SPEAKERS
JAMES BENHAM
CEO - JBKnowledge
James Benham is a maker, a creator and an innovator. He started his journey as a tech entrepreneur in his Texas A&M dorm room in 2001 and has had a wild ride of challenges and successes ever since. James and his amazing team at JBKnowledge built and sold one of their products, SmartBid, in a groundbreaking deal with ConstructConnect in 2018. They have since built and grown two other products, SmartCompliance and TerraClaim.
JBKnowledge currently has over 240 employees in the USA, Argentina and South Africa and is a leading provider of technology products and services for Insurance and Construction. Based in College Station, Texas, James served two terms on the College Station City Council and served for 5 years as an adjunct professor of Construction Science at Texas A&M. He’s a pilot with a passion for aviation and flies himself to most of his meetings and also plays the piano and the guitar.
James’s philosophy for fellow entrepreneurs is to build self-funded businesses that are financially sustainable and growth-oriented - an ideology that was passed down to him by his successful entrepreneur father. As the CEO of JBKnowledge, James continues to innovate tech for the Insurance and Construction industries.
You may have even heard him sharing his wisdom and insights as the host on his popular weekly podcasts: The ConTechCrew and The InsureTech Geek, or in one of over 400 conferences he has spoken at in the last 15 years. James also was recently appointed by Texas Governor Abbott to serve as a Regent on the governing board of Texas Southern University.
BRADY BRAYN, BBA, JD, CQIA
As BRAYN’s founder and CEO, Brady brings optimal value to mid- market clients through specialty tax incentives in a number of industries including architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and software. A licensed attorney in California and Texas himself, Brady has assembled an all-star team of BRAYNiacs. This powerhouse team is composed of lawyers, engineers, and accountants hailing from Big-4 and other national consulting firms. Brady’s goal is to educate businesses and people on how to avail themselves to the little-known tax incentives that are designed for them. In this way he knows BRAYN can make a meaningful impact with real people.
Prior to founding BRAYN in 2010, Brady spent many years in industry, as well as Big-4 accounting. During his tenure at Deloitte, he first learned about several of the tax incentives his company now specializes in. He also spent several years doing indigent defense work. Brady has a Juris Doctor from Southwestern Law School, and a BBA in Management from Sam Houston State University. He lives in Las Vegas with his wife, three children, and three French bulldogs.
ALEX BROSSEAU
Senior Manager, Tax Policy Group of Deloitte Tax LLP
Alex Brosseau is a Senior Manager in the Tax Policy Group of Deloitte Tax LLP’s Washington National Tax office. In that capacity, he monitors tax policy developments in Congress and the White House on behalf of the firm and its clients.
From 2012 to 2015, Alex served as Senior Analyst for Tax Policy on the U.S. Senate Budget Committee where he was the primary tax adviser to the committee’s two previous chairpersons, Senator Patty Murray of Washington and Senate Finance Committee member Kent Conrad of North Dakota.
While on the Budget Committee, Alex led tax and revenue policy for the committee’s majority during many negotiations including those related to tax extenders, tax reform, and the Senate-passed fiscal year 2014 budget resolution. He also played a significant role in the policy discussions that led to enactment of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.
Prior to his time on Capitol Hill, Alex worked in client service at Deloitte Tax LLP, focusing primarily on clients in the financial services and real estate industries.
Alex is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He received his Master of Science in taxation from American University (Washington, DC) and his Bachelor of Arts in accounting and economics from the University of Saint Thomas (Saint Paul, Minnesota).
ROBERT COKER, CPA, CGMA
Partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC, Birmingham Office
Robert knows the value of a hard day’s work. He isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and assist from small to large contractors, and subcontractors throughout Alabama. As a member of the firm’s construction services team, Robert provides audit, review, and compilation services to a wide variety of general contractors and subcontractors. He consults with clients regarding maximizing bonding capacity, enhancing working capital, internal controls, and tax savings strategies within the construction industry. Robert has experience in accounting and taxation and provides innovative “out of the box” consulting services. Robert has successfully conducted many fraud investigations and has also assisted clients with designing and implementing preventative measures, including anti-fraud programs and internal control processes. Robert frequently serves as an instructor of construction continuing education classes both within the firm as well as outside construction associations.
