Speakers – MTF

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Keynote – Derek Ganter – IRS – Director of Shareholder Liason, IRS

Diane Sturgeon – District Director, US Small Business Administration’s Maine District Office

Diane is the District Director for the US Small Business Administration’s Maine District Office. She has held that position since April of 2021. She joined the SBA in April of 2012 as a Lender Relations Specialist, and prior to becoming District Director, Diane was Deputy District Director of the Maine District Office for more than 8 years. She began her career as a teacher and coach before moving into the banking world, where she has more than 10 years’ experience with both national and regional community banks.

Diane was born and raised in Maine and graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in Secondary Education. She also completed the National Association of Government Guaranteed Lenders Fundamentals Diploma Program and the Northern New England School of Banking.

Dan Pitman – Associate Tax Policy Counsel, Maine Revenue Service

Dan is the Associate Tax Policy Counsel in Maine Revenue Services’ Office of Tax Policy, where he works on matters relating to the development and implementation of Maine tax laws. Prior to joining Maine Revenue Services, he was a shareholder at Eaton Peabody, where he led the tax practice. His focus was on federal, state and international tax matters, as well as municipal and tax-exempt finance and tax-exempt organization matters. Prior to moving to Maine in 2012, he was an associate at the Wall Street law firm of Carter, Ledyard and Milburn. He has a J.D. and and L.L.M. in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Magnolia Mabel Movido, J.D., LL.M., E.A. – Partner, Wipfli

Magnolia heads Wipfli’s International Tax Practice. Magnolia advises our individual and corporate clients on U.S. international tax implications of their U.S. inbound or outbound transactions. She also handles complex structuring and tax planning projects. Magnolia’s prior experience working in the Big Four for almost two decades includes managing the global tax compliance and reporting for middle market to Fortune 10 companies, which involved launching businesses into new territories, identifying and mitigating risks for foreign entities, and ensuring compliance with local laws. She has experience in transfer pricing and working with global teams in more than 150 countries.

Bill Smith, J.D., LL.M., CPA – Tax Director, Wipfli

Bill leads Wipfli’s International Tax Consulting Practice and advises on an array of international tax planning and entity formation issues. Bill also co-leads our Transfer Pricing Practice, providing transfer pricing consultation services and overseeing the preparation of transfer pricing reports for our multinational business clients. Bill’s experience includes advising multinational clients for a Big Four firm, managing international tax matters for a Fortune 500 company and addressing transfer pricing and other international tax matters for a global asset management firm.

Caleb Powers – Vice President – Private Placements, U.S. Boston Capital Corporation

Over the last thirty years, Mr. Powers has held sales and sales leadership roles at a variety of professional service and technology firms. Caleb has deep salesforce effectiveness, sales strategy, and operations experience at early stage, turnaround, and PE backed high growth firms.

After spending seven years as a floor broker and specialist with Morgan Stanley on the Boston Stock exchange, Caleb went on to have a successful career as a sales trainer for Dale Carnegie Training where he was one of their top trainers worldwide. His passion for coaching led him to start his own executive coaching and consulting practice which he ran for six years. During this time, he worked closely with dozens of sales leaders and senior executives to drive strategic change and improve business performance at professional service, manufacturing, and retail businesses. From there, he went on to lead business development in a number of early stage and turnaround situations. Today, he is focused on growing U.S. Boston’s private placement business.

Caleb received a BS from Emerson College in Boston and holds Series 7 and 66 securities licenses. A lifelong resident of the North Shore, Caleb and his wife, Betsy, are busy raising three teenagers and enjoy spending time on Cape Cod in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Olga Goldberg – Partner, Pierce Atwood

Olga advises clients in complex state and local tax matters. She represents clients on tax controversies from the administrative level through litigation and appeal or settlement. She also counsels businesses of all sizes on multistate transaction planning and tax compliance. Olga’s practice covers all types of state and local taxes, including corporate income, business profits, franchise, sales and use, gross receipts and property tax, with a focus on New England taxes.

Jonathan Block – Partner, Pierce Atwood

Jon B represents and advises clients with Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts tax problems. Jon litigates tax cases at the administrative level and through all levels of the court system, advises clients on transactional and multistate tax issues, obtains advance rulings for clients, and does a substantial amount of legislative and government relations work in the tax area. Jon’s substantive expertise in state and local tax encompasses corporate and individual income tax, business profits tax, sales and use tax, property tax, excise tax, transfer tax, and other state and local taxes. Jon also advises expanding and relocating companies on taking maximum advantage of available tax and economic development incentives. Jon’s client base includes large, medium, and small businesses as well as individuals.

