HSSK Group

Upcoming Events

Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:18:44 GMT

Silver Sponsor, Accounting Marketing Association Houston Chapter Monthly Luncheon Program January 6, 2009 Junior League of Houston 1811 Briar Oaks Lane Houston, Texas Conference Faculty, Bankruptcy Litigation: Advanced Pre-Trial Practice and Procedure Workshop The University of Texas at Austin, School of Law February 5 - 6, 2009 J. Michael Hill, Jr. Cabell Federal Building & Courthouse and Adolphus Hotel Dallas, Texas Sponsor, 22nd Annual Construction Law Conference Construction Law Section, State Bar of Texas February 26-27, 2009 Westin La Cantera Resort San Antonio, Texas Silver Sponsor, Accounting Marketing Association - Houston Chapter Monthly Luncheon Program March 9, 2009 Houston, Texas Silver Sponsor, Accounting Marketing Association - Houston Chapter End of Busy Season Event May 5, 2009 Houston, Texas Silver Sponsor, Accounting Marketing Association - Houston Chapter Monthly Luncheon Program July 7, 2009 Houston, Texas Silver Sponsor, Accounting...

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:54:40 GMT

Erik N. Min emin@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 713.771.5011 Ext 233 Erik Min is a Consultant in our Computer Forensics & E-Discovery Group in Houston where he performs forensic examinations and consults with clients on best practices in forensic investigations and large litigation e-discovery matters. He is an experienced analyst with in-depth knowledge of computer analysis, data recovery, and performing computer forensic examinations with a strong knowledge base of emerging technologies and practices within the industry. Erik joins HSSK after over four years as an examiner with a national litigation consulting company in Chicago, Illinois and with supervisory responsibilities for their Virginia Lab. He managed the firm's evidence database and handed all incoming and outgoing evidentiary...

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:33:39 GMT

Joel Goldstein, CPA, ACA jgoldstein@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 713.771.5011 Ext. 256 Joel Goldstein is a Manager in the Litigation Consulting Group in our Houston office. He has over 11 years of experience with KPMG as a Senior Audit Associate in Houston, and Assistant Manager in London where he led audit team activities, supervised staff, and audited clients in a diverse portfolio of industries including oil & gas, construction, property, hotels, private healthcare, engineering consultancies, and transport among other industries. Joel holds a BA in Geography with a minor in Business Management from Durham University, England, and he is a Certified Public Accountant as well as a British Chartered Accountant. Joel is a member of the AICPA as well as the Turnaround Managment Association. ...

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 15:15:11 GMT

Subprime Credit Crisis Update, July 2008 by Christopher J. Kelly, CFE As a financial services litigation expert, I have recently detected some anxiety and confusion among bankruptcy and litigation professionals regarding the lack of significant activity in spite of worsening economic conditions. The common assumption is that the credit crisis triggered by subprime mortgages in 2007, followed by rising fuel prices and a deteriorating economy and equity markets this year, would be followed closely by a tidal wave of bankruptcy filings and lawsuits. It is my opinion that there will be a rising tide, rather than a tidal wave; and this tide will not lift, or sink, all boats at the same time. A brief summary of the following financial service sectors is covered: Commercial Banks, Investment Banks, Credit Card Issuers, Pension Funds, Insurance Companies, Hedge Funds, and Private Equity Funds Commercial Banks Highly regulated commercial banks were among the first to show the ill...

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:59:39 GMT

Credit Crisis Update July 2008 by Christopher J. Kelly, CFE Introduction As a financial services litigation expert, I have recently detected some anxiety and confusion among bankruptcy and litigation professionals regarding the lack of significant activity in spite of worsening economic conditions. The common assumption is that the credit crisis triggered by subprime mortgages in 2007, followed by rising fuel prices and a deteriorating economy and equity markets this year, would be followed closely by a tidal wave of bankruptcy filings and lawsuits. It is my opinion that there will be a rising tide, rather than a tidal wave; and this tide will not lift, or sink, all boats at the same time. My brief summary of each financial service sector follows: Commercial Banks Highly regulated commercial banks were among the first to show the ill effects of subprime lending. The extent to which they have retained these loans in their own portfolio, or are subject to repurchasing the subprime...

