Board of Advisors

Joe Allanson serves as Salesforce's Chief Accounting Officer and Controller and is a member of the Company's executive leadership team. Salesforce is a Fortune 500 company and pioneered the enterprise cloud computing industry.

Joe joined salesforce in August 2003 and was the finance leader on the Company's June 2004 initial public offering. He has served in varying finance management capacities, and in June 2007 he assumed the role of the Controller, a role that he continues to have. In February 2014, Joe's responsibilities were expanded to include the role of the Chief Accounting Officer. And in August 2015 he was promoted to Executive Vice President.
Prior to August 2003, Joe spent 4 years at autodesk and 3 years at Chiron Corporation in key corporate finance positions. He also spent 11 years at Arthur Andersen LLP in their San Francisco audit and business advisory services group.

Joe graduated from Santa Clara University in 1985 with a BS degree in accounting and was honored at commencement for his contributions to the business school.

Joe currently serves on the Board of Trustees at the University of San Francisco and at St. Ignatius College Preparatory. He also serves on the audit committee of the Salesforce.com Foundation and is an advisory board member to Santa Clara University's School of Accounting.

Joe is married and has two children. His son recently graduated from USC and his daughter is a junior in the Marshall School of Business at USC.

Mr. Adams currently serves as Chief Accounting Officer for Tanium, Inc., an endpoint security and systems management provider based in Emeryville, CA.  Most recently he served as Vice President and Corporate Controller for Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings, Inc.  Previously, he served as Chief Accounting Officer at Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. (“Dreamworks”) from March 2016 to March 2017.  Prior to his appointment as Chief Accounting Officer, he provided consulting services to Dreamworks beginning in December 2015.  From September 2014 until December 2015, Mr. Adams was Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer for DIRECTV.  From November 2011 to August 2014, Mr. Adams was Vice President and General Auditor for DIRECTV, and before that was Vice President, Corporate Financial Reporting and Dealer Compensation. Before joining DIRECTV in 1999, he was a Manager in Assurance and Business Advisory Services for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Mr. Adams is a certified public accountant (inactive) in the State of California and holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California.

Patrick is an audit partner at Ernst & Young in Los Angeles. Patrick serves clients in the Media and Entertainment and Retail Consumer Products industries.  Patrick’s clients have ranged in size from private growth stage to listed Fortune 500 companies. He has experience in public offerings, private placements, and acquisitions.

Patrick graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at the University of Southern California.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA.   Patrick is married with two children.

Alex is an audit partner at Ernst & Young in San Francisco, California. He serves as the Ernst & Young Bay Area Technology Market Segment Leader, and has helped author several of the firm’s recent thought leadership on revenue recognition, including revenue recognition for Software and Software-as-a-Service companies. He also serves on the AICPA Software Task Force related to the new Revenue Recognition Standard.

Alex has served the technology industry for over 22 years, advising global clients on accounting and reporting matters related to new business models, acquisitions, revenue recognition, restructurings, debt offerings, leasing, tax matters, and contingencies, as well as dealing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Alex was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting at the University of Southern California.  He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the AICPA and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.  

Steve Cabello is a Managing Director with Protiviti, in charge of Technology Risk Solutions and Enterprise Application Solutions (EAS) for the Pacific Southwest.

Steve has worked with mid-market to Fortune 200 companies in a variety of industries. Steve has over 20 years of risk management, IT audit and business consulting experience.

Prior to joining Protiviti, Steve served as a leader within various worldwide consulting practices, including BearingPoint and Andersen Business Consulting.

Steve graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration in 1988.

James Dal Pozzo has served as the President of The Jacmar Companies since 1993. He was the company’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from 1987 to 1992. James also served as the President of Pacific Ventures, Ltd., a restaurant company with operations in Guam, prior to its sale in 2006 to Brentwood Associates. The Jacmar Companies is engaged in the wholesale foodservice distribution business (Jacmar Foodservice), restaurant operations and franchising (Shakey’s USA), real estate management and investments.

