State Chapter News—Announcing New Presidents—Fourth Quarter 2020
Jonathan Jackson
State Chapter Foundation Director
Our state chapter leaders have really stepped up this year despite the many challenges faced during the pandemic. They demonstrated adaptability and flexibility by swiftly pivoting to offering state chapter meetings virtually. This resulted in some state chapters experiencing the highest levels of participation than ever before. Some have mentioned that it has been the best year for their chapter.
We are also excited to announce the appointment of six new State Chapter Presidents in Florida (North), Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio (North), Tennessee, and Texas (Houston). Please join me in welcoming the following new State Chapter leaders as we recognize their vast experience and willingness to help NACVA members thrive within their community, pursue lifelong learning, and build relationships with fellow members.
Steven R. McDonald, CVA
Florida-North State Chapter President
Steven McDonald is chief economist and director at CSG Economics Group. He is an economist, researcher, and strategist with nearly 30 years of experience, almost equally divided between consulting assignments and corporate roles. He specializes in quantitative and qualitative research and analysis to include business valuation, economic analyses and econometrics, forecasting and strategic planning, short- and long-term financial analyses, and revenue optimization and pricing. Over this time, Steven has developed a high degree of technical expertise balanced with strategic management experience from high-profile, innovative projects, both domestically and internationally, focused on economic and financial issues across a broad range of industries. Steven has served on NACVA’s Ethics Oversight Board for three years, and one of those years as chair. In addition, Steven is an adjunct instructor with Webster University’s Orlando campus in economic concepts and managerial economics.
Mihaela I. Sima, CPA, CVA
Georgia State Chapter President
Mihaela Sima is manager at Nichols, Cauley & Associates, LLC. She was born and raised in Romania. She is a graduate of Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania, from where in 1996, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Credit. In 2000, Mihaela moved to the United States and in 2001, enrolled in the Master of Arts program at Middle Tennessee State University from which she graduated in 2004 with a major in Financial Economics and a minor in Accounting. In 2008, she obtained the Certified Public Accountant license and Certified Valuation Analyst certification. Mihaela has been working in public accounting since 2005. She is married and has two sons. In her free time she enjoys her family and friends and loves traveling, watching movies, and reading.
Chad Hudson, CPA, CVA, CFE, CFF
Louisiana State Chapter President
Chad Hudson serves as a partner in the New Orleans office of Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC (CPAs and Advisors), where he is responsible for providing consulting, forensic, and valuation services to clients around the world. He has over 13 years of experience providing consulting, forensic, and valuation services in areas including: business valuation, analysis of complex financial transactions, identification of hidden assets, detection of fraud and mismanagement, and calculating and refuting lost profits and other financial damages related to shareholder disputes, marital dissolutions, personal injuries, wrongful termination, product and professional liabilities, contract disputes, business interruptions, expropriations, and unjust enrichment. Chad received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of New Orleans in 2009 after spending over 12 years in business management. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Louisiana, a Certified Valuation Analyst through NACVA, is a Certified Fraud Examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, and is Certified in Financial Forensics by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
David F. Long, CPA, CVA, CEPA
Ohio-North State Chapter President
David Long is a Director at Corrigan Krause, an accounting firm headquartered in Westlake, Ohio. His focus is in the consulting department at the firm, specializing in closely-held business consulting, business valuations, and succession planning. Dave is a Certified Valuation Analysts and performs valuations for purposes including mergers and acquisitions, estate and gift tax planning, litigation, and more. He is also a Certified Exit Planning Advisor. Dave has developed a niche in helping real estate investors at Corrigan Krause.
Mark T. Watson, MBA, MAI, CVA
Tennessee State Chapter President
Mark Watson co-owns Moffett-Revell LLC, based in Brentwood, Tennessee, with his wife, Lara Sue Watson, MAI, AI-GRS. He was awarded the Certified Valuation Analyst designation in 2019 after over 25 years of valuation experience in commercial and residential real estate, and the receipt of the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute in 2008. Mark holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double majoring in Economics and Spanish; and a Master of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Accounting from the University of South Carolina. He has successfully passed the Level I examination toward his Chartered Financial Analyst designation. Mark and Lara Sue have two children together. An avid reader and traveler, He continues to use his Spanish while volunteering in the Nashville area Hispanic community with his church. His most recent hobby is learning Mandarin Chinese. Mark is passionate about the valuation industry in general and is excited for the future of the Tennessee Chapter of NACVA.
Shelia Darby, MBA, CVA, MAFF
Texas-Houston State Chapter President
Shelia Darby currently serves as a managing director of BizWorth, a financial services company and trusted provider of certified business valuations of closely-held businesses. She formerly served as the Assistant Treasurer of Transocean and held various valuation, finance, and strategy roles at ConocoPhillips, AGL Resources, and Enron Corporation. While at ConocoPhillips, she led the strategy and finance department of the company’s largest business unit in Norway. She also enjoyed teaching the valuation and economic modeling course to over 250 employees located throughout North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. During her tenure, Shelia was responsible for reviewing the valuation and finance approvals for over 100 acquisitions and dispositions. She holds an MBA from Rice University, a BBA in Finance from Baylor University, and professional certifications from NACVA, including the Certified Valuation Analyst and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics designations. Shelia is a current member of the NACVA’s Ethics and Oversight Board. Personally, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family where she is often found in the stands at a softball field watching her daughter play.
NACVA State Chapters
NACVA State Chapters provide valuable resources for members to enhance their status, credentials, and esteem in the field of performing valuations, financial litigation, and other related advisory services.To further this purpose, NACVA offers these services by establishing standards for membership in the Association, providing professional education and research, fostering practice development, upholding ethical and professional practices, enhancing public awareness of the Association and its members, and promoting working relationships with other organizations.
State Chapter events provide NACVA members valuable opportunities to: (1) promote CVAs, MAFFs, and NACVA within the community; (2) create an opportunity to network and develop mentoring relationships with other members; (3) deliver relevant, industry-related information, and educate members on the range of support services available as benefits of membership; and (4) receive CPE on timely and relevant topics pertinent to valuation and litigation forensic services.We encourage NACVA members to take advantage of these opportunities, share ideas, and educate one another on current issues facing the business valuation, litigation, and financial forensics/fraud consulting communities. To help facilitate and address such issues, NACVA provides virtual training and support materials for presentations from its CPE On-Demand library, Case Analysis by Webinar, Current Update in Valuations, Industry Standards and Ethics, and other relevant programs on topics of current interest.
Contact your local State Chapter president (www.nacva.com/statechapters) to let him or her know of your interest in attending a meeting, being a presenter, or assisting in preparing for a future meeting/event. If you are interested in becoming an officer at a State Chapter, please contact NACVA’s Executive Director, Jonathan Jackson, at (800) 677-2009 or via e-mail at JonathanJ1@NACVA.com.
