Ashley Humphries is a Senior Construction Auditor at R. L. Townsend & Associates, LLC with more than a decade experience advising owners on the financial integrity and risk management of large, complex capital programs. She has led and supported audits of complex capital construction programs across higher education, healthcare, public sector, industrial, and commercial environments.
Her construction audit experience spans projects ranging from ten million to over a billion in total project cost, with a focus on CMAR and GMP delivery models. Ashley specializes in proactive construction auditing, cost validation, contract compliance, and risk mitigation throughout all phases of a project—from procurement and buy‑out through closeout and claims resolution.
In addition to her audit leadership, Ashley has experience providing litigation support and advisory services related to construction cost disputes. She is an active instructor for professional development programs focused on construction audit and cost control, and she regularly speaks at industry conferences nationwide. She is a graduate of the University of North Texas and holds the designations of Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and Certified Construction Auditor (CCA). Ashley is actively involved in national professional associations supporting audit, fraud examination, and construction risk management.
Curt Plyler, CFA, CCA
Curt is a Principal at Fort Hill Associates and founder of Fort Hill Logix Incorporated, a firm focused on the extraction of data and automation of construction audit processes. With over 21 years of experience in construction auditing, he helps organizations improve financial oversight, strengthen compliance, and recover costs on complex capital projects. Curt serves as Engagement Manager for healthcare and higher education clients, partnering with facilities and internal audit teams to deliver measurable results. Prior to Fort Hill, he held roles with IBM and Progress Energy, building a strong foundation in financial and operational analysis. A CFA Charter holder and Certified Construction Auditor, Curt holds a B.S. from Clemson University and an MBA from Wake Forest University.
John L. Wisz CCA
John is the founder and principal of WiszCo, LLC., a firm that specializes in providing financial consulting services to the construction industry. On January 1, 2008, WiszCo was “spun off” from R. L. Townsend & Associates, Inc. where John served as a Senior Consultant/Senior Project Manager for over 21 years.
Since 1986, Mr. Wisz has managed, directed and performed a wide variety contract compliance audits relating to design and construction contracts. Such projects have encompassed virtually all types of commercial construction including high rise office buildings, interior renovations, corporate headquarter buildings, university buildings, hospitals, office complexes, hotels, convention centers, manufacturing facilities, airport facilities and land development projects. This includes audits of contractors, construction managers, consultants, architects and engineers.
Through his wide range of experience, John has gained a thorough understanding of the entire construction and contracting processes and his expertise has been instrumental in identifying and developing overcharges, overcharge exposures and other weaknesses throughout the entire process. He has provided practical recommendations to clients on all aspects of the construction and contracting process. Mr. Wisz has also been actively involved in developing processes and controls designed to prevent overcharges and minimize overcharge exposures. Such recommendations include contract language enhancements, contracting strategies and methodologies, change order management, cost control and contract administration.
Mr. Wisz also possesses an excellent working knowledge of federal contracting laws, regulations and guidelines including those prescribed by the Department of Defense (DoD). Such knowledge includes a thorough understanding of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), U.S. Statutes, Public Laws and other federal policies, procedures and guidelines. Consequently, John understands the differences, similarities and subtleties of contracting in both the public and private sectors.
Kenneth J. Brzozowski CCA/CCP
Kenneth is Director of Audit for Talson Solutions, LLC. He is a Certified Construction Auditor (CCA) and Construction Control Professional (CCP) with 34 years of experience in design, construction and quality auditing, contract compliance reviews, project risk analysis, construction management, and real estate acquisition, feasibility analysis, site engineering and development. Mr. Brzozowski has managed domestic and international construction audits, risk assessments, procedure reviews, and project readiness reviews for projects in education, healthcare, transportation, highway infrastructure, and commercial development industries that have resulted in process improvements, mitigated project risks, and realistic cost recovery opportunities. Mr. Brzozowski also provides oversight of Talson’s diversity monitoring and reporting engagement activities.
