2025 CFO and Controller Conference

Andrew Bishop

Andrew Bishop is a Director of Wealth Management at Bernstein. He specializes in researching, developing, and executing tax-efficient strategies to help clients achieve their financial goals. With a passion for problem-solving, he thrives in Bernstein’s collaborative and dynamic environment, staying ahead of market trends and tax law changes to provide tailored solutions for each client.

Brittney Gordon

Brittney Gordon, CPA is Director of Business Development at The Alliance Group and has led the firm’s non-profit practice for the last 8 years, in addition to serving clients in the Fortune 500, private companies, and multinational firms. In her role, Brittney provides executives with access to a range of talent solutions including consulting, advisory, executive search, and interim staffing. Brittney is also on the Board of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA), has an active CPA license, and began her career in public accounting at EY where she developed a passion for client service and strategizing around business challenges. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary and a proud Tribe alumna. Brittney has been described by her clients as passionate about her work, generous with her professional network, creative in her approach to problem-solving, thorough in her technical knowledge, and compassionate, engaging, and professional in her demeanor. As one client shared, “This kind of passion for one’s work is a rare find which helps clients feel at ease knowing they are in capable hands.” Under Brittney’s leadership, Alliance’s nonprofit practice has grown by over 10x over the past 8 years

Allison Shepter

With 15 years of specialized experience in executive recruitment, Allison is a seasoned Director in the accounting and finance recruiting space. Leading the practice for the Washington DC metropolitan region, Allison has built a reputation for providing exceptional talent solutions to some of the most impactful organizations in the area. Throughout her career, Allison has developed expertise in sourcing, evaluating, and placing top-tier financial professionals, from CFOs to accountants, ensuring that clients have the right talent to drive their missions forward.

Known for a consultative approach, Allison thrives in understanding both the financial needs of organizations and the unique challenges within the industry. Leveraging a vast network and a deep understanding of the that sector’s nuances, Allison has successfully matched leaders with organizations where they can have an immediate and lasting impact.

Hedy Sadeghein

Hedy Sadeghein, CPA, is the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association. Hedy oversees the fiscal functions of the association, collaborates with the board of directors and committee leaders, leads the accounting team to ensure accurate financial reporting, and ensure the financial health and compliance of the organization. Hedy previously served as a senior audit manager at Johnson Lambert, where she specialized in the non-profit industry and demonstrated history of technical accounting research skills. She is a graduate of the College of William and Mary with a masters of accounting degree. She is a 2019 graduate of the Margaret DeBoe Leadership Program and she served as the Chair of the Young and Emerging Accountant’s Section of the GWSCPA from 2019-2022. Her current community involvement includes serving on the board of directors and the audit and finance committee of Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia since 2021 as well as serving on the Board and audit committee of Food for Others since 2020.

Michael Harris

Michael Harris currently serves as Chief Operating Officer, at Gateway Homes, Inc. In this executive level role, he is responsible for leading all administrative functions and launching the organization’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group. In prior roles, he has led large finance teams, human resources, operations and IT functions, with responsibility for payroll and benefits administration, performance management, onboarding, training and development.

Michael holds a Master of Science degree from Strayer University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Virginia Commonwealth University. He is also a proud graduate of Leadership Maryland, Class of 2019. Michael is involved in a number of professional associations including the Greater Washington Society of CPAs and the National Association of Black Accountants. Finally, Michael serves on several Boards of Directors including the CASH Campaign of Maryland, Tuckahoe YMCA (Richmond, Va), and the GWSCPA’s Board of Governors.

