2026 Business & Industry Fall Conference: Afternoon Session

Brent Bowden, Director, Tech Assurance – Audit, KPMG

Brent Bowden is a Director in KPMG’s Technology Assurance practice, based in Atlanta, Georgia, with over 13 years of experience advising organizations on audit, risk, and controls in complex, technology-enabled environments. He is a recognized leader in AI governance and assurance, with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence into internal controls over financial reporting.

Brent leads the development and go-to-market of KPMG’s AI assurance and governance offerings within the Audit practice. He has performed AI governance and assessment engagements for large, complex organizations, advising on the design, implementation, and evaluation of controls over AI-enabled processes, including those impacting financial reporting. His work focuses on helping organizations operationalize AI governance and align with emerging frameworks such as NIST AI RMF and ISO 42001.

He brings extensive experience in attestation services, including Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) integrated audits and financial statement audits, where he evaluates IT and business process controls in highly regulated environments. Brent specializes in helping organizations embed AI risk management, governance, and accountability into existing ICFR and SOX frameworks as AI adoption accelerates.

Brent is a thought leader in the rapidly evolving field of AI attestation and frequently speaks on AI governance, internal controls, and responsible AI adoption. He works with clients across industries, including retail and technology, supporting organizations as they scale AI in critical business and financial processes. A former professional athlete, Brent brings a high-performance, team-oriented mindset to his work and is known for delivering high-quality outcomes, building strong client relationships, and developing high-performing teams.

Grant Wackerman, CPA, CFE, Senior Consultant, The Sargent Consulting Group, LLC

Grant Wackerman is a Senior Consultant at The Sargent Consulting Group, LLC. Grant received his Master of Science in Accountancy from Western Michigan University and is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Fraud Examiner. Grant received numerous Dean’s List Awards, was inducted into the school’s International Business Honors Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, and served as President and Secretary for the Honors co-ed organization for Accounting, Finance, and Information Systems students, Beta Alpha Psi-Gamma Rho Chapter. In his spare time, Grant enjoys sports, travel, fishing, and scuba diving.

J Bradley Sargent, CPA/ABV/CFF, CIRA, CFE, CFS, Founder & Managing Member, The Sargent Consulting Group, LLC

Brad is the Founder and Managing Member of The Sargent Consulting Group. Brad assesses clients’ challenges and identifies solutions quickly and cost-effectively. Brad focuses clients on “defining a win” in every situation and working towards that goal. Those wins have ranged from $100m+ judgments in federal court to reduced jail time for criminal convictions. Brad’s candor and competency creates relationships with clients that endure and he is frequently sought at times of great crisis, when a truly trusted advisor can make the most impact. Brad loves distilling complicated financial information into a compelling, simple story and he has been recognized as an expert witness in multiple venues and is a highly sought guest lecturer and speaker. Brad has created a firm culture that treats every matter the same regardless of size, does not take itself too seriously (the work is serious enough) and looks to laugh out loud every day.

Kelly Barthel, Principal, Korn Ferry

Kelly connects high-performing, experienced career interim professionals with companies having a gap need to solve problems and keep work and business moving seamlessly.

With over 25 years of deep functional experience, Kelly is a passionate mentor to consultants and an accomplished and collaborative senior leader, pairing strong strategic vision with the ability to execute. Energetic, personable, pragmatic, and analytical, she is a tactical leader and analyst.

Kelly started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and has also had tenures at public companies such as Abbott Laboratories and Badger Meter, as well as privately-held corporations. She is especially seasoned in the manufacturing industry and provides partnership to public and private companies as well as PE firms.

She received her CPA and is an active community volunteer and board and committee leader.

Kim Fornek, Director, Tech Assurance – Audit, KPMG LLP

Kim Fornek is a Managing Director in KPMG’s Technology Assurance practice, based in Chicago, Illinois, and currently serves as the AI Business Unit Lead. She has over 15 years of experience advising organizations on IT risk, audit, and controls within complex, technology-enabled environments. Since joining the firm in 2008, she has specialized in supporting clients through SOX 404 compliance and SOC reporting, with a focus on designing and evaluating effective control frameworks.

Kim focuses on the planning, execution, and oversight of IT risk and assurance engagements, with deep expertise in IT general controls (ITGCs), business process controls, and automated application controls. In her role as AI Business Unit Lead, she is also focused on advancing the integration of artificial intelligence into risk and control frameworks, helping organizations address emerging risks while aligning with evolving regulatory and governance expectations. Her work centers on helping organizations strengthen their control environments through practical, risk-based approaches.

She brings extensive experience leading large-scale engagements across a range of industries, including consumer products, industrials, real estate, and asset management. She has also guided organizations through IPO readiness and SOX implementation, advising on compliance with current auditing standards and leading practices.

With a highly analytical and control-focused approach, Kim emphasizes precision, traceability, and alignment between financial risks and underlying IT controls. She plays a key role in driving consistency across engagements while helping organizations enhance governance, strengthen control environments, and respond to evolving regulatory expectations, including those introduced by emerging technologies such as AI.

Paul Krejcarek, EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide

Paul Krejcarek is a professional EOS Implementer, dedicated to teaching, facilitating, and coaching the EOS System. With a robust foundation in public accounting, Paul spent the first seven years of his career honing his skills in this field. He then transitioned into the private sector, where he held significant roles including Controller, CFO, and VP of Operations over a span of 30 years, primarily within the manufacturing industry. Paul has been a pivotal part of leadership teams that implemented EOS in several companies, building great teams and driving organizational success.

Paul’s experience expands many industries including tier 1 manufacturing, OEM manufacturing, industrial painting, music publishing, music production, logistics, auto restoration, non-profits and sports. He currently serves on the finance committee for Notre Dame School of Milwaukee.

Paul is a CPA and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Marquette University. He furthered his education with an Executive MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Outside of his professional life, Paul enjoys biking, golfing, and cherishing time with his family.