Trust and Estates—2025 Series

A.J. is an enrolled agent (EA) with over thirty years of experience encompassing various areas of taxation. Though his practice centers on Individual, Business, and Estate Tax preparation, A.J. specializes in IRS Audits, Appeals, Collections, Innocent Spouse, Independent Contractor vs. Employee Issues, and Civil Tax Fraud Representations. As diverse as his specializations, A.J.’s clientele, too, ranges from average workers to Fortune 500 executives.Based in Sioux City, Iowa, A.J. nevertheless brings his everyday “in the trenches” experience to seminars nationally and internationally to assist attendees with real issues affecting tax professionals. A.J. has spoken Basics + Beyond Income Tax Seminars and Webinars, NATP National Conference and Webinars, NAEA Webinars, NTI Resort Conferences, and Iowa State University Webinars and Annual Tax Seminars.A.J. started his tax career with a national CPA firm in San Diego, CA after proudly serving for five years in the United States Navy onboard the Guided Missile Destroyer USS Callaghan. During his time on the destroyer, A.J. and crew members were awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal for their work in the Straits of Hormuz off the coast of Iran.Outside of his tax practice, he is a member of the Diocese of Sioux City Priests’ Pension & Welfare Board and the Investment Advisory Board for the Diocese. When not working, his time is spent in various activities, including traveling with his wife and their two children.

Donna first encountered tax issues as a teenage forestry major in a forest economics course at Oregon State University. A few educational twists and turns eventually led her to Temple Law School in Philadelphia, where she discovered her passion for tax law. She joined the tax section of a large Philadelphia law firm, Morgan Lewis, and was quickly recruited to serve as an adjunct law professor—launching a 23-year full-time teaching career.

She now holds the title of Emerita Professor of Law at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN, where she taught tax courses as well as Property, Estates and Trusts, and Food Law. (Emerita signifies she left on good terms and remains respected by the institution.) Donna began preparing tax returns as a volunteer long before computers were common in the office. Today, she owns Ash Creek Tax & Legal Services LLC in Monmouth, Oregon, providing tax preparation, estate planning, and taxpayer representation since 2016.

Jaye E Tritz, EA, CFP ® holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University and hasrecently retired from active tax practice. She was formerly a multi-unit franchise ownerwith H&R Block, having been twice honored as National Franchisee of the Year by thatcompany. During her thirty-one-year career as a tax preparer, she earned her EnrolledAgent designation in 1997 and became an NTPI Fellow in 2010. Jaye is also a CertifiedFinancial Planner and holds Series 6, 7, and 63 securities licenses. Jaye has been anationally recognized instructor and presenter for over 15 years.

Ellie views her role as an Enrolled Agent much like Ariadne in the labyrinth—an advocate guiding clients through the complexities of the tax world with clarity and consistency. She holds a Master of Library Science and a Master’s in English, and she teaches for various tax organizations while contributing to trade magazines, journals, and tax compendiums. In her spare time, Ellie writes fiction, both short and long form, that has been published. Her professional focus includes individuals, small businesses, and tax representation, helping clients navigate tax challenges with expertise and care.

John began his tax career in 1987 and passed the IRS Special Enrollment Exam in 1995. A National Tax Practice Institute fellow and SUNY Oswego graduate, he specializes in taxation for non-resident aliens, U.S. citizens living abroad, S corps, legal marijuana businesses, and cryptocurrency.

John is passionate about giving back to the profession. Every year on Giving Tuesday, Tax Practice Pro offers a free ethics webinar, and its weekly Tax Update webinars keep tax professionals informed on the latest developments. These programs combine practical guidance, strategies, and insights to help practitioners work smarter, faster, and with confidence.

Whether you’re just starting your career or expanding an established practice, Tax Practice Pro and John Sheeley, EA provide the education, coaching, and community support tax professionals need to succeed.

I am an Enrolled Agent and also work with Continuing Education for tax professionals nationwide.

Rita leads Wolf’s International Tax Services Practice, specializing in tax planning and compliance for international holdings. She has extensive experience advising clients on cross-border business activities, structuring international investments, and navigating U.S. compliance obligations for both entities and individuals. Rita also serves as a trusted advisor to other tax professionals, helping identify reporting requirements, review work papers, and ensure accuracy in an ever-evolving international tax landscape.

Prior to joining Wolf, Rita was an Associate Attorney at Vacovec, Mayotte & Singer, LLP, focusing on international and domestic taxation, estate planning, and tax controversy. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Boston University School of Law’s Graduate Tax Program, where she co-founded and co-teaches “Foreign Information Reporting and Withholding.” Rita frequently teaches other international tax topics for Strafford Publications, Tax Practice Pro, and Wolters Kluwer, sharing her expertise with tax professionals nationwide.

Jane Ryder, EA, CPA is a national speaker on many accounting, tax, and business compliance topics. She runs her CPA firm, Brass Tax Ryder Professional Group, Inc.in San Diego, California. Brass Tax (not affiliated with Brass Tax Presentations) has been providing tax and accounting services since 1980.Brass Tax is a business centric practice, preparing and consulting on the preparation of Corporations, S corporations, LLCs, Partnerships, and Trusts. She also specializes in IRS and state agencies collections, audit appeals, offers in compromise, and other compliance related matters.

Randy manages two accounting offices near Des Moines, IA. He has been preparing taxes since 1992. He really enjoys meeting with fellow tax preparers and has traveled to many states as a tax instructor. When not working with clients or out on the road instructing, he enjoys hiking in the National Parks or exploring the bike trails in the Midwest.

Robert “Bob” Kerr brings extensive experience across the public sector, trade associations, and private sector in tax administration, tax policy, and public policy. During over a decade at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), he held key positions in both Washington, DC headquarters and the Chicago district office. While working in the Service’s artificial intelligence labs, Bob led two nationwide electronic filing pilot programs, coordinating across multiple functional areas. He also served on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, assisting Senator Grassley with IRS oversight on issues ranging from private debt collection to relocation expenses.

Bob’s experience with the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA) and H&R Block provides him with a deep perspective on the needs of tax professionals. He served as NAEA’s chief advocate for more than a decade, acted as primary spokesperson to tax and general media, founded its political action committee, and later served as head of office, championing the profession at every level.

Michael is the owner of MIRANDA CPA & Consulting LLC located inSioux Falls, South Dakota. He has over 48 years of professionalexperience including tax consulting, estate planning and employeebenefits. His consulting practice includes niche areas and clientrepresentation before governmental agencies. He maintains an activespeaking schedule on tax law, estate and employee benefit planning. Heis a member of the Board of Directors for National Advisor TrustCompanies of Kansas and South Dakota. His professional designationsinclude CPA, QKA and NQPA (Employee Benefits) and AEP (EstatePlanning). His professional affiliations include the AICPA, SDCPASociety, ASPPA, NAEA, NATP and NAEPC.Prior to May 2017 Michael was a senior manager-shareholder with aregional CPA firm located in Northwestern Iowa for 27 years. Prior tothis experience, he was a Tax Specialist with a Big 8 accounting firm intheir South Bend and Minneapolis offices, providing tax and estateplanning for individuals and small to medium-sized businesses. Michaelresides in Sioux Falls, SD with his wife Jeanette.