The Speakers
David Aughtry
Chamberlian Hrdlicka
David Aughtry is a nationally recognized tax litigator with degrees from The Citadel, University of South Carolina (M.Acc., J.D.), and Emory (LL.M. Taxation). A former IRS Trial Attorney, he has tried or argued over 70 cases, including landmark wins in Hubert, Santa Fe Pacific Gold, Plains Petroleum, Topping, and Caracci. A Fellow of the International Society of Barristers, David is a past President of the Southern Federal Tax Institute and a frequent speaker at leading tax conferences.
Craig Banks
Alabama Department of Revenue
Craig Banks is the Chief Counsel for the State of Alabama Department of Revenue, leading the Legal Division of the Department and supervising Department-involved litigation. He joined the Alabama Department of Revenue in 2012 as an Assistant Counsel and began serving as the Chief Counsel for the Department in 2019.
Cameran Clark
Alabama Department of Transportation
Cameran Clark began her career with ALDOR in 2006 in the Sales and Use Tax Division and transitioned to Tax Policy and Governmental Affairs in 2015. Now serving as director of that division and as Department Secretary, she oversees administrative rulemaking, guides tax policy for the department’s taxing divisions, and represents the department in legislative and governmental matters. She holds the Certified Public Manager designation and has extensive experience in tax legislation and fiscal analysis.
Bruce Ely
Bradley Arant
Bruce Ely is a partner in the Birmingham, Alabama office of the multistate law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and founder of its SALT Practice Group. He represents taxpayers before various state and local government taxing authorities as well as the tax tribunals and circuit and appellate courts of Alabama and Mississippi, and before the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Tax Court.
Reed King
Warren Averett
Reed King is a Member in the Warren Averett's Tax Division. He has more than 17 years of public accounting experience, primarily serving clients in the real estate, retail and aviation industries. Reed’s practice focuses on pass-through entity taxation, entity structuring, federal and state tax planning and compliance and high-net-worth income taxation. Reed’s responsibilities include managing the tax division, serving as the firm’s Real Estate Coordinator and leading the firm’s Tax Best Practice Group.
Jordan Goodman
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton's Tax Practice Group
Jordan, an attorney and CPA, resolves complex state and local tax controversies for Fortune 1000 companies and high-net-worth families nationwide. He also handles multistate unclaimed property litigation and compliance. A frequent SALT speaker and author, he is recognized by Chambers USA, Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Leading Lawyers for excellence in tax law.
Cynthia Lamar-Hart
Maynard Nexsen
Cynthia G. Lamar-Hart, Esq. chairs the Estate Planning, Fiduciary Advisory Services and Fiduciary Litigation practice groups from the Birmingham, Alabama office of Maynard Nexsen PC. In addition to her representation of individuals and fiduciaries in planning, administration and litigation, Cynthia also serves as mediator for trust and estate disputes. She also chairs the firm’s Women’s Initiatives and formerly served on the firm’s executive committee.
Sidney Jackson
Dentons Sirote
Sidney W. Jackson IV is a senior managing associate in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham, Alabama office. He is a member of the Tax Controversy practice group, where his practice focuses on all phases of federal and state tax controversies, including IRS audit, administrative appeals, and court proceedings in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district court, and state tax tribunals.
Johnny Lyle
Lyle Johnson
Jay Maples
Dentons Sirote
Jay G. Maples, a shareholder in Dentons' Birmingham office, co-leads the US Region Aviation and Aerospace team and advises clients on corporate, tax, and aviation matters. A former CPA with over 20 years’ experience, he counsels on aircraft transactions, FAA compliance, financing, insurance, and related agreements, as well as broader corporate and tax issues across industries. He also serves in the Firm’s Pensions, Benefits and Executive Compensation group, representing clients before the IRS and DOL.
Alex McGowin
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McGowin Tax, LLC
Alex McGowin, founder of McGowin Tax, began his career at PwC in Houston, later leading international tax teams at Grant Thornton and working in corporate tax for a global steel manufacturer. Drawing on this experience, he provides personalized tax solutions for individuals and businesses. Alex holds a finance degree from the University of Mississippi and a master’s in tax accounting from the University of Alabama. He also teaches taxation at the University of Mobile, blending academic insight with practical expertise.
