Continuing Professional Education

Dr. Matthew Sargent

Dr. Sargent is an Assistant Professor of Accountancy in the College of Business and Economic Development - School of Accountancy. Dr. Sargent holds a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) from the University of Dallas, and his research focuses on critical thinking, data analytics, fraud, and student outcomes within accounting education. He also holds a Master of Accounting (M.Acc) from Drake University and a B.S. in Information Technology. He has over 25 years of leadership experience in business and technical operations with companies such as PwC, KPMG, Charles Schwab, and Wells Fargo. He also has an extensive background and certifications in regulatory compliance, auditing, information security, and risk management.

William E. “Bill” McLeod, LL.M. (Tax), JD, CPA

Mr. McLeod practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, corporate and partnership taxation, business entity formation (including tax-exempt organizations), as well as sales, mergers, acquisitions, and other business transactions, and tax controversy matters.

He is a member of The Mississippi Bar and the South Central Mississippi Bar Associations, (Member, Trusts and Estates, Taxation, and Business Law Sections, past Chair of the Estates and Trust Section (2017-2018), past Chair of Business Law Section (2010-2011), past Chair of Taxation Section (1999-2000), and Member of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

He received his B.B.A. in Accounting from Millsaps College. Prior to law school, Mr. McLeod worked for the international accounting firm of KPMG Peat Marwick. He received his J.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 1993, where he was the Associate Editor of Casenotes of the Mississippi Law Journal and a member of Phi Delta Phi. He received his LL.M. in Taxation from the University of Florida College of Law in 1994.

Mr. McLeod is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court and is BV rated by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg, served as its President for 2010-2011, is serving on its Board of Directors, and served as Assistant District Governor for District 6840 from 2014 to 2016. He is also a member of Main Street United Methodist Church where he serves on the Finance Committee, the Administrative Council, and as Chair of the Planned Giving Committee.

He served as Chair of the Legacy Society for the Forrest General HealthCare Foundation, served on the Investment Committee for the USM Foundation, and served as Chair of the Advisory Board for USM’s Partners for the Arts.

Mr. Jeremy Graves

Mr. Graves received his master's from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2000, joined as an adjunct faculty member around 2007 and later moved to full-time Instructor in 2008. He has trained instructors and industry members from all over the United States the knowledge and skills required to design, maintain, and implement current technologies. He has taught IT and IT related topics to students in classrooms since 1999. He has built and managed multiple corporations that manage and maintain IT for customers in the southeast. This has provided him with decades of enterprise and small-business experience within his field.

Mr. Bill Felder, CPA, CISA

Mr. Felder serves as the Managing Director and President of HRK. He has over thirty (30) years of experience in public accounting. Bill performs a wide range of audits in various industries including hospitals and healthcare organizations, Federal and state government agencies, real estate management companies, government-assisted multi-family housing projects, insurance related government organizations, not-for-profit organizations including schools and churches, and financial institutions Mr. Felder has overseen (partner in-charge) the delivery of audit services for healthcare organization's (15 critical access/acute care hospitals and nursing homes over the past twenty (20) years) financial statements. Mr. Felder's experience has provided him with a unique understanding of the operations of rural hospitals (including not-for-profit, county owned and private organizations). He is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Mississippi License #4927. Mr. Felder is in good standing to practice public accounting. He has completed 40 hours of continuing professional education each year and meets the continuing education requirements of the Mississippi State Board of Public Accountancy. Mr. Felder graduated from Mississippi State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy and in 1993 with a Master of Professional Accountancy. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, the Central Chapter of Certified Public Accountants, the Information Systems Audit and Control Association, and the Healthcare Financial Management Association.

$160 for the day.

Can't join us all day? Participants can choose to attend either the morning or the afternoon sessions for $85.

Participants can earn up to 8 CPE credits.