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Owner at JRT-AIA Architect, in Concord, New Hampshire
Mr. Tepe is a licensed architect. In practice for more than 45 years, he has been both a member and an officer of large E/A firms and a sole practitioner. His project experience ranges from single-family dwellings to large, multi-million dollar commercial and industrial facilities. As a sole proprietor, his firm specializes in building, fire and accessibility code (ADA) consulting to architects, contractors, insurance and legal professionals and private entities, including third-party plan reviews and accessibility inspections.

Mr. Tepe has been active in the code development process through the AIA since joining the AIA Codes and Standards Committee in 1987. With the creation of the International Code Council (ICC), he participated in the initial development of the International Building Code on the General/Occupancies subcommittee and was the chair of that group for two terms. Mr. Tepe was a member of the International Fire Code Development Committee for two terms and also the IBC Fire Safety and Egress Code Development Committees. Additionally, he served a term on the ICC Code Correlation Committee. He has made numerous presentations to conference audiences on topics related to building code enforcement and interpretation issues.

Mr. Tepe has held all offices at both the state level (AIANH) and the regional level (AIA New England). He was active in the legislative process in New Hampshire to adopt the first statewide set of building codes. He has taught numerous code and accessibility-related issues in New Hampshire, New England, and at BOCA, ICC, BSA and AIA conferences and HalfMoon Education seminars and webinars. He is a past chair of the Building Code Board of Appeals in Concord, New Hampshire. He has also served on several other code and building related state and local committees and groups and is a past chair of the AIA Center for Building Science and Performance Knowledge Community.

Owner at JRT-AIA Architect, in Concord, New Hampshire
Mr. Tepe is a licensed architect. In practice for more than 45 years, he has been both a member and an officer of large E/A firms and a sole practitioner. His project experience ranges from single-family dwellings to large, multi-million dollar commercial and industrial facilities. As a sole proprietor, his firm specializes in building, fire and accessibility code (ADA) consulting to architects, contractors, insurance and legal professionals and private entities, including third-party plan reviews and accessibility inspections.

Mr. Tepe has been active in the code development process through the AIA since joining the AIA Codes and Standards Committee in 1987. With the creation of the International Code Council (ICC), he participated in the initial development of the International Building Code on the General/Occupancies subcommittee and was the chair of that group for two terms. Mr. Tepe was a member of the International Fire Code Development Committee for two terms and also the IBC Fire Safety and Egress Code Development Committees. Additionally, he served a term on the ICC Code Correlation Committee. He has made numerous presentations to conference audiences on topics related to building code enforcement and interpretation issues.

Mr. Tepe has held all offices at both the state level (AIANH) and the regional level (AIA New England). He was active in the legislative process in New Hampshire to adopt the first statewide set of building codes. He has taught numerous code and accessibility-related issues in New Hampshire, New England, and at BOCA, ICC, BSA and AIA conferences and HalfMoon Education seminars and webinars. He is a past chair of the Building Code Board of Appeals in Concord, New Hampshire. He has also served on several other code and building related state and local committees and groups and is a past chair of the AIA Center for Building Science and Performance Knowledge Community.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Agee is the director of Building and Code Enforcement for St. Charles County, Missouri. Previously, he worked in urban and suburban municipal governments managing building code enforcement, facilities, and information technology. Prior to his public sector positions, Mr. Agee worked in the construction industry in design and project management.

He has an undergraduate degree in Architectural and Mechanical Design and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. As a Master Code Professional, Mr. Agee is one of approximately 800 people to obtain the highest level of certification from the International Code Council. He currently holds a total of 28 certifications in building, energy, plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and accessibility areas.

Mr. Agee is a former president of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors (MABOI). In addition, he founded Regimen Consulting LLC, which provides code training and technology consultation to various organizations across the country.

Mr. Vernon is a master code professional and a certified building official, and he holds North Carolina Level III certifications in all five trades (building, electric, mechanical, plumbing and fire). Mr. Vernon has been working in the construction industry for 38 years beginning with a six-year stint in the US Army where he served in Germany, Honduras, Alabama and at the US Army Engineer School in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He has worked in Prince William County in Virginia and in Lincoln, Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties in North Carolina. Through the years, he has been an inspector, a plan reviewer, a senior plan reviewer, and a department director among other job titles. Mr. Vernon is currently employed by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement where he serves as the building code administrator. He has also been a part-time instructor at Central Piedmont Community College for the past ten years, and he serves as code consultant for University of North Carolina’s fifth year Architecture students. Mr. Vernon is also an ordained bishop.