BEN CONRY
Co-Founder and Head of Customer Success at Flashtract
Ben Conry is the Co-Founder and Head of Customer Success at Flashtract, a software service that automates the construction billing and payment process for contractors. Prior to Flashtract, Ben worked in the construction industry in preconstruction and project management where his love for the industry began. While Ben no longer oversees the construction of buildings he takes great pride in his ability to empower the people who do, to build more effectively. Ben leads the Customer Success team at Flashtract and oversees the technology implementation for general contractors and subcontractors. He has led hundreds of software implementations for construction companies over the past several years. Using his extensive knowledge of the construction technology landscape, Ben has been instrumental in pushing innovation throughout organizations. Ben regularly speaks for CFMA, ABC, AGC, and other industry organizations. He’s also involved with Auburn University’s student entrepreneurial program. Ben is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in Civil Engineering.
CYNDI DUNN
Senior Director, Consulting Services, RSM US LLP
Cyndi currently serves her clients in the Federal contracting and grantee spaces providing consulting on a vast range of issues including accounting systems design and compliance, contract management, Contractor Purchasing System Review (CPSR), FAR, CAS compliance, Service Contract Act (SCA) compliance and DCAA audit issues. She has 30 years of strong experience in the government contracting industry, which includes executive management, internal audit and public accounting/consulting. Her clients span across multiple business sectors (e.g., aerospace and defense, manufacturing, bio-tech; large Pharma, professional services, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDC) and International NGOs).
Prior to joining, RSM, Cyndi was a Division Vice President/Controller for large Government contractors where she was responsible for managing the accounting (G/L, A/R, A/P, payroll and financial reporting), contracts, purchasing, human resources and compliance functions (DCAA and Sarbanes-Oxley). Cyndi also spent four years as the manager of Internal Audit for a large government contractor and six years as an auditor in public accounting. She has worked extensively with external auditors for annual financial statement audits, Sarbanes-Oxley, ISO and government audits with DCMA, DCAA and BARDA. Cyndi provides her clients with a comprehensive knowledge of business practices and practical solutions. Her areas of expertise include financial accounting, strategic planning, internal controls, cost accounting, complex indirect rate structures, ERP design/implementation, government compliance (DCAA, FAR and CAS), CPSR, and SCA. She has lead and supported clients in training, implementing and passing CPSRs, DCAA audits, negotiating indirect rates, strategic planning, due diligence and mergers and acquisitions. Cyndi’s diverse background has been invaluable to her clients, as it covers the full-spectrum of government contracting requirements and includes functional SME experience with government contracting unique ERP/reporting systems (e.g., Deltek Costpoint, MS D365).
BRUCE P. ELY
Partner of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Bruce Ely is a partner in the Birmingham, Alabama office of the multistate law firm of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP and the founder of its SALT Practice Group. He represents taxpayers before various state and local government taxing authorities as well as the tax tribunals and circuit and appellate courts of Alabama and Mississippi, and before the Internal Revenue Service and U.S. Tax Court.
Mr. Ely is Past Co-Chair of the New York University (NYU) Institute on State and Local Taxation, a long-time Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, and has been listed in “Best Lawyers in America” and “Super Lawyers” for a number of years. Until recently, he also served as Co-Chair of the ABA Tax Section SALT Committee’s “Task Force on the State Implications of the New Federal Partnership Audit Rules” and co-authored a model conformity/RAR statute now being advocated to the states. He is also co-editor of the Bloomberg Tax “Pass-Through Entity Navigator” and serves as Alabama correspondent for both Tax Notes-State and Daily Tax Report. He is a longtime member of the State Tax Advisory Board for Bloomberg Tax and received Bloomberg’s “State Tax Author of the Year” Award in 2017 and its Franklin C. Latcham Distinguished Service Award in December 2021.
