2025 Controllers Conference

Robert Angelico, Managing Partner, Liskow & Lewis

Bob Angelico is a nationally-known tax lawyer at Liskow & Lewis with years of experience helping top-tier companies with sophisticated state and local tax issues throughout Louisiana. As the head of the firm’s tax practice group, Bob works to minimize the taxes of his clients, which include manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, non-profits, construction businesses and other entities of all types and sizes. 

Clients frequently rely on Bob to represent them in state and local tax audits and administrative appeals as alternatives to the court system. Bob works extensively with the Louisiana Department of Revenue, Louisiana Tax Commission, Louisiana Board of Tax Appeals and local taxing authorities around the state. In addition, he represents clients involved in state tax litigation, and parish and local tax litigation, at both the trial and appellate court levels. 

Bob’s training and credentials set him apart. He is a Board Certified Tax Specialist – as certified by the Louisiana Board of Legal Specialization – and a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Bob is immediate past president and managing partner of Liskow & Lewis.

Magdalen Bickford, Managing Member - New Orleans Office, McGlinchey Stafford

Magdalen Blessey Bickford is Chair of McGlinchey’s Labor and Employment section and Managing Member of the firm’s New Orleans office. Mag represents businesses and management in labor and employment litigation and provides general legal counsel on a variety of workforce matters. As a provider of management counsel, training, and education, Mag advises employers on best practices in the workplace and on drafting and implementing effective policies and procedures. Because the regulatory framework is constantly evolving, Mag helps clients navigate the changes in statutes such as the FLSA, LRA, EEOA, FMLA, ADA, and other laws. Additionally, she has successfully advocated on behalf of management in courts and administrative agencies in several states and before the EEOC and NLRB. With extensive litigation experience, Mag has also represented several non-profit and educational institutions in addition to her corporate clients.

Karen Carey, Structure Over Chaos

Karen Carey, affectionately known as “The Systems Diva®” is on a mission to make business
tech less fearful and challenging for female business owners.
With a career that spans more than 30+ in Information Systems & Technology, to include 16
years of teaching in the College of Information Systems & Technology at the University of
Phoenix, she has mastered a unique way to make “tech” fun and exciting.
She is a wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all (rarely has she met a stranger). A
raving fan of the New Orleans Saints, LSU Tiger and the Southern University Jaguars, she
enjoys football, traveling, reading and trying new restaurants (not to be confused with trying new
types of food! LOL).

Brian Carnie, Kean Miller LLP

Brian Carnie is a partner in the Shreveport office of Kean Miller and practices in the labor and employment group. He represents employers of all sizes in the private and public sectors. Brian dedicates his practice exclusively to the representation of management's interests in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law, including the defense of wrongful discharge, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, workplace tort, breach of contract, FMLA, and OSHA whistleblower claims in federal and state courts, and before administrative agencies. Brian prepares, litigates and defends non-compete agreements and other restrictive covenants for his clients. He has extensive experience in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), collective wage and hour cases, and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)?access cases, otherwise known as "drive-by" or "google" lawsuits. In addition to his litigation practice, Brian guides employers through complex disability and leave issues, sexual harassment investigations, workforce reorganizations/layoffs, wage and hour investigations, and worker misclassification and I-9 audits. He routinely represents management in collective bargaining, union grievances, arbitrations, and provides businesses with effective union avoidance strategies. 

Brian also helps employers understand and comply with the ever-changing rules and regulations under the?Affordable Care Act, including practical?guidance?on employer responsibilities, compliance and testing, reporting/notice requirements, and representation of employers who challenge the new IRS ACA penalty notices and appeals of demands for payment. 
Brian?is listed in?The Best Lawyers in America?(Labor and Employment) for 2024 and 2025. 
Representative Experience 

Vanessa Claiborne, President & CEO, Chaffe & Associates, Inc

Vanessa Claiborne is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Chaffe & Associates, Inc. She is a CPA, ABV by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and has received her designation as an ASA by the American Society of Appraisers. She holds Securities Licenses 79, 24, 27, and 63. Ms. Claiborne is also AEP by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils. She specializes in business valuation services primarily for estate and gift taxes, ESOPs, GAAP fair value reporting, financial reporting, business interruption claims, litigation support including expert testimony, exit planning, and shareholder transactions. Ms. Claiborne is active in many organizations including the American Society of Appraisers, serving as Governor of the International Board of Governors 2003-2007, Association for Corporate Growth, Isidore Newman School, American Red Cross, and the Agenda for Children.  She recently received the 2021 LCPA Women to Watch Most Experienced Leader Award.

Nene Gianfala, Vice President, Chaffe & Associates, Inc

Nene Gianfala is a Vice President of the Valuation Advisory group with over 15 years of experience in accounting, corporate finance, and business valuations. She joined Chaffe & Associates, Inc. as a Financial Analyst Intern in June 2007, and upon completion of the internship, joined the company. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Accredited in Business Valuations (ABV), Certified in Entity and Intangible Valuations (CEIV), Certified in the Fundamentals of ESG by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and an Accredited Senior Appraiser in Business Valuations with a specialty in Intangible Assets (ASA-BV/IA) by the American Society of Appraisers. Ms. Gianfala performs intellectual property and intangible asset valuations for purchase price allocations, impairment testing, internal intangible asset management, portfolio valuation, and litigation support. She provides business valuation services to public and private companies for estate, gift, and income tax planning, financial reporting, corporate planning, employee stock ownership plans, and litigation. Ms. Gianfala is very active in her community and in professional organizations including hosting podcasts for the AICPA on various topics from ESG to Crypto. She serves on the Board of the Louisiana SPCA, is the Past Treasurer Junior League of New Orleans, the Past President of the Tulane Association of Business Alumni, and an Adjunct Faculty Member of the University of Holy Cross.

Adam Knapp, Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc

Adam Knapp is The Committee of 100 for Economic Development, Inc. (C100) new Chief Executive Officer. Knapp has served as President and CEO of the Capital Region’s economic development organization, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC), since 2008 and was selected for his new role following an extensive nationwide search. Prior to his tenure at BRAC, Knapp developed an extensive background in private sector and economic development leadership. From an early career at the consulting firm, Accenture, he worked as Economic Development Policy Advisor to two governors, at Louisiana Economic Development, and for the post-Katrina/Rita Louisiana Recovery Authority as its deputy director. He has gained extensive experience in economic development work as well as major state policy reforms, such as education, tax and incentives, transportation, and workforce issues.