Mr. Vernon is a master code professional and a certified building official, and he holds North Carolina Level III certifications in all five trades (building, electric, mechanical, plumbing and fire). Mr. Vernon has been working in the construction industry for 38 years beginning with a six-year stint in the US Army where he served in Germany, Honduras, Alabama and at the US Army Engineer School in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He has worked in Prince William County in Virginia and in Lincoln, Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties in North Carolina. Through the years, he has been an inspector, a plan reviewer, a senior plan reviewer, and a department director among other job titles. Mr. Vernon is currently employed by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement where he serves as the building code administrator. He has also been a part-time instructor at Central Piedmont Community College for the past ten years, and he serves as code consultant for University of North Carolina’s fifth year Architecture students. Mr. Vernon is also an ordained bishop.

Formerly, Mr. Chestnut served as a director and practice leader for the Indianapolis office of Ryan, LLC, Thomson Reuters, and Deloitte. He has been involved with real and business personal property tax for more than 30 years. Mr. Chestnut has extensive experience with property tax reduction, administrative appeal representation, assisting clients with strategic tax planning, compliance work including the preparation of all business personal property tax forms and applications, audit representation, and testimony.  He received a B.S. degree in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University.  

After graduating from Indiana University School of Law, Mr. Greene started his career in state and local tax as a Sales Tax Hearing Officer with the Indiana Department of Revenue in 1988. He has worked with a small consulting firm as vice president and general counsel. Mr. Green started the state and local tax practice at the Indianapolis offices of Deloitte. He was the national product leader for Grant Thornton’s automation practice; he was the national practice leader for Crowe Horwath’s sales and use tax practice; and he opened his law office as a sole practitioner. Mr. Greene is active in the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT) and serves on the certification committee. He is a frequent speaker on multistate sales and use tax issues, and sales tax process improvement.

Mr. Hagerman  is a tax partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Indianapolis and has been practicing in the area of multistate taxation since 1996. He counsels business clients in all areas of state and local taxes, including controversies, administrative proceedings, audits, appeals, litigation, and planning. Mr. Hagerman serves as an independent advisor to businesses with respect to tax risk management, review of 3rd party tax strategies, legal review of tax-related transactions and business life events. His experience includes public accounting and law practice in Indianapolis, and he also managed the tax function of a Fortune 500 insurance company headquartered in Indiana for more than four years. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.  

Laura L. Rakaska is the executive director of Audit and Compliance Support at Indiana Department of Revenue. She has been with the department for 11 years and oversees the division’s fraud, analytics and compliance efforts as well as all audit support operations. Prior to coming to the department, Ms. Rakaska worked in public accounting for 10 years, primarily in the area of audit and advisory services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Franklin College and is an active CPA.

Christopher Russell joined the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) in January 2017 as special counsel and policy director. Mr. Russell oversees the tax policy team on legislative and guidance initiatives and special legal initiatives designed to further enhance DOR’s commitment to simplification, accuracy and reliability of tax services, and he serves as liaison to the Indiana Office of Management & Budget. Mr. Russell was previously deputy general counsel under then-general counsel Krupp at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). He earned his J.D. degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Lena N. Snethen is deputy general counsel at the Indiana Department of State Revenue where she oversees the Appeals Section. The Appeals Section is charged with addressing individual and business challenges to assessments, audit results, refund denials, and the Department’s interpretation of Indiana’s 47 “listed taxes.” During the 1990s, she worked in higher education fundraising where she helped a team at DePauw University raise over $375 million, breaking records for a liberal arts school that size. Ms. Snethen attended the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, graduating in 2003. After stints in estate planning and civil liberties work, she joined the Department’s Legal Division in 2007 as senior hearing officer. In 2015, after a year litigating tax cases as an Indiana deputy attorney general, she returned to the department to head the Appeals Section as assistant general counsel.

Alexis M. Sowder is a multistate project manager at KSM Location Advisors. Part of the Katz, Sapper & Miller Network, KSM Location Advisors works closely with companies across the country to maximize state and local incentive packages and make fully informed, data-driven location decisions. In her role, Ms. Sowder assists in the execution of projects, working with clients and economic development officials for both incentive and location advisory assignments. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at Cushman & Wakefield, most recently as manager, where she supported the advancement of their national brokerage practice groups. Ms. Sowder received a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University and a master of business administration degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis.

