Lauren is an Assurance Partner specializing in audit services to local government and non-profit organizations. She is an active member in the FICPA and FGFOA organizations and the leader of the Firm's recruiting efforts at the University of South Florida. Lauren focuses on financial reports, identification of key audit areas, testing design of key accounts and transaction cycles, and supervision of engagement teams. To further her expertise in financial reporting, Lauren volunteers as a GFOA Annual Report reviewer. Many of the local government audits she has participated in have received the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Finance Reporting as a result of the review program

Lauren is an instructor for Firm-sponsored trainings and has taught upper-level financial accounting courses for the University of South Florida – Sarasota Manatee Campus. She is also a past chair and board member of the Accounting Circle and a board member of the Advisory Council of the Lynn Pippenger School of Accountancy, University of South Florida. She was a member of the Tampa Connection class of 2017-2018. Lauren also serves the FICPA State and Local Government Committee and Women in Leadership Committee and the FGOFA’s Member & Leadership Development Committee.

Kathleen is a highly respected and accomplished professional with over 23 years of experience in the field of grants management. Her exceptional skills and expertise have made her a trusted leader and advisor to her team and clients alike. As the Grants Management Solution Leader in Cherry Bekaert's GPS Risk Advisory industry group, Kathleen leads the advisory team for grant administration and compliance engagements, providing clients with comprehensive grant lifecycle management solutions. 

Kathleen's professional competency in the full lifecycle of grants management is demonstrated through her certification as a Certified Grants Management Specialist. Her expertise covers a wide range of areas, including risk assessment and gap analysis, subrecipient monitoring and compliance audits, 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance compliance, internal controls, grant reconciliations, workflow analysis, and creating effective processes through digitalization. 

Kathleen began her career in grants management working for the North Carolina Department of Correction, where she quickly rose to become the Grants Accounting Manager. She later worked for the Northwest Indiana Planning Commission, where she continued to hone her skills in accounting and grants management. Kathleen then became the Reporting and Compliance Manager for local government, where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of grant accounting from pre-award to post-award monitoring and compliance. Her experience in this role allowed her to develop a deep understanding of the complexities of grant administration and compliance. Kathleen is highly regarded for her knowledge of ARPA compliance and reporting. 

In addition to her work in grants management, Kathleen has extensive experience in accounting and financial management. Kathleen is also an accomplished speaker and presenter. She has presented on grants management compliance and internal controls at the NGMA Annual Grants Training and GPC GrantSummit conferences. She also leads a grants management podcast for Cherry Bekaert, sharing her insights and expertise with a wider audience. 

Throughout her career, Kathleen has demonstrated a deep commitment to excellence and a passion for helping others succeed. Her extensive knowledge and expertise in grants management and accounting have made her a valuable asset to her clients, and she continues to be a driving force in the field of grants management today.