Bruce has also received the “Paul H. Frankel Excellence in State Taxation Award” from the Council On State Taxation and was the first recipient of NYU’s “Paul H. Frankel Award for Outstanding Achievement in State and Local Taxation.” He was named one of the “Top 10 Tax Lawyers in the United States” by State Tax Notes/Tax Analysts. He has co-authored over the past three decades numerous acts of the Alabama Legislature dealing with the Alabama Taxpayers’ Bill of Rights, the Alabama Tax Tribunal, the Local Tax Simplification Act, corporate income taxes, pass-through entities, and municipal business license taxes.
He has served over the years as counsel to several tax reform and state constitutional reform commissions of the Alabama Legislature, and is a longstanding member of the Alabama Law Institute. Bruce received both his B.S. degree in Accounting and J. D. (with honors) from the University of Alabama and his LL.M. in Taxation from NYU School of Law.
CHAD FOSTER
Chad E. Foster is a husband, a father, and an avid snow skier (that is not a joke) who is not just competing with his condition, he is competing with the world’s most successful people. Chad believes he is not successful in spite of being blind, but rather he is successful because he’s blind. He embraced his problem and turned it into a solution.
Can you imagine going blind as a teenager? When most people were preparing for the adventure of adult life, Chad E. Foster was watching the world he grew up in fade to black. But that didn’t stop him from becoming the first blind person to graduate from the Harvard Business School leadership program and climbing the corporate ladder as a successful Finance/Sales executive. Throughout his career, his financial strategies and decisions have resulted in the creation of countless jobs, billions of dollars in revenue, industry-leading growth, and best-in-class margins. He works at Red Hat, one of the most innovative Tech companies and the world’s largest open source software company (recently purchased by IBM for $34 billion). With determination, ambition, and drive, he created what Oracle said would be impossible. He gave millions of people the ability to earn a living by becoming the first to create customer relationship software for the visually impaired. With speaking invites from London to Beijing, and the Atlanta Opera commissioning an opera inspired by his life story, Chad inspires people to overcome their own blind spots.
MICHAEL HEIDRICK
Vice President of The Hartford
Mike Heidrick is the VP, Head of Construction Surety. In this role, Mike is responsible for overseeing all underwriting, personnel, sales, training, and staff development for the construction line of business. Mike has held various roles in the bond department including the following: Regional Bond Manager, Western Regional Manager, Home Office Divisional Director, AVP Field Operations, and Managing Director of the Central Region prior to his current role.
Prior to joining The Hartford in 2002, Mike held management positions with two other major surety companies and a bank. Mike is a graduate of the University of Buffalo, B.S. Economics and Math, and received an M.B.A in accounting from St. Joseph’s University. He also holds the AFSB designation from the American Institute of CPCU and is a qualified insurance continuing education instructor (AFSB). Mike is the father of three and makes his home in Prosper, TX. He is a volunteer for Catholic Charities and has been a youth hockey coach for many years.
STEPHANIE JOHNSON
Stephanie is a senior analyst who seeks to understand, forecast, and communicate economic, business, and technology trends shaping the industries RSM serves. Specifically, she advises clients on conditions influencing middle market leaders in the government contracting ecosystem. Stephanie has nearly a decade of experience serving clients across the country by providing industry-specific insights and thought leadership that allows them to stay at the forefront of the changes within their industry while also providing valuation and advisory services related to mergers and acquisitions, and financial reporting, tax reporting, and strategic planning.
BRIAN KROGSGARD
Co-Founder, Flip.xyz
Brian Krogsgard is the co-founder of Flip.xyz, a multi-marketplace NFT platform. Brian has been investing, studying, podcasting, and forging relationships in the cryptocurrency industry since early 2017. With a degree in Industrial Engineering (Auburn 2008), a background in open source web development, and a long time passion for investing, he was quickly drawn to the potential of open blockchains as distributed computing platforms with many potential use cases. He's been down the rabbit hole ever since.
BOB MANSMANN
Director with Capitalize Analytics
Bob Mansmann is Director with Capitalize Analytics. Bob leads Capitalize’s East region which ranges from the Eastern Providences of Canada to Florida. Bob has 20+ years helping clients understand and leverage data to make data-driven decisions that lead to reducing cost, improving performance and driving top-line revenue.
