50th Annual Western Pennsylvania Tax Conference

Charles L. Potter Jr., CPA, JD
Attorney
Tucker Arensberg PC

Chuck focuses his practice on federal, state, and local taxation. He also advises clients on matters involving energy, natural resources, sports, and estates and trusts.

Chuck represents clients on a variety of legal issues including:
* Developing strategies to minimize state and local tax matters including restructuring
* Assists clients with state tax return matters, audits, administrative state tax appeals, and appeals of state tax matters
* Organized oil and gas drilling programs and assists in other oil and gas production matters
* Advising high-net-worth individuals on tax planning and compliance

Areas of Practice:  Taxation, Tax Planning, Energy, Oil and Gas

Articles and Presentations: Chuck is the co-author of the “Guidebook to Pennsylvania Taxes,” published annually by CCH Incorporated.

Memberships and Activities:  Chuck is currently a member of the following organizations:
* American Bar Association Section of International Bar
* Pennsylvania Bar Association
* Allegheny County Bar Association
* American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
* Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants – State Tax Committee and Local Tax Committee
* British-American Business Council – Treasurer
* Association for Corporate Growth
* Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh
* Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania Chambers of Commerce – Tax Committee

Jurisdictions:  Chuck is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, United States Tax Court, Supreme Court of the United States and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.  Chuck is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Education and Background: Chuck earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a B.A. from Monmouth College.

Oct 2017

Joseph P. Nicola, Jr., JD, CPA, CVA
Tax Partner, Sisterson & Co. LLP
Pittsburgh, PA

Joe Nicola is a Tax Partner with more than thirty-five years of experience in public accounting. Joe has experience in many diverse areas of taxation, including the taxation of and planning for individuals, family offices, and various forms of business entities, such as corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies. Joe is particularly experienced in federal and multi-state tax matters that affect numerous industries and niches, including private equity, investments, natural resources, manufacturing, distribution, high technology, securities, and start-up businesses. He has consulted on technically complex matters, such as retirement planning, succession planning in the context of a family office, securities, partnership and corporate reorganizations and liquidations, and international tax matters.

While in public practice, Joe also served for many years as an adjunct member of the faculty with Duquesne University’s MBA and Master of Science in Taxation/Accountancy programs, as well as with Robert Morris University's Master of Science in Taxation program. His course load included Corporate Taxation, Advanced Corporate Taxation, Reorganizations (Mergers and Acquisitions), Taxes as a Basis for Managerial Decisions, Taxation of Property Dispositions, and Taxation of Derivatives. He is also a published author of CPE/CLE texts and industry articles, and a frequent professional speaker.

Joe received his B.S. in Business Administration from Robert Morris University, and his Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  Joe is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Valuation Analyst, and a Licensed Attorney in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Dan concentrates in the areas of taxation, mergers and acquisitions, business finance, general
corporate planning, real estate, and zoning law. His practice primarily involves all aspects of federal,
state, and local taxation, structuring business organization, merger, acquisition, disposition,
recapitalization and reorganization transactions, developing debt and equity financing strategies,
providing business planning and corporate formation counseling, and all aspects of acquiring,
developing, financing, leasing, and zoning of commercial and residential real estate.
In addition to his legal experience, Dan is a certified public accountant and has served on various
committees for the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its South Central
Chapter. He currently serves on the State Tax Committees of the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified
Public Accountants as well as its Legislation and Multistate Tax Conference Committees. He is a
member of the Dauphin County Bar Association, where he served on various committees; the
Pennsylvania Bar Association, where he currently serves on the Tax Council of the Tax Law Section,
was a past chairman of the Tax Law Section, and the immediate past delegate for the Tax Law Section
to the Association's House of Delegates; and served on the American Bar Association's Business Law
Section. He was elected a fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel.
Dan is active in the Harrisburg community, and has served on the board of directors of the Jewish
Community Center and the Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy as well as treasurer of both
organizations. He currently serves as a member of the board of directors and is past treasurer of Kesher
Israel Congregation. He has also served on various committees for the Jewish Federation of Greater
Harrisburg.
Dan earned his undergraduate degree from Syracuse University, his Master of Laws in Taxation (L.L.M.)
from Georgetown University Law Center and his law degree from Dickinson School of Law.
Experience
Achieved a favorable en banc decision by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court on behalf of a
corporate taxpayer that the client's corporate net income tax could be calculated without capping the
amount the client could take on its net operating loss (NOL) carryover deduction. The Court held that
the limit on NOL carryforward deductions violated the Uniformity Clause of the Pennsylvania
Constitution because it results in two classifications, one for taxpayers that can completely eliminate
their taxable income and another that can only limit the deduction to the extent of the limit.