India Clark

India Clark is a dynamic, passionate, and inspiring professional serving CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) as a Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) practice leader for the Metro DC market. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Howard University and brings nearly 20 years of professional service experience providing clients with specialized consulting services. India has a strong track record of navigating complex challenges and driving value for her clients. As a CPA and PMP, she helps nonprofit organizations and businesses adapt to change by optimizing their people, processes, and technology through reliable outsourced accounting and advisory support. Before her current role, India primarily served the federal government, strengthening enterprise risk management and internal control programs at numerous agencies. She has led impactful training sessions, built high-performing client delivery teams, and fostered trusted relationships with clients. India is deeply committed to helping individuals and organizations thrive and reach their highest potential. Most notably, she is a proud mother of two daughters born 11 months apart and enjoys swimming, boxing, playing volleyball, traveling, and building LEGOs.

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis has served as Chief Financial Officer since 2015 and has previously held other senior operating and supply chain roles. Bruce oversees all budgeting and reporting, treasury, tax and accounting functions. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond. His favorite Wondrium program categories are History and Travel & Culture.

Azunna Anyanwu

Azunna Anyanwu is an award-winning Technology Executive, Servant Leader, Problem Solver, and Trusted Advisor who provides strategic technology leadership to organizations and corporate boards. He assists clients with enhancing technology operations and addressing cybersecurity and IT operational gaps.

With 25+ years of experience in IT operations, technology strategy, cybersecurity, business process reengineering, agile methodologies, and more, Azunna brings a unique and diverse technical skill set that has proven invaluable to his clients.

Azunna is a 3-time Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for Top 100 accounting firms including a Top 25 firm, where he oversaw all IT Operations, Cybersecurity, Infrastructure, End User Services and Merger and Acquisition (M&A) technical integration activities. Azunna previously served as the Director of IT at a Federal Government contractor as well as 12+ years in Big 4 consulting delivering technology solutions for state and federal government clients.

Azunna is an accomplished writer and blogger whose writings have appeared in digital and print magazines as well as industry publications. He is also a frequent speaker on Cybersecurity and Technology topics at industry and vendor-sponsored events.

As a servant leader who effectively manages, develops, and mentors people and teams, Azunna is adept at developing and sustaining trusted business advisor relationships with key leaders across IT and business units. He leverages agile principles and practices to get to the heart of client business challenges and rapidly deliver innovative technology solutions.

Azunna graduated from Harvard University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science; The John Hopkins University with a Master of Sciences in Computer Science; and the Quantic School of Business & Technology with an Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA). Azunna is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and Agile Practitioner (PMI-ACP).

Seema Alexander

Seema Alexander is a co-chair of DC Startup Week, cofounder of Virgent AI, founder of Disruptive CEO Advisory and the creator of the U.N.I.Q.U.E. Method™. Her passion is helping businesses become sought-after brands by playing at the intersection of business growth, brand positioning and emerging technology.

Stacey Johnson

Stacey Johnson, MBA, is the Owner of iSolve CFO (Advisory Services) and former Chief Financial Officer of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

Stacey is an accomplished Chief Financial Officer and executive leader with over 20 years of experience driving financial strategy, operational excellence, and organizational transformation across sectors. Most recently, as CFO of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Stacey led all business operations for one of the nation’s most iconic cultural institutions with assets of roughly $600 million.

Known for her people-first leadership and strategic vision, Stacey has also served as CFO of the American Federation of Teachers and Alexandria City Public Schools, with other senior finance roles across the DC area. Recently a recipient of FORUM’s Women in Leadership Impact Award, Stacey holds an MBA from The George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Miami.

Jospeh Zajac

Joe is a partner in KPMG’s Washington DC office. He has over 20 years of experience performing financial statement audits and delivering financial transformation advisory services across a variety of industries, primarily retail and aerospace & defense. Joe leads initiatives related to technology enablement and generative artificial intelligence solutions to modernize the finance function and empower CFOs and their teams to be leading voices for AI adoption across their entities. Joe has spoken on AGA’s Wake Up Wednesdays and is a frequent speaker at Defense financial management events on AI and the future of finance. Joe lives on a farm in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley with his wife Kathryn and three young children, where they raise pureblood Akaushi wagyu cattle.