James serves as a director of The Jacmar Companies, BJ’s Restaurants, Inc., a NASDQ listed restaurant company, and is chairman of the board of directors of Monrovia Nursery. James also serves as a Governor of Shawnigan Lake School in British Columbia, Canada. He is a trustee or board member for several family foundations or trusts.

James is a graduate, magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California and Harvard Business School.

Carla has more than 25 years of experience providing accounting, auditing, advisory and consulting services to private and public companies in various industries, including real estate, manufacturing and distribution, insurance, and not for profit. Carla currently leads the Los Angeles Real Estate Practice and West Coast Insurance Practice.  Carla’s areas of specialization include:

1. Strategic proactive advisory services
2. Involvement with BDO Core Value Steering Committee
3. Develop and maintain strong client relationships
4. Develop and implement innovative solutions
5. Oversight and active involvement in BDO’s Women’s Initiative Program
6. Active involvement in the National Real Estate and Insurance Industry Group
7. Local community involvement through fundraisers and events
8. Experience with mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructures
9. Planning, supervising and reviewing annual audits, preparation and review of financial statements
10. Experience with Securities and Exchange Commission compliance requirements
11. Experience with initial and secondary offerings
12. Assistance and implementation of internal controls
13. Assistance to improve corporate governance and transparency
14. Experience with debt, equity, and real estate funds
15. Consulting in connection with complex transactions
16. Resolution of unusual transactions
17. Implementing industry specific accounting standards, as well as keeping clients abreast of current and upcoming accounting and tax issues
18. Supervising numerous special projects for her clients, including the development of policies and procedures as well as the analysis of reporting systems and control procedures in place
19. Preparing and reviewing business advisory and management letters
20. Implementation of client strategic plans
21. Involvement and assistance in recruiting new and experienced professionals

Ellen Glazerman is the Executive Director of the Ernst & Young Foundation, and the America’s Director of University Relations for Ernst & Young LLP. She also supports a variety of initiatives within the firm’s Office of Public Policy. She joined Ernst & Young LLP in May of 1993 as the Director of the Ernst & Young Foundation.

In 1996, Ellen assumed responsibility for the firm's campus recruiting efforts in support of the assurance and tax practices for Ernst & Young. As the Americas Director of Campus Recruiting, her responsibilities included providing strategic direction, focus, and infrastructure support for campus recruiters firm-wide until spring, 2001. Ellen then took responsibility for beginning the analysis of corporate giving throughout the U.S. firm until the firm formed its CR initiatives in 2003.

Ellen is Past-Chair of the Forte Foundation Board of Directors, a not-for-profit dedicated to "inspiring women business leaders." She is a member of the Board of Directors for the AACSB, and the Haas School of Business’ Center for Financial Reporting. She is a member of the Tyra Banks’ T-Zone Foundation Board of Directors and is a longtime member of the Board of Directors of the Gina Gibney Dance Company a dance company in New York with a strong mission of community involvement. Prior to joining Ernst & Young, She earned her B.A. at Wesleyan University and her MBA at the University of Southern California.

Mr. Harutunian is the Chief Financial Officer of Latham & Watkins, a global law firm with over 2,400 lawyers located in over 30 offices in the world’s major financial, business and regulatory centers. Latham’s global platform is built on a single, integrated partnership focused on advising clients navigating complex legal and business issues. The firm is consistently ranked among the best law firms globally for its top-tier practices, innovative approach to firm management, commitment to client service and collegial culture.

Mr. Harutunian is a member of the Audit, Finance and Retirement committees of Latham & Watkins. He oversees the firm’s finance operations globally and is responsible for the firm’s strategic financial management.

Mr. Harutunian started his career as a consultant with the accounting firm of Price Waterhouse and PricewaterhouseCoopers where he was a director in the Financial Advisory Services group.  Before joining Latham & Watkins, Mr. Harutunian was a Managing Director with FTI Consulting. He is a Certified Public Accountant in California (inactive).