Lisa McKinney
Culverhouse School of Accountancy
Lisa is a Senior Instructor of Accounting and the Director of Culverhouse LIFT at the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Business. Her research interests include financial accounting and tax accounting.
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Karen Miller, CPA
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Culverhouse School of Accountancy
Karen currently serves as a member of State Taxation and Legislation Committee for the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants. She is a frequent speaker at continuing education events and seminars sponsored by the society, and she has published several articles on taxation topics for the society’s quarterly publication for its members. Karen also serves on the Undergraduate Council for the University of Alabama, and she is a member of the Capital Campaign Committee and the Board of Visitors for the Culverhouse College of Business.
Anoop Mishra
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Anoop Mishra is vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Birmingham Branch, leading Alabama’s economic intelligence, outreach, and advisory councils. A former CEO, COO, consultant, and Accenture strategist, he holds a BA from Birmingham–Southern College and an MBA from Wharton. He serves on several national and local boards, including the National Speech and Debate Association, Alabama Economics Club, American Cancer Society, and Opportunity Alabama.
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Mary Martin Mitchell
Alabama Department of Revenue
Mary Martin Mitchell currently serves as Executive Counsel of the Alabama Department of Revenue. Mary Martin received her bachelor’s degree in finance, magna cum laude, from the University of Georgia. She received her juris doctor degree from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2010. As Executive Counsel, Mary Martin is responsible for serving as a liaison between the department and the Alabama Legislature, advising on tax administration procedures, and providing tax policy analysis.
Gregory Rhodes
Dentons Sirote
Gregory Rhodes, a shareholder in Dentons Sirote’s Birmingham office, leads the Tax Controversy team and focuses on complex tax disputes and litigation. He has represented professional athletes, businesses, and individuals nationwide, serving as first-chair trial attorney in high-stakes federal and local tax cases, including appeals in multiple U.S. Circuit Courts.
Chuck Rettig
Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Charles Chuck Rettig, a shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicks in the Firm's Tax Controversy & Litigation practice and other Tax and Trust & Estate practices, served as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) from 2018 through 2022.
William Sanderson
McGuireWoods' Private Wealth Services
Bill Sanderson, co-leader of McGuireWoods' Private Wealth Services practice, advises high-net-worth individuals and families on complex estate planning, trust and estate administration, and fiduciary matters. A frequent speaker and former instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University, he earned his law degree from the University of Virginia, where he was a member of the Raven Society and the Jefferson Literary and Debating Society. Bill is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and has chaired its Washington Affairs Committee since March 2022.
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Vincent Schilleci
Maynard Nexsen
Vincent, a Shareholder in the Maynard Nexsen’s Estate, Trust, and Business Planning Group, advises clients on business and succession planning, estate planning, taxation, real estate, and probate matters. A former business owner and Vice President/General Counsel of a family-owned, multi-national company, he specializes in guiding family businesses through smooth ownership transitions. His work includes will and trust drafting, charitable giving, entity formation, tax strategy, corporate finance, compliance, real estate, and M&A.
Jim Sowell
KPMG
Jim Sowell is a Principal at KPMG LLP and leads the Real Estate Practice in KPMG’s National Tax Office. Jim’s practice is focused primarily on tax issues relating to partnerships, REITs, and debt workouts with respect to such entities.
Ben Whitaker
Regions
Ben joined Regions’ Natural Resources and Real Estate Department in 2013, supporting the Timber Fund Manager with private placements in investment-grade timberland across the Southeast. He became a Property Manager in 2017, managing timberland and farmland for bank clients, and in 2023 advanced to Alternative Asset Manager, overseeing solar, wind, and carbon capture opportunities alongside Regions Timber Funds. Before joining Regions, he worked as a forester for Weyerhaeuser and Auburn University’s School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Ben is a registered forester, a member of the Alabama Forestry Association, and holds a Forest Management degree from Auburn University.
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