Knowledge Based Audits of Employee Benefit Plans, with CD (2011)

Robert R. Coté, CPA. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Boston College and completing graduate coursework in accounting and taxation at Golden Gate University, Bob began his career in accounting in 1975. Bob directs the San Francisco office of Coté & Company and the firm’s Auditing Department, which provides services for not-for-profit organizations and employee benefit plans throughout Northern California.

Crystal A. Ekanayake, CPA, CEBS. An audit partner at Gallina LLP, Crystal has been instrumental in building the firm’s employee benefit audit practice, which she currently leads. In addition, she teaches various accountancy courses at California State University Sacramento (CSU Sacramento).

Crystal is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA), member. She is the Treasurer of the Sacramento Chapter of the National Institute of Pension Administrators (NIPA). Crystal also serves on the CSUS College of Business Advisory Council, the board of University Enterprises, Inc. (an auxiliary organization of CSU Sacramento), board member. Crystal is also a professional advisor to Beta Alpha Psi at CSU Sacramento and a board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Sacramento.

Crystal received her B.A. degree from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and her MBA and Master of Accountancy degrees from CSU Sacramento. She was granted a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Linda D. Lauer, CPA, CEBS, is director of employee benefit plan services at Thompson Dunavant PLC, in Memphis, Tennessee. Linda is devoted full time to the employee benefit plan practice within her firm. She frequently conducts webinars, seminars, and conferences on auditing employee benefit plans as well as plan administration issues and fiduciary responsibilities.

Her background includes over twenty years of experience in plan administration, consulting, record keeping and auditing employee benefit plans, including managing Fortune 500 companies’ benefit programs.

Linda is a graduate of the University of Memphis, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She was granted a Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

She is a licensed CPA and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA).