SPEAKERS

Corporate Culture Speaker, Former CFO of Enron Corporation

Mr. Fastow was the Chief Financial Officer of Enron Corp. from 1998 –2001. In 2004, he pled guilty to two counts of securities fraud and was sentenced to six years in federal prison. He completed his sentence in 2011 and now lives with his family in Houston, Texas. Mr.Fastow currently consults with Management, Directors, Attorneys, and Hedge Funds on how best to identify potentially critical finance, accounting, compensation, and cultural issues. His training sessions focus on risk in the “gray area”, where decisions that may technically be allowed give rise to risks that are not being properly considered. He helps attendees to better understand the limited role of auditors and attorneys, how technically correct but ethically challenged decisions may be interpreted by the “market”, and the steps that they can take to become more “self-aware”, so that attendees can better identify, price, and manage these risks.

Mr. Fastow is the only Enron executive that has taken full responsibility for his actions, and he has repeatedly and publicly expressed remorse. In addition to serving his prison sentence, Mr.Fastow forfeited far more money than he ever earned at Enron. He is credited with being the individual most responsible for helping to recover $6 billion for Enron shareholders. Mr. Fastow’s sessions typically are awarded 1 ½ hours of CLE and CPE Ethics credits.

Vice President of Member Engagement at CFMA

Heidi Boe is the Vice President of Member Engagement at CFMA, overseeing meetings, conferences, chapter services, and partner development. Prior to joining CFMA as an employee, she served as Senior Group Publisher for CFMA during its partnership with Naylor.

Heidi brings a wealth of experience in partner development, sales management, publishing, product development, and customer experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Marketing from Thomas Edison State University and a Master of Professional Studies in Publishing from George Washington University.

Heidi resides in Gainesville, FL, and is actively involved in volunteer work with the local VFW and USCG. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

President, Advanced American Construction Inc.

Dee has proudly served as President of Advanced American Construction Inc. for the past 30 years. His work in both heavy, civil, and marine construction industries spans more than 45 years. With decades of industry knowledge and longstanding relationships within the maritime industry, Dee became the President of Gunderson Marine & Iron in May of 2023. He is honored to commit himself to the continued excellence of both companies.

Dee is an Oregon State University alumnus. He holds a B.S in Civil Engineering and is a licensed Engineer.

Chief Financial Officer, Lydig Construction

Katie Burton is the Chief Financial Officer for Lydig Construction and is the first woman executive in the 67-year history of the company. Katie took over the CFO role in January 2023 after five years as Controller. She earned a degree in Accounting from the University of Idaho, and before her time at Lydig, she was a Senior Manager at Moss Adams LLP in Spokane, specializing in the Construction industry.  Katie is married to Brian, and together they have two children, Grayson (17) and Allie (14).  Katie enjoys connecting with family/friends, traveling, old school rap and basketball.  In her free time, she loves to coach her daughter in basketball and watch both kids participate in sports.

Senior Director of SAFE Workplaces

• Over 30 years professional experience in risk management, safety & wellness focusing on human capital risk management and wellbeing

CFMA's 2024-2025 Chair

Caryl Coronis, CFMA's 2024-25 Chair, has been an active member of the Houston Chapter since joining CFMA in 2006. During her tenure, she has held numerous leadership roles, including serving as Chapter President. At the national level, Caryl has been a member and leader of the Executive Committee, Financial Survey and Benchmarker Committee, Conference Program Committee, Finance Committee and many task forces. She has also helped develop and present CFMA education courses and editorial content.

Currently, Caryl is the CFO of NAPCO, one of the top precast firms in the United States. NAPCO designs, manufactures, and installs precast concrete products. Prior to joining NAPCO, Caryl served as CFO of NBG Constructors, a Houston-based bridge builder.

Caryl's background also includes experience in equipment management, human resources, mergers and acquisitions, and risk management from her time working with a large commercial landscaping company. A Houston native, Caryl attended Houston Baptist University, where she earned dual degrees in accounting and political science, and subsequently obtained her CPA and CCIFP credentials.

Outside of her professional responsibilities, Caryl is an avid outdoor enthusiast and was actively involved in fundraising events for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society as a coach and mentor. She also enjoys spending time with her grandchildren.

Performance Coach and Facilitator, Tradewinds Leadership

Stephen Dummit is a former electrical contractor turned electrifying facilitator and coach at Tradewinds Leadership. He leverages years of hands-on industry experience to support tradesmen and their leaders as “one of their own”, bridging the gap between the field and the office with his trademark high energy and positivity. His mission is to level up construction industry culture as a champion of effective leadership, communication and mental health initiatives.

CFO; Grow Construction President & CFO; Paragon Stone & Tile

• Spouse. Mother. Grandmother. Daughter. Friend. Halloweener. 

Chief Financial Officer, MacDonald-Miller

Christian serves as chief financial officer for MacDonald-Miller, a leading Northwest commercial mechanical contractor. Christian has been active in the construction industry for more than 20 years, most recently as CFO for Schuchart and previously as an auditor at Moss Adams, serving multiple contractor clients. Christian is active within CFMA at the chapter, regional and national levels, currently volunteering on the national Executive Committee.

Executive Director, Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington Education Foundation

DIANE KOCER is the Executive Director of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Washington Education Foundation (www.constructionfoundation.org) in Seattle, WA. Diane manages multi-faceted outreach programs that promote and develop construction careers through education and training. She is responsible for a highly regarded training program for construction professionals and a robust scholarships and grants program. With over 30 years of project management experience, she is dedicated to creating effective programs that link careers in the construction industry with the state’s school systems and organizations. Diane serves on numerous statewide boards that seek to advance the awareness of construction career pathways.

