Patti Burquest

Leader of RSM’s Washington National Tax Group, RSM

Patti Burquest leads the Washington National Tax team in the area of tax controversy. With over 25 years handling IRS examination and appeals matters, her experience includes alternative dispute resolutions including: pre-filing agreements, advance issue resolution agreements, voluntary compliance agreements, fast track settlements/mediations, appeals settlements and post appeals mediations. Patti also specializes in penalty and interest abatements, IRS account issues, 9100 relief for missed elections and IRS filing issues.

As the former national principal-in-charge for a Big Four firm, working in the area of complex interest services and as a principal in the tax controversy services practice, Patti has advised clients on IRS matters, handled Examination and Appeals cases (including Alternative Dispute Resolution cases), and successfully obtained abatements (and refunds) of penalties and interest. She also served on a national team advising clients on net operating loss carryback issues and assisted hundreds of clients to expeditiously obtain tax refunds. Patti has developed excellent relationships with IRS in the Examination, Appeals and Service Center functions.

Previously, Patti was with the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office for seven years where she served as a National Office attorney and technical advisor to the IRS Chief Counsel and to the Special Counsel (Large Case). Her office managed the Chief Counsel’s Industry Specialization Program. Patti pioneered the Intangibles Settlement Program which successfully resolved approximately 70% of the IRS’s intangibles issues inventory. She also served as Acting Special Counsel to the Director of the IRS Advance Pricing Agreement Program.

Patti frequently speaks at national programs including those of the Tax Executives Institute and the American Bar Association.

James Alex

RSM Go-to-Market Tax Leader. RSM

Jim possesses strong leadership skills developing processes and change-based programs that bring significant value to clients and drive tax practice growth. Jim provides large program implementation experience from the private and public sectors. He is focused on planning, execution, communication and change management.

Jim recently served as the Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Department for Tax Policy where he acted as the main coordinator for tax reform implementation in the U.S. Treasury Department. Jim facilitated tax reform efforts across the Treasury Department, IRS and the IRS Chief Counsel’s Office. Jim led the effort to redesign the tax regulatory development process spanning the IRS, Chief Counsel’s Office, Treasury and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). In December 2019, Jim was awarded the Meritorious Service Award by the U.S. Treasury Department for his service during Tax Reform implementation. 

Jim was previously a partner/principal in a Big-Four accounting firm; and, has held various roles in state government including Deputy Cabinet Secretary – Tax and Revenue, West Virginia.

In his current role, Jim leads RSM’s tax services practice national go-to-market implementation focused on our Vision 2022 growth strategy. He assists teams to drive account program execution, market best practice sharing, team across function-industry-and region, and helps with the adoption of practice change focused on tax practice growth.

Maryann Bruce

Independent Director and former Fortune 100 Division President & CEO

Maryann Bruce is an experienced independent director and former Fortune 100 Division President & CEO. She has expertise in strategy, sales including new business development and relationship management, marketing including advertising and brand management, product development and rationalization, and client service across multiple distribution channels. The breadth and depth of her experience come from having served in executive and board leadership positions for start-ups and firms of various sizes and organizational structures.

Over the past decade, Maryann has served on a dozen public, private, mutual fund, advisory, and nonprofit boards providing insight into different industries and enhancing her ability to identify key issues and ask thought-provoking questions. Her deep understanding of starting, building, and scaling high-growth businesses coupled with her keen perspective in the financial markets brings a wealth of practical knowledge and a unique and valued point-of-view as a trusted advisor and board member.

Maryann is an independent director of Amalgamated Bank (Nasdaq: AMAL) serving on its Audit and Enterprise Risk Oversight Committees, an advisory board member of RealBlocks, and the Chair of the Board of Wrestle Like A Girl. Previously she was an independent director of MBIA (NYSE: MBI) and Atlanta Life Financial Group, a mutual fund trustee of Allianz Global Investors and PNC funds, as well as a board member of NACD’s Carolinas’ Chapter and the C200 Foundation.

In acknowledgment of her leadership and expertise, Maryann was honored by Directors & Boards as one of 20 accomplished female board members in Directors to Watch. US Banker also named Maryann one of “The 25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” for her business vision, personal excellence, and professional integrity.

April Hall

Managing Editor, Directors & Boards and Private Company Director magazines

April Hall is digital director for MLR Media and managing editor of Directors & Boards and Private Company Director. She is an award-winning journalist with more than 20 years of experience with daily newspapers, magazines and radio