2025 AFWA CPE Seminar Speakers
Register for this year’s event here!
Jason McCarter
Jason is originally from Sevierville, Tennessee, Jason earned a B.S. in accounting from Carson-Newman University in 2007 and then joined the national public accounting firm Crowe-Horwath, LLP. During his tenure there, McCarter was selected as a fellow on Crowe’s federal tax specialties service team where he worked as a consultant on complex tax incentive projects for companies ranging to the Fortune 50 throughout the eastern U.S.
Since then, McCarter served as the finance director of a large Knoxville faith-based non-profit organization where he focused on integrating best practices in accounting and business operations. He then came to Burkhart and Company, an accounting and consulting firm in Knoxville, in 2013 to assist a large multinational non-profit organization in complete implementation of a new finance and accounting department.
Jason currently works as the Financial Controller for Mastermelt America in Sweetwater, TN. Mastermelt America is part of the Mastermelt Group of Companies specializing in the recovery of gold, silver, platinum, palladium, and other precious metals from a variety of sources from spent diesel catalysts to jet turbine engines with operations in London, England; Buxton, England; Sweetwater, Tennessee; Terrell, Texas and Singapore.
Chelsea Sowers
Chelsea is an Audit Manager in TNF’s attestation practice and a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over six years of public accounting experience, including three years specializing in digital asset accounting. She has worked extensively with blockchain and cryptocurrency financial reporting, providing audit and attestation services to companies in the digital asset industry.
Her expertise includes financial statement audits, compliance assessments, and risk evaluations, helping clients navigate the evolving regulatory landscape. Chelsea’s deep understanding of digital assets allows her to provide valuable insights into industry best practices, financial controls, and reporting requirements.
Beyond her professional work, Chelsea is dedicated to advancing the accounting profession and fostering inclusivity in finance. She currently serves as President-elect of the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA), where she supports the development and empowerment of women in accounting and finance.
A Bay Area native, Chelsea earned her degree in Accounting from California State University, East Bay (CSUEB). With a strong commitment to excellence, leadership, and innovation in digital asset accounting, she continues to make a meaningful impact in her organization and the broader financial community.
Curtis Shoch
Curtis is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history in the financial services industry. Curtis is currently a Senior Vice President- Regional Director with Cantor Fitzgerald Asset Management
Alicia McMurray-Smith
Alicia McMurray-Smith graduated with honors from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2013 where she served as editor of the law review and captain of the National Trial Team. That same year she was inducted into the Order of the Barristers and received the Sullivan and Ogden Brief Writing Award.
She is currently a partner at General Knox Law here in Knoxville and has thrice been named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a national publication.
Alicia’s practice focuses on business transactional law. She helps business owners with needs such as forming LLCs and Corporations, drafting and negotiating contracts, commercial real estate deals, and business acquisitions.
In her spare time, Alicia serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Spark, a nonprofit providing assistive technology to people living with disabilities at low to no cost.
Jessee Bundy
Jessee is a dedicated and experienced attorney with a diverse legal background and a passion for advocating for her clients. She offers both outside general counsel and specialized legal services tailored to the needs of business owners, creative professionals, creators, artists, influencers, athletes, and entrepreneurs. Jessee’s expertise spans intellectual property law, including trademark and copyright protections; business and real estate law; Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) matters; customized contracts; and other personalized client solutions.
Outside of her legal practice, Jessee enjoys a variety of hobbies and interests. She is an accomplished pianist, singer, and guitarist, and strong supporter of the arts. Jessee also loves to travel and explore new places, attend live performances and music festivals. Her heart belongs to her golden retriever, Nala, and two cats, Knox and Shelby, who bring joy and balance to her busy life. These personal passions reflect Jessee’s creative spirit and her commitment to a well-rounded life, as well as enriching both her professional and personal endeavors.
Daria Cooper, CPA
Daria works as an Audit Manager at Pugh CPAs, where she oversees teams on financial and compliance audits, review and compilation services, and agreed-upon procedures engagements. Prior to joining Pugh CPAs, Daria worked as an Audit Manager for one of the Big 4 accounting firms serving large public and privately held companies.
