Rocky Mountain Benefit Plans Conference - 2014
 

 
Rocky Mountain Benefit Plans Conference - Meet the Speakers 
 
 


David Steimel | EKS&H

David Steimel is a senior manager in the audit service area of EKS&H and has been involved in public accounting since 1998, providing financial audits of public and private companies, special purpose consulting projects, and agreed upon procedures.
Professional affiliations, including American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Colorado Society of Certified Public Accountants. David specializes in the areas of SEC Financial Reporting, Revenue Recognition, Lease Accounting, Complex Accounting Issues, Emerging Accounting Standards. David is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where he graduated with a BS in accounting in 1991.

Kathleen Odle |  Sherman & Howard, LLC 

Kathy Odle is a Member in Sherman & Howard’s Employee Benefits Practice Group and has more than 25 years of experience providing strategic advice to employers on all aspects of their employee benefits, including retirement plans, welfare benefits, executive compensation and equity-based plans. Kathy assists employers with maintaining compliance with IRS and ERISA regulations, and in correcting errors involving employee benefit plans.  Kathy is a member of the ESOP Association, Western Pension & Benefits Conference, the American Bar Association (Tax Section), the Colorado Bar Association (Tax Section), the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and the Denver Bar Association.


Rick Rodgers | Innovest Portfolio Solutions

With more than 25 years of experience working as an educator and consultant to public and private-sector retirement plans, Rick offers clients a rich perspective in the continual effort to improve the design and effectiveness of defined benefit retirement plans. His thoughts, ideas and successes concerning investment education, retirement planning practices and fiduciary due diligence have been presented to plan sponsors, employee benefits professionals and human resource organizations from coast to coast. He has earned the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) and Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst (AIFA®) designations from the University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business, and has received formal training in investment fiduciary responsibility assessment.





Tomi Gallagher |  Denver Compensation and Benefits, LLC

Thomasine (Tomi) Gallagher is a former IRS Agent and an Enrolled Retirement Plan Agent specializing in Qualified Retirement Plans. In her 10 years of working at the IRS she audited 401(k), Profit Sharing, Money Purchase, Defined Benefit, Multiple Employer, Multiemployer (union), ESOP, SIMPLE and SEP IRA Plans.  As a former IRS Agent, Tomi has extensive knowledge of IRS policies and procedures as well as the Internal Revenue Code and Regulations. She has extensive knowledge of the Employee Plans Compliance Resolution System, including the negotiation of sanctions under the Closing Agreement Program. Additionally, Tomi’s experience working and training with the Department of Labor has given her inside knowledge of their audit procedures.


Courtney Hutchison | Aon Hewitt

Courtney is Vice President in Aon Hewitt’s Health and Benefits practice in Denver, Colorado. She is responsible for understanding a client’s operational goals and benefit objectives and developing benefit strategies and programs which optimize returns on investment. She joined Aon Hewitt in 2004, after a number of years with another employee benefits consulting firm in Denver. Courtney has worked in the human capital consulting industry for fourteen years, consulting almost exclusively for mid to large employers. She has extensive knowledge of funding approaches, wellness and consumer engagement strategies, health care reform compliance strategy, long term cost control techniques, and vendor management. Courtney sits on Aon Hewitt’s Middle Market Steering Committee, where she helps drive service innovation and market expansion for the firm. Most recently Courtney has been working to develop Aon Hewitt’s Health Care Exchange product for employers with under 5,000 benefits eligible employees.


Michael Graci | BlackRock

Michael Graci has many years of financial services experience and extensive knowledge of retirement topics. Currently, Michael is a Director of Investment and Retirement Education for BlackRock and is responsible for the development and delivery of wealth management programs.  Prior to his current role, Michael was a Defined Contribution Advisor Consultant, managing regional 401(k) distribution relationships and acting as a specialist in the retirement sector. He has experience as a client service consultant and record keeper for qualified plans, specializing in plan design, consulting and compliance administration.  Michael received his Bachelor of Science degree from Pennsylvania State University. His professional designations include Accredited Investment
Fiduciary (AIF) and Accredited Retirement Plan Consultant (ARPC).


Sandy Shoemaker | EKS&H

Sandy is a partner in the audit service area of EKS&H and leads our employee benefit plan group.  She has been in public accounting since 1990. She has been involved with over 200 employee benefit plan audits including defined contributions and defined benefit plans.  Sandy has a depth of experience working with employee-owned companies and advising on the proper use of employee stock ownership plans.