Iowa Governmental Roundtable

Ben Anderson, AI Enterprise Service Owner, Iowa Department of Management

Ben Anderson is the AI Enterprise Service Owner with the State of Iowa Department of Management. He has 20+ years’ experience in IT & innovation transforming complex technology into solutions that work for people.

Carrie Johnson, Iowa Department of Management

Carrie Johnson began her career working with local governments at the Iowa League of Cities. She worked for the League for more than eight years in various roles in the membership services area. After taking some time off to be at home with her daughter, Carrie rejoined the workforce with Public Financial Management, Inc., a financial advisory firm that works with many Iowa cities and counties. In 2010, Carrie joined the Iowa Department of Management as property valuation and county budget administrator. In her current role, she works with the property valuation system and the utility replacement tax. She also works with county budgets and annual financial reports, as well as county hospital, county/city assessor, and county agricultural extension budgets.

Jeremy Wortman, Jeremy S. Wortman HRD Initiatives LLC

With a strong passion for and a commitment to the positive development of individuals and organizations, Jeremy Wortman, Ph.D., is the owner of HRD Initiatives, a consulting company specializing in leadership development, organizational development and talent management solutions. Jeremy works with executive teams in determining talent management strategies, building leadership talent, implementing solutions and coaching individual leaders. He has more than 20 years of experience in organization and leadership development with a significant amount of his time at TD Ameritrade where he was the Director of Organizational Effectiveness. He has extensive knowledge of organizational psychology and has developed strategies and programs that build better individuals and organizations using a strengths-based approach. Jeremy has focused his expertise within the accounting profession since 2004. He is a frequent speaker at regional, national and international conferences on the topics of ethical decision- making, leadership development and talent management. His clients range from small accounting firms to the top ten largest in the United States, many of whom are found on Accounting Today’s Best Firms to Work for list. Jeremy attended the University of Nebraska where he earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior, Leadership and Organizational Development and a Masters in Business Administration. He holds undergraduate degrees in Economics and Human Resources. Jeremy is a member of the American Psychological Association, the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and the Academy of Management. He is also active in his local community as the former President of the Young Alumni Board for the College of Business Administration at the University of Nebraska, where he was also an adjunct professor from 1999 to 2016.

John Danos, Partner, Dorsey & Whitney

John Danos is a partner with Dorsey & Whitney LLP in Des Moines serving public and private clients on municipal financings, complex local government matters and economic development transactions. He believes that innovation, excellence and teamwork are critical to achieving the best outcomes. Since 2002 John has helped cities, counties, special districts, and private entities meet their goals through tax exempt and taxable municipal bond issues, private debt placements, lease purchase financings, and other debt arrangements. John guides clients through state and federal tax law and federal securities law compliance issues. In addition, John has extensive experience in structuring economic development transactions involving tax increment financing, tax abatement, and other local government support. John is a frequent presenter at local government conventions, legal seminars, and public finance meetings on topics related to tax increment financing, economic development, municipal debt, and complex local government issues. John currently serves as co-head of Dorsey’s Public Finance Practice Group.

Lisa Parker, Senior Project Manager, Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Lisa Parker is a senior project manager with the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).  Prior to joining the GASB in 2008, Lisa worked for Runyon Kersteen Ouellette CPAs for 10 years, the town of Old Orchard Beach, Maine as finance director and interim town manager for 2 years, and the city of Saco, Maine as finance director for 8 years.
Lisa is a certified public accountant and a chartered global management accountant.  She also is a member of the Association of Governmental Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and the Maine Society of Certified Public Accountants, where she served as president. Previously, Lisa was president of the Maine Governmental Finance Officers Association, an executive board member of the New England Governmental Finance Officers Association, and a member of a national GFOA standing committee. 
Lisa attended Boston College and the University of Southern Maine graduating with magna cum laude honors and a bachelor's degree in accounting.

Melisa Galasso, Founder and CEO, Galasso Learning Solutions LLC

Melisa F. Galasso is the Founder and CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions LLC. A CPA with over 20 years of experience in the accounting profession, Melisa designs and facilitates courses in advanced technical accounting and auditing topics, including not-for-profit and governmental accounting. Her passion is providing high-quality CPE that is meaningful, creates efficiencies and improves quality, and positively impacts ROI.

Melisa is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP), a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD), and has earned the Association for Talent Development Master Trainer™ designation. Her passion for instructional design and adult learning techniques is one of the differentiators that set her apart from other CPE providers.

Melisa serves as the Co-Chair of the NCACPA's A&A committee and as a Subject Matter Expert for the AICPA's Center for Plain English Accounting (CPEA). She has also served on the FASB's Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee (NAC), AICPA Council, and the AICPA's Women's Initiative Executive Committee (WIEC). She also previously served on the AICPA's Technical Issues Committee (TIC) and the VSCPA's Board of Directors. In addition, Melisa is the author of Money Matters for Nonprofits: How Board Members Can Harness the Power of Financial Statements by Understanding Basic Accounting which is available on Amazon or anywhere you purchase books online.

Melisa received a Top 50 Women in Accounting Award in 2021 by Ignition, was a 2020 Enterprising Women of the Year Award recipient and was honored as a "40 under 40" by CPA Practice Advisor in 2017, 2018, and 2019. She was named the 2019 Rising Star by her regional NAWBO chapter, received the Don Farmer award for achievement in technical content instruction, and has earned several other awards for public speaking and technical training.

Prior to establishing Galasso Learning Solutions, Melisa worked in public accounting, industry, internal audit, and academia.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and International Business from Georgetown University.

Melisa actively supports several causes that empower women. She is the Chair of the Advisory Board for Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte. In 2023, she was one of 31 women selected as part of Dress for Success Charlotte's Power Hour. She also serves as the Education Chair for the Board of Directors for NAWBO Charlotte.

Pamela Bormann, Deputy Auditor of State, Office of Auditor of State

Pam Bormann is a Director in the Financial Audit Division for Iowa’s Office of Auditor of State. Pam is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa and has served the office since 1987. Her responsibilities include supervising and reviewing local government audits and City examination engagements and providing technical assistance to local
governments and their auditors. Pam has worked on city, county, community school district, community college, university and State agency audits, including the statewide Single Audit. She is also actively involved in the Auditor’s Office Quality Review Program of CPA firm reports and workpapers, performing peer reviews for the National State Auditors Association as well as reaudits of local governments. Pam is also a Certified Governmental Financial Manager and a member of the Iowa Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Association of Government Accountants.

Ted Nellesen, Senior Fiscal and Policy Analyst, Iowa Department of Management

Ted Nellesen is senior fiscal and policy analyst, local government budgets, for the Iowa Department of Management. Ted joined the Department of Management in July 2012, taking over city, township and miscellaneous levy authority budgets. Prior to joining the Department of Management, Ted worked as a consultant for Public Financial Management (PFM), a municipal finance advisory firm. Ted obtained his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Iowa State University in 2005 and his Master of Public Administration from Drake University in 2010.