Hon. Martha B. Wentworth was appointed Judge of the Indiana Tax Court by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2011. Judge Wentworth holds a B.S., M.S. and J.D. cum laude from Indiana University – Bloomington. Prior to her judicial appointment, she was a Tax Director at Deloitte Tax LLP where she led its Indiana Multistate Tax Services. Judge Wentworth has taught at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, the McKinney School of Law, and the Maurer School of Law for more than 22 years. Judge Wentworth is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and this year she was selected to Chair the 42nd (2022) and 43rd (2023) National Conference of State Tax Judges. 

Mark Buchi of Holland & Hart LLP in Salt Lake City provides seasoned and effective counsel to clients on complex tax disputes and litigates significant cases before administrative agencies, the state tax courts and appellate courts. Prior to practicing law in the private sector, he served as division chief over the Tax and Business Regulation division for the attorney general of Utah. Mr. Buchi also served as chairman of the Utah State Tax Commission. In this cabinet-level position, he served two governors, and became thoroughly familiar with the budgetary, accounting, and operational procedures of the state government. He also served on the executive committee of the Multi-State Tax Commission. Mr. Buchi is currently a registered lobbyist in Utah and works closely with various government entities. He speaks to numerous government agencies and corporations across the country.

John T. Deeds of Crapo Deeds PLLC in Salt Lake City advises clients in all areas of state and local tax, including property, sales, and income tax matters. He has successfully represented clients before administrative tribunals, as well as state and federal courts throughout the county. Additionally, Mr. Deeds has been involved in legislative efforts when such action is required to further his clients’ needs. He understands that there is more than one way to solve an issue and uses his extensive background in state and local tax to find innovative solutions for his clients. Prior to joining Crapo Deeds PLLC, Mr. Deeds practiced at Holland & Hart. He has also worked as a law clerk in the Tax and Revenue Division of the Utah Attorney General’s Office. He received his J.D. degree from the University of Utah and an LL.M. degree in taxation from Georgetown.

Nathan R. Runyan is an associate at the law firm of Holland & Hart LLP in Salt Lake City. His clients look to him for guidance securing the financial health of their companies. He strategically devises methods to provide his clients with the maximum financial benefits. Mr. Runyan’s practice focuses on state and local taxation, including property, sales, income and severance tax issues, government relations, administrative law, and commercial litigation. He represents clients in virtually all aspects of dispute resolution, including State and Federal Courts, mediations, arbitrations, state and local administrative tribunals and local boards of equalization. Mr. Runyan received his B.A. degree in Accounting and J.D. degree from Brigham Young University. He is admitted to practice in both the federal and state courts in Utah. Prior to law school, Mr. Runyan was employed as a senior auditor in the Auditing Division for the Utah State Tax Commission. He is a frequent lecturer on state and local tax issues and publishes routinely in state and local tax publications, including the ABA Property Tax and Sales and Use Tax Deskbook.

Mr. Thorup is a practicing tax lawyer who also spends considerable time in lobbying executive branch and legislative branch officials in the state of Utah. He also represents clients before numerous state agencies, including the Utah State Tax Commission, the Utah Liquor Commission and Department of Alcohol Beverage Services. Mr. Thorup’s tax practice is predominantly a case and controversy-type practice representing clients before the IRS, the Utah State Tax Commission and Utah courts, but also includes some tax planning and work for nonprofit/tax-exempt entities. As a registered Utah lobbyist since 1982, he spends full-time during Utah’s 45 calendar-day legislative session and the Utah Legislature’s interim committee study period lobbying state legislators and executive branch policy makers. Mr. Thorup is also involved in alcohol law and policy issues representing clients applying for alcohol licenses, defending against alleged violations, product labeling, and seeking policy changes.

Mr. Young litigates state and local sales, property, income, severance, unclaimed property, and other state and local tax cases before administrative tribunals, local boards of equalization, and courts throughout the Rocky Mountain region. He lobbies state tax and local issues before the Utah Legislature, Utah State Tax Commission, and local governments. He consults with clients nationwide and represents large household-name clients as well as small businesses and individuals. Mr. Young was voted by his colleagues to be a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel. He is Chair of the State and Local Tax Committee of the Tax Section of the American Bar Association, and Past Chair of the Tax Section of the Utah State Bar. He routinely speaks and publishes nationwide on state and local tax issues, and sits on the Board of Editors of the ABA Property Tax Deskbook and the Journal of Multistate Taxation.