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 19:57:54 GMT

A Fundamental Failure December 2008 by Christopher J. Kelly, CFE There is a harsh spotlight these days on the distribution of the $700 billion allocated by Congress to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Treasury and the Federal Reserve are grappling with very significant issues of who gets to participate and how much they get. The parties are also experiencing some indecision about whether these funds should be used to add capital to the banking system or to purchase toxic assets. The decisions regarding the TARP funds are directed toward the symptoms of the problem, but fail to address a fundamental question: what in the world happened to our banking system to permit this catastrophe? It did not happen overnight, and it will not be fixed next week. One of the primary causes of the breakdown in our banking system was the migration from a credit culture to a sales culture. This transition began nearly two decades ago when banks began to realize that they were in the...

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:28:58 GMT

Jeffrey (Jeff) W. Spilker, JD, CPA/ABV jspilker@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 Ph: 713.771.5011 Ext. 211 Jeff specializes in forensic accounting, economic damage analysis, and real estate and business valuation. He leads the firm's real estate consulting and construction advisory practice. Previously, Jeff was with a national accounting and consulting firm. He has also served as CFO of an engineering and construction company and as a Vice President and General Manager of a company that specialized in multifamily and office construction. Jeff has provided expert testimony in over eighty matters involving accounting, financial and valuation issues in federal district court, Unites States bankruptcy court, and arbitration settings. Jeff holds a Bachelor's degree in Architecture with High Honors and an MBA from...

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 15:04:22 GMT

Our People James M. Hill, FASA, CBA W. Marc Schwartz, CPA/CFF, CFE Jeffrey W. Spilker, JD, CPA/ABV Gerald A. Keller, ASA, CBA J. Michael Hill, Jr. ASA, CPA/ABV G. Don Barbo, CPA/ABV, MBA Bernard T. Beckwith Ed Blair, Ph.D. Herbert L. Lyon, Ph.D. David A. Greetham Christopher J. Kelly, CFE Mary Beth Monzingo Ray A. Sheeler, CPA, DABFA, CPCM Anthony De Benedictis, CFE Lee DeGrasse, CPA Joel Goldstein, CPA, ACA Allen M. Goodrick, ASA, CPA/ABV Robert M. Mundy CPA/ABV, CVA J. David Smith, ASA, CFA Helga F. Abreu, MBA James W. Killgo, MBA Donald W. McAlpine, MBA Jared A. Millar, AM, CBA Clint A. Modesitt, CFCE, EnCE, SCERS Erik N. Min Dustin S. Sachs, CCE, CFE, EnCE W. Tim Stuhlreyer, MBA Alex M. Tittel, MBA W. Bryan Stewart, MBA Gregory C. White Nicholas J. Taglioli, MBA In Memory of Christal Wainwright, EnCE The professionals at HSSK are available to give a wide variety of CPE and CLE courses on the...

News & Publications

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:38:15 GMT

A Fundamental Failure, December 2008 by Christopher J. Kelly, CFE There is a harsh spotlight these days on the distribution of the $700 billion allocated by Congress to the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). The Treasury and the Federal Reserve are grappling with very significant issues of who gets to participate and how much they get. The parties are also experiencing some indecision about whether these funds should be used to add capital to the banking system or to purchase toxic assets. The decisions regarding the TARP funds are directed toward the symptoms of the problem, but fail to address a fundamental question: what in the world happened to our banking system to permit this catastrophe? More > Business Interruption in the Wake of Ike, September 2008 The business interruption aspect of Hurricane Ike is unlike any economic hardship due to a storm that we have seen in Southeast Texas, spawning billions in property damage, business losses and an extended and...