Josh Chase – Financial Advisor – Varney Financial

Josh is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM practitioner with over 25 years experience in the financial services industry, working closely with retirement plan sponsors and their employees. Josh grew up in Maine and is a graduate of University of Maine at Orono, holding a degree in Mass Communication. He is a Registered Representative of Osaic Wealth and holds his Series 6, Series 7 and Series 66 licenses. He is also a Certified Plan Fiduciary Advisor™ and is Life & Health Insurance licensed. Josh is a member of the National Association of Plan Advisors, the Maine Employee Benefits Council and the Society of Financial Service Professionals.

He is active in his community and serves on the board of Junior Achievement. He also volunteers in the classroom through Junior Achievement, volunteers with the Southern Maine Area Agency on Aging Money Minders Program and is a youth sports coach.Josh resides in Portland with his wife Erin and their three children.

Joseph R. Byrne – Partner, Berry Dunn

Joe is a Senior Manager in Berry Dunn’s Assurance, Tax, and Advisory Group, including the firm’s Healthcare Group and Not-for-Profit Group. He provides not-for-profit tax services to clients in a variety of industries, including charitable foundations, credit unions, healthcare, higher education, and social services. Our healthcare clients benefit from Joe’s specialization in not-for-profit tax planning, tax-exempt information reporting, and unrelated business income (UBI). He is also a frequent presenter to various industry associations and clients’ governing bodies on not-for-profit tax topics.

Leanne Scott – Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC

Leanne Scott is a Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal Tax in Boston. She specializes in US state and local tax matters. Her primary areas of concentration are income and franchise, gross receipts, and sales and use tax matters, including consulting, planning, compliance, and tax controversies. With more than 20 years of tax experience, Ms. Scott has worked with business and individual clients from a range of industries on all aspects of state and local taxation. She has expertise in both domestic and foreign or inbound filings, and she brings both public accounting firm and in-house experience to her practice.
Prior to joining A&M, Ms. Scott was the State and Local Tax Leader with a regional accounting firm in Boston. Previously, she served as the State and Local Tax Director for a large insurance and financial services group. Ms. Scott has also worked for both national and global accounting firms over the course of her career.
Ms. Scott earned a bachelor’s degree in history with minors in English and political science from Louisiana State University. She subsequently earned a JD from Emory University School of Law and an LLM in taxation from Boston University School of Law. Ms. Scott is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and is also licensed (but inactive) in Georgia and New York. She is a member of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue Advisory Council and the Boston Bar Association and is also a non- certified public accountant associate member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Massachusetts Society of Certified Public Accountants. In addition, Ms. Scott serves on the Board of Advisors of the New England State and Local Tax Forum.

Nick Smetana – Principal, Baker Newman Noyes

Nick joined BNN in 2017 and serves as a manager in the firm’s tax practice. He serves as a key member in the State and Local Tax (SALT) Practice, where he combines his experience in both federal income tax compliance and state-level analysis to help solve a range of client tax issues daily. Nick utilizes his skills in macro-scale data analytics to support complex tax exposure calculations for sales and use taxes and gross receipts taxes as well as state income tax apportionment strategy. He specializes in multi-state income and sales tax strategy for start-up and established companies, with emphasis in the tech and manufacturing sectors.

Prior to joining BNN, Nick served as a tax consultant, focusing on SALT, for a large Massachusetts-based accounting and advisory firm. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biology/chemistry from Xavier University, a master’s in education from Columbia University, and a master’s in project management from Northeastern University.

Taylor Pottle – Vice President of Employee Benefits, BCI Insurance Solutions

Taylor is an employee benefits consultant with Alliant Insurance Services, where she specializes in helping organizations design and manage competitive cost-effective benefit programs. With a strong focus on strategic planning and client advocacy, she works closely with small businesses in Maine to deliver solutions that support both business goals and employee wellbeing. Passionate about simplifying the complexities of benefits, she aims to create value through insight and innovation.

Les Bryson – Partner, Probity Tax Recovery

Les Bryson Les Bryson is a Director at MSC where he oversees the education and awareness and operational capabilities of Probity Tax Recovery. He founded Probity in 2018 to provide tax credit and incentive services to small and mid-sized businesses. Probity became a division of MSC in 2024, expanding MSC’s offerings in research and development tax credits, Employee Retention Credit audit defense, sales tax relief, merger and acquisition due diligence and cost segregation services.