Bob got his BS in Finance and Accounting from the University of Pittsburgh. He is married to his wife Lynn of 45 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. When not working Bob enjoys spending time with his grandchildren, collecting antiques, working in the yard, reading, golfing and exploring the US. Bob is based in Nashville.
LARRY MAY, CPA, CVA, CCA
Partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
With almost 30 years of experience in certified public accounting, Larry's career has focused on serving clients primarily within the construction industry throughout Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. Larry provides audit, review and compilation services to a wide variety of road builders, general contractors and subcontractors. Within the construction industry, he consults with clients regarding maximizing bonding capacity, enhancing working capital, enhancing internal controls, and implementing tax savings strategies. He has experience in accounting and taxation, as well as providing innovative consulting services including assisting clients with issues related to business transfers and succession planning.
In addition, Larry has been one of the teachers of the construction continuing professional education classes for Carr, Riggs & Ingram, a top 25 accounting firm, for the last twelve years and has served as one of the construction industry sub-line leaders for the firm for the last 6 years
Larry and his wife Honey live in Jackson, Mississippi. They are the parents of a son and two daughters.
CHRISTOPHER MCKAY
Senior Consultant and Automation Specialist at Capitalize Analytics
Christopher McKay is a Senior Consultant and Automation Specialist at Capitalize Analytics where he strives to enhance client ability to make more strategic, data-driven decisions. For the past three years, he has worked across Office of Finance functional areas in various industries focusing on automating tedious processes and enhancing reporting processes by leveraging Capitalize’s technology partners, including Alteryx, ABBYY, UiPath, Workday Adaptive Planning, and others. Christopher’s ability to comprehend and implement complex business logic has led to scaling value across each of his clients. He earned a BS in International Economics with a focus on data analysis from Belmont University.
In his free time, Christopher enjoys working out, eating all of the food, and hiking with his wife, Jillian and his dog!
MICHAEL (MIKE) R. MCKIBBEN
Senior Vice President - Surety
Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Mike started his Surety career in 1987 and has held a variety of leadership positions in field, home office, and operational assignments. He joined BHSI in 2018 and is currently a Senior Vice President of Surety.
Mike received his MBA from Loyola University Maryland in 2006. He has earned both the CPCU and AFSB professional designations. Mike resides in Bel Air, Maryland with Doris, his wife of thirty-five years, where they raised their three children, attend and volunteer at Mt. Zion Church.
ROBERT S. MERCADO, CPA, CCIFP
Partner, Assurance Services
Robert S. Mercado is a partner in the Assurance Services division and serves as the Construction Assurance Group Leader and the New England Regional Construction Leader. He has more than 25 years of experience conducting, reviewing and analyzing financial information for construction contractors, manufacturers and service corporations.
As a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional, Mr. Mercado has an expertise in troubleshooting problem job performance for construction projects and recommending practices to enhance profitability. In addition, he is knowledgeable with systems analysis and with the tailoring of accounting software to meet clients’ needs.
Mr. Mercado is a frequent speaker on accounting and auditing matters for construction companies, industry organizations and professional development courses. He has been acknowledged in several publications of the AICPA’s Audit and Accounting Guide – Construction Contractors and AICPA’s Audit Risk Alert - Real Estate and Construction Industry Developments. In addition, Mr. Mercado is the co-author of the AICPA’s Construction Contractor: Accounting and Auditing and Construction Contractors Advanced Issues Training Manuals.
George Parrott, CPA, J.D., LL.M(tax), CFF, CCIFP
Engagement Partner, Cooper, Travis & Company, PLC
George Parrott is an engagement partner with Cooper, Travis & Company, PLC. With over 40 years’ experience, he is nationally recognized in the construction and real estate industries for financial reporting, tax, and consulting. George is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, with a B.S. in Business Administration, the Nashville School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctorate, and the Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he earned his LL.M in Taxation. George is a licensed CPA and also holds the following designations: Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF), and is listed as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator.