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:18:58 GMT

Business Interruption in the Wake of Ike The business interruption aspect of Hurricane Ike is unlike any economic hardship due to a storm that we have seen in Southeast Texas, spawning billions in property damage, business losses and an extended and unprecedented power outage that no one could have ever imagined for the fourth largest city in America. We are sure many of you are being faced with the difficult question: What truly is a loss and how do we quantify it? While calculating actual out of pocket damages of specific assets might be simple, quantifying lost business revenue and the value of products and services delivered, or rather not delivered, might become more difficult. Your losses will generally fall into three categories: 1. Losses of property you have purchased, i.e., buildings, furnishings, equipment, inventory, etc. 2. The costs of protecting your property after damage has occurred for mitigating the extent of your loss (i.e., covering a hole in the roof to...

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:29:06 GMT

Alex M. Tittel, MBA
atittel@hsskgroup.com

5847 San Felipe
Suite 3100
Houston, Texas 77057
713.771.5011 Ext. 252

Alex Tittel is an Associate in the our Houston Business Valuation group. He has significant consulting experience as a financial analyst and manager and in business valuation advisory services to middle market, public and private companies for the purpose of business combination, goodwill impairment testing, SEC compliance, civil litigation and third party valuation. He has managed loan portfolios and performed variance and financial trend analyses utilizing multi-dimensional databases. Alex served as a Financial Analyst with a major bank and most recently as a Senior Financial Analyst with a major natural gas company.

Alex is conversant in German and earned his Masters in Business Administration from Rice University Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Management. He is currently a CFA Level I Candidate.

Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:58:33 GMT

W. Tim Stuhlreyer, CPA, MBA

tstuhlreyer@hsskgroup.com

5847 San Felipe
Suite 3100
Houston, Texas 77057
713.771.5011 Ext. 212

Tim Stuhlreyer received his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University and his Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin. He has over nine years of business experience including over three years in corporate finance and business valuation. Tim is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. Tim is a Certified Public Accountant and is a Candidate Member of the American Society of Appraisers. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Stuhlreyer held positions with Marion Financial Corp., Freescale Semiconductor Inc. and Motorola Inc.

Careers

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:46:22 GMT

At Hill Schwartz Spilker Keller, we maintain a positive culture of mutual support and respect, trust and integrity; and one that allows for and supports a balanced lifestyle. We are committed to the growth, development and advancement of our people. We pay close attention to the quality of our work product and our client service, utilizing the most efficient and effective work processes, methodologies, and technology. We offer outstanding benefits and competitive salaries with progressive career advancement. If our philosophy appeals to you, please review our exciting career opportunities and consider joining our team. Please contact Mary Beth Monzingo at: mmonzingo@hsskgroup.com Ph: 713.771.5011 Ext. 214 Current Opportunities Associate, Business Valuation, Houston Hill Schwartz Spilker Keller seeks an Associate with one to two years of experience to join our Business Valuation group in Houston. [View details] Senior Associate, Litigation Consulting, Houston Hill...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:40:06 GMT

G. Don Barbo, CPA/ABV, MBA dbarbo@hsskgroup.com 5001 LBJ Freeway Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75244 214.741.5360 Ext. 102 Don has a broad background in business valuations with extensive experience in healthcare valuation engagements involving mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, partnership transactions, leasing arrangements, divorces, and commercial damages. He has also served as an expert witness in federal court cases. His healthcare valuation experience includes hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, cardiac catheter centers, imaging centers, and a variety of physician practices. Don has also served as the director of finance for a physician practice management company that provided management services to a variety of physician practices. download: Full Curriculum Vitae [pdf] download: HSSK Healthcare...

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:39:50 GMT

W. Marc Schwartz, CPA/CFF, CFE mschwartz@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 713.771.5011 Ext. 208 Marc founded a predecessor to HSSK in 1993 following an almost 20 year career with Coopers & Lybrand. At the time he left Coopers & Lybrand as an audit partner, he was partner in charge of its Houston based Financial Advisory Services Group (FAS). In that responsibility he had twenty people reporting to him providing business valuation, bankruptcy and reorganization, and litigation services to clients. He has assisted clients in performing due diligence and negotiating business purchases in the banking, petrochemical, refining, heavy equipment manufacturing and electric and water utility industries. He has worked with clients of all sizes in the petrochemical, energy, manufacturing, publishing, airline, retail and finance...