He is a member of the National Association of Construction Auditors Advisory Board and previously served 10 years on the Institute of Internal Auditors Philadelphia Chapter Board of Governors. He has accredited training from the National Transit Institute for the areas of Quality Assurance/Quality Control and Risk Assessments of Transit Capital Projects. Mr. Brzozowski holds a B.A. in Urban Planning from the University of Maryland. He has presented construction audit related topics and facilitated round table discussions for industry associations such as AHIA, AAIA, ACUA, ALGA, IIA and NACA.
Edward P Travers II, – CCA/CCP, CFS, CICA
Ed has served as Manager of Internal Audit for BXP, Inc., based in Boston, Massachusetts, for over 25 years. He brings deep expertise in construction auditing, internal controls, and fraud risk management, supported by a strong foundation of professional credentials, including Certified Construction Professional, Certified Construction Auditor, Certified Fraud Specialist, Construction Auditor Educator, and Certified Internal Control Auditor. Together, these designations reflect Edward’s long-standing commitment to technical excellence, integrity, and continuous professional growth. Edward’s educational background spans several institutions and degrees, including a BS, BA, and MBA, earned through Roger Williams University, Providence College, and Bryant University.
In his role at BXP, Edward partners closely with business leaders, project teams, and external stakeholders to deliver practical, risk-focused audit insights that promote strong governance and operational effectiveness. He is widely known for his collaborative approach, clear communication style, and ability to translate complex technical matters into actionable guidance.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Edward is deeply engaged in lifelong learning and the professional and non-profit community. He enjoys sharing knowledge, participating in industry forums, and building meaningful relationships, believing that integrity, curiosity, and continuous improvement are essential to both personal growth and long-term success. Outside of work, Edward enjoys spending time in Rhode Island with his husband, family, friends, and family pet. He is an avid football fan and marathon runner, and he enjoys traveling and hiking in diverse environments—from tropical destinations and historic European settings to
the mountains of New England and beyond.
John Sier, JD, CCP
John leads the Commercial and Construction Practice Group at the Kitch firm headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, where he has been practicing for nearly forty years. In addition to serving as counsel to Construction Owners Association of America, John is on the American Arbitration Association panel of neutrals and serves as a mediator in construction and commercial matters in various industries, including defense, health care and higher education. He is the editor of the State-by-State Guide to Architect, Engineer, and Contractor Licensing, published by Wolters Kluwer. He is also active with several construction-related organizations in addition to NACA including the Construction Specifications Institute, Building Owners and Managers Association, as well as the Steering Committee for the Construction Law Section of the Defense Research Institute. John serves as the chair of the Pro Bono/Access to Justice Committee of the Detroit Bar Association; he is President of the board of the Wayne County Dispute Resolution Center and is active on several other industry and nonprofit boards.
Jake Ortego, CCA/CCP
Mr. Ortego is Principle at HPM Audit and Contract Services based in Dallas, TX. Jake has over 28 years of experience with nearly every aspect of capital improvement processes from inception through design, construction, and closeout for projects that range into the billions of dollars. He leads the practice in providing consulting to Owner organizations engaged in the planning and execution of capital programs with a focus on risk identification, avoidance, and mitigation. Over his career, he has provided project controls, scheduling, project management and engineering management for nearly every sector of Owner, including institutional, public sector, industrial, and commercial. Beyond his auditing and consulting work, Mr. Ortego has been requested to provide expert opinions for construction litigation as well as neutral third party opinions as part of settlement between parties.
Prior to HPM, some of Jake’s career highlights included founding JA Cost Engineers and Advisors, being a primary team member of Deloitte’s North Central Construction Advisory Group, and leading EPCM efforts as well as running an engineering office in Manilla for Eichleay Engineers.
Jake has been heavily involved with NACA including being a Certified Construction Auditor and Cost Professional, serving on the National Advisory Board, and being the MC to many of the conferences. He is also a Licensed Professional Engineer and a Certified Cost Engineer. He is a graduate of Boston University where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He has been published by the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) as many other industry publications.
