Employee Benefit Plans Conference Bundle

Caryn is a Senior Manager with LBMC Information Security.

As quality control manager with LBMC Information Security, Caryn maintains the firm's high technical and client-service standards. Drawing on more than fifteen years of information security audit experience, Caryn helps LBMC clients meet their compliance objectives through high-quality testing and thorough documentation. Prior to assuming quality control duties, Caryn served in a project management role for all of LBMC's Sarbanes-Oxley internal controls engagements. She also has extensive experience performing assessments and testing to comply with FISMA, SSAE 16, PCI and HITRUST.

Prior to joining LBMC, Caryn served in information systems auditing capacities for a Fortune 500 international healthcare company, as well as a large distributor. This diverse experience has given Caryn an appreciation for practical controls that integrate with financial and operational processes to achieve the organization's security objectives efficiently and cost-effectively.

In her more than ten years with LBMC, Caryn has become a leader in the LBMC Information Security practice. Helping clients to assess and comply with rigorous compliance requirements while maintaining a realistic view of business is a strong focus for Caryn.

Chip Harris serves as the Chairman of the Benefit Plan Audit Services Group at RubinBrown LLP; he was instrumental in building RubinBrown's plan audit practice in Kansas City. Chip has over 19 years of public accounting experience with both regional and international accounting firms; his experience includes having worked both domestically and internationally.

Chip received a B.S. in Business and Accounting from the University of Kansas, and is currently a member of the Accounting and Information Systems Advisory Council for the University of Kansas School of Business. RubinBrown's Benefit Plan Audit Services Group provides comprehensive audit and consulting services to approximately 200 employee benefit plans in its Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis offices, including single employer defined contribution, defined benefit and health and welfare plans as well as all types of multiemployer plans.

As a leader of Kennerly Montgomery's pension and employee benefits practice, Kathy D. Aslinger assists public and private employers, plan fiduciaries, trustees, third party administrators, and advisors maneuver through the complex world of employee benefit plan design, implementation, and compliance. Additionally, she uses her experience and knowledge to assist companies in the following areas: due diligence and benefit considerations during merger and acquisitions; controlled group and affiliated service group analysis; executive compensation; audits; fiduciary liability issues; multiple employer and multiemployer benefit plan issues; DOL and IRS compliance; HIPAA; COBRA; ERISA and state law obligations; and Affordable Care Act compliance.

For an ERISA attorney, Kathy has an unusual background. She spent the first 11 years of her career as a government attorney and prosecutor. During that time, she worked as a judicial clerk for judges on the Tennessee Court of Appeals and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, as an appellate attorney for the Tennessee Attorney General's Office, and as an Assistant District Attorney. She has tried cases before judges and juries and handled approximately 200 appeals before the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, the Tennessee Supreme Court and the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. She credits the research, writing, and advocacy skills she gained during these years for her continued success in the realm of employee benefits, and while she works hard to keep her clients out of the courtroom, she is grateful that she has the experience and ability to assist them in the courtroom if needed.

In addition to her ERISA practice, Kathy serves as the Managing Shareholder of the Firm. This role enables her to lead, mentor and guide the Firm in a positive direction.

With 16 years of public accounting experience, Anne specializes in employee benefit plan and not-for-profit audits and currently serves as the leader of Windham Brannon's Employee Benefit Plan Practice. As the practice leader, Anne is committed to helping clients ensure that they are in compliance with reporting requirements and advising clients on plan operations and giving recommendations on process and administrative improvements.

She works closely with clients during the planning phase of an audit in order to identify potential issues as early as possible, thereby ensuring that the process is effective, efficient, and completed in a timely manner. She regularly communicates with her clients to help them answer any questions that may arise during the course of the year.

Anne enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with others. She is currently serving on the Task Force for the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants Employee Benefit Plan Conference and has been a frequent speaker at the AICPA National Employee Benefit Plan Conference. Additionally, Anne is regularly invited by the Board of Directors of her clients to present findings from their audits as well as other industry specific topics.

She joined Windham Brannon in 2001 after graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelors of Science in Accounting. Anne then completed her Masters of Accountancy in 2003 from Kennesaw State University.

Anne is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, Women in Pensions, and the Georgia Center for Nonprofits. She is also a Certified Nonprofit Accounting Professional (CNAP).

Kristen is a Senior Manager in the audit and advisory department of LBMC, PC.

She has diversified experience with a variety of industries serving private companies in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, services, and non-profits.

Kristen provides a wide range of services for clients. A majority of her time is spent working on audits of financial statements and retirement plans. She has extensive experience working with small to mid-size companies that require additional assistance with accounting and reporting matters.

Mark A. Blackburn is a Shareholder in the LBMC Audit and Advisory practice.

He has significant experience in auditing employee benefit plans in a variety of industries and in accounting, auditing, and tax matters for the construction, real estate, and architectural/engineering industries.

Mark started working with LBMC when he graduated college more than twenty years ago.

Mark leads LBMC's Employee Benefit Plan Audit group and works with all types of employee benefit plans, including defined contribution, defined benefit, health and welfare, and employee stock ownership plans. These plans range in size from small privately-held businesses to publically-held companies with 11-k filings.

Mark spends a majority of his time working with privately owned businesses and their retirement plans.