IssuesWatch Live: COVID-19 Student Loan Debt Relief Measures (E2005854)

Zack is a senior manager at CFGI, providing technical accounting and advisory services for both public and private companies for the firm’s New York City office. His 10 years of experience spans the retail, consumer products, software, insurance and oil and gas industries. Zack also has experience in internal audit and risk management, which includes business-wide risk assessments, controls testing (including Sarbanes-Oxley compliance) and root cause analysis. Prior to joining CFGI, Zack worked in internal audit for a global insurance company for seven years. He is an alumni of Deloitte’s audit practice. Zack is a member of the NJCPA and the chair of the Emerging Leaders Council. He is also a member of the NJCPA’s Student Loan Debt Task Force. Zack was recognized by NJBIZ in 2021 as part of their “Next Generation of Leaders,” and was awarded the NJCPA Emerging Leaders Ovation Award in 2019 and 2020.

Melissa is the founder and managing member of MD Advisory, a boutique forensic firm. She has an extensive background in forensic accounting, data analytics and cash flow analyses, as well as in diagnosing and remediating business problems. Melissa has wide-ranging experience navigating her clients through investigations of fraud, financial statement anomalies and discrepancies, and the issues that rise in distress and dispute scenarios. She employs a "think-like-a-fraudster" mentality to exploit weaknesses in her client's existing financial frameworks, and designs and implements effective internal controls and enterprise safeguards. She is a member of several NJCPA interest groups, including the Cannabis Interest Group and the Emerging Leaders Council.

Jeff is the vice president of government relations for the NJCPA. He works with the CEO and the Board of Trustees to create and implement advocacy initiatives that protect and promote the interests of the CPA profession, the business community and the public. Jeff monitors legislative and executive branch activity that impacts CPAs by writing position papers, developing grass roots membership activities to enhance lobbying efforts and raising money for the NJ-CPA-PAC. He is also a liaison to other pro-business groups like the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) to coordinate legislative strategies. Prior to joining the NJCPA, Jeff worked on several political campaigns, worked for former Governor Jim Florio and for Common Cause New York. He previously owned a lobbying and public affairs firm. Jeff belongs to Compassion and Choices, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.