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 15:57:25 GMT

Dustin S. Sachs, CCE, CFE, EnCE dsachs@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 713.771.5011 Ext. 233 Dustin Sachs joined HSSK in 2008 as a Senior Lab Technician in the Computer Forensics & E-Discovery Group in the Houston office. He has a Masters Certification in Computer Forensics from the University of Central Florida, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of South Florida. Dustin was previously with Grant Thornton, LLP as a Computer Forensics Associate where he conducted forensic evidence acquisitions and imaging, prepared reports, and maintained the forensic laboratory according to ASCLD standards. Prior to Grant Thornton, he served as a Law Clerk for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, State of Florida and was Chief Justice over the University of South Florida's Student Judicial Branch. ...

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:08:05 GMT

Associate, Business Valuation Group, Houston, Texas Hill Schwartz Spilker Keller seeks an Associate or to join our Business Valuation Group in Houston. Position Summary: Assist in the analysis and valuation of public and privately held securities and partnership interests for corporate merger and acquisition; estate, gift and income tax; estate planning; employee stock ownership plan; purchase price allocation, transfer pricing and litigation consulting purposes. Responsibilities: Financial statement/ratio analysis, economy and industry analysis; pro forma financial statement development and financial projections; comparable company research and analysis; company/management due diligence interviews and site visits; market studies; and report writing. Minimum Qualifications: Bachelors Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or other business related discipline 1 year experience in business valuation, or closely related field (financial analysis) Heavy experience and...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 22:28:23 GMT

Clint A. Modesitt, CFCE, EnCE, SCERS cmodesitt@hsskgroup.com 5001 LBJ Freeway Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75244 (214) 741-5360 Ext. 118 Clint A. Modesitt is a Senior Consultant, Computer Forensics and E-Discovery group in our Dallas office. He joins HSSK with over a decade of experience in information technology and as a forensic investigator, manager and trainer. He has extensive courtroom and deposition testimony experience in both criminal and civil proceedings. Previously Clint held the position of Vice President, Computer Forensics for Lightstone Solutions (formerly Spinelli Corporation) in Scottsdale, Arizona where he investigated a wide range of cases including computer tampering, cyber-stalking, embezzlement, fraud, harassment, criminal activity and network intrusion issues. Prior to Lightstone,...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:32:46 GMT

David A. Greetham dgreetham@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 Direct: 713.341.1708 David Greetham is the Managing Director of the Computer Forensics & E-Discovery Group. Prior to joining HSSK, David was Vice President of Electronic Evidence for First Advantage Litigation Consulting where he worked on some of the largest cases in the U.S. He has testified as an expert on numerous occasions both nationally and internationally. Notably, David provided testimony in the landmark Coleman Holdings vs. Morgan Stanley case. David is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is a Certified Computer Crime Investigator by the High Tech Crime Network. He is also a member of the Association of British Investigators and Digital Forensic Research Workshops (DFRWS). He is a frequent speaker for Bar Association meetings...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:57:33 GMT

Helga F. Abreu, MBA habreu@hsskgroup.com 5847 San Felipe Suite 3100 Houston, Texas 77057 713.771.5011 Ext. 251 Helga Abreu is a Senior Associate in the Houston office. She brings 14 years of unique experience to HSSK in Financial Analysis, Budgeting, Reporting and Cash Flow Analysis and Forecasting. She specializes in Forecasting Techniques, Time Series Analysis and Econometrics and has extensive experience in Quantitative and Data Analysis. Helga's background includes serving as a Financial Advisor in banking and corporate credit and as a partner and Financial Manager in the construction and automobile dealership businesses, where she handled treasury, accounting, and other financial duties. Helga holds American and Mexican dual citizenship and is bilingual in English and Spanish, as well as conversational in French. She was an Associate Professor...