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Mr. Harutunian is an active member of a number of nonprofit organizations that focus on improving lives of disadvantaged children in Armenia.

Mr. Johnsen is Chief Financial Officer of SpaceX, overseeing the long-term financial development of the company, interfacing with the financial community and managing the company's internal financial operations. Bret brings more than 20 years of financial leadership experience to SpaceX, mostly in highprofile, publicly traded companies. He has served in this role since joining SpaceX in 2011.

Previously, Bret spent nearly a decade at Broadcom Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, where he helped transform the company into a leading Fortune 500 technology company. Starting out as Controller for a number of business groups within Broadcom, he quickly rose through the ranks. He ultimately was named Vice President, Corporate Controller and Principal Accounting Officer, overseeing an 80-member accounting organization in nine countries.

After leaving Broadcom, Bret served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Mindspeed Technologies. In 2010 he was named "CFO of the Year" by the Orange County Business Journal for bringing the chip maker through the recession by cutting costs, reworking debt, selling stock and raising cash through patent sales. Bret holds a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of Southern California and a Master of Science in finance from San Diego State University. He is a certified public accountant in the State of California.

Launched a new low calorie, all natural, gluten free flavored vodka brand in 2015, Spa Girl Cocktails,  with two flavors: Cucumber and Pear

Member of the Ketel One Executive Team that grew the company from virtually an unknown to one of the leading top shelf vodka importer in the U. S. and the world.

Served as Ketel One lead manager of the U.S. finance and personnel function in the completion of the distribution joint venture between the Company and Diageo.

Created and refined best practices/systemic approach for attracting, developing and retaining high performance teams.

Jeffrey A. Kaplan is an attorney and certified public accountant.

Jeff received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Accounting from USC in 1968 and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of California Law School at Berkeley (Boalt Hall) in 1972.

From 1967 to 1972, Jeff was associated with Kenneth Leventhal & Co. (now a part of Ernst & Young), Certified Public Accountants, specializing in real estate and tax matters.

From 1972 through 1978 Jeff was associated with, and became a partner of Cox, Castle & Nicholson, a law firm specializing in real estate matters.

Jeff and his wife, Tracy, have six children.

A seasoned and versatile c-suite executive with a successful track record in financial and operational management, Kenneth Kay has worked within hospitality, services, manufacturing, distribution and entertainment companies, including Big 4 public accounting experience. His background encompasses proven leadership skills in multi-divisional, international operations with complex business structures. As executive vice president and chief financial officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS/Fortune 500) Ken is responsible for managing the global financial and information technology activities of the company, including capital formation and allocation, accounting and financial reporting, internal audit, risk management, financial planning, taxes, investor relations and information systems.

Prior to Las Vegas Sands, Ken served as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. Prior to joining CB Richard Ellis he served as chief financial officer for Dole Food Company, Inc., at Universal Studios, Inc., and several other publicly-traded companies, as well as having worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC.

Ken is a certified public accountant in the State of California and holds a B.S. and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California. He is also affiliated with the American Institute of CPAs, California Society of CPAs, Financial Executives International, and the American Management Association. Ken is also on the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the Board of Directors of The Paralysis Project of America.

Karen Kurek is a partner and managing director with RSM McGladrey. As head of the firm’s Manufacturing & Wholesale Distribution Practice in its Great Lakes Region, Karen oversees more than 300 professionals who provide audit, tax and consulting services to over 1,500 manufacturing and wholesale distribution clients in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Wisconsin. In this capacity.

Karen joined RSM McGladrey after 20 years with Arthur Andersen LLP. During her time at Andersen, Karen served clients as a lead partner in Andersen’s Enterprise Group. Karen is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Illinois CPA Society.