In addition to the depth of his experience in the construction and real estate industries, George’s practice also includes construction claims development; litigation support services; business valuation services for estate and gift tax matters, buy-sell agreements and mergers and acquisitions.
George is very active in the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) at both the national and local levels. He has served on the National Executive Committee and as Chair of the Tax and Legislative Affairs and Accounting and Reporting Committees. He is a current member of the Tax and Legislative Affairs Committee and the Education Steering Committee. In 2014, George received the prestigious Debra Hahn Memorial Award which recognizes outstanding CFMA participation and activity on both the local and national levels. George is a frequent author for Building Profits magazine.
Additionally, George is a member of the AICPA, the Tennessee Society of CPAs, and the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators. He currently serves on the Federal Tax Committee and the Southeastern Valuation and Forensics Conference Committee at the TSCPA.
BILLY R. ROBINSON, CPA, CCIFP
Partner, Brown Edwards
Billy is a Partner in the Kingsport office of Brown Edwards and the Firm Coordinator of Construction Services. He has extensive experience with construction companies, including general contractors, heavy highway, and specialty trade. Billy has provided assurance and consulting services to construction companies ranging in size from $1M to $500M in annual revenue. Billy graduated from the University of Virginia’s College at Wise with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Minor in Criminal Justice. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Construction Financial Management Association, the Associated General Contractors of Virginia and Tennessee, and the Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance. Billy has twice been named a “Super CPA” by Virginia Business magazine and is a Certified Public Accountant in Virginia and Tennessee. He has been a CCIFP since 2014.
ROBERT R. SPRAGUE, CPA
Managing Director, Forensics & Valuation Services
Bob is a member of BKD’s Forensics & Valuation Services (FVS) division. He focuses on providing fraud investigation, forensic accounting, and litigation consulting services. His experience encompasses a wide spectrum of financial consulting matters spanning multiple industries and client types. Bob works closely with corporate stakeholders, in-house and outside counsel, auditors, and special committees on forensic and fraud investigations with an emphasis on SEC enforcement matters and fraudulent financial reporting.
His experience also includes investigations related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, commercial litigation involving technical accounting issues, assisting clients with post-acquisition accounting disputes, and conducting proactive compliance-related work, such as anti-corruption assessments and broader compliance program-related assessments, on behalf of public and private companies.
Prior to joining FVS, Bob spent more than 22 years working for two global professional service firms. He also worked as an enforcement accountant in the enforcement division of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, where he investigated potential securities laws violations. Bob’s prior experience also included conducting financial statement audits on behalf of multinational public and private companies.
He participates in more than 50 hours of continuing education each year, including delivering courses related to fraud investigation and forensic accounting at industry conferences, to audit practitioners, to clients, and to law firms. He spent more than 10 years as an adjunct professor teaching a series of forensic accounting courses in a graduate certificate program in forensic accounting at Northeastern University.
Bob is a graduate of Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, with a B.S. degree in economics, and a graduate of Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, with an M.B.A. degree and an M.S.A. degree.
CERONE (CY) F. STURDIVANT, CISA®
Director, BKD Cyber
Cy is a member of the BKDCyber team and has more than 16 years of experience working with and serving clients. He primarily focuses on performing IT general control engagements and managing various other cybersecurity-related services.
Before joining BKD, he worked for a community bank in their risk management division and in public accounting specializing in IT-related internal audits and control assessments.
Cy has been a practicing Certified Information Systems Auditor® (CISA®) since 2009. His professional memberships include ISACA®, Tennessee Bankers Association Strategic Technology Steering Committee, and InfraGard Middle Tennessee Members Alliance.
He is a graduate of The University of Tennessee at Martin, with a B.S. degree in business administration with accounting and finance emphases, and a graduate of The University of Memphis, Tennessee, with an M.B.A. degree.
WILL THISTLE
Partner of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
Will Thistle is a partner in the State and Local Tax Practice Group of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP. He regularly counsels public and private businesses on multistate tax matters, with particular emphasis in the areas of income, sales, use, property taxes, and pass-through entities. A significant portion of Will's practice is dedicated to the representation of taxpayers in all phases of federal, state, and local tax controversy, including audit assistance, administrative hearings, and litigation.
