Business and Industry Conference

Alison VanOtterloo, SVP, Commercial & Professional Ins., Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company

Alison VanOtterloo is vice president, internal audit at Pharmacists Mutual Insurance Company in Algona, Iowa. Prior to joining Pharmacists Mutual, Alison was with Ernst & Young, LLP as a financial auditor. Alison received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees, in accounting, from the University of Northern Iowa and has earned her CPA, CIA and AIAF designations. In addition to her audit duties, Alison leads several learning and development initiatives at Pharmacists Mutual. Alison serves on the board of directors for the Iowa Society of CPAs, Kossuth County Economic Development and the Algona Community School Foundation. She is an active member of the Algona Rotary Club. Alison is a graduate of the 2014 AICPA Leadership Academy. She lives in Algona with her husband and their four children.

Chad Hart, Professor, Economics

Chad Hart was born and raised in southwest Missouri and his parents raised a few cattle and operated a small meat locker. Chad received a B.S. in economics with minors in mathematics, history, and astronomy from Southwest Missouri State University in 1991. He moved to Iowa in the summer of 1991 to pursue graduate education, and received a Ph.D. in economics and statistics in 1999 from Iowa State University. Upon graduation, Chad worked as a researcher at CARD at Iowa State. Then he joined the faculty in 2008. His main research areas are in agricultural marketing and risk management.

Debi Durham, Director, Iowa Economic Development Authority

Debi V. Durham was named director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA, formerly Iowa Department of Economic Development) in January 2011 by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad. Prior to joining IEDA, Durham served as president of the Siouxland Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, Director Durham was recognized by the Des Moines Business Record as a Women of Influence, and in 2014, she was named a Janus Fellow by the Janus Institute, an organization with the mission of contributing to the body of knowledge in economic development and advancing its practice. In 2009, the Downtown Rotary Club in Sioux City recognized Durham as their Key Way award winner, designating a local leader who has “contributed greatly to the health and prosperity of the area through business and community involvement.” Durham was also recognized by the Iowa Association of Business and Industry as one of “Five Iowa Women You Should Know” in 2007. In 2003, she was named to the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame and was the Republican Lt. Gubernatorial candidate in 2002. Durham holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Marketing and Management from Missouri Southern State University. [2017]

Frances Haas, Attorney, Nyemaster Goode PC

Fran routinely handles complex issues for employers regarding to disability discrimination, the accommodation process, harassment, discrimination, retaliation, Family and Medical Leave Act, equal pay, and wrongful termination. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of management, as well as other labor disputes. She also takes on higher education cases in matters involving Title IX, Title VII, and the Iowa Civil Rights Act. These cases often involve difficult facts relating to sexual misconduct or assault by employees or students—facts that she understands make people uncomfortable. "There are certain ways to handle cases that have delicate issues, and it often requires a soft touch and a lot of nuance," she says.
 
While Fran enjoys litigating, she prefers to help her clients avoid litigation by working through the often complicated maze of employment laws with her clients prior to the development of a claim. For this reason, she emphasizes consulting as soon as an employer identifies the potential for a claim. Whether she consults through a phone call, conducts in-person training, or reviews policies or anticipated employee terminations, she's with the client from start to finish. "It's not just about pointing out the problem but getting them to the finish line so they don't have to worry about it at all."
 
In addition, Fran leads webinars and speaks frequently on employment and higher education issues, with an emphasis on mental health and substance abuse issues in the workplace. She also develops robust in-house training for her clients so that all team members are prepared to issue-spot as tricky issues arise. Fran also is an experienced investigator, and is frequently retained by organizations to investigate internal claims of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation.

James Lindell, President, Thorsten Consulting Group Inc

James (Jim) T. Lindell is the president of a Wisconsin based provider of strategic and financial consulting and executive coaching. Jim has an extensive background in senior management including positions as CFO and corporate assistant controller. He has worked with a variety of industries including: manufacturing, health care, non-profit, distribution and food processing. Jim has been involved in more than 50 M&A projects. He is a CPA with experience at several local and regional accounting firms. He is a TEC Chairman (The Executive Committee), a member (and instructor) for the American Institute of CPA’s, the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs and a member of Wisconsin Chapter of National Speaker Association. Jim a 12-time recipient of the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award. Jim has received the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation and is one of less than 10 CPAs to hold this credential.

Susan Stutzel, Owner, S Stutzel CPA LLC

Susan Stutzel is a co-owner of PartnersCoach, Inc., a firm committed to raising up and equipping CPA firm leaders. Using the science of human behavior and motivation, she trains and coaches CPAs to discover and practice their profession to generate high contributions and demonstrate partner-readiness. Holding her CPA for the last 20+ years, she has worked in public practice as well as industry until 10 years ago when she opened her own practice to serve nonprofit organizations. In addition to being a CPA, she has her executive coaching certification giving her an in depth understanding of the real-life challenges and obstacles CPAs face. Learn more about Susan and PartnersCoach, Inc. at partnerscoach.com.