For over 40 years, Steve Dawson has performed forensic fraud investigations, internal control design consulting, accounting records reconstruction, litigation support services, and forensic training services for various industries located throughout the United States. Mr. Dawson has worked closely with various federal and state agencies such as the Secret Service, the FBI, the Texas Rangers, and other state and federal agencies. Mr. Dawson investigates cases of internal fraud throughout the country, and also assists organizations in the development of proper internal control / anti-fraud programs. His book “Internal Control / Anti-fraud Program Design for the Small Business” was published through Wiley Business Publishing. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a degree in Accounting and holds a Certified Public Accountant certificate in Texas and a certificate as a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Tax Institute 2026 Speakers
David Colmenero
Partner at Meadows, Collier, Reed, Cousins, Crouch & Ungerman LLP
Davis Colmenero is a CPA and attorney with experience in state tax controversy, litigation, and tax planning. He represents individuals, closely held businesses, and large corporations in Texas tax disputes before the State Office of Administrative Hearings, district courts, courts of appeals, and the Texas Supreme Court. He also represents clients in federal matters, including IRS audits, appeals, and litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district courts, the Court of Federal Claims, federal courts of appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. He has additional experience handling disputes with the Texas Workforce Commission and previously worked as a Texas sales tax auditor. His practice includes sales and use, franchise, motor fuels, motor vehicle, mixed beverage, and employment taxes.
Mr. Colmenero is a CPA and active in professional organizations, serving on the TXCPA Board of Directors. He is a past Chair of the State Bar of Texas Tax Section and immediate past chair of the TXCPA Federal Tax Policy Committee. He received the TXCPA Outstanding Committee Chair Award (2023–2024) and the Stanley J. Scott CPE Award (2023). He frequently speaks on federal and state tax issues and was admitted to practice in Texas in 1997.
Steve Dawson, CPA, CFE
Ken Huffman, CPA
President, Captive Nation
Ken Huffman, CPA began his career in accounting with a Big 4 accounting firm performing audits, and soon after moved to a boutique CPA firm. While growing his finance expertise conducting tax returns of individuals, corporations, partnership and trusts–as well as compilations, reviews, and audits–Ken began compiling, advising, and speaking on advanced tax strategies to business owners and other finance professionals. With the most powerful strategy being the captive insurance model, Ken saw a need for reputable captive insurance managers that provided superior management services with the same professionalism and values that CPA firms exhibit. Ken’s tangible solution to this need resulted in the formation of Captive Nation, Inc. Our team of experts are passionate about helping businesses implement captive insurance strategies that strengthen their core business. Captive Nation, Inc. advises the business owner, CPA, attorney, financial adviser, family office, along with the M&A and insurance professional on captive insurance.
Chris Lucas, CPA/ABV, CFA, CEPA
Owner, Lucas Valuation Group LLC
Chris Lucas is the founder of the Lucas Valuation Group and an affiliate of DBG Advisors, a leading DFW business brokerage firm. During the last thirty years, he has valued hundreds of companies and performed valuations in almost every industry. A decade of his valuation experience took place on Wall Street as a professional investor in leveraged finance debt instruments. During this period, he added expertise in credit analysis and debt structuring to his robust valuation skillset. Chris founded the Lucas Valuation Group in 2018 to assist small and medium sized business owners understand what their businesses were worth and to help them plan for successful transitions from their businesses. In addition to his desire to help small and medium sized business owners, Chris occasionally serves as an expert witness. He has qualified as an expert in a variety of capacities in both state and federal courts.I joined TXCPA Austin because, as the owner of a CPA firm, I wanted access to meaningful resources that would help me continue growing professionally and better serve my clients. I was also looking for opportunities to connect with other accounting professionals who understand both the technical and business sides of the profession.
Isreal Miller, CPA, CFP
Estate Planning and Probate Attorney, Gray Reed
Isreal is Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate Law and Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, a CPA in Texas, and a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional. He is also active in pro bono work and regularly speaks at Texas Society of CPAs conferences.