Marvin Johnson CCA/CCP
Marvin has amassed 37 years of construction management experience. His Sr. Project Management, Operations and Construction Audit expertise has contributed to the placement of over $5 Billion of construction throughout the US. Marvin currently serves as Managing Director for the Construction Cost Review practice at CBIZ Risk Advisory Services (NYSE: CBZ) and Senior Member of Construction Management Partners, LLC (CMP). CMP is a professional consulting practice specializing in the areas of Project Management (Incl. Owner’s Representative), and Diversity Program Management services.
Marvin offers his award-winning services in several key specialty markets including Healthcare, Higher Education, Corporate Facilities and Major League Sports. Other Owner support services include project controls, risk management strategies when considering a project delivery model, and preconstruction-speed-to-market activities. Marvin’s core competencies include:
· Recognized project management performer and advisor to the construction industry. Skilled industry speaker, presenter and closer
· Demonstrated market intelligence and relationship development. Strategies for building a successful project team to achieve optimum project results. Team leader – Responsible for effective allocation and use of staff resources for client results-driven programs. Highly technical skilled writer, and communicator – Proposals, project scope development and organizational
documents. Proficient and demonstrated project management skills that include all phases of design management, preconstruction, construction phase services and post construction. Management of schedule development processes, logic review, project delivery strategy, cost review and validation, scope crepe management, contract management, claims/dispute, management controls, Pre-GMP, final GMP and implementation management.
Marvin’s education includes – California Coast University, (Studied: Business Management), Amos Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth (Studied: Business Management), Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University (Studied: Business Management), John Cook School of Business at Saint Louis University (Studied: Supply Chain Management) and Meramec Community College, St. Louis, Missouri (Major: Architecture)
Professional Organizations, Recognitions and Affiliations NACA National Association of Construction Auditors, $Billion Dollar Impact Program – Inaugural Year 2012, MOSHE – Missouri Society for Healthcare Engineering, ASHE – America Society for Healthcare Engineering, Missouri Hospital Association,National Society of Black Engineers, St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers
Signature projects include: IU Health Campus Project., Grady Hospital West Tower Rebuild, BJC HealthCare Campus Renewal Project – Phase 1, 2, 3 & 4, St. Louis (Rams) Riverfront Stadium Complex – St. Louis, MO, Miami Dolphins Renovations and Retrofit – Miami, FL, St. Louis Cardinal New Ballpark – St. Louis, MO, Missouri Baptist Medical Center, Missouri Botanical Gardens – New Jack C. Taylor Visitors Center
Melissa Goddard Shelfer CCA/CCP
Ms. Goddard is the founder and principal of FACT Financial Investigations, LLC, a multi-faceted firm providing financial investigation services to the construction industry. Ms. Goddard’s services include construction auditing, forensic accounting, fraud investigation, litigation support services, and expert witness services with significant expertise in the construction industry.
FACT Financial Investigations also provides proactive services such as fraud risk assessments, due diligence investigations, contract review, and internal control review, design and implementation for the construction industry and also provides specialized training to contractors in accounting and fraud.
Scott Dixon CCA/CCP
Scott has over 28 years of experience in construction accounting and auditing. He held various roles in the 1990’s within a midsize CPA firm working on clients in construction, banking and manufacturing. In the mid 2000’s Scott spent a decade with the Seminole Tribe of Florida as Director of Construction Audit, overseeing capital project audits of Tribal Casino properties. Since the inception of SR Dixon & Associates, Scott has overseen audits on Casino projects across the United States and with individual project size reaching into the Billions of dollars. In addition to those duties, Scott is a frequent speaker, author and contributor to Construction, Accounting and Auditing media outlets, having been published in Indian Gaming Magazine on numerous occasions.