Karen serves on the board of directors of the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association as chair of the Compensation and HR committee. She also was recently elected to the board of directors and chair of the audit committee for the Global FoodBanking Network. She is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, Business Forums International and the Senior Businesswomen’s Forum. Previously, she served on the board of directors of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and the Girl Scouts of Chicago.

Karen has authored numerous articles including: "State of Manufacturing: Technology and Today’s Global Value Chain." Karen is a graduate of the University of Illinois and earned a bachelor’s of science degree with the highest distinction in accounting. She is also a certified public accountant. Karen previously received the U.S. Small Business Administration "Women in Business Champion of the Year" award for the state of Illinois, was named an "Influential Women in Business," by "The Business Ledger" and received the "Women to Watch" award by the Illinois CPA Society.

Joseph Mazza serves as our Los Angeles office managing partner. He directs growth development and spearheads the firm’s business initiatives. Joe has over 25 years of diversified public and private accounting experience, serving both public and privately held middle market companies. 

Serving clients in a wide range of industries, Joe provides audit and management advisory services to companies focused on manufacturing, wholesale distribution, transportation and logistics, technology, life sciences, medical device, media, and communications. He also works with many public companies and has extensive knowledge of SEC reporting rules. 

Joe has led the audits of numerous Southern California companies, including Entravision, Maxwell Technologies, CAM Commerce, Troy Group, Spectrum Laboratories, 4 Wheel Parts, and Optima Wheel. His clients include public companies ranging from the pre-revenue development stage to mature organizations with more than $1 billion in revenues. In addition, Joe has extensive experience in working on initial public offerings and debt transactions, as well as assisting private equity groups and their portfolio companies. 

Industry Specialization

• Consumer and Industrial Product
• Retail and eComerce
• High Technology
• Media and Communications

Notable Engagements

Assisted technology client (an acquisition target) by providing transactional and financial advice that enabled the client to orchestrate its own acquisition of original proposed buyer. Completed transaction significantly enabled client to expand its size and market share.

Assisted client in the successful completion of an $800 million Initial Public Offering of its shares on the New York Stock Exchange.

Assisted client in the successful completion and issuance of $400 million in registered debt securities

Professional Affiliations and Credentials

• California Society of Certified Public Accountants
• New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• University of Southern California Leventhal School of Accounting’s Board of Advisors

Education

• Bachelor of Arts accounting, Mercy College
• Business Advisor Program, University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

John J. Menchaca, is a Certified Public Accountant ("CPA") with over 27 years of experience in public accounting.

John also serves as a Bankruptcy Trustee for the Central District of California John has significant tax consulting and tax compliance experience in all areas of taxation. In connection with his expertise in the area of taxation, John has successfully represented clients before the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”), Franchise Tax Board (“FTB”), State Board of Equalization (“SBE”), Employment Development Department (“EDD”) and various other State Tax Boards of other jurisdictions. His experience also includes tax structuring of complex business transactions, form of ownership determinations, corporate and partnership reorganizations and restructurings.

John has been appointed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California Lottery Commission where he serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee.

John has served as a Principal with Vasquez & Company LLP and as a Senior Manager with Ernst & Young LLP.

Herb Perlmutter is a partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP, where he serves as the Partner-in-Charge of the Los Angeles audit practice. He has served a broad range of both public and private companies, and specializes in serving multi-national clients in a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, technology and consumer products.

Herb graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business and emphasis in accounting in 1978. In 2007, he was honored as the Leventhal School of Accounting’s distinguished alumnus award.

Shellie Saiki has more than 23 years of experience in audit and assurance services, serving a broad range of public and private companies within the Aerospace & Defense industry and other multi-national manufacturing companies.  Shellie currently serves as Audit Partner at the Aerospace Systems sector of Northrop Grumman and the Audit Partner at Kaiser Aluminum.  In these roles, she leads and directs the execution of complex and significant areas of our audit service to her clients.  

