Conference Agenda

7:15-8:00 a.m.
Check-In, Breakfast and Networking

8:05-9:00 a.m.
Guarding Your Career Search: Navigating Security & Avoiding Scams
Presenter: Jim McConnell, Principal, Ask McConnell

Jim will speak on the topic of HR Recruiter & Job Seeker Frauds and Scams.  As the job and fractional market changes and job seekers and HR Recruiters are increasingly under pressure and stressed to secure a new client/gig. Fraudsters and scammers feed off this stress, pressure, level of trust, and willingness to help.  The fraudster’s success can cause loss of job, loss of time, loss of identity, loss of money, delays in finding a new client/job, etc. In this class, Jim will educate you about why the fraudsters/scammers are so active in the HR / Job Seeker world, discuss actual and recent incidents and indicators of these scams, and, more importantly, provide you with awareness and tools you can use immediately to protect you, your information, your reputation, and your money so you can focus on landing that amazing new client/role and help HR Recruiter defend their company from fraud.  

Jim has had the privilege of working in Corporate Security for over 30 years and in multiple CIKR industries for over 33 years, most recently as a Fellow (Director Level) in a Fortune 25 Corporate Security organization, and pro bono support of over 350 NGOs and volunteer at SFG. He has been investigating HR Recruiter/Job Seeker/Employment Fraud for over 20 years.  He is now the Principal Owner at Ask McConnell, LLC, servicing clients by solving key security pain points from a Converged Security perspective. Jim has 15 US Patents and published a book on Converged Security Metrics and another on Converged Safety Metrics.  Jim is also a volunteer first responder and adjunct instructor at Texas A&M-TEEX.

9:05-10:00 a.m.
Financial Statement Fraud: A Case Stucy
Presenter: Eric Werner, Regional Director, SEC and David Fraser, Associate Director of Enforcement, SEC

Eric Werner is the Regional Director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Fort Worth Regional Office, where he oversees the agency’s enforcement and examination activities in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Prior to his appointment as Regional Director, Mr. Werner worked in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement as an investigative staff attorney, in the Office of Chief Counsel, and in supervisory positions as Branch Chief, Assistant Director, and Associate Director. Mr. Werner earned his law degree from the Washington University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Occidental College.

B. David Fraser is the Associate Director for Enforcement in the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office (FWRO), where he heads the agency’s enforcement efforts in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Kansas. Mr. Fraser joined the SEC’s Division of Enforcement in 2005 and has served as a staff attorney, a trial attorney, the FWRO’s Regional Trial Counsel, and, since September 2023, the Associate Director for Enforcement. During his SEC career, he has investigated, litigated, and/or supervised well over 100 matters and has been involved in the filing of 25 successful emergency actions to halt ongoing frauds, obtain asset freezes, and/or obtain the appointment of receivers. Mr. Fraser is also a recipient of the SEC’s prestigious Arthur F. Mathews Award for his successful efforts in enforcing the federal securities laws for the benefit of investors. Before joining the SEC, Mr. Fraser worked as a litigation associate for the law firm of Haynes and Boone, LLP in its Dallas and Houston offices. He earned his law degree from St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio, Texas and his Bachelor of Arts degree from Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

10:00-10:10 a.m.
Break 

10:10-12:10 a.m.
Detecting Deception in Investigations via Body Language for CFE's
Presenter: Jerry Balistreri

Jerry Balistreri is a professional educator, administrator, trainer and author. His training on how to read body language leaves participants wanting more and creates a memorable experience. Jerry gets the participants involved with fun learning experiences that leave them with concrete knowledge of how to read body language and what the "tells" mean. Some of Jerry's past experiences are:

• Professional educator, administrator, trainer, speaker, and author
• B.S, M.S., M.Ed., DTE
• Twenty-five years experience in public education
• Twenty years experience in training
• University department chair
• HS Principal
• State Supervisor with two state education departments
• ASTD certified trainer
• Over thirty years experience with non-verbal communication
• Certifications in: situational awareness, forensics for patrol officers, detecting lying, detecting deception in interpersonal communications.

Jerry has been training, researching, writing, and speaking on non-verbal communication for over thirty years. Jerry delivers customized trainings, keynote addresses, and conference sessions.

Jerry has been married to his wife Sheila for 40 years and live in Scottsdale, AZ. Sheila and Jerry have two grown children. Their son lives in California, and their daughter lives in Arizona.

 

12:10-1:00 p.m.
Lunch

1:00-1:55 p.m.

Blueprints and Bottom Lines: A Fraud Fighter's Guide to Construction Investigations
Presenters: Jeffrey Matthews, Partner, HKA

Jeffrey G. Matthews is a qualified Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Arbitrator with more than 20 years of experience. Jeff was designated in a matter involving two of the world’s largest financial institutions in which investors alleged theft, inflated asset values, unsuitable investments, and many other fraudulent actions. He has calculated damages resulting from breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, diminution of value, and misappropriation of trade secrets, as well as served as a court-appointed accountant in federal bankruptcy court.

Jeff has led the forensic and litigation practice of a nationally oriented accounting firm and has been instrumental in developing proprietary anti-fraud and compliance tools at two large public accounting firms. He has also developed and implemented numerous risk management programs for companies across a range of industries. Jeff has significant expertise in issues related to the Lanham Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, the False Claims Act, and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Jeff currently teaches a class he authored at the University of Texas at Arlington. His autobiography and accounting textbook entitled, Holding Accountants Accountable: How Professional Standards Can Lead to Personal Liability, was published by Wiley in 2019. This detailed review of forensic accountancy contains hard-won practical advice on how auditors can identify and prevent unethical behavior.

2:00-2:55 p.m.

The Ins and Outs of Insurance Fraud
Presenters: Patrick Cryer, Texas Department of Insurance

Patrick has practiced criminal law for over 30 years.  First in private practice, then the Dallas County Public Defender’s Office, then the Dallas County  District Attorney’s Office and now with the Texas Department of Insurance.  Yes, he realizes that he has done his whole career backwards. 

3:00-3:50 p.m.
30 Years of Fraud: Narcissism, Entitlement, and the Rule of Swine
Presenter: Greg Westfall, Partner, Cantey Hanger

Greg Westfall is a partner with Cantey Hanger in Fort Worth. Greg’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation. He has practiced criminal defense in Texas and nationally for 30 years, specializing in complex criminal litigation in state and federal courts.  He has tried more than 100 criminal cases, many of them “high profile,” and handled more than 50 criminal appeals at all levels. In 2010, Greg added commercial litigation casework and has several civil trials and appeals among his experiences. Greg has represented many individuals through federal investigations into, among others, alleged violations of EPA regulations, hiring undocumented aliens, health care fraud, anti-kickback and import/export violations, and government contractor fraud.

3:50-4:00 p.m.
Break

4:00-5:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion: What's on the Horizon for Fraud Investigation in 2025 and Beyond?
Presenters:

• Josh Stone, Internal Audit Manager, HF Sinclair
• Paul Bustos, Revenue Protection Services, Southwest Airlines
• Bryan Foster, Deloitte Transactions & Business Analytics
• Anna Hardy, Partner - Forensic, Litigation & Valuation Services, Whitley Penn
• Martha Parra, Manager - Special Investigations, GM Financial
• Mike Urrutia, Police Officer, City of Roanoke

5:00-5:05 p.m.
Concluding Remarks, Dismissal