SPEAKERS

Senior Product Manager, Siteline

Modupe Akinnawonu is a Senior Product Manager at Siteline, a pay app and lien waiver management platform built for trade contractors. Previously, she was a senior product manager at Peloton, where she led teams focused on building features for their iOS and Android apps. She also worked as a product manager focused on mobile apps at The New York Times. She has spent the last two years living and breathing construction finance, and has loved bringing her experience building technology to the industry.

Modupe has a BA in History and an MA in Economics from New York University, and an MBA from Stanford University. She is also a member of the CFMA New York City chapter and lives in Brooklyn.

Director of Cybersecurity, Scarlett Group

Tyler Chancey (GCFA, Sec+, M365: Enterprise Administrator Expert) is the Director of Cybersecurity at Scarlett Group. In this role, Tyler is at the forefront of evaluating and architecting cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, ensuring a robust security posture both internally and within client networks.

Under Tyler's leadership, Scarlett Cybersecurity excels in threat analysis, risk consultation, and incident response, providing comprehensive services to safeguard businesses.

Before joining Scarlett, Tyler gained extensive experience in security roles, including working within a Fortune 10 Security Operations Center. This background has equipped Tyler with the expertise to audit, consult, and implement business-appropriate cybersecurity measures, interacting both behind the scenes and directly with clients to deliver tailored solutions. 

Tyler holds a BS in Computer Science from the University of Florida’s Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering. Additionally, Tyler is a GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst (GCFA) and possesses multiple Microsoft security certifications and industry credentials, underscoring a commitment to excellence in the field of cybersecurity.

Managing Director, Group Head Engineering & Construction, BMO

Caroline Donlin is a Managing Director and Head of BMO’s Engineering and Construction (E&C) practice nationally. BMO has the largest, dedicated E&C practice in the U.S. and focuses on banking relationships with general contractors, specialty contractors, design firms, and material suppliers. Caroline and her team specialize in providing banking services, capital, and advice to companies across the industry. 

Caroline has been with BMO since 2015 and has 20 years of experience in commercial banking, investment banking, corporate finance, strategic planning, and consulting. Prior to her current role, Caroline led BMO’s Corporate Advisory and ESOP practice and regularly served as a strategic advisor to the owners and boards of family-owned businesses on a variety of topics including mergers & acquisitions, shareholder buyouts, recapitalizations, ESOPs, ownership transitions, valuation, and liquidity events. 

Prior to joining BMO, Caroline worked at MillerCoors LLC where she was responsible for the consolidation of private, family-owned businesses within the company’s distribution channel. Prior to MillerCoors, Caroline was an investment banker at Lincoln International where she focused on M&A transactions in the consumer, electronics, healthcare and business services sectors for leading private equity firms, multi-national conglomerates, and entrepreneurs. She also worked for HBK Capital Management, a global multi-strategy hedge fund, and as a consultant at Accenture. 

Caroline holds a BA from Southern Methodist University and an MBA from the Booth School at the University of Chicago. She is a member of the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA), the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), the Executives’ Club of Chicago, and Chief.

Managing Director, CBIZ

Ashlie Forum is a Managing Director in CBIZ’s Tax & Business Services Division. Ashlie also serves as CBIZ’s Real Estate and Construction Industry Leader in the Southeast.

Ashlie consults with clients who are adding, modifying and divesting real estate portfolios. The depth of her practice includes proactively planning to leverage 1031 exchanges as well as other strategies. For example, Ashlie works regularly with clients interested in direct investment into Qualified Opportunity Zones (QOZs) as well as those creating their own QOZ funds. Additionally, she guides clients through cost segregation studies.

Working extensively with general contractors and large subcontractors, Ashlie has a detailed understanding of the industry and implications of contracts on tax compliance and planning. She advises clients on opportunities for credits available to construction business and helps navigate dynamics around bonus depreciation, net operating losses, business interest deductions as well as other tax regulations.

Ashlie provides a wide range of tax services to privately held companies in a variety of industries with extensive experience serving family businesses as well as high net worth families. She has provided tax consulting, compliance, research, and tax planning services to privately held companies, as well as assisted with tax controversy issues.

Ashlie has ample knowledge in partnership taxation with a focus on the business and compliance needs of limited liability companies. She also has experience in Family Office services, which includes a variety of services from bill paying, succession planning, and investment analysis.

Deputy Chief Economist & Head of U.S. Economics, BMO Capital Markets

Michael is part of the team responsible for forecasting and analyzing the North American economy and financial markets. He has spent his career working in either economics or financial markets research for firms on both sides of the U.S.-Canada border. Prior to his current role, Michael headed up the Financial Services Analysis team at Bank of Montreal, focusing on regulatory and industry restructuring issues, before shifting to BMO Capital Markets Economics in 2004. He moved to Chicago in 2013, providing research support for the U.S. and Canadian fixed income business, before returning to Toronto in 2016.

Michael is a graduate of Concordia University in Montreal and Western University in London, Ontario. He did doctoral studies at Fordham University in New York City and holds a Chartered Financial Analyst designation.

CFO/COO, Mills & Nebraska

Jason Keen, CPA, CCIFP, CRIS is a seasoned executive, thought leader, and transformational speaker with over 17 years of experience scaling businesses in the construction and manufacturing industries.

