Faculty

The governing board of directors include Brent Andrewsen (Partner at Kirton & McConkie Attorneys at Law), James Blaylock (President at Blaylock & Company, CPA), Ben Bush (President at Voonami, Inc), Richard Edmunds (President at Richard M. Edmunds, CPA), Richard Gordon (President at IC Central Pty Ltd),  Robert Hanson (Chairman & President at Washington Institute), Bruce Jackson, PhD (President at The Institute of Applied Human Excellence), Jeff Scofield (President, Scofield Tax Service), and Aaron Webber (CEO at Webber Investments).

JAMES BRESSINGHAM, C.P.A., C.F.P., is an adjunct professor with Washington Institute for Graduate Studies and received his BS Degree in Accounting from Adelphi University (’90). He earned his Masters of Science degree in Taxation from Washington Institute for Graduate Studies (’14). His career has found him working in Ernst & Young, Grant Thornton, and a host of publicly traded companies, as VP of Tax/Tax Director. Mr. Bressingham is a member of the NYSS of CPAs (relations with IRS and financial planning committees), IBCFP. In addition, he has lectured on various topics for the Center for Professional Education (CPE), Audio Solutionz, IRS – Practice & Procedures Conference (NY), NYSSCPA, Tax Executive Institute, Bank Tax Institute, Cross-Border Solutions (Accounting for Income Tax – ACS740, BNA’s opening guest speaker at annual conference in Arizona, and the ACCT Technology Conference).

ARI DEMIRAL, Ph.D., MST, EA is a faculty member and an Adjunct Professor of Taxation with Washington Institute for Graduate Studies. Mr. Demiral has a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from California State University of Northridge. He received his Master of Science degree (Magna Cum Laude with honors) in Taxation from Washington Institute. He has also earned his Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) degree in Taxation from Washington Institute. Mr. Demiral is an Enrolled Agent licensed to practice before the Internal Revenue Service. He has been practicing accounting and taxation in the Los Angeles area over 25 years and has authored several books in taxation. He has been recognized as an expert witness in accounting litigations and tax matters.

BONITA L. HATCHETT, LL.M. (Labor and Employment and Certificate in Employee Benefits Law, Georgetown University Law Center), J.D. (Rutgers University Law Center), B.A. (Religious Studies, University of Michigan), partner in the Employee Benefits practice at the law firm of K&L Gates LLP Chicago, Illinois.

GENE LILLIE is dean of the graduate tax program at Washington Institute for Graduate Studies and brings almost 40 years of experience to this position. In addition to proprietor of his own successful tax practice, he’s worked within a variety of accounting firms, as well as institutions of higher learning. Lillie earned his MS in Accounting-Taxation (Strayer University) and a BS in Accounting (Richard Stockton State College) and, as a candidate for D.Tax, has completed all but his dissertation (expected 2015).

BRENT ANDREWSEN, J.D., is an Adjunct Professor and member of the Board of Directors with Washington Institute. B.A. (Political Science/BYU), J.D. (Washington & Lee University Law School). He is a member of Kirton & McConkie’s Business, Tax and Estate Planning Sections. His practice includes estate planning, probate and trust administration, gift taxation, tax-exempt organizations, charitable trusts and planned giving. Mr. Andrewsen also has advised clients with respect to business matters and has assisted in forming various business entities and transactions. He is a frequent speaker on issues regarding tax-exempt organizations, planned giving, estate planning, and related topics. In addition to his professional work, he has sat on the boards of various charitable organizations over the years.

RICHARD M. EDMUNDS, C.P.A., B.S. (Acct., B.Y.U.), M. Acct. (Financial Audit, B.Y.U.), MBT (Taxation, University of Southern California), Sole Practitioner specializing in individual and closely-held company taxation.

TINA NIELSEN AMODEO., B.A. (Psychology, Rutgers University), J.D. (Law, Delaware Law School, Widener University School of Law), Successful Owner/Lawyer at Law Office of Tina Nielsen Amodeo LLC. Member of the Bar in NJ, NY, and PA. Mrs. Nielsen Amodeo is an experienced lawyer with a satisfactory career and now is collaborating with Washington Institute for Graduate Studies.

CRAIG W. MCCOMB, B.A. (English, Kean University), MBA (Business, Fairleigh Dickinson University) Experienced Faculty member of Eastern University. Business Sales Manager at Procter and Gamble (marketing and sales), Veterinary Clinic Specialist at Blue Buffalo.

JUDITH COPELAND, B.A. (Economics and Management, Earlham College), MBA (Finance and Marketing, Temple University). Field Researcher/ Independent Contractor-Collected data for Class at Yale Robins Inc. Office Building Magazine annual edition. Adjunct Faculty member at Rowan University. Content supervisor- Math – Supported project managers and collaborated with State Education Departments in establishing standards, testing systems and processes for scoring standardized tests at CTB/McGraw Hill via Kelly Services. Advisor and Instructor for Online Certificate Program at Rutgers University.

JEANNETTE M. AMODEO, B.A. (Political Science, Stockton State College), Juris Doctor (Law, Thomas M. Cooley Law School). Experience as a Associate-Consumer Bankruptcy firm at David Paul Daniels PA. Partner-Consumer at Amodeo & Saper PC. Independent Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney.

RICHARD J. SPEAD, PhD, MST, PA, EA, CFE, CFS, CBM, ATA, ATP, ABA, DABFA, FACFEI; Founder and Managing Member of the Spead Tax Group, PLLC (Tax, Insolvency and Forensic Accountants); Licensed to Practice as a Public Accountant by the State of New Hampshire; Enrolled to Practice before the Internal Revenue Service; Certified Fraud Examiner; Certified Fraud Specialist; Certified Business Manager; Accredited Tax Advisor; Accredited Tax Preparer; Accredited Business Advisor; Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Accountants; and a Fellow of the American College of Forensic Examiners Institute; Advanced Studies Harvard Law School Program of Instruction for Lawyers; Master of Science in Taxation, Summa Cum Laude (Washington Institute for Graduate Studies); Doctor of Philosophy in Taxation, with Honors (Washington Institute for Graduate Studies); published author of numerous tax articles and a nationally known lecturer on bankruptcy and tax related issues. PhD Advisor and Faculty Member at the Graduate Tax Program of the Washington Institute for Graduate Studies.