In his nearly 20-year career in the tax industry, Les has overseen, managed, worked, and reviewed thousands of tax credit studies for businesses in myriad industries. His understanding of the Internal Revenue Code and passion for problem solving allows him to find practical ways to guide clients through complex tax situations. Les began his career as a chemist before his tenure in the tax industry. As a result, his approach to consulting is through the lens of both a scientist and a trusted advisor. He received his Bachelor of Science from Rice University, is a member of the American Chemical Society, and on the advisory board for the Houston Council of Recovery.

Tim Woodhouse – Director, Aries Wealth Management LLC

Tim has over 25 years of experience in the areas of investment management, income taxation, estate and gift planning, probate administration, charitable giving, and trust administration. Tim has served clients in Maine and beyond, helping them with all aspects of wealth management and financial advice. Tim has served in a variety of capacities in his professional career, including as Director of Fiduciary Services at a Maine based trust company, a Senior Portfolio Manager at a local trust and investment firm, a Tax Manager at a regional Certified Public Accounting firm, as well as an associate attorney focusing on estate planning and employee benefits.

Tim is a board member of the Maine Estate Planning Council and is member of the Community Ambassador Council at Maine Medical Center. He is a member of the Finance Committee of Shalom House, Inc., a non-profit providing housing and services to adults with mental illness. Tim also serves on a committee at SCORE Maine, helping the organization plan the annual Maine Tax Forum.

Justin Coffin, CFP™, JD, LL.M. – Wealth Management Advisor/Founder, Apollon New England

Justin Coffin is a founding partner of Apollon New England, a wealth management firm based in Portland and Rockland Maine. As part of a team that provides comprehensive asset management and planning advice, Justin draws on his background as a practicing attorney and tax manager at a regional accounting firm to focus on assisting clients with business transition, estate, and retirement planning. Finding the planning opportunities that span disciplines provides and endless supply of intellectual intrigue and the opportunity to collaborate with professionals in the legal, tax and insurance fields provides a wonderful way to stay connected with the professional community and learn about new tools and techniques every day. It is a pretty great gig!

Outside the office, Justin is on the board of the Maine Coast Waldorf school, the Cumberland Bar Association and has had the great privilege to present at the Maine Tax Forum for many years. He also loves spending time with his family in the great outdoors hiking, skiing, kayaking and generally mucking about.

Online registration is encouraged.

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If you plan to pay by check, please download the Registration Form and mail back with your check.

Cory Vargo – Partner, Wipfli

Cory is a partner who focuses his tax practice on private equity and corporate acquisition and divestiture due diligence, international tax structuring, and tax compliance. He authored an article, “Carried Interest Taxation and Private (and Horizontal) Equity,” in the 2012 edition of Tax Notes that has been cited multiple times by the Congressional Research Service Committee on Private Equity Taxation’s annual report. Cory also participates in national tax policy dialogue and has spoken at various tax events. Hs is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Meredith Maller – Partner, Bernstein Shur

Meredith counsels clients on asset protection and wealth transfer. Meredith is an invaluable advisor helping to guide individuals and families to a secure financial future at every stage. Whether you’re starting, growing, or preparing for the transition or sale of your business, Meredith helps ensure your financial legacy is secure and your tax strategy is optimized. With her deep understanding of asset protection, estate and gift taxation, and wealth transfer strategies, she works closely with you to align business, family, and financial goals, providing comprehensive solutions to complex planning needs.

Meredith specializes in helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their wealth, minimize taxes, and design a succession plan that ensures a smooth transition. Her experience spans a wide range of services, from helping early state founders establish thoughtful comprehensive succession plans, to structuring the sale of closely held businesses, to helping owners pass on their companies to the next generation—all while preserving the integrity of their legacy.

A seventh-generation Mainer with a strong personal commitment to family and community, Meredith combines her legal expertise with a passion for educating clients and their families on the importance of managing and protecting wealth for future generations. Whether navigating the intricacies of exit planning, managing non-traditional assets, or addressing the complexities of charitable giving, Meredith brings clarity, confidence, and strategic insights.

Meredith has an LL.M., Georgetown University Law Center, Master of Laws in Taxation; a JD, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law; and a BA, International Trade, Bates College

Cameron Scott, CFA, ASA, CEPA – Principal, Berry Dunn

A Principal in the Valuation Practice Group, Cameron specializes in business valuation and strategic support for a variety of clients. He works closely with clients to understand their goals and the unique complexities of each business and situation. Cameron helps clients determine and understand their current value, identify their value drivers and areas of opportunity, and put plans in place to help clients realize their value potential.

Cameron performs business valuations and consulting services for a variety of purposes, including estate and gift tax matters, transaction strategy, business transitions, and succession and exit planning.

