2024 OSCPA Professional Issues Update (4 hours - morning) – 3 Tech & 1 [NT] – Beaverton

John Hawkins, CPA, JD, is originally from Tennessee. In 1984, he received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. During the time he attended Belmont, John met and married Mary Rowell, who was a native of Salem Oregon. After receiving his accounting degree, John wanted to go to law school. Mary wanted to go back home. Willamette University was the solution. He began working at Grove, Mueller & Swank (now REDW LLC) in 1986, after his second year of law school. John received his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in 1987. He took and passed the bar exam, the CPA exam and became a dad all within 10 weeks during the summer of 1987.

He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs, Oregon Society of CPAs, and the Oregon State Bar. He is active with the Oregon Department of Revenue / OSB Tax / OSCPA Liaison Committee and the OSCPA's Estate Planning Committee. John is currently the vice chair of the board for the OSCPA and will be chair of the board for OSCPA effective April 1, 2024. He is a past president of the Willamette Valley Estate Planning Council.

John is currently a member on the Governor's Council of Revenue Forecast Advisors, which assists Oregon's State Economist in developing tax revenue projections. He has also been an adjunct professor at Willamette University, teaching a tax class in the MBA program at the Atkinson Graduate School of Management (1991 to 2003).

(1/31/24)

Steve Scranton is the Chief Investment Officer & Economist for Washington Trust Bank and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation with over 35 years of investment and economic experience.

As Washington Trust Bank’s Chief Investment Officer, Steve is responsible for management of the Portfolio Management Group and actively participates on committees within the bank to help design strategies and policies related to investments. As the economist for Washington Trust Bank, Steve participates in public speaking engagements, as well as authoring multiple communications, to keep clients and the public informed of economic and investment market conditions. Throughout the Pacific Northwest, Steve is a well-known speaker on the economic conditions and the world financial markets.

(11/11/20)

Nicole Palmateer Hazelbaker is a strategic communications expert with experience in government affairs, fundraising, campaign management and public relations. Nicole founded Bravio Communications in 2005 and serves a diverse client base in the pharmaceutical, social, and human services, public safety, technology, financial and corporate interests.

Prior to establishing Bravio Communications, Nicole served in various development and government relations roles with high profile national non-profits. She achieved a national presence for an at-risk youth mentoring program and revitalized local affiliates of a breast cancer advocacy group. She has managed government relations efforts, built comprehensive communications campaigns to raise brand awareness, crafted fund development campaigns and implemented legislative plans to build coalitions and secure funding. Bravio Communications is one of the only minority owned lobbying firms in Oregon and is a certified Oregon Minority & Women Owned Business Enterprise.

Nicole is known for her solid legislative relationships at the local, national, and federal levels. Whether the work demands passage or defeat of bills, appropriations, or coalition building, she advances her clients' agendas efficiently and effectively.

Nicole holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in Public Relations and Communications from George Fox University as well as a Master's in Political Science from the George Washington University. Nicole, an adopted orphan from Latin America, is the sixth generation of her family to graduate from rural Elkton High School and remains active in the communities of Elkton and Salem, Oregon, where she currently resides.  

(3/9/22)

Biography Updated 10/14 Joe P. Sullivan, Senior Manager Delap LLP, Portland, Oregon Joe has over 10 years of experience, beginning his career with a Big 4 Firm and most recently spending 8 years with Moss Adams, working with both publicly held and privately owned companies. He primarily works with middle market and emerging companies in a variety of industries and is actively involved in the local healthcare, life sciences, and technology industries. With a passion for bringing financial clarity and direction to every client, Joe’s accompanying aptitude and knowledge for these industries provides clients with invaluable service. Joe’s primary focus is providing tax planning and compliance services to companies and business owners, including merger and acquisition structuring, state and local tax minimization, tax incentive consulting, financial statement modeling and stock option planning. Joe also has extensive experience with ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes.

Mr. Pittioni received his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Portland State University, holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland and completed doctoral coursework in Public Administration and Policy at Portland State University. Prior to re-joining the Oregon Board of Accountancy in May 2022 as their Executive Director, his extensive regulatory experience includes serving for over four years as the Director of the Office of Health Professions at the State of Washington Department of Health, preceded by his service as Executive Director for the Oregon Board of Accountancy from 2012 to 2017. Mr. Pittioni also developed special expertise in behavioral health regulation as Director for the Oregon Board of Licensed Social Workers from 2008 to 2013 and as Director for the Oregon Board of Psychologist Examiners. Mr. Pittioni has served on multiple NASBA committees and has successfully shepherded many bills and agency budgets through the Oregon Legislature.

(4/30/24)

Jason serves as Partner in Charge of Talbot Korvola & Warwick’s Tax Department. He joined TKW in 2002 after fourteen years with a national accounting firm. As a licensed CPA and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA), he is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants (OSCPA). Jason is a Past Chair of the OSCPA and participates as a coach in the Society’s Coaching Program. Over the years, he has presented for the OSCPA as well as numerous other organizations in local and national conferences. Jason’s expertise is in providing tax consulting and planning services to middle-market businesses, their owners, and tax exempt organizations. He also specializes in state and local compliance issues and Internal Revenue Service representations. Another of his strong suits is advising clients with regard to the tax aspects of business sales or purchases, business entity choice and business structure. Jason graduated from the University of Utah with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Accounting and Finance and a Master of Professional Accountancy with an emphasis in taxation. He and his wife are the proud parents of three children: one daughter and two sons. Jason enjoys fly fishing and other outdoor activities; volunteering for his church; spending time at the coast; and listening to his wife play her fiddle (she plays bluegrass, swing, jazz and Celtic music).

Sherri McPherson, IOM, CAE, is President/CEO of the Oregon Society of Certified Public Accountants.

As chief staff of OSCPA, and its membership of nearly 3,900 members, McPherson works with volunteers, professional staff and various stakeholders to represent, support, advocate and enthusiastically advance the Accounting profession. The Society’s membership represents five generations, comprised of CPAs, prospective CPAs, students, former CPAs, retired and life members in all phases of their diverse careers. OSCPA represents individual members located in Oregon, the Pacific Northwest, nationally and internationally as well as Oregon CPA firms. 

She joined the Society in 1981 and has held the position of President/CEO since 2011. She held several prior positions with the Society, including prior as Director, Continuing Professional Education, and Vice President, Professional Development from 1989 to 2011. 

McPherson is a member and former Board member of Certified Public Accountants Society Executives Association (CPA/SEA) where she serves on volunteer activities supporting the profession. She is also a Past President of Oregon Society of Association Management (OSAM), and a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

(7/18/23)