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
Eric Benson
Eric for nearly 30 years has been designing and delivering personal and professional development programs. Eric is a Certified Practitioner and Authorized Partner for the Everything DiSC(R) and The Five Behaviors(R) suite of applications, a facilitator with FranklinCovey (The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and Leading at the Speed of Trust), The Ken Blanchard Companies, and Zenger-Miller/AchieveGlobal. Eric hold a B.S. in Industrial Technology and an A.A.S. in Personnel Administration.
Prior to starting The Eric Benson Team, his professional experience included four years spent with a start-up company developing its sales and marketing strategies, produce mix, tracking systems, and employee training programs. Before that, he spent ten years in the U.S. Air Force, five of those years as a management engineer where he combined organizational development approaches with industrial engineering techniques to enhance both individual and organizational productivity.
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.
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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