2024 Conference Speakers
The Dallas Chapter of the ACFE is once again lining up an exceptional group of speakers with unique knowledge and insights into matters affecting DFW area CFEs!
Donna Strittmatter Max
Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas
Donna Strittmatter Max is an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Texas. In that role, she prosecutes criminal fraud, healthcare fraud and serves as her office's Elder Justice Coordinator. Prior to her current position, Donna spent over 15 years prosecuting white collar crime at the Dallas County District Attorney's Office ultimately as the Chief of the Specialized Crime Division. She oversaw the intake and prosecution of thousands of felony cases including environmental crimes, securities fraud, embezzlement, mortgage fraud and computer crimes. She was one of Texas' first elder abuse prosecutors and has conducted trainings and presentations across the nation on fraud topics. Donna has also been involved in authoring state legislation to expand criminal prosecution for elderly victims. As an AUSA, she has won a National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association Sirius Investigation of the Year Award and a NDTX Superior Performance Award. She is a graduate of Texas A&M University and the University of Texas School of Law.
Kevin Hamlen
Executive Director, Cyber Security Research & Education Institute
Dr. Kevin Hamlen is the Executive Director of the Cyber Security Research & Education Institute, and the Louis A. Beecherl, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at UT Dallas. He has served as a Principal Investigator for DARPA, NSA, Air Force, Navy, Army, and NSF, including winning the NSF CAREER award and the AFOSR YIP award for cybersecurity research. He is an author of over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including 10 best paper awards and the NSF IUCRC Technology Breakthrough Award. Some of his discoveries have made thousands of news headlines worldwide, including The Economist and New Scientist.
Joshua L. Hutchinson
Director, KPMG
Joshua L. Hutchinson is a Director in KPMG’s Dallas office, practicing in the forensics and security areas. Josh currently provides a broad range of strategic forensic, compliance, and security advice to executives in the private sectors, including retail corporations, financial institutions, energy companies and logistics/transportation companies. Josh has more than thirteen years of experience performing investigations, examinations, financial audits, and procurement audits. Josh advises on business processes and internal controls, providing insights on leading industry practices pertinent to federal policies, procedures, and laws related to Ethics and Compliance matters.
Josh also served over ten years as an operator on the FBI Dallas SWAT team and participated in hundreds of successful operations. Josh helped develop and implement operational plans including physical security of Super Bowls, NCAA Championships, NCAA events, the NFL Draft, and many other large public events, as well as protective details for the US Attorney General and FBI Director.
Paul Bustos
Revenue Protection Services Senior Analyst, Southwest Airlines
Paul Bustos, CFE, CRMA is a Revenue Protection Services Senior Analyst with Southwest Airlines. Paul works closely with process owners and technology security teams to design internal controls and procedures to mitigate consumer loss. Prior to the airlines, Paul was a Forensic & Litigation Services Manager at a public accounting firm investigating compliance violations, business disputes and employee misconduct.
Paul earned his Master’s in Accounting & Information Management from The University of Texas at Dallas. He is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is the Past-President for the Dallas Area Chapter. Paul has a Certification in Risk Management Assurance (CRMA) with The Institute of Internal Auditors.
Paul is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and United States Army Reserve and is currently the Finance Officer of American Legion Holley-Riddle Post 21.
Michael Garcia
Special Agent, United States Department of Health & Human Services - Office of Inspector General
Michael Garcia is a Special Agent (SA) with United States Department of Health & Human Services - Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG). Special Agent Garcia helped establish and create the Rio Grande Valley Health Care Fraud Task Force in McAllen, Texas. Members of the Task Force include HHS-OIG, FBI, State of Texas Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, and United States Attorney’s Office. Special Agent Garcia has successfully been a huge part in representing HHS-OIG as a member of the Rio Grande Valley Health Care Fraud Task Force, preparing criminal cases for indictment, and presenting McAllen, Texas as part of the National Health Care Fraud Takedown. Special Agent Garcia has been the recipient of the Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in the Integrity of HHS Programs in Washington, D.C., the Leadership Award from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), Health Care Fraud Unit-Criminal Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Task Force Award, the United States Attorney’s Office – Southern District of Texas Award, the Inspector General’s Bronze Medal, and the Inspector General’s Award for Excellence in Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse. Special Agent Garcia earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.
Jared Ross
Veteran of Arlington (TX) Police Department
Jared Ross is a 19-year veteran of the Arlington (TX) Police Department, with experience as a patrol officer, trainer, criminal investigator, hostage negotiator, and supervisor. Jared also has extensive experience conducting employee misconduct interviews ranging from excessive force, to theft, to payroll fraud. He is a certified law enforcement instructor who specializes in topics such as Ethics, Professionalism, Leadership, Performance Management, and Internal Investigations. Jared also volunteers as a court-appointed mediator and a Planning & Zoning Commissioner.
Christopher Eason
Assistant United States Attorney, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Texas
Christopher Eason is an Assistant United States Attorney based in Plano.
Mr. Eason joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas in January 2011. As a federal prosecutor, Mr. Eason primarily prosecutes international drug trafficking cases involving transnational criminal organizations. He has also prosecuted complex white collar, public corruption, and national security cases. Prior to starting with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Eason served in the Air Force, and he continues to serve in the Air National Guard as a brigadier general. Notably, while on active duty, he prosecuted two al Qaeda members to conviction at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Mr. Eason received his B.A. in Economics from Oklahoma State University and a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma.
Baron Eliason
Chief Integrity Officer, Inspector General Division of the City of Dallas
Baron Eliason is the Chief Integrity Officer in the Inspector General Division of the City of Dallas. Prior to this role, Baron served over 20 years in large congregations around the country mainly leading administration, missions, student, and family ministries as an associate pastor and then head of staff as a senior pastor. From there he owned and operated a West Texas recycling business in a public/private partnership with Texas Tech, worked as a business consultant with the SBDC at Texas Tech, and eventually returned to the practice of law as a West Texas criminal defense lawyer for five years. Baron holds a B.B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University; a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Texas; a Master of Divinity from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary; and a Doctor of Ministry from Columbia Theological Seminary. Baron has earned the designation Certified Inspector General from the Association of Inspectors General. His passion for ethics and doing things the right way has been refined through a diverse career path centered on helping others.
Interested in speaking at next year's conference? Contact info@dallasacfe.org.