Featured Speakers & Panelists

Christine Botosan 

Board Member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board

Christine Ann Botosan was appointed to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on July 1, 2016, later reappointed to a second term that extends to June 30, 2026. Prior to joining the FASB, Ms. Botosan was a professor of accounting at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

An award-winning professor and researcher, Ms. Botosan has a broad knowledge of accounting issues, with particular expertise in the areas of financial statement analysis and valuation. Ms. Botosan served in a variety of roles during her tenure at the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah including as a leadership fellow in the office of the vice president, as the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Presidential Chair in Ethical Financial Reporting and as the associate dean of graduate affairs.

Sarah Esquivel

      Associate Chief Accountant 

      United States Securities and Exchange Commission 

Sarah Esquivel is an Associate Chief Accountant in the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. She joined the SEC staff in November 2015. She is a member of the Accounting Group and her responsibilities include consulting with registrants on accounting and reporting matters, following the activities of U.S. and international accounting standard setters, and participating in the development of the Commission’s and other standard setting bodies’ rule proposals.

Prior to joining the Commission, Sarah worked at Northrop Grumman Corporation, in various roles within the Corporate Accounting and Finance group. Prior to that, Sarah worked at Ernst & Young, LLP. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo.

Alissa Byersdorfer

Alissa is a Partner in EY’s Financial Accounting Advisory Services practice. Alissa has spent her 25-year career providing insights and assistance on global capital markets transactions, transformations of the finance function, and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy and reporting compliance initiatives. She has substantial experience leading ESG projects related to ESG strategy and reporting for global standards, including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, the SEC Climate Reporting rule, and the California Climate Disclosure laws.

Prior to her current role, Alissa was based with EY in Denver, CO, Munich, Germany, Zurich, Switzerland, and San Diego, CA, and has significant experience working with global corporations in the US, Europe, Russia, Brazil and China.

         Chris Ahl-Partner         

Deloitte Accounting and Reporting 

Advisory Services

Chris Ahl is a Partner in Deloitte’s Seattle office and leads the firm’s Pacific Northwest Accounting & Reporting Advisory (ARA) practice. Chris has significant experience advising clients on technical accounting and reporting matters, capital markets transactions, internal control matters, and finance transformation. As regulation has expanded to include Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, Chris has shifted his focus to helping clients understand and navigate the evolving ESG landscape, including greater understanding of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission accounting, reporting and assurance requirements, and establishing governance structures that are prepared for upcoming change.

Prior to his current role, Chris held roles in Deloitte’s audit & assurance practice and completed a rotation in Deloitte’s National Office-Accounting Services Group. Chris is a PNW native and UW Grad.                                                                                      

Joseph Hagar

President Platform Services CFO-McKinstry

Joseph Hagar delivers business and financial leadership and oversight to McKinstry, bringing over two decades of expertise to his role as President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Treasurer. He champions the company’s business and fiscal health, overseeing finance & accounting, core technology, business technology, AI, corporate facilities, risk management and governance to ensure sustainable growth and efficiency. Joseph’s leadership extends beyond numbers; he fosters a culture of responsibility and innovation, enabling McKinstry to address pressing global challenges like climate change, affordability, and equity.

With a career spanning construction, apparel, finance and high-tech sectors, Joseph’s journey began at Deloitte, where he honed his skills in audit, tax, and management consulting. Since joining McKinstry in 2002, he has been instrumental in driving the company’s success and significant growth.

Joseph’s commitment to community and education is evident in his extensive board and volunteer roles. He serves on the boards of Overcast, EDO Energy, Viridis Initiative, Builtspace Technologies and the PATH Finance Committee, leveraging his business acumen to drive impactful change. Joseph also is a member of The Conference Board’s CFO Council and The Economy, Strategy & Finance Center advocating for business growth and social responsibility.

Beyond his professional engagements, Joseph dedicates his time to mentoring students at Seattle University’s Albers School of Business, as well as the University of Washington Foster School of Business. Coaching youth sports teams. He is a CPA and holds a Bachelor of Arts in business with an emphasis in Accounting from Seattle University and a Master of Science in Taxation, embodying his dedication to continuous learning and excellence.

Davis Nordell

Senior Technology Analyst & Senior Tax Manager

RSM

Davis provides tax advisory and consulting services to a wide array of middle-market technology clients, primarily businesses with multi-state and international business operations. Davis has 5 years of experience as a Senior Technology Analyst as a part of the RSM Industry Eminence Program, which positions him to understand, forecast, and communicate economic, business, and technology trends shaping the technology industry. His role as an analyst empowers his client service to technology companies at all stages to clearly identify opportunities, achieve strategic priorities and drive enterprise value.

Seth Bergeson

Management Consultant at PwC Focused on AI strategy, Generative AI, and Responsible AI.

Throughout his career, Seth has worked across tech, education, and policy in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

At PwC, Seth leads AI and Responsible AI governance and policy projects for clients in technology, financial services, healthcare, and other industries. He has helped clients build Responsible AI teams from the ground up, developing risk management frameworks, operating models, standards, and product policies. Seth has also developed Generative AI strategies for Fortune 100 companies and assessed the ROI of Generative AI tools. He was also a member of the firm’s Strategy Consulting practice where he designed AI go-to-market strategies for clients.

Seth recently served as a Fellow at the World Economic Forum (WEF), where he led WEF’s Generation AI project, which aims to leverage AI to educate and empower children while protecting them from potential risks posed by the technology. At WEF, Seth developed the “AI for Children Toolkit,” which provides Responsible AI guidance for companies and parents. He also developed the Smart Toy Awards initiative, which recognizes ethically and responsibly designed AI-powered toys for children. Seth also served as a member of UNICEF’s Expert Advisory Group on AI for Children.

Previously, as a social impact consultant, Seth developed global development strategies for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He also worked in the U.S. House of Representatives focusing on human rights and foreign affairs. A former Fulbright and Watson Fellow, Seth researched education reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina and childhood experiences around the world. He is a Senior Fellow at Humanity in Action, a nonprofit organization focused on human rights and social justice education. Seth is a Trustee at The Valley School in Seattle and passionate about education and children’s rights.

Seth holds a BA from Whitman College and MBA and MPA from the University of Washington.

Casey Kacirek

 Managing Director-Deloitte

Trustworthy AI Leader

Casey is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Accounting and Internal Controls practice where she is responsible for the firm’s strategy to address emerging risks related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) enablement. Casey has over nineteen years of experience leading client service teams to deliver internal control evaluations for Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance, SOX readiness and program development, and internal audit services across technology, retail, and healthcare industries. Outside of work Casey enjoys singing and playing the guitar and years ago she published an original song “Dodger Blue”.

Guru Kirthigavasan

Principal Software Engineering Manager- Microsoft

Guru Kirthigavasan is a Principal Software Engineering Manager at Microsoft, leading the development of AI platform and applications for the Finance Organization. With over 16 years at Microsoft, Guru has played pivotal roles across Treasury Engineering, Azure Application Insights, and Microsoft Bing. His expertise lies in leveraging technology to enhance financial operations, demonstrated by his leadership in deploying scalable, secure, and impactful financial technologies.

Prior to his current role, Guru contributed significantly to the development of enterprise analytics applications and business intelligence systems, enhancing Microsoft’s capabilities in data-driven decision-making. A seasoned leader, Guru has successfully managed cross-functional teams, spearheaded major initiatives like the Microsoft/Yahoo Search Ads merger, and consistently driven innovation at the intersection of AI and finance.

Guru holds advanced degrees in Technology Management and Computer Applications.