Richard G. Furlong, Jr.
Senior Stakeholder Liaison
Internal Revenue Service

Mr. Furlong is a Senior Stakeholder Liaison in the Mid-Atlantic Area Stakeholder Liaison office of the Internal Revenue Service Small Business/Self-Employed Division. Stakeholder Liaison serves as the primary IRS liaison office to tax practitioner organizations throughout the country. He is currently on a detail assignment to the IRS Affordable Care Act office.

Mr. Furlong coordinates IRS participation at the annual Eastern Pennsylvania “Working Together” Conference. “Working Together” is a joint effort of public and private tax professionals to enhance the level of communication, education, and trust between these organizations and individuals. Mr. Furlong is also a member of the PA IRS/Practitioner Liaison Council which provides a structured forum for Pennsylvania accounting and tax professional organizations to meet twice each year with IRS managers and employees to discuss current IRS program issues. He also meets periodically with the PICPA Federal Tax Committee to discuss IRS programs and policies.

Each year, Mr. Furlong represents IRS at practitioner CPE sessions throughout Pennsylvania where he discusses IRS policies and procedures, tax law updates, Affordable Care Act tax issues, and IRS electronic tax administration.

Mr. Furlong is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

2014

James M. Brower Jr., CPA, MST

Partner, Marks Paneth LLP

Jay Brower, CPA, is a Partner of corporate and individual tax compliance and research services at Marks Paneth, LLP. He has more than 20 years of professional experience at the federal, state, and local levels.

Mr. Brower's duties also include the development of tax planning and implementation strategies, as well as education and development of the firm's professionals. Mr. Brower provides tax planning and compliance services to clients in the manufacturing, commercial fishing, telecommunications, professional services, retail and transportation industries. Mr. Brower was recognized by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants as one of the “40 Under 40: PICPA Members to Watch.”

Mr. Brower received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Widener University in 1991, and a Master of Science in Taxation from Widener University in 1997. He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Institutes of Certified Public Accountants and the tax division of the AICPA. He presently serves on the PICPA's Federal Tax, State Tax, Philadelphia Local & Legislative Tax, and Greater Philadelphia Executive committees. He is a past President and former Secretary and Treasurer of the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the PICPA.

Mr. Brower is a frequent speaker on subjects concerning federal and state tax issues including electronic filing, the domestic production activities deduction, state and local income taxes and ASC 740/Fin 48.

November 2016

Matthew D. Melinson, CPA, MT
Partner and National SALT Practice Indirect Tax Services Leader
Grant Thornton LLP

Based in Philadelphia, PA, Matthew is responsible for all aspects of multistate tax consulting, planning, and compliance within Grant Thornton. He is the SALT practice leader of Grant Thornton’s Northeast Region (which includes the New York, Boston, Philadelphia and New Jersey areas). Prior to Grant Thornton’s acquisition of LECG SMART’s State and Local Tax practice, Matthew led LECG SMART’s national State and Local Tax practice, which included over 50 income/franchise, sales/use, and real/personal property tax professionals based in various locations including the Atlanta, GA, Chicago, IL and Philadelphia, PA markets. Services personally performed by Matthew include nexus studies, unitary analyses, controversy/audit representation, tax compliance review, voluntary disclosures/amnesty participation, as well as consulting related to credits and incentives and payroll taxes. Prior to joining LECG in 2006, Matthew spent approximately 10 years in the State and Local Tax Department of the Philadelphia office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

Karen Facer-Mee, CPA, CGMA
Managing Shareholder, Facer, Mee & Associates, P.C.

Karen Facer-Mee, CPA, has over 30 years’ experience in financial statement and federal and multi-state tax preparation, consulting and accounting system design servicing. Her firm services a diversified client base of privately owned regional and international small businesses in a variety of industries, their owners as well as clients of law and accounting firms.  Karen’s primary focus in the Federal and state tax area is planning, research and compliance as well as controversy (examination, collection and representation for civil tax matters). After 13 years with Kreischer,Miller, Karen purchased her portion of the practice. Then 4 years later Patrick Mee left JYO as partner in charge of Information Technology to create Facer,Mee & Associates, P.C. Their expertise in traditional accounting, management advisory and tax services is complimented and enhanced by Patrick’s computer specialization.

Karen is a member of AICPA (CGMA, PCPS, PFP and Taxation), AFWA and PSTAP. Karen is Co. Chair of PICPA’s Greater Phila. Chapter Federal Taxation Committee and serves on Annual Tax Forum, Coop with the Bar & Other Professionals, Legislation & Local Tax and Speakers Bureau. Karen served PICPA’s Greater Phila. Chapter as President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and chaired Executive Committee, Nominations and Past Presidents. Karen serves PICPA at the state level on Federal Taxation Committee and served on Council, Image Enhancement, Budget & Finance and Chapter Operations. Karen has been interviewed about financial literacy and tax issues by news print, radio, television as well as PA State Capitol’s Legislative Report.  Karen has developed CPE programs and has spoken for various accounting societies on tax and financial issues. Karen is a PICPA Legislative Key Contact continuing to advocate for topics of interest to the profession meeting with legislators, their staff and taxing authorities. Karen is one of the founding organizers that developed the Q&A with IRS Senior Stakeholder Liaison and panel of tax experts who works with practitioners thru the year to determine what questions should be addressed.

Karen received the 2017 AICPA Women to Watch Award; Experienced Leader Category which was the first year PICPA partnered with AICPA to honor outstanding women in the profession who have established their roles as leaders and improvements to the workplace (major or unique contribution to the profession) and by mentoring those following in their footsteps managing a health work/life balance (public and community service). 2017 Volunteer Service Award from PICPA Greater Phila. Chapter. 2016 and 2015 Philadelphia Five Star Certified PublicAccountant Awards. 2010 Accounting & Financial Women Alliance Empowering Successful Women Award. Karen’s husband Patrick and their two daughters Krysta (Tax Manager at PwC) and Kelly (Tax Manager at KPMG) are all Certified Public Accountants.

 Winter 2017

Frank Breslin, CPA

Revenue Commissioner - Chief Collections Officer, City of Philadelphia

Frank Breslin brings more than 30 years of experience in tax compliance to his position as Revenue Commissioner. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Breslin served as the Deputy Revenue Commissioner for the Tax Bureau from 2009 to 2015. As Deputy Revenue Commissioner, Mr. Breslin was responsible for directing the Accounting Operations, Compliance Operations, and Taxpayer Services Division of the Department of Revenue.

Throughout his career, Mr. Breslin held various leadership positions, including Compliance Operations Manager and Revenue Compliance Program Director. In these roles, he worked to implement and utilize technological advances to reduce the tax gap and increase taxpayer compliance.

Mr. Breslin earned his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Temple University. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as well as the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

As Revenue Commissioner, Mr. Breslin utilizes a staff of more than 500 employees to maximize the collection of taxes, water charges, and other fees and fines owed to the City of Philadelphia. These funds provide support for Philadelphia schools and services.