D. Kelley Young – Partner, Troubhheisler

Kelley has been a trust and estates, business and tax lawyer for over thirty years, first in Burlington, Vermont and, since 1990, in Maine. Since 2017 he has been one of three volunteer members of the Maine Board of Tax Appeals. He has extensive experience with wills, trusts, and family limited liability companies. Kelley advises Personal Representatives, Trustees and beneficiaries with regard to their obligations and rights in trusts and estates, and business owners regarding their business legal matters. Born and raised near Rutland, Vermont, Kelley returned to Northern New England following his graduation from Stanford University to become a Certified Public Accountant with the Portland office of what was then Peat, Marwick, Mitchell and Company. Immediately after graduating from the University of Maine School of Law, he spent three years with the International Tax Services Group of Price Waterhouse in New York.

Andrew Seifert – Partner, Wipfli

Since joining Wipfli in 2015, Andrew’s focus has been assisting clients with complex tax issues. He specializes in federal and multistate corporate and partnership tax compliance, accounting methods, tax research, and mergers and acquisitions. Andrew also assists with forensic investigations, loss calculations, contractual disputes, business policy development, regulatory compliance matters and litigation readiness. He is dedicated to assisting the firm’s clients with their unique and challenging issues.

Andrew has presented on various tax topics for the Minnesota Society of CPAs (MNCPA), Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Minnesota CLE, the Financial Planning Association of Minnesota, and National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA). He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member in the University of Minnesota’s Master of Business Taxation program and has served as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Minnesota’s law school.

Mark Carrell – Maine Taxpayer Advocate, IRS

Mark Carrell is Maine’s Local Taxpayer Advocate (LTA), managing the state’s case advocacy efforts for the Taxpayer Advocate Service, mandated by Congress as an advocacy organization operating independently from the IRS. Mark has held this position since June 2018. He has worked at the IRS since 2009, where he also worked in field collections prior to his LTA appointment. Before entering the Federal service, Mark taught multiple subjects for 14 years at the elementary and middle school level.

Dan Gayer – Principal, Baker Newman & Noyes

Dan is a principal in Baker Newman & Noyes’s tax practice, specializing in tax compliance, planning and advisory services for privately held middle market companies. Dan works extensively with BNN’s state and local tax group and has an in-depth knowledge of state and local sales and income/franchise tax issues, particularly as they relate to multistate pass-through entities. Dan is also well versed in US tax reporting related to international business activities and collaborates regularly with the firm’s international tax group to identify and fulfill his clients’ reporting obligations.

Dan regularly advises clients seeking to sell their businesses or make acquisitions. His work in this area includes tax due diligence from both the buyer’s and seller’s perspective, tax planning, (including energy credits/incentives) and advice on transaction structure, related state tax analysis, and post-transaction planning. Dan earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Harvard University, a juris doctor, cum laude, from the University Of Maine School Of Law, and joined BNN in 2011.

Jennifer Richard – Senior Director of Planned Giving, Maine Community Foundation

Jen Richard is the Senior Director of Gift Planning at the Maine Community Foundation where she works with professional advisors throughout the state to help their clients meet their philanthropic goals in a meaningful and tax effective manner.  Prior to joining the Maine Community Foundation, Jen was a practicing  trust and estate attorney in Portland for 20 years.  She received her undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire’s Whittemore School of Business and Economics and her law degree from Franklin Pierce Law (now UNH Law).  Jen is currently a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Maine Planned Giving Council. She has served on the Board of the Maine Estate Planning Council, the Make-A-Wish Maine, and United Way of Greater Portland Foundation.   Jen and her husband, Neal, live in Portland, Maine.

Barb McGuan – Partner, Berry Dunn

Barb is the leader of Berry Dunn’s Not-for-Profit Tax Services Team, providing services in the tax planning and compliance arena and helping exempt clients stay ahead of the curve. She works with organizations such as hospitals and related healthcare entities, secondary and higher education institutions, social service agencies, private foundations, conservation groups, museums, and others. She presents at seminars on a regular basis, speaking to boards and groups regarding exempt organization tax issues. Outside the office, Barb is actively involved as a volunteer in her community and has served on the boards of various tax-exempt organizations over the years.

Joseph R. Byrne – Partner, Berry Dunn

Leanne Scott – Senior Director, Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC

Nick Smetana – Principal, Baker Newman Noyes

Taylor Pottle – Vice President of Employee Benefits, BCI Insurance Solutions

Les Bryson – Partner, Probity Tax Recovery

Tim Woodhouse – Director, Aries Wealth Management LLC

Justin Coffin, CFP™, JD, LL.M. – Wealth Management Advisor/Founder, Apollon New England

Online registration is encouraged.

Register now

If you plan to pay by check, please download the Registration Form and mail back with your check.