As a result of her experience and expertise, Shellie also serves as the engagement quality audit reviewer and audit partner for other public companies in the Aerospace & Defense industry, including Kratos Defense and Security Solutions, Inc. and Precision Castparts Corp. She has served a variety of engagements in the industry throughout her career including The Boeing Company, Hughes Electronics, Litton Industries, and Computer Sciences Corporation.   Shellie is Deloitte’s Deputy Industry Professional Practice Director for the Aerospace & Defense industry and the co-sponsor of Deloitte’s A&D Council.  The Council is comprised of high performing professionals from Deloitte’s A&D industry group that collaborate to identify and address key accounting, audit and reporting issues facing the industry.  She serves as one of the firm’s leads for assisting engagement teams in the industry on the implementation of the new revenue recognition standard.

Within the Los Angeles practice, she serves as the Partner responsible for recruiting for the Audit function and oversees the learning program for the first and second year staff in Los Angeles.

Shellie is a certified public accountant licensed to practice in California.  She is also a member of the AICPA.  Shellie earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Southern California.

Karen Schoenbaum has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of California United Bank since October 2009. In this role, she focuses on increasing shareholder value by gaining visibility for stock, reviewing the financial landscape for strategic FDIC-assisted deals, and on traditional merger & acquisition opportunities in the market. Karen also oversees public reporting and the finance department, as well as steering the Bank’s technology areas.

Prior to joining CUB, Karen was Executive Vice President and Interim Chief Financial Officer of Premier Business Bank in Los Angeles. She previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of California National Bank from 2001 to 2008, where she was responsible for the Financial and Regulatory Reporting, Accounting, Treasury, Asset and Liability Management, General Services, and Corporate Real Estate departments. Prior to that, she worked at Ernst & Young from 1985 to 1992.

Mike Soza is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) and the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting (ALPFA). He is a past Council member for the AICPA. He currently sits on the finance committee of the CSCPA and is a past president of the San Francisco Chapter. Mike is also a member of the board of directors of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

In addition to his professional affiliations, Mike is the president of the board of directors at the California Symphony. He also serves as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America in the Bay Area and is an Eagle Scout.

Mr. Soza received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California in 1986 and his Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary’s College of California in 1989.

He is married with two children and resides in Walnut Creek, California.

J. Richard Stamm is PricewaterhouseCoopers' Vice Chairman, U.S. Tax Leader. Rick is also a member of the U.S. Firm's Leadership Team and PricewaterhouseCoopers' Global Tax Leadership Team.

Rick’s background is broad-based, having served a wide range of companies including large inbound and outbound multinationals, large domestic companies, as well as family-owned businesses. Rick's clients have been in a number of industries, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, mining, general industrial products, aerospace, real estate, insurance, investment management and public utilities. Areas of technical emphasis during his career have included mergers and acquisitions, inventories, accounting methods, inbound investment matters, and consolidated returns. Rick’s management roles have included leading the Philadelphia Office Tax practice, national leadership of an industry Tax practice, and various roles in U.S. Firm Tax Leadership prior to becoming the U.S. Tax Leader.

Rick joined the Firm in 1976 in the Baltimore Assurance practice. In 1981, he transferred to the Tax practice. He spent a year in PwC's Washington National Tax Services office in 1983-1984. Rick was admitted to the partnership in 1986 in Baltimore and then transferred to Philadelphia in 1988. In 2004, Rick assumed his current role as U.S. Tax Leader. He is a C.P.A. and earned his B.A. in Accounting, Summa Cum Laude, from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania (1976).

Chuck Stanislawski has been providing expertise in tax, accounting and consulting to Stanislawski & Company’s clients for close to 30 years.

Chuck launched his career at Deloitte, Haskins and Sells, now Deloitte, in Los Angeles in 1979. There he specialized in financial audits and accounting and tax services for medium to large businesses in a wide variety of industries. In 1985, he purchased Stanislawski & Company from his father who founded the firm almost 50 years ago. As a popular public speaker, Chuck enjoys addressing numerous professional groups and local community organizations. His articles have appeared in various entertainment, business and real estate publications.