Giulia provides services that include preparation of financial statements, compilations, reviews and tax returns; tax research; auditing; planning; and analysis. Giulia’s accounting and financial consulting experience includes stints at several local public accounting firms and the tri-state AAA organization. In addition to other responsibilities she has analyzed and evaluated software systems and reviewed large[1]scale branch office operations. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Saint Vincent College, where she held both a National Honor Society Merit Scholarship and a business and economics scholarship. Giulia has volunteered her professional skills in assisting a variety of non-profit organizations, including the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists. She served on the Board of Directors of the Jane Holmes Residence, where she chaired the Finance Committee and served on the Steering Committee. She is also a Social Security Administration representative payee for the disabled and has aided enlisted soldiers and their families in conjunction with the U.S. military’s Morale Welfare and Recreation program.

Philip G. Yamalis, Senior Stakeholder Liaison
Small Business/Self-Employed Division, Internal Revenue Service

Philip G. Yamalis is a Senior Stakeholder Liaison in the Mid-Atlantic Area Stakeholder Liaison Office of Internal Revenue Service’s Small Business/Self-Employed Division. Stakeholder Liaison serves as the primary IRS liaison to both tax practitioner and small business organizations throughout the country.  Philip’s responsibilities have included working with the practitioner community to increase awareness of Abusive Tax Avoidance Transactions, as well as working with various Small Business industry organizations to promote voluntary compliance.  He is a certified IRS instructor, and represents the IRS at various practitioner CPE sessions in Western PA and West Virginia. 

Yamalis began his career at the IRS in 1991 as a Taxpayer Service Representative in the former Pittsburgh District.  Prior to joining the former Taxpayer Education & Communication organization in October 2001, Philip served as a Fuel Compliance Officer for 6 years in the Excise Tax (Examination) area of the former Pennsylvania District.  Philip coordinates the annual IRS Working Together conference in Western PA and West Virginia.  He has conducted numerous presentations to small business, practitioner, and general audiences on topics such as IRS policies and procedures, electronic tax administration, and tax law issues.

A native of Aliquippa, PA, Philip attended the University of Pittsburgh, majoring in Business & Economics.  As a post-graduate, he has subsequently completed several additional accounting courses at Community College of Allegheny County and Robert Morris University.  He holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Hellenic College/Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA.  Philip is a chanter for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and serves on the Metropolis Council.  He and his wife reside in Pittsburgh with their 2 children.

Christopher J. Wenrich, CPA/ABV
Partner
Wilke CPAs & Advisors

Christopher J. Wenrich, CPA/ABV leads Wilke’s valuation and mergers and acquisitions practice areas. He also provides due diligence services, succession planning, tax planning, forecasting, and financial analysis services to business clients in a range of industries. Prior to joining Wilke in 2016, Chris worked for a regional forensic accounting firm.

Chris knew that he wanted to pursue accounting and business advisory as a career early on. He had an aptitude for math and was just starting out during the 2008 financial crisis; Chris chose a career that would play to his strength with numbers while also providing different options for professional growth.

His favorite part of his job is helping clients achieve their goals when faced with challenging and complex issues. He also thoroughly enjoys counseling clients on how to grow their value.

Chris earned his Accredited in Business Valuation (ABV) certification in 2018 to grow his valuation knowledge base for the benefit of his clients. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting with a Minor in Economics.

Outside of work, Chris can be found spending time with his family and friends, watching sports, being outdoors, and playing golf.

Storme Sixeas delivers critical insights on federal tax policy and politics for Deloitte’s clients across a broad spectrum of industries, analyzing legislative proposals and providing political intelligence based on ongoing interaction with Congressional members and staff.

Prior to joining Deloitte in 2015, Storme served as a House of Representatives leadership aide on Capitol Hill and then spent a dozen years as a corporate policy lobbyist, covering issues including tax, trade, federal contracting, and technology policy. Before entering the government relations and policy arenas, Storme spent several years in financial and technology journalism, working in various reporting and editing capacities, including at the Financial Times Group in London.

After growing up around the globe as an Air Force brat, Storme earned a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an MBA in financial management from George Mason University.

Storme is a past chair and current board member of the Tax Coalition, a professional organization for women in tax policy from Capitol Hill, the Administration, and the private sector; and she is the US chair of the British-American Project, a transatlantic leadership network lovingly referred to by its members as “organized serendipity.” She is also the founder of DC’s most politically diverse co-ed book group, the Bibliophages, now in its 18th year; is an avid swimmer; and can crew a sailboat in a pinch.