Houston Chapter Holds Fraud Conference

The Houston Area Chapter held its first-ever Fraud Conference, Oct. 10-11 at the Hess Club in Houston. The conference drew more than 150 attendees including ACFE members from as far away as Canada, Georgia and Arizona.

Chapter member and Conference Chairman Kent Dixon, CFE, said the biggest challenge “was finding dynamic, engaging speakers with relevant topics.” The chapter used several members of the highly rated ACFE faculty as speakers for the event. “With the great speakers, we knew we’d draw in the attendees,” Dixon said.

The chapter sold several sponsorships to help defray costs for the event and hosted a networking reception on the first night of the event that was open to conference attendees and all chapter members.

Chapter President Ryan Hubbs, CFE, said of the event, “It was a great success for us, and we made a good chunk of funds which will help us on many initiatives in 2014."

Houston Area Chapter member Toni Sirles, CFE, conference attendee from Calgary Jolie Rattenbury, CFE, and conference speaker Bethmara Kessler, CFE at the Thursday evening networking event.

Conference Chairman Kent Dixon, CFE, with chapter members Patricia Swagerty, CFE and Roxann Sebring, CFE.

Speaker Cynthia Hetherington, CFE, Chapter President Ryan Hubbs, CFE, and speaker Jonathan Turner, CFE.