Reading/Lehigh Valley Chapters Accounting and Auditing Conference

Richard F. Fischer, CPA, CGMA
Partner
Louis Plung & Company LLP

Rich is the Partner-in-Charge of the Accounting and Auditing Department of Louis Plung & Company. He has more than 27 years of experience in audits, reviews, compilations, and internal control engagements in the public, private, non-profit and governmental sectors. His clients range in size from start-up companies to multi-billion dollar corporations. His extensive industry experience includes real estate, manufacturing, construction, communication, wholesale distributors, and retail. Rich joined Louis Plung in 1999, and previously had worked for two of the “Big Four” accounting firms.

In addition to the above industries, Rich specializes in employee benefit plan audits, which includes financial statement audits, reviews, and compilations, as well as service organization examinations. In addition to providing the traditional employee benefit plan accounting and audit services, he has worked with clients to successfully negotiate with the Department of Labor on matters related to their plan.

Rich also assists public companies in addressing and resolving comments related to their accounting positions or financial disclosure-related issues raised by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In his role as Technical Review Partner, Rich is responsible for ensuring that all financial statements the Firm issues are in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, and he assesses the impact of new accounting and auditing pronouncements on clients. Rich frequently develops training materials and conducts seminars for clients and the Firm on new accounting and auditing pronouncements, and on hot topics related to accounting, auditing and financial reporting.

Community Involvement and Professional Associations
• Approved Peer Reviewer (AICPA)
• Chair, Construction Committee (PICPA)
• Chair, Technical Committee of the Employee Benefits Plan Committee (PICPA)
• Member, Peer Review Committee (PICPA)
• Member, Accounting and Auditing Procedures Committee (PICPA)

Allison M. Henry, CPA
Vice President, Professional & Technical Standards
PICPA

Allison is presently the Vice President - Professional & Technical Standards for Pennsylvania Institute of CPA’s (PICPA) where she is responsible for overseeing the administration of the AICPA’s Peer Review Program in Pennsylvania, Delaware, and the Virgin Islands. She also administers PICPA’s Joint Ethics Enforcement Program with the AICPA, and serves as the technical staff liaison to seven state-wide committees and two newly-created task forces; specifically, the Peer Review, Professional Ethics, Accounting and Auditing Procedures, Forensic and Litigation Services, Business Valuation, Not-for-Profit and Employee Benefit Plan Committees and the Healthcare Reform and Marcellus Shale Task Forces. In addition, she fields technical inquiries, writes columns for the CPA Journal and Pursuit publications, provides technical updates at PICPA chapter events, and assists in writing responses to technical exposure drafts.

Allison has been in the profession for about twenty years, including twelve years in public accounting and over eight years with PICPA. Her public accounting experience consists of several years as senior manager with a regional accounting firm and nine years at Deloitte & Touche, LLP, where she worked in their assurance and advisory services group. Her diverse client service experience includes many not-for-profit, healthcare, and world relief organizations, as well as small and large manufacturing, distribution, and other service-oriented entities. She has also served as the designated employee benefits specialist. Prior to her experience with Deloitte, she spent four years in internal accounting positions including the Department of Defense, while her husband was serving on active duty with the U.S. Army.

Allison is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and holds an accounting equivalency from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. She is a member of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is also a member of Washington Crossing United Methodist Church, where she serves on the financial accountability team, and volunteers for the children’s ministry. She is a native of St. Louis, Mo. and is an avid runner.

Jill E. Gilbert, CPA
Partner
Trout Ebersole & Groff LLP

Jill joined Trout, Ebersole & Groff, LLP after  graduating from Elizabethtown College  with  a Bachelor of Science degree  in Business Administration with  concentrations in Accounting and Finance, and
a math  minor. As a partner,Jill is chair of the firm's Governmental Practice Group and serves on the Employee Benefits  Practice Group. She also serves on the firm's Business Development Committee, Audit  Efficiency Committee, and Quality  Control Committee.

As a professional, Jill is often called upon to speak at various conferences and workshops on both the state and local levels.

Jill is also an active member of the community. She is a member  of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club and the vice-chairman of the Elizabethtown Fire Company  Endowment  Fund.

Jill enjoys activities with  her family, golf, reading, and the beach. She lives in Elizabethtown with  her husband  and two children.

Christopher M. Turtell, CPA
Manager
Herbein + Company Inc.

Chris is a Manager who joined Herbein in 2002.  He began his career in the Audit department at Herbein + Company, Inc. upon graduating from Elizabethtown College in 2002.  As a Manager, he is responsible for leading audit engagements with a specialty in local governments including Single Audit Act compliance.