December 2019 Members Appreciation Event: 

Five Hours CPE including one hour of Ethics for CFEs.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019 - 8:30 am - 4:00 pm

Speakers:  

Vernon Beck, Convicted Fraudster

Sean McMorris, Compliance and Ethics Manager, Comfort Systems

Rich Frankel, CEO, Mosaic (Security Service)

Presentation Description: This event is a five hour event that we are providing at a discounted price to our current Houston Chapter members. The discounted members' amount is for the usual one hour training luncheon amount.  All other attendees will pay a higher price for the five hour event. 

First Presentation: Vernon Beck

9:00 am - 11:00 am

"Fraud Prevention from the Perspective of an Individual that Embezzled $13.5 Million"

From the words of Mr. Beck:  "Why would a former U.S. Air Force fighter and bomber pilot decide to embezzle almost $14 million from the company where he had worked for 17+ years?

9/11 has a new meaning for me, because on 9/11 of 2007, at 7:30 AM, two FBI agents walked into my office and arrested me, hand-cuffed me and read me my rights, then transported me to the Federal Detention Center in downtown Houston, Texas where I was charged with committing a $13.5 million fraud. My life as I knew it was changed forever. Without any hesitation, I can tell you that my arrest was the best thing that ever happened to me in my life! Not only was I on the wrong path, I was flying down that path at Mach-1, and with my Air Force background – I know what Mach-1 feels like.

My health had deteriorated due to the immense stress of committing this crime, and hiding it from my family and loved ones. My weight had climbed to 239 pounds, my blood pressure had skyrocketed, and I am certain that either a heart attack or stroke was just around the corner. So why did I do it? What was I searching for? I did not need the money – I held a high-paying executive position for many years."

Vernon Beck will be speaking regarding the reasons behind the fraud he committed and his life since that has occurred. 

Chapter Awards & Houston Chapter business: 11:15 am - 11:45 am

We will be presenting the Houston ACFE Awards for 2019, including the Greater Houston Area Fraud Fighter of the Year Award, the Greater Houston Area Educator of the Year Award, and the Greater Houston Area CFE of the Year Award. 

Lunch: 11:45 - 12:30

Second Presentation: Sean McMorris

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm

"Ethics and Compliance, Internal Controls, and Separate Roles"

Sean McMorris is Compliance and Ethics manager for Comfort Systems USA, a national heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) company that offers a single company to provide complete HVAC service.

Sean has a combined 9 years of experience in audit and compliance. In Sean’s current role, he manages the day-to-day operations of Comfort Systems’ enterprise wide Compliance and Ethics function within the legal department. Key responsibilities are administering the Code of Conduct and related policies, providing ongoing training and awareness materials to help employees meet their ethical obligations, administer the Compliance and Ethics helpline, and the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Liaison.

Sean will speak about the role of an Ethics and Compliance Manager, the importance of Ethics, and the importance of keeping internal controls and separated financial roles in a small corporation.

Third Presentation: Rich Frankel, J.D.

1:45 pm - 3:45 pm

"Organized Crime and Terrorism investigations as an FBI Agent in NY, DC, and Overseas"

Richard M. Frankel is the CEO of Mosaic, a specialized security and investigations company based in Washington DC and London, England.  Mr. Frankel had a 25-year career in public service, the majority of which was with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He is a recognized global expert in complex investigations, asset recovery, cyber security, and asset management, as well as terrorism, criminal and intelligence matters. 

Director James B. Comey named Richard Frankel special agent in charge (SAC) of the FBI’s Newark Division. Before that, Mr. Frankel served as SAC of the Criminal Division in the New York Field Office.  Mr. Frankel began his career as a special agent in the New York Field Office in 1995 and was assigned to the Gambino Family Organized Crime Squad. He has served in numerous positions in New York throughout his career, to include assistant special agent in charge, SAC of the Counterterrorism Division, and Associate Division Counsel. He oversaw the investigation of a plot to bomb two synagogues in the Bronx and shoot down a military plane near Stewart Air Force Base; the plot to explode a bomb in the New York City Subway system; and the attempt to explode a vehicle-borne bomb in Times Square. He supervised threat response squads in New York City and at JFK Airport.

In 2011, he was named associate director of national intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Throughout his career, Mr. Frankel has served as the FBI’s deputy on-scene commander in Afghanistan and led a team who supported U.S. Special Forces components. He was also the on-scene commander for FBI personnel that investigated the bombing of the Rugby Club in Uganda during the World Cup, and he led the team that arrested the surviving pirate involved in the Maersk Alabama incident off the coast of Somalia and investigated the terror attack on the Westgate Mall in Kenya.

Prior to joining the FBI, Mr. Frankel was an assistant district attorney in Suffolk County, New York, and prosecuted criminal matters on behalf of the county and state.

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm - Closing Remarks

CPE Credits: 5.0 CPE Hours (Ethics hour does not apply for NASBA - CPA ethics, only applies for CFE Ethics requirements)

Agenda:

8:30 am - Registration

9:00 am - First Speaker Vernon Beck

9:45 am - Break

10:00 am Speaker Resumes

11:00 am - Break

11:15 am - 11:45 am - Awards and Chapter Business

11:45 am - 12:30 pm Lunch

12:30 - 1:30 pm - Second speaker Sean McMorris

1:30 pm Break

1:45 pm - 2:30 Third Speaker Rich Frankel

2:30 - 2:45 pm Break

2:45 pm -  Speaker resumes

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm Closing Remarks

 Learning Objectives: 

• To learn from a convicted fraudster what motivates fraud
• How fraud affects an individual as both a victim and a fraudster
• The importance of ethical compliance in a small business
• Lessons from an lifetime of investigation of organized crime
  

Event Policies:

• If you have registered and/or paid for an event and you need to cancel, you MUST email events@houstonacfe.org no later than 5 days prior to the event to request a refund and/or cancel your registration.      
• For more information regarding refund, complaint and/or program cancellation policies, please visit the Terms & Conditions section of the website, or email us at events@houstonacfe.org.     

Additional Information:

• Delivery Method: Group-Live
• Prerequisites: Working Knowledge of Fraud and Fraud Schemes
• Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge and Applications
• Who Should Attend?:  Anti-fraud professionals, Auditors, Accountants, Attorneys, Investigators, Law Enforcement, Educators, Students
• Advanced Preparation: None
• Program Level: Intermediate

NASBA Sponsor No. 125230

The Houston Area Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have the final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.