Michael Bitter, Ph.D., CPA

Michael Bitter, Ph.D., CPA – He is the Rinker Distinguished Professor of Accounting and Chair of the M.E. Rinker, Sr. Institute of Tax and Accountancy at Stetson. His degrees include a BBA from Stetson, a MAcc from the University of Florida and a PhD from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Bitter is a CPA and previously worked in public accounting with Ernst and Young. He has been active in research and has numerous publications in journals such as Strategic Finance and Issues in Accounting Education. He has also made numerous presentations at various regional and national professional conferences. He has been active in service to the profession as well as to the University. Dr. Bitter has received numerous awards for his teaching, research, and service, including the Golden Apple Award from Stetson University College of Law JD/MBA Program and the SOBA Professor of the Year award twice.

Judson P. Stryker, DBA, CPA

Judson P. Stryker, DBA, CPA is the Eugene M Lynn Professor at Stetson University. He previously served as an Associate Dean of the School of Business, Vice President of Finance for the University, and Chair of the Rinker Institute. He earned a B.S at the University of Florida, an MBA at Stetson and his DBA at Mississippi State. He is a CPA who held various management level positions at General Electric. Dr. Stryker has been active in research and has published in journals such as Oil, Gas and Energy Quarterly, and The International Business and Economics Research Journal. He has been active in service to the profession and the local community. He is a previous recipient of the School of Business Teaching Award and the University’s Mentor of the Year Award. He currently serves on the Board and is Treasurer of the Stetson Business School Foundation.

Theodore J. Surynt, Ph.D.

Dr. Surynt is Professor of Information Systems and Associate Dean of the Stetson University School of Business Administration.During his twenty plus years at Stetson, he has been instrumental in the creation of business technology programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. He has published numerous articles dealing with Information Systems pedagogical issues.For fifteen years he was owner and president of Surynt Computer Services, a software consulting and contract-programming firm. Prior to coming to Stetson, he was a Systems Engineer and Corporate Planning Analyst for IBM Corporation.

Vincent C. Brenner, Ph.D., CPA

Vincent C. Brenner, Ph.D., CPA is the Beights Professor of Accounting at Stetson University. He received BS from Mt. Saint Mary’s College and his graduate degrees from Penn State. Dr. Brenner is the author of two textbooks and has published over fifty papers in a variety of academic and professional journals such as The Journal of Accounting Research, The Accounting Review, and The Journal of Accountancy. He has been active at the national level in organizations such as the American Institute of CPAs, the Institute of Internal Auditors, the Institute of Management Accountants and the American Accounting Association. In 1991, he received the International Educator of the Year award from the Institute of Internal Auditors. He served on the AICPA Board of Examiners for three years and for eight years as a Subject Matter Expert in financial accounting and reporting for the Uniform CPA Examination. Dr. Brenner has also served on Florida Institute of CPAs committees and was named the 2007Accounting Educator of the year. He has received numerous awards for teaching, research and service. He is currently on the Board of Directors of Riverside National Bank and serves on the Board’s Audit and Compliance Committees. He has worked as a consultant for both Exxon and Mobil, before they combined, as well as Amoco, Ethyl and the Louisiana Department of Revenue. He has also served as an expert witness in both federal and state courts.

Richard W. Copeland

Professor Copeland received his JD from the University of Florida in 1972 and his LLM from the University of Miami in 1973, majoring in tax. He has been an Associate Professor at Stetson University for 33 years and is recognized as one of the most outstanding educators at the University. Dr. Copeland has extensive experience in the areas of taxation and estate planning and has had his own law practice for 35 years, specializing in the purchase and sale of businesses, probate, guardianship, sale of real estate and adoptions. He is an active speaker in the Florida Bar Association, Florida Institute of CPAs, Bank of America, Merrill Lynch, estate planning meetings for churches and insurance companies among others.

Patrick J. Knipe, CPA

Mr. Knipe earned his B.S. and MAcc degrees at Stetson University. A CPA with extensive experience in public accounting, he began his career at a small, local accounting firm. After a merger with the international firm of Coopers & Lybrand (now PriceWaterhouse Coopers), he was named managing partner of the firm's Orlando office. During his time in public practice, Mr. Knipe served as audit engagement partner for a wide range of clients in the commercial, governmental and not-for-profit sectors. His extensive service in the profession includes a year as president of the Florida Institute of CPAs and six years on the National Council of the AICPA. Mr. Knipe has earned numerous awards and recognition for his leadership and volunteer activities in community organizations. He currently serves on the Board of Directors and chairs the Audit Committee of CCS Medical Holdings, Inc. 

Kevin Michael Miller, CPA

Mr. Miller is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and earned his master's degree in accounting and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Stetson University in DeLand, FL. He also earned a bachelor's degree in English literature from Rollins College. During his six years with KPMG, LLP, Kevin worked as an audit manager in various industries with clients such as Darden Restaurants, Crane Technologies Group, The CED Companies, Florida's Natural and Badcock Home Furnishings. He performed due diligence and assisted in successful fund raising for Surfparks, LLC, a start-up theme park in the Orlando area. For the past ten years, Kevin has served as treasurer for Sawmill Investments, LP, an investment management firm with over $20 million in assets. Kevin also performs contract audit services for an audit and tax firm in Maitland, FL. For the past three years, Kevin has served as an adjunct instructor at Stetson University for both the school of business and the graduate school of business. Kevin serves on the City of Maitland Fiscal Advisory Board and served as treasurer for four years on the Orlando Opera Company Board of Trustees. He has served on the Housing Resource Development Association Board, a HUD project dedicated to providing housing for the disabled.