construction financial management association chicago chapter

Description:

Learn best-practices from financial statement preparers and find out what end-users are looking for when reviewing your financials.

Presenters:

Dan Keller, Controller, Newport Industries

Dan is an experienced construction accountant in the Chicagoland market. With over 17 years’ experience in this market, he has held roles at Walsh Construction, Plote Construction, and now currently as the Controller of the specialty electrical subcontractor, Kelso-Burnett. His breadth of experience has given him experience in General Contracting, Heavy-Highway, Specialty Subcontractor and Materials Production accounting. He has managed reporting to a variety of stakeholders – private owners, executives, board members, and fellow employees, all who have different requirements and expectations.

Joann Holman, Managing Director, Construction & Engineering Group, CIBC Bank

Joann works with owners and senior executives of construction firms to ensure optimal financing, treasury, and other banking products and services are in place. Prior to joining CIBC US, Joann was a Senior Vice President at Fifth Third Bank, where she focused on middle-market clients in the construction industry. Joann also spent eight years as a Managing Director within the Construction & Engineering Team at BMO-Harris Bank.

Joann received her Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting and Finance from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She received her Master of Business Administration in Finance from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, she is a Certified Public Accountant. In December 2018, Joann was recognized as one of Chicago’s Notable Women in Commercial Banking by Crain’s Chicago Business. She is a Board member of the Chicago Chapter of the CFMA, member of the CFMA’s Valley of the Sun Chapter and a member of the CFMA’s National Education Committee. 

Jim Preuss, Bond Manager, Liberty Mutual

Jim Preuss started his professional career in 1995 with Inland Real Estate as a property manager / construction manager.  His surety career started in 2000 with Safeco Surety in their small/mid contract group.  In 2008 Liberty Mutual purchased Safeco Insurance.  In 2009, Jim moved to their large contract group, 2018 moved into management and in 2020 assumed responsibility for the Hoffman Estates/Chicago Contract Office of Liberty Mutual Surety.  He earned his degree from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee.  Jim has been married for 25 years and has four children.  In what little free time he has, he enjoys giving back to the community, golf, and spending time with family & friends.

Dean O'Brien, Independent, Formerly Pirtano Construction
 

Dean O’Brien is a CPA who has spent most of his 40-year professional career in and around the Construction Industry.  His industry experience began in Public Accounting. After reaching the Senior Manager level ne moved into the private sector. Over the years he has held the position of Controller at an HVAC specialty sub-contractor, Project Financial Manager for a General Contractor, CFO/Equity owner of $1 billion national General Contractor, Software Consultant and recently as the CFO a private equity backed $180 Million Infrastructure Services Specialty Contractor.

His background includes numerous software selection projects (accounting as well as operations), software implementations, ESOP sale and administration, due diligence, company acquisitions as well as operational integration and onboarding.

He has created reporting packages for audiences including hourly field construction and service personnel, project managers, estimators, senior management, equity owners, internal and external board of directors, banks, bonding companies’ mezzanine lenders and ESOP trustees.

His involvement with the CFMA began in the early 1990’s, while he was working in public accounting, and has continued throughout his career. He has held various positions at the Chicago CFMA chapter including the office of President and Board of Directors.