Ready. Set. Merge. / Technology & Cybersecurity Update (E1904019)

Ed Guttenplan co-founded WilkinGuttenplan in 1983 and is the managing shareholder of the firm. In addition to his administrative duties in managing the strategy, personnel and financial aspects of the practice, Ed provides a wide array of accounting, tax and business advisory services to closely held and family owned businesses in the construction, food service, manufacturing, technology, engineering, medical, dental, sales industries and community associations. Ed’s real estate practice includes the development of budgets and forecasts, consultation regarding condominiums, cooperative corporations and homeowner association’s management, as well as guidance on accounting and tax matters related to project development and litigation support services. Prior to co-founding WilkinGuttenplan, Ed worked in private industry for both regional and international accounting firms. Ed also services many community associations including active adult communities, cooperatives, mixed-use and multi-association communities.

Ed was the 2017/18 president of the NJCPA and serves as chairperson of the Nominating Committee. He graduated Cum Laude with a B.S. in business administration and Magna Cum Laude with an M.B.A. from Boston University.

Marc D. Mintz, CPA, CITP, CGMA, is the founder of Marc Mintz & Associates, LLC, a technology consulting firm which specializes in the selection and implementation of information technology systems for small to mid-size businesses, with an emphasis on accounting and financial applications. Additional areas of expertise include sales and marketing systems, local area networks, database design and programming and electronic business applications. Prior to forming Marc Mintz & Associates, LLC, he was employed by the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in the Economic Crimes and Arson Bureau and then by a mid-size CPA firm. Mr. Mintz has taught a variety of technology courses with an emphasis on business applications for CPAs and is a member of the AICPA, having attained the Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designation. Mr. Mintz is an active member of the NJSCPA, where he serves as a past president of the Passaic County Chapter, is an editorial advisory board member for New Jersey CPA magazine and sits on the New Jersey Accounting, Business & Technology Show Committee. Additionally, he is past chairman of the executive council of William Paterson University's Business Advisory Board. Mr. Mintz is also a former executive director of the North Jersey Regional Chamber of Commerce. He received a B.A. degree in accounting from Michigan State University.

Brad is an assurance principal at CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP). He has significant experience in financial reporting, tax compliance and planning for closely held businesses, SEC registrants, nonprofit organizations and strategic business planning, and in industries, such as real estate, construction, architectural and engineering, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Brad is a member of the AICPA and the NJCPA, and was a former NJCPA president. In addition, Brad has served as an adjunct professor of accounting at William Paterson University and the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Joseph Zapf, CPA, director in the Assurance Practice at CliftonLarsonAllen LLP, has been a member of the NJCPA since 2012. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Essex Chapter since 2018, previously holding the roles of secretary and vice president. Formerly at SobelCo, Joe has served on the firm’s Data Analytics team which was formed to expand the use of technology in the accounting and auditing profession. Over the years Joe has assumed significant responsibilities as a lead member, offering critical insights, solutions and suggestions to help guide the group. Joe has a Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Ramapo College of New Jersey.