Annual Arkansas Federal Tax Institute (In-Person)

Chris is a manager in the tax department of the Little Rock office of FORVIS. A member of the Commercial Products Practice, he has more than 6 years of public accounting experience. He specializes in roviding tax planning services to clients in the manufacturing, distribution, and service industries. He interprets the latest tax laws, helps clients reduce their tax liability, and provides guidance on the tax implications of business opportunities. Chris is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a 2016 graduate of Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas, with a B.B.A degree in accounting.

A member of BKD National Manufacturing & Distribution Group, Chris has more than 18 years of public accounting experience. He focuses on providing tax planning services to clients in the electric cooperative, manufacturing, distribution and service industries. He interprets the latest tax laws, helps clients reduce their tax liability and provides guidance on the tax implications of business opportunities.

He previously served as a national tax assistant director in BKD's National Office in Springfield, Missouri, where he performed tax consultations with the firm's offices and quality control reviews. He also contributed to various efficiency and quality control initiatives by developing standardized tax workpapers, engagement letters and checklists.

In 2010, Chris served as director of Camp BKD, the firm's multiday training and orientation program for new audit and tax staff. He spearheaded a redesign of the curriculum for new hires and worked closely with a team of instructors to teach in-depth technical proficiency and leadership skills. Chris also coordinated the relocation of the off-site portion of Camp BKD to Cincinnati, Ohio.

He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Chris was selected as University of Arkansas Outstanding Alumni for the month of October 2010 and was Outstanding Graduating Senior for the Walton School of Business in 2001. He was named one of "Little Rock's Finest" by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. He also is a participant in Create Little Rock's "Get on Board" program via the American Red Cross board, and he was named a member of Arkansas Business' "40 under 40 Club" in 2015. He is a board member with the Arkansas chapter of the American Red Cross and the Catholic High School Foundation.

He is a 2001 graduate of University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, with a B.S. degree in accounting, and a 2002 graduate of University of Arkansas, Little Rock, with an M.B.A. degree.

No Biography Available

No Biography Available

No Biography Available

No Biography Available

Eric Zinn is Of Counsel with Denver office of Kutak Rock LLP. He practices in the areas of tax and corporate law. Eric received is JD and LLM in Taxation from the University of Florida. He also has Master degrees in Accounting, Finance, Information Systems, and Business Administration from the University of Colorado Denver. Eric was the author of a two-volume treatise, Colorado Limited Liability Company -- Forms and Practice Manual, published by Data Trace Publishing Company. Throughout the years, Eric has taught numerous continuing legal education classes on various tax topics primarily for the Colorado Bar Association and has also published numerous articles on various tax topics primarily for The Colorado Lawyer. Eric is also a professor and the Director of the Business Minor program at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, where he teaches courses in accounting, taxation, business law, and real estate finance.

Robert Smith is a partner in the firm's Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. His diverse corporate practice focuses on representing individuals, companies, and financial institutions in general business, transactional, securities and regulatory matters. He has handled transactions in a variety of industries including the banking, healthcare, real estate and technology industries. In the banking area, Robert advises clients on merger and acquisition transactions, lending, regulatory compliance and capital raising activities. He assists companies in corporate finance matters, the offering of debt and equity securities, and counseling directors and executive officers regarding fiduciary duties and corporate governance issues. Robert also regularly represents professionals and professional firms in the formation, expansion, merger, and division of professional practices.

Christy Steward is the program coordinator for the Water Resource Conservation and Development Incentives Act with the Natural Resources Division at the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. She holds a B.S. from Southern Arkansas University and is a registered sanitarian and graduate of the Arkansas Coding Academy. Steward has previously worked for the Arkansas Department of Health; Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage, and Tourism; and Tyson Foods.

Jacob is the founder of Rivertree Wealth. Jacob is a graduate of Louisiana Tech University where he received his Bachelors in Finance as well as his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). He holds the Series 65 license and is also a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERâ„¢.

Jacob began his career working in investment operations with Argent Financial Group in Ruston, LA. In the 3 years he was at Argent, he gained valuable knowledge and experience in the financial industry. He has always had a desire to make a direct impact in people’s lives, so he decided to make the transition into personal financial advising. Jacob’s ideals are based on honesty and integrity, always acting in the client’s best interest.

Tim joined the Arkansas State Board of Public Accountancy as an investigator in 2013. He became Executive Director in May 2023. Tim graduated from the University of Houston – Downtown with a BBA in Accounting in 1992 and passed the CPA exam in 1993. Throughout his career, Tim has been a Comptroller, Accounting Manager, Internal Audit and Compliance Consultant, and an Internal Audit Director. He lives in Jacksonville, AR with his wife Charlotte. They have four children (ages 30, 28, 23, and 14), three daughters-in-law, and two perfect grandsons.

Lisa Wolski is a Managing Director at Washington Council Ernst & Young (WCEY). WCEY is a tax and health care legislative and regulatory policy group within EY that provides global companies and other organizations with strategic advice and advocacy before Congress and the Administration.

No Biography Available

A former State of Arkansas Tax Auditor, Jeff Simmons has almost 30 years of State and Local Tax experience. A graduate of Arkansas State University in 1989, Jeff majored in accounting and minored in computer information systems. Jeff immediately went to work for the Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Field Audit. He was appointed to The Governor's Quality Management Team for Field Audit where his suggestions were implemented into law. Management of Field Audit selected Jeff to train with the Internal Revenue Service and then to conduct workshops for other auditors in the latest approaches and/or undertakings that would be put into practice. Through the specialized classes that followed, Jeff would instruct auditors in these specialized fields.

Joe Wheeler, CPA recently joined Garland & Greenwood CPAs and Advisors, PLLC as a Director. Joe primarily performs tax and accounting services for small businesses and individuals. He also performs audit, review, and compilation services. He is a Certified Public Accountant and has 10 years of experience in accounting. Joe graduated from both the University of Central Arkansas and Arkansas State University. Before joining Garland & Greenwood, Joe worked at local firms in Jonesboro. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He enjoys golfing, baseball, and playing with his kids. He resides in Jonesboro with his wife, Courtney, and their two sons.

Tom Flak is a 30-year veteran of telecommunications, wireless, and cybersecurity industries, where he’s held senior positions in product management and operations. Most recently, Tom served as Sr. Director of Product Management for cybersecurity startup Redseal Networks, co-founded HyperLeap Internet, co-authored the Arkansas State Broadband Plan, and currently serves as Director of Cyber Programs for The Forge Institute, a Little Rock non-profit organization focused on cybersecurity partnerships for collective defense across Arkansas and the surrounding region. Tom holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Missouri University of Science and Technology and Masters in Information Networking from Carnegie Mellon University.