Formerly, Mr. Chestnut served as a director and practice leader for the Indianapolis office of Ryan, LLC, Thomson Reuters, and Deloitte. He has been involved with real and business personal property tax for more than 30 years. Mr. Chestnut has extensive experience with property tax reduction, administrative appeal representation, assisting clients with strategic tax planning, compliance work including the preparation of all business personal property tax forms and applications, audit representation, and testimony.  He received a B.S. degree in Accounting from Indiana Wesleyan University.  

After graduating from Indiana University School of Law, Mr. Greene started his career in state and local tax as a Sales Tax Hearing Officer with the Indiana Department of Revenue in 1988. He has worked with a small consulting firm as vice president and general counsel. Mr. Green started the state and local tax practice at the Indianapolis offices of Deloitte. He was the national product leader for Grant Thornton’s automation practice; he was the national practice leader for Crowe Horwath’s sales and use tax practice; and he opened his law office as a sole practitioner. Mr. Greene is active in the Institute for Professionals in Taxation (IPT) and serves on the certification committee. He is a frequent speaker on multistate sales and use tax issues, and sales tax process improvement.

Mr. Hagerman  is a tax partner with Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP in Indianapolis and has been practicing in the area of multistate taxation since 1996. He counsels business clients in all areas of state and local taxes, including controversies, administrative proceedings, audits, appeals, litigation, and planning. Mr. Hagerman serves as an independent advisor to businesses with respect to tax risk management, review of 3rd party tax strategies, legal review of tax-related transactions and business life events. His experience includes public accounting and law practice in Indianapolis, and he also managed the tax function of a Fortune 500 insurance company headquartered in Indiana for more than four years. He received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.  

Laura L. Rakaska is the executive director of Audit and Compliance Support at Indiana Department of Revenue. She has been with the department for 11 years and oversees the division’s fraud, analytics and compliance efforts as well as all audit support operations. Prior to coming to the department, Ms. Rakaska worked in public accounting for 10 years, primarily in the area of audit and advisory services. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Franklin College and is an active CPA.

Christopher Russell joined the Indiana Department of Revenue (DOR) in January 2017 as special counsel and policy director. Mr. Russell oversees the tax policy team on legislative and guidance initiatives and special legal initiatives designed to further enhance DOR’s commitment to simplification, accuracy and reliability of tax services, and he serves as liaison to the Indiana Office of Management & Budget. Mr. Russell was previously deputy general counsel under then-general counsel Krupp at the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). He earned his J.D. degree from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law.

Lena N. Snethen is deputy general counsel at the Indiana Department of State Revenue where she oversees the Appeals Section. The Appeals Section is charged with addressing individual and business challenges to assessments, audit results, refund denials, and the Department’s interpretation of Indiana’s 47 “listed taxes.” During the 1990s, she worked in higher education fundraising where she helped a team at DePauw University raise over $375 million, breaking records for a liberal arts school that size. Ms. Snethen attended the Maurer School of Law at Indiana University, graduating in 2003. After stints in estate planning and civil liberties work, she joined the Department’s Legal Division in 2007 as senior hearing officer. In 2015, after a year litigating tax cases as an Indiana deputy attorney general, she returned to the department to head the Appeals Section as assistant general counsel.

Alexis M. Sowder is a multistate project manager at KSM Location Advisors. Part of the Katz, Sapper & Miller Network, KSM Location Advisors works closely with companies across the country to maximize state and local incentive packages and make fully informed, data-driven location decisions. In her role, Ms. Sowder assists in the execution of projects, working with clients and economic development officials for both incentive and location advisory assignments. Prior to joining the firm, she worked at Cushman & Wakefield, most recently as manager, where she supported the advancement of their national brokerage practice groups. Ms. Sowder received a bachelor of arts degree in Journalism from Indiana University and a master of business administration degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business in Indianapolis.

Hon. Martha B. Wentworth was appointed Judge of the Indiana Tax Court by Governor Mitch Daniels in 2011. Judge Wentworth holds a B.S., M.S. and J.D. cum laude from Indiana University – Bloomington. Prior to her judicial appointment, she was a Tax Director at Deloitte Tax LLP where she led its Indiana Multistate Tax Services. Judge Wentworth has taught at Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, the McKinney School of Law, and the Maurer School of Law for more than 22 years. Judge Wentworth is a Fellow of the American College of Tax Counsel, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, and this year she was selected to Chair the 42nd (2022) and 43rd (2023) National Conference of State Tax Judges.