Daria has served on the Board of Directors of the Knoxville Chapter of Tennessee Society of CPAs for the last 4 years and was elected Treasurer in 2025.
Sadie Kuglitsch, Corporate District Manager – R&D Tax Credits
Sadie has been with ADP for over 5 years, beginning her career shortly after graduating from the Universityof Arizona. She started in ADP’s Small Business Services division, specializing in payroll and building partnerships with CPAs, before transitioning into her current role focused on R&D tax credits. Sadie partners with businesses and advisors to uncover valuable tax incentives that drive innovation and growth.
Jamie Noriega, VP ADP Tax Credits
Jamie leads the West & South region for ADP’s tax credit practice. Joining ADP in 2006, she has held various roles starting as a sales associate, then sales leader, sales strategy , and channel strategy prior to her current role. Jamie has her MBA in Finance from Pepperdine Graziadio Business School, is a mom of 2 and a competitive runner.
Jessica Waller
Jessica has worked for the Department of Revenue for over 5 years in the Audit Division. She has experience both in government and the public accounting sectors. Jessica currently serves as a tax auditor in their Knoxville office and regularly works with sales and use tax, business tax, franchise and excise tax, liquor-by-the drink tax, and bottler’s tax.
Jessica graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting. She also received her Master of Business Administration from Tennessee Technological University.
Amy Barnes
Amy has worked for the Department of Revenue for 14 years in the Audit Division Knoxville office. She has served as a compliance technician, tax auditor, and currently as a tax audit supervisor. Amy’s audit experience includes sales and use tax, franchise and excise tax, business tax and liquor-by-the-drink tax.
Amy graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in accounting. She also received her M.Ed. in Curriculum Instruction from Lincoln Memorial University
Sherry Dial
Sherry Dial, MBA, is the founder of Dial Services, LLC. She helps e-commerce businesses turn complex data into clear, actionable insights so leaders can make smarter decisions. A lifelong learner and strategic problem-solver, Sherry combines her analytical expertise with her accounting background to help businesses operate with precision and profitability. She earned her graduate degree in Internal Audit from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Marketing from the University of South Carolina.
With more than 20 years of experience, Sherry brings C-suite–level insight to every project. She has led SOX 404 compliance, enterprise risk management, and business process improvement for Gap, Inc. and Kemet Electronics, managing multi-billion-dollar operations. She has also audited federal budgets for the U.S. Department of Justice, implemented cost-saving strategies for Beretta USA, and scaled scales for 99 Walks, a women’s wellness walking app.
Sherry lives in Knoxville, Tennessee with her husband, Brent, and their three children, Peyton, Mia, and Christian.
David Frederick
David is a Senior Manager of High Net Worth Taxes and Planning at LBMC, PC.
David is an attorney by background and his practice at LBMC is focused on advising high net worth individuals on matters of estate planning, business succession planning, and tax mitigation. In this advisory role, he guides his clients through the structures and strategies that will maximize their control, minimize their tax, and allow them to more fully reap the benefits of their lifetimes of hard work. These structures and strategies commonly include sophisticated estate planning trusts, advanced tax-exempt and charitable systems, family business transfer designs, gifting and timing options, real estate ownership systems, and numerous other wealth transfer frameworks.
Before coming to LBMC, David has worked as a transaction attorney for several law firms of various sizes. More recently, he has served as a Director of Wealth Strategy and Trust Counsel for prominent banks and trust companies in the Midwest. Additionally, David is a trained economist and holds the position of Adjunct Professor of Economics at Washington University in St. Louis. With this broad background in law and economics, David can provide his clients with insights and perspectives on legal, economic, and market conditions that may affect their estate plans, investments, business structures, or other important plans for the future.
David has authored and published several academic articles on income taxation, estate taxation, charitable strategies, business succession, public policy, economics, history, and estate planning.