Scott Alexander JD
Scott is a partner in Murphy Austin’s Construction Law Team, and previously served as the firm’s managing partner from 2012 through 2024. Scott’s practice focuses on all aspects of construction and real estate law, including public contracts, and complex contract disputes. Scott routinely represents public and private owners, general contractors, and subcontractors on a broad array of issues within the construction industry, including drafting and negotiating contracts and subcontract, licensing matters, bid protests, focused counseling concerning in-project issues, and pursuing and defending delay and impact claims, claims involving defective construction issues, false claim issues, and mechanics’ lien, stop notice and bond claim actions. He has been listed in the annual editions of Northern California Super Lawyers and Sacramento/SacTown Magazine for excellence in construction and commercial litigation. Scott has also been included in the multiple editions of Best Lawyers in America for excellence in construction, commercial, and real estate litigation, and was recently named Best Lawyers’ 2026 Sacramento Lawyer of the Year in real estate litigation.
Ken Schumaker JD
Ken is a partner in Murphy Austin’s Construction Law Team, and his practice focuses on all aspects of construction law, including contract drafting/negotiation, licensing matters, in-project consultation, and dispute resolution. Ken represents public and private owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers on private and public works projects, and has broad knowledge and experience handling delay claims, defective construction issues, and payment collection claims. He has been recognized as a Northern California Super Lawyer and Best in Bar by Sacramento/SacTown Magazine for construction litigation.
Craig Mann CFE/CCA/CCP/PMP
is a Certified Construction Auditor (CCA), Construction Control Professional (CCP), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with extensive experience leading forensic investigations, fraud risk assessments, and integrity oversight engagements across commercial and government-funded construction projects an project accounting management for over a decade. He also holds an OSHA 30-Hour Certification, reinforcing his understanding of jobsite operations, safety requirements, and operational risk environments.
Mr. Mann leads forensic investigations and fraud risk assessments involving overbilling, cost allocation failures, and financial control breakdowns within complex GMP and cost-reimbursable contracts. His work supports owners, sureties, legal counsel, and public-sector agencies by identifying financial exposure, strengthening internal controls, and translating complex audit findings into clear, defensible, and actionable insights. He has also led internal audit and integrity oversight monitoring engagements for state agencies and large construction organizations, providing independent assurance over high-risk capital programs.
Mr. Mann has also managed financial operations for high-value construction projects in New York City, including hospital suites and high-rise developments. He oversaw accounts payable and receivable, payroll, cost forecasting, owner billings, change order tracking, and subcontractor reconciliation. This hands-on construction finance and project controls experience forms the foundation of his forensic and audit practice and enhances his ability to pinpoint where and how overbilling occurs within GMP environments while maintaining credibility with project teams and stakeholders.
In 2025, Mr. Mann was published in the NASBP Surety Bond Quarterly (Winter Edition) with the article “The Fraud Risk Assessment: A Strategic Enterprise Asset for Proactive Contractors.” He also regularly presents and hosts educational webinars for industry organizations, including the National Association of Construction Auditors (NACA), sharing practical insights on construction fraud risks, audit strategy, and proactive risk management.
Felipe Isore Gutierrez CCA CFE CIA
Felipe is Founder and Managing Partner of CONEXIG, a global expert witness and consulting firm focused on expert witness and risk advisory services. With over 25 years of experience across several sectors including construction, energy, O&G, mining, and others, in more than 16 countries, he advises clients on economic damages, disruption, cost overruns, and quantum. Felipe has supported proceedings under AAA, ICC, ICSID, and UNCITRAL rules and is known for integrating construction audit, project controls, and financial and accounting analysis to assist tribunals in complex disputes. He has earned advanced degrees in economics and law, is a CPA in Brazil, and amongst others, has maintains professional certifications such as Certified Construction Auditor (CCA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Internal Auditor (CIA).
Brad Sargent CPA, CFE, CCA
Brad is the Founder and Managing Member of The Sargent Consulting Group. Brad assesses clients’ challenges and identifies solutions quickly and cost-effectively. Brad focuses clients on “defining a win” in every situation and working towards that goal. Those wins have ranged from $100m+ judgments in federal court to reduced jail time for criminal convictions. Brad’s candor and competency creates enduring relationships with clients. He is frequently sought at times of great crisis, when a truly trusted advisor can make the most impact. Brad loves distilling complicated financial information into a compelling, simple story; he has been recognized as an expert witness in multiple venues and is a highly sought guest lecturer and speaker. Brad has created a firm culture that treats every matter the same regardless of size, does not take itself too seriously (the work is serious enough) and looks to laugh out loud every day.