Will is a frequent presenter at national and regional seminars regarding state and local tax issues and is the co-author of a series of charts and articles on the state tax treatment of LLCs and LLPs that have appeared in numerous publications. He is the Co-Chair of the Pass-Through Entities Subcommittee of the ABA Tax Section’s Committee on State and Local Taxes and co-chaired an ABA task force on the state tax implications of the new federal partnership audit rules. Will is a former Chairman of the Alabama State Bar Tax Section, a Fellow of the American Bar Association, and listed in Best Lawyers for Tax Law and Tax Litigation and Controversy.
A licensed CPA (inactive), Will received his B.S. degree, summa cum laude, in Accounting from Birmingham-Southern College and holds a Master of Tax Accounting (MTA) from the University of Alabama. He graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia School of Law.
ROGER TUTTEROW, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics - Kennesaw State University
Roger Tutterow is Professor of Economics at Kennesaw State University where he holds the Henssler Financial Endowed Chair.
His analysis of the economic, business and political environments have been featured in a variety of media including Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Business Week, Forbes, USA Today, Atlanta Journal Constitution, Arizona Republic, Florida Times-Union, Kansas City Star, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Orlando Sentinel, Palm Beach Post, Wichita Eagle and on CNN, CNBC, NBC, Bloomberg Television, NPR’s “Marketplace” and “All Things Considered,” CNN-Radio as well as by regional electronic and print media.
In addition to his work in academia, Dr. Tutterow has served as a consultant on financial economics and statistical modeling for corporate clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to closely held businesses. He has provided expert testimony on economic, financial and statistical matters in state and federal court, before the Georgia General Assembly and before the Georgia Public Service Commission. Dr. Tutterow has given several hundred speeches to professional groups in over 40 states and Canada on topics in the economic, business and political arenas.
Dr. Tutterow served on the Council of Economic Advisors, under Georgia Governors Sonny Perdue, Nathan Deal and Brian Kemp. In 2010, he was named to the Special Council on Tax Reform and Fairness for Georgians, which conducted a comprehensive review of Georgia’s Tax Code. In addition, Dr. Tutterow serves on the Georgia Child Support Commission, the Cobb County Public Employees’ Pension Board and the Board of Trustees of Berry College. He previously served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vinings Bank, on the Southern Region Board of Directors for the American Red Cross Blood Services and the Board of Directors for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Atlanta. He was selected by Georgia Trend magazine as a “notable Georgian” and as one of “Georgia’s Most Influential” by James magazine.
A Georgia native, Dr. Tutterow holds a B.S. in Decision Science from Berry College and a M.A. and Ph.D. in Economics from Georgia State University. Prior to joining Kennesaw State University, Dr. Tutterow held faculty and administrative appointments at West Virginia University, Georgia State University and Mercer University. He has also served as a visiting professor at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and at the Institute for Industrial Policy Studies in Seoul, South Korea.
VICTOR STURGIS, CPA CCIFP
Partner of Crowe LLP
Victor Sturgis, CPA CCIFP and Partner of Crowe LLP has a strong belief in stewardship. He believes it is our responsibility as citizens of our communities and employees of our companies, to leave the world better than how we found it, for the benefit of all those who will follow. Mr. Sturgis is driven by his beliefs and many other core values as a tax advisor, innovator, change-maker, and thought collaborator at Crowe. He represents the firm on many diversity and inclusion task forces and committees throughout the accounting profession, including roles within the Michigan Society of CPAs and the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA) at a national level.
More recently, Mr. Sturgis has stepped away from his client-facing responsibilities to serve as a two-year Fellow representing Crowe in the CEO Action for Racial Equity Fellowship. Victor is the first to serve in this capacity for Crowe and is the sole representative for the firm.
Mr. Sturgis has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Accounting from the University of Michigan and is an avid college football and basketball fan. GO BLUE!