Vice President of Finance and Accounting, McKinstry Co

As Vice President of Finance and Accounting at McKinstry Co., LLC., Yana oversees financial strategy, accounting, treasury, payroll, and financial planning and analysis. She also supports startups within Dawson Ventures and manages key partnerships with banks, insurance, and bonding companies. With 20 years of experience, Yana previously worked in assurance practice at a public accounting firm, serving clients in technology, construction, manufacturing, financial institutions and nonprofits. She is a certified public accountant licensed in Washington.

As part of USI Marine practice, Max advises on emerging risk and helps clients implement innovative property and casualty solutions. Max has experience with marine clients ranging from shipyards to local seafood companies, large tug and barge operators, and marine contractors. He is active within various industry groups including American Waterways Operators (AWO), Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) and the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA).

Previously a property and casualty underwriter for The Hartford, a top U.S. commercial insurer, Max has an extensive background and evaluating risk. This experience enabled Max to develop unusual insight into the structuring of effective insurance programs, which he uses to his clients’ advantage in an evolving maritime industry and maritime insurance marketplace.

Regional Practice Leader, Workers Compensation Claim Solutions

Teresa is the Regional Practice Leader for Workers Compensation Claim Solutions in the Pacific Northwest. With 36 years of dedicated experience in workers’ compensation claims management Teresa excels in providing loss reduction strategies for clients of all sizes. Teresa assists with new business opportunities and coordinates the deployment of workers compensation claims solutions for clients.

Teresa has hands-on experience with both state and federal Workers’ Compensation Programs, working as a claim examiner for several years before joining the brokerage side of the house.

Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with Lewis and Clark College in Portland OR she's continued her education with an Associates in Claims (AIC) and a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation. Based in the Portland, Oregon office Teresa resides on a farm outside of Oregon City, OR with her husband Robert.

Workforce Development Director, Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education Foundation

Sarah Patterson is the Workforce Development Director of the Associated General Contractors (AGC) Education Foundation (www.constructionfoundation.org) in Seattle, WA. Sarah’s passion for promoting construction careers to young people is a direct result of her own career in the construction industry as a structural welder and welding inspector. Her commitment to helping career and technical educators is informed by her own time in the classroom as a welding instructor. She holds a Master of Education degree and is active on various advisory boards and state work groups focused on career and technical education to advance student success in Washington State.

Vice President, Property & Casualty, USI Insurance

• Over 20 years professional experience in risk management, safety & wellness

Senior Vice President, Chief Investment Officer & Economist - Washington Trust Bank

Steve is the Chief Investment Officer & Economist for Washington Trust Bank and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation with over 40 years of investment and economic experience.

In Steve’s role as the economist for Washington Trust Bank he participates in public speaking engagements, as well as authoring multiple communications, to keep clients and the public informed of economic and investment market conditions. Throughout the Pacific Northwest, Steve is a well-known speaker on economic conditions and world financial markets.

President, Meeting U

James Spellos is the President of Meeting U. whose mission for over 25 years is to help people become more productive and comfortable with technology.    

In 2024, Meetings Today magazine named Jim one of the Meeting Industry trendsetters, for his “AI Education with Integrity” commitment.  In 2022, Meeting Professionals International included Jim on their most influential list in the hospitality industry in honor of their 50th anniversary celebration.

 He was a faculty member at New York University for 25 years, receiving both their Award for Teaching Excellence and their Outstanding Service Award. Jim was previously named one of the Meeting Industry’s trendsetters by Meetings Today magazine in 2015.

 Jim is on the Board of Directors for Rock and Wrap It Up, an anti-poverty, anti-hunger organization which recovers excess food from films, tv productions, concerts, sports and other events.  Jim co-created their Whole Earth Calculator app. He also speaks about food recovery and sustainability to groups around the country.  In 2018 & 2019, BizBash named Jim one of their top 500 people for his work in sustainability.

 Jim is an accomplished musician and songwriter who released his first solo album, Stroke of Genius in 2020.  He has a certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition from the T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutritional Studies, is a certified Physician’s Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Food for Life Instructor, and supports Plant Powered Metro New York in educating people about a healthy diet and lifestyle, which helped to save his own life.  Jim was named Plant Powered Metro New York’s Grassroots Champion in 2024.

Walsh Construction

Mike Steffen joined Walsh Construction Co. in 1999 with over 14 years of experience in architecture as a designer and project manager. Mike’s experience as both architect and builder gives him a unique and useful perspective on both design and construction issues. Throughout his time at Walsh, Mike has served as Vice President, General Manager of our Oregon Region, and Director of Innovation. Over a decade of his time was spent working with our project managers and superintendents to develop one of the most innovative and effective quality programs in the industry, coined Cost-Efficient Design and Construction (CEDC) – a set of principles that has the ability to transform how we approve affordable housing. Walsh still heavily employs CEDC and Mike is involved in the preconstruction phase for each of those projects. Since joining the company 25 years ago, Mike has remained committed to advancing the company’s efforts in emerging innovative processes and technologies, providing strategic project leadership, and ensuring that our clients and project partners receive the highest level of service.

Chief Financial Officer, Walsh Construction Co

John Wied, CPA A graduate of The University of Oregon, John joined Walsh Construction Co. in 2000, after an 11year public accounting career that was focused on finance, accounting, risk and tax strategies for the construction and real estate investment industries.  John serves as Walsh Construction Co.’s Chief Financial Officer / Director of Risk Management and takes an active role in working with Walsh project teams and Project Owners to establish practical and equitable contractual agreements, develop proper risk strategies, procure and monitor construction financing agreements and ensure that the financial reporting and compliance needs of projects, project owners and the Walsh companies are met.  John frequently presents construction related topics on behalf of the AICPA, CFMA and other industry organizations