On behalf of Stanislawski & Company, Inc., Chuck serves as founding member of the International Society of Certified Public Accountants and is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He has served on the board of numerous organizations, including Pasadena Museum of History – Vice President, CPA Law Forum, Pasadena Civic Auditorium (Emmy Awards) – Treasurer, Pasadena Chamber Political Action Committee – Treasurer, Pediatric Orthopedic Institute – Chairman, Los Angeles Estate and Trust Committee – Chairman, and member of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles Estate & Trust Committee appointed by His Eminence Cardinal Roger Mahony. Chuck was also appointed by the mayor as a City of Pasadena Commissioner. Chuck is the proud father of three daughters. Along with his lovely wife, they all live on a lake in Pasadena. Besides his family, his next greatest passion is polo where he competes at four local polo clubs and has played internationally.

Brent Stevens is an Executive Vice President and Vice Chairman at Jefferies & Company, Inc. Brent is also the Co-Chairman of the Investment Banking Executive Committee. He heads the firm’s Leveraged Finance & High Yield Capital Markets Group.

Stevens joined Jefferies in 1990 to help build the firm’s investment banking practice.

Brent’s specific contribution to the success of Jefferies’ investment bank has been in his role as Head of the Leveraged Finance & High Yield Capital Markets Group, which encompasses high yield underwriting and senior lending facilities.

In addition to his senior responsibilities at Jefferies, Brent founded Peninsula Gaming in 1997 and remains the controlling shareholder, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer. Peninsula Gaming began as a modest riverboat operation in Eastern Iowa and is now one of the fastest growing companies in the gaming sector with over 2000 employees and $250 million in annual revenues. For a time, Brent was also a primary investor and owner of Boudin Breads, a highly successful bread retailer and restaurant, which he helped to lead out of bankruptcy.

Brent is a current supporter and benefactor of the University of Southern California (USC) and on the global front is assisting his local church in the development of a leadership training center in Zimbabwe. Brent received his MBA from the Wharton School of Business in 1989 and his BA in Accounting at USC. After graduating from USC, he worked at KMPG for three years, where he earned his CPA.

Kirk Thorell is a partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and has been working with multinational organizations for the span of his career and has demonstrated experience in helping clients identify, manage and resolve global business and accounting matters.

Kirk graduated from the Leventhal School of Accounting in 1996 and has served in public accounting ever since.  

Kirk's spouse, Brooke, is also a graduate of the Leventhal School of Accounting and they have two children.

Jeff Wolman is an attorney, accountant, owner and CEO of Wolman Wealth Management Inc., a business management firm that services primarily those in the entertainment business, which he founded in 1991. He represents several Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award nominees and winners as performers, writers, directors and producers.

Jeff graduated from Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Commerce in 1983 and University of Toronto Faculty of Law degree in 1990.

Douglas C. Wride is president & COO for Websense, Inc. Bringing more than 30 years of experience in finance and operations management to his position, Doug has been instrumental in the transformation of Websense from a private venture to a successful public company. As chief financial officer and now president & COO, he has helped orchestrate Websense March, 2000 IPO and its subsequent growth into a global software company of 1400 employees and revenues approaching $400 million.

Prior to joining Websense in 1999, Doug worked at Artios Inc., an international venture backed CAD/CAM software company where Wride served as vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer. While at Artios, Doug restructured international operations and improved operating profit while decreasing income tax liabilities. He was also integral to the company's successful merger with BARCO, an $800 million international conglomerate.

Before Artios, Doug served as vice president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer of NetCount, LLC, a venture backed Internet traffic verification, analysis and research company, and CFO of two other private software companies. Doug began his career with the first 11 years after graduation with Price Waterhouse, LLC. Doug earned a bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Southern California, and is a certified public accountant.