Mind the Machine - Part 3 - Presented by the BIGC Committee

Overview

The BIGC (Business / Industry / Government / Consulting) Commitee of the WVSCPA is presenting a 5 part series on Technology and Artificial Intelligence in the Accounting Practice.

The third session of this series is one that you won't want to miss, It will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2026 and registration is open.

This in person session will be at the Brad D. Smith Center for Business & Innovation, Room 315 in Huntington, WV. Three professionals will take the stage to discuss the accounting landscape as well as cybersecurity.

Speakers include:

Barry Burgess, CPA, CGMA

Barry works for Suttle & Stalnaker's Huntington WV office and is responsible for supervision and preparation of business, individual, and fiduciary tax returns and related planning. He works closely with his clients in various industries assisting them to achieving their goals. Barry received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Marshall University in 1985. Barry is active in the following professional organizations: AICPA, WVSCPA, Past President of WVSCPA, WVBOA, Past President of WVBOA, Greater Huntington Estate Planning Council and National Association of Estate Planners & Councils.

Barry is involved in the Huntington Community through the following organizations: Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Board of Directors, Developmental Therapy Center, Inc. President of the Board of Directors, Society of Yeager Scholars - Treasurer & Member of Board of Directors, Marshall University Foundation - Member of Board of Directors, Division of Accounting & Legal Environment in the MU, College of Business - Adivisory Board Member and Rotary Club of Huntington.

Chad Newell, CPA

Chad also works for Suttle & Stalnaker's in the Parkersburg, WV Office. He earned a Bachelor of Science In Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting from WVU at Parkersburg. A CPA with more than 8 years of public accountin experience, Chad has extensive expertise in the firm's Tax & Client Accounting practice areas. His responsibitilities include preparing tax returns, advising small businesses, and provideing Quickbooks consulting nad management services. Chad is a member of the WVSCPA and the Parkersburg Chapter.

We will wrap the sessions up with a cybersecurity presentation from Sam Vance of Vanguard Cyber. He will be presenting "The AI is Already in Your Office: From Tax Software to ChatGPT, How to Use It Without Losing Control of Client Data". This is sure to be valuable data and a great resource!

Sam Vance

Sam is the founder of Vanguard Cyber, a Huntington-based managed security provider focused on accounting firms. Sam has worked in IT since 1999, moving from technician to operations manager to IT director of a publicly traded company under SOX compliance. He then spent years leading IT for a multi-location WV Accounting firm, where he protected client data through the pressure of every tax season. Vanguard Cyber grow out of that work. Today Sam and his team defend accounting firms, manufacutors, municipalities, and other businesses across the region, with a focus on pracital security that fits how firms operate. He studied Business and MIS at Marshall.

Registration is OPEN!

Session Title: Mind the Machine

Time - 1:00pm to 4:00pm with check-in beginning at 12:30pm. The event will be followed by a reception from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

Cost - $29.00 for Members and $49.00 for Non-Members

Future Sessions - February 16, 2027 at 12:00 pm and May 18, 2027 at 12:00 pm.

Credit Hours - 3.0 Hrs

Field of Study -Specialized Knowledge

Prerequisites - None

Open to All.

Session will be held 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm with a reception being held from 4:00 pm to 5:30pm.

This session will cost $29.00 for members and $49.00 for non-member.

Future Sessions are as follows:

Fourth Session - February 16, 2027 / 12:00 pm

Fifth Session - May 18, 2027 / 12:00 pm

Speaker Bio:

Casey W. Baker serves as Assistant Professor of Legal Environment in the Department of Accountancy and Legal Environment at the Lewis College of Business. He teaches topics such as legal environment of business and business law, government regulation, health care law, and entrepreneurial law. His research covers a variety of commercial and corporate law topics, including debt collection and bankruptcy, corporate governance, securities, ethics, tax, and regulation. In addition, Professor Baker maintains a law practice in West Virginia and Ohio, focusing on governance and transactional matters for small business and not-for-profit organizations.