bank of America), and joined their corporate banking group in 1984. He then worked for ABQ Capital Markets and co-managed a portfolio of high-yield bonds and preferred stocks.
Danisa CFA charterholder anda former Chairman of the CFA Institute. He was elected to the CFA Institute Board of Governors in 2006, serving two consecutive terms over seven yearsand servingas Chair in 2012. While on the CFA board, Dan chaired several committees, including the nominations committee, compensation committee, external relations and volunteer involvement committee, and the Presidents Council. Dan currently serves on several Trinity portfolio company boards, and is a member of the Financial Accounting Standards AdvisoryCouncil, an affiliate of the Financial Accounting Foundation. A graduate of Southern Methodist University, cum laude, Dan received his CFA charter in 1991 and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He resides in Southlake with his wife of over 24 years, Sarah, and has two college aged children, Hannah and Zach.
Gregory A. Roscia
Ernst & Young LLP
CPA / PPS, CFP
Gregory A. Roscia
Ernst & Young LLP
CPA / PPS, CFP
Greg is a tax partner in Ernst & Young LLP. His responsibilities involve the firm’s Private Client Services (PCS) and Tax Consulting practice. Greg is a partner in the Southeast Region PCS practice. He has twenty nine years of industry experience and has extensive experience providing clients with holistic wealth planning which integrates Family Wealth Planning, Tax and Personal Financial Flaming. Greg is involved with and has run the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Florida, program.
Greg works with closely held businesses, high net worth families, and Family Offices. He is a finn- wide national resource dealing with the structuring of private aircraft and yachts. Greg is the EY national media spokesperson for the annual BY Tax Guide and the PCS practice. He is frequently quoted in national newspapers, magazines, television and radio regarding estate & income tax and financial planning matters. He was named in the Robb Report WORTH magazine list of the 100 financial planning matters. He was named in the Robb Report WORTH magazine list of the 100 most exclusive wealth advisors in the country. He holds the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP).
Greg received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting, with honors, and his Maste of Accounting with an emphasis in Taxation from the University of Florida.
Greg is a member of the following professional organizations: the Tampa Bay Estate Planning Council, the University of Florida Fisher School of Accounting Advisory Committee, the AICPA, the AICPA Personal Financial Planning Division, and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA).
Greg’s community involvement includes volunteer work in the following not for profit organizations: Community Foundation of Tampa Bay -Past Chairman, Junior Achievement Tampa Bay regional board, United Way Tocqueville Society.
Mike Thomas
Booz Allen Hamilton
Executive Vice President
Mike Thomas
Booz Allen Hamilton
Executive Vice President
Executive Vice President Mike Thomas leads Booz Allen Hamilton’s Innovation Culture, Ventures, and Solutions group, a team that advances the firm’s culture of innovation, creates new revenue streams, and cultivates new alliances, partnerships, and strategic ventures. Previously, Mike was a client service officer in the intelligence and justice, homeland security, and transportation businesses.
Before joining Booz Allen in 2010, Mike was president of the security product line at Lockheed Martin where he provided knowledge solutions capabilities, intelligence mission management, and processed and disseminated intelligence data. He also directed day-to-day operations, including contract performance, financial management, strategy development, implementation of advanced research, and human resource management.
Mike's career highlights include several years as IBM’s White House account manager for national federal accounts, and business area manager for new and advanced programs, where he was responsible for a major classified commercial off-the-shelf development effort. As vice president of special application programs for Lockheed Martin mission systems, he led the redirection of the business into imagery and geospatial programs and expanded into the federal, commercial, and international markets.
He is chair of the firm's ethics and compliance committee, a member of the boards of the Intelligence & National Security Alliance, the U.S. Geospatial Intelligence Foundation, and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. He is a member of the Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association, the National Military Intelligence Association, and the National Cryptologic Museum Foundations, Founders Group. In addition, he formally served as chair of the Executive Advisory Board, and is the current rector of the Board of Visitors for James Madison University.
Mike received a B.A. in finance and marketing from Madison College and an M.B.A. from James Madison University. He was a fellow of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI on foreign policy, international relations, and national interest.