James Spencer CCA
Jim is a Senior Director at The Sargent Consulting Group. Jim is integral in securing many of the firm’s largest wins in industries as diverse as Automotive, Construction, Family Law, Healthcare, Logistics, Manufacturing, Real Estate and Utilities. He uses his strong background in finance to lead business valuations and damage calculations. Jim is a trusted advisor to trial attorneys and in-house counsel from pre-litigation fact finding to expert testimony. He also has extensive experience in consumer electronics which helps keep SARGENT’s technology cutting edge and the firm fully informed about advancements in eDiscovery and Computer Forensics. When not solving complicated problems, Jim loves to spend time vacationing with his family, playing with his young son or catching a ball game at Wrigley Field.
Robert Kelley, CPA, CGMA, CCA, CCP
Robert Kelley is a partner and SVP at Nicholson Professional Consulting, Inc. which offers forensic accounting and expert witness services to the surety industry when construction companies are financially distressed and their bonding company needs consulting services. While serving 14+ years at Nicholson, he has been the lead accountant on hundreds of cases and testified at multiple litigation hearings as an expert witness. These cases have ranged from a few million dollars of unfinished bonded work to multi-billions of dollars in unfinished bonded work.
Prior to joining Nicholson, Robert served as the CFO for several prominent contractors in the Atlanta market (The Flagler Company, Landmark Fence, The Potts Company, and Reeves Young). He spent most of that time at The Flagler Company (20 years) where he performed the typical duties of a CFO but also developed a comprehensive construction software package (written in COBOL) and utilized it for 13 years before converting to Timberline (aka Sage 300). He found the experience of creating code to instruct the computer the means and methods of producing meaningful output became an untapped skill that served him well in future endeavors, especially utilizing sophisticated techniques in Excel.
After 12 years with Nicholson, he undertook what was expected to be a short-term assignment to serve as the CEO of a Part 135 (10 passengers or less) airline in Alaska which operates 55 aircraft, carries approximately 220,000 passengers per year and approximately 22 million pounds of mail, freight, and cargo per year. The airline operates in western Alaska where there isn’t a road system and airplane travel is the only option to travel between communities. The short-term assignment ending up taking 9 years.
He returned to Nicholson in 2024 and continues to serve as a partner and SVP. Robert served as a Marine prior to receiving his B.S. at Georgia State University and later received his MBA from Auburn University. Robert is designated as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA); a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA); a Certified Construction Auditor (CCA); and a Construction Control Professional (CCP).
Steve C. Morang CIA, CFE
Associate Principal at Spire, is a forensic accounting expert with over 30 years of experience in dispute resolution and litigation support. He leads the Forensic Accounting & Fraud Advisory group, specializing in expert witness services in fraud examination, economic damages, and compliance matters. Steve is a forensic accounting expert with over 30 years of experience in dispute resolution and litigation support. He leads the Forensic Accounting & Fraud Advisory group, specializing in expert witness services in fraud examination, economic damages, and compliance matters. He lives with his family on a small farm in Brookshire, Texas with their many fury and featherily friends.
Sanja Morang
Sanja is the founder of The Seduction of Fraud, with a background in marketing, teaching, and psychology. Together with her husband, she developed The Seduction of Fraud Diamond, a methodology which aids in better understanding human nature and behavior. She is currently in the process of publishing her first novel, In Conversation with Eternity, a reflective work shaped by faith, hope and love. She lives in Texas on a farm with her family, where writing, prayer, and daily life remain closely intertwined. Sanja is the founder of The Seduction of Fraud, with a background in marketing, teaching, and psychology. Together with her husband, she developed The Seduction of Fraud Diamond, a methodology which aids in better understanding human nature and behavior. She is currently in the process of publishing her first novel, In Conversation with Eternity, a reflective work shaped by faith, hope and love. She lives in Texas on a farm with her family, where writing, prayer, and daily life remain closely intertwined.