Alex Pilawski
Alex Pilawski is a partner in the firm's State & Local Tax section. His practice primarily focuses on representing business across a wide variety of industries in disputes with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts involving sales and use tax, franchise tax, mixed beverage tax, and motor vehicle taxes, among others. He has represented taxpayer in all forums for Texas tax litigation, including audit/refund verification, administrative hearings, the State Office of Administrative Hearings, district court, the court of appeals, and the Texas Supreme Courts. In addition to his controversy work, Mr. Pilawski also counsels taxpayers on issues involving the application of Texas taxes to their business and advises Taxpayer in connection with transactions to limit Texas tax exposure. He also advices business regarding issues with respect to Texas employment insurance and assists taxpayers in disputes with the Texas Workforce Commission. Mr. Pilawski is also a frequent speaker on Texas tax issues and is active in the Tax section of the State Bar of Texas, currently serving as a vice-chair of the State & Local Tax Committee. Mr. Pilawski was admitted to practice in Texas in 2010.
Renee Prince, CPA, CGMA
Renee Prince is driven by her entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for her profession. She has served on various AICPA and TXCPA committees to drive the profession forward through continuing education, continuing the pipeline of potential CPA candidates, working with federal, state, and local politicians to advocate for policy for accountants and taxpayers alike, and creating an environment to foster growth with other firm owners.
As a graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas and Lubbock Christian University, as well as national and local chapter leadership academies, she has consistently sought opportunities to not only grow as a leader but also to create strong bonds between and within organizations.
Renee loves working with clients to help them achieve their dreams. In her spare time, she loves to read, hike, and spend time with her family in the pool
Chau Tran, CPA
Founder, Chau Tran, CPA LLC
Chau Tran is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and founder of a professional tax firm based in Amarillo, Texas. With extensive experience managing high-volume client portfolios and developing accounting workflow software, specializes in integrating advanced automation technology into public practice. Founder and primary developer of DynaTax AI, a workflow platform engineered specifically for modern tax and accounting professionals.
Michael Villa, Jr.
Partner, Meadows Collier
Mr. Villa was named the Best Lawyers® 2024 Litigation and Controversy-Tax "Lawyer of the Year" in Dallas/Fort Worth and recognized by Best Lawyers® from 2021 to 2026. He has also been named a Texas Super Lawyer in Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyer Magazines from 2013 to 2025. From 2010 to 2013, he was named a Texas Rising Star. Mr. Villa focuses on resolving federal tax controversies and white-collar crime, including securities, tax and bank fraud. He represents individuals, closely-held businesses, and large corporations in IRS audits, appeals, and litigation, as well as in business disputes and lawsuits involving fraud, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, deceptive trade practices act violations, non-compete violations, business torts, and other commercial disputes. Mr. Villa represents athletes and specializes in NIL issues, tax strategies, entity formations, endorsement strategy, and long-term brand development for collegiate athletes. Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Mr. Villa worked in Washington, D.C. as a Congressional intern to U.S. Senator John Breaux (Retired) and worked as an Associate with a regional law firm in New Orleans, Louisiana. From 2004 to 2005, he served as a Judicial Clerk to the Honorable James J. Brady, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana. Mr. Villa was admitted to practice in Texas in 2005 and in Louisiana in 2004.
Josh Willson, CPA
Associate Manager, The Walton Group LLC
Josh Willson, CPA, has more than 14 years of experience in public accounting. He focuses on tax preparation, consulting, and planning for both businesses and individuals, and helps manage the daily operations and long-term planning of a mid-sized accounting practice in Fort Worth.
He began his career in banking with Wells Fargo Bank, NA, and previously worked in operations at Mira Vista Golf Club. Josh earned a Master of Science in Taxation from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Science in Turfgrass Science and Management from Texas Tech University. He has been a licensed CPA since 2012 and is proficient in ProSystem fx Tax, QuickBooks, and Microsoft Office.
Josh is active in TXCPA Fort Worth, where he serves as Vice President and is a Leadership Development Class of 2013 alum. He has received the Rising Star Award and multiple Outstanding Community Volunteer honors. He also serves in leadership roles at Doxology Bible Church and supports several local nonprofit organizations.