From starting his career in IT to leading multi-market operations as CFO and COO, Jason’s journey reflects a unique blend of technical savvy, financial discipline, and people-centered leadership. Jason specializes in helping organizations modernize operations, drive cultural alignment, and scale without losing control. He has led strategic growth initiatives for companies ranging from $25 million to over $500 million in revenue, spearheading ERP implementations, analytics transformations, and organizational redesigns. His expertise spans finance, HR, IT, risk management, and strategic planning—with a proven track record of increasing profitability and performance through systems, process improvement, and empowered teams. An active voice in the construction finance community,

Jason has spoken at numerous national and regional CFMA conferences and webinars, contributed over a dozen articles to industry publications, and served in leadership roles on CFMA’s National Executive Committee. His talks deliver clear, actionable strategies on leveraging data, leading change, and scaling operations in high-pressure industries. Whether he’s speaking on technology transformation, modern leadership, or scaling through systems, Jason brings grounded insight, real-world stories, and a practical framework for building resilient, high-performing organizations.

Managing Director, Construction Technology, Forvis Mazars

Steve is a Managing Director in the Construction Technology Services group at Forvis Mazars, based in Charlotte, NC. With more than 36 years of experience, he helps contractors leverage technology to enhance job performance and business efficiency.

Previously, Steve co-founded two consulting companies and served as Vice President of Sales at Trimble Construction One (Viewpoint).

Director, Forvis Mazars

Kathryn is a director at Forvis Mazars in Rhode Island. With more than 25 years as a technology evangelist, Kathryn serves as a trusted advisor and industry ambassador. She leverages her knowledge and deep construction industry experience to advise companies on rationalizing their existing tech stack, identifying redundancies, and strategically selecting tools that align with business goals. By simplifying and consolidating technology resources, Kathryn helps organizations achieve cost savings, agility, and improved performance. She serves on the Construction Financial Management Association Maine Chapter Board and is actively involved with numerous industry associations, such as Women in Manufacturing and Women in Technology. She also volunteers her time with local clean water nonprofits. Kathryn is a summa cum laude graduate of University of New Hampshire, Durham, with a B.S. degree in business administration.

President, Big Bllue Innovations

Jay is the president of Big Blue Innovations (BBI), a nationally recognized consulting firm to design firms, contractors and technology companies in the construction industry. BBI advises its clients on improving business and project performance through business modernization initiatives, technology planning and execution, and process innovation. BBI’s core expertise includes operations excellence and growth through technology and data strategic planning, software selection & implementation, process optimization, and applications integration, typically resulting in reduced tech spend, more efficient systems, higher employee and client engagement, and a more attractive market position.

Jay has been in the construction industry throughout his career. He has operations expertise as a senior vice-president of operations of a general contractor, corporate director of planning, design and construction for a healthcare system, founder of a prequalification software startup, and founder of FMI’s technology and innovation practice.

Jay earned a bachelor’s degree in construction management from SUNY ESF at Syracuse University, earned a Master of Business Administration from Emory University and completed post-graduate studies in investment banking at The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a decorated military officer, serving as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserve.

Managing Partner, Veritas Recruiting Group

David is an employment industry expert that is frequently featured on FOX35 and News 13 in Central Florida discussing topics covering hiring, job search, and career development.

David received his Bachelors degree in Economics from Harvard University and is credentialed as a Certified Search Consultant by the American Staffing Association. David is a Central Florida native and has spent the last 28 years in the employment services industry.

Prior to founding Veritas Recruiting Group in 2009, David was the VP of the Florida region with a national Accounting, Finance & Administrative staffing firm where he built multiple teams of successful recruiters. David was also heavily involved in the national training program where he trained and mentored both new and tenure recruiters across the US.

At Veritas Recruiting Group, David leads a team of highly trained professional recruiters focused on helping companies find, attract, evaluate, and hire corporate professionals, from C-level executives to mid-management to staff.

David’s community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for the following non- profit organizations: CareerSource Central Florida; The Foundation for Seminole County Public Schools; Leadership Seminole; ACG Orlando; and the Harvard Club of Central Florida. David is also involved in Leadership Seminole Class 25; Leadership Orlando Class 93; Seminole High Booster Club; the School Advisory Committee for Sanford Middle School; and is a volunteer coach at Seminole Youth Soccer and North Seminole Girls Lacrosse.

Integral Certified Coach, Exceptional Leaders

Donelle brings to executive and leadership coaching her passion for development and her skills as a global business partner and advisor.  Her coaching experience has led her to work with sales, IT, construction, and manufacturing organizations ranging from start-ups to Fortune 50 companies.   She has designed and supported integral coaching programs for both emerging and experienced leaders from C-Suite to individual contributors while working to build leadership capacity for both the current and future needs of an organization.   She designed coaching programs including 360-degree assessment, Myers Briggs Type Indicator, Clifton StrengthsFinder, values clarification articulation, and life and career planning.   She believes that satisfaction and success as a leader follows balance, purpose, and integration of all aspects of one’s life.

As a coach, Donelle integrates each person’s unique goals with the needs of the organization, building on strengths, identifying and developing new capacity to address areas of development, and creating sustainable skills in navigating change whether personal or professional.

Donelle has worked as a human resource executive with global Fortune 100 companies for 25 years.   During that time, she held positions at the regional, national, and world-wide level.    Her expertise in team and leadership development directed her toward new and emerging businesses where she designed and led talent and culture development initiatives. She has built a reputation for designing and implementing world-wide HR transformation and change initiatives with leadership teams in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.   Her passion, understanding, and leadership in diversity, inclusion, and implicit bias has been put into action developing initiatives in many businesses.

Donelle received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Lawrence University and a Master of Education degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Vermont.   A life-long learner, Donelle has completed extensive studies in adult learning and development, counseling, team development, leadership development, and coaching. Currently, Donelle is a Professional Certified Coach with New Ventures West as well as holding certifications in Spiritual Direction and Workplace Mindfulness Facilitation. She loves music, gardening, and travel.