Vertex’s Michael Bernard Honored with President’s Award at TEI Conference

Greetings from the Tax Executive Institute’s (TEI’s) 73rd Midyear Conference in Washington, where I had the honor of participating in panel discussions – and where my colleague, Vertex Chief Tax Officer of Transaction Tax Michael Bernard, was honored for his dedication and longstanding contribution to the tax industry.

First, it’s important to note that Vertex’s continuing partnership with TEI is based on a shared sense of purpose. A diverse, inclusive member-based organization, TEI is dedicated to supporting the professional needs of the in-house tax community worldwide. TEI educates, networks, and advocates on all aspects of business taxation. That’s an objective that Vertex also pursues through our innovative technology solutions, collaborations with customers and partners, thought leadership, and other outreach activities. We are honored to continue to be part of the TEI community where they address critical issues impacting tax industry leaders.

TEI events provide an excellent opportunity for Vertex to engage with customers, partners and other members of the global tax community. This year’s Midyear Conference in Washington, DC featured three-plus days of insightful content. Presentations addressed trends, challenges and leading practices across numerous domains, including federal tax, international tax, state and local tax, tax technology, financial reporting, corporate tax management, IRS activities, and many other aspects of the chief tax officer’s purview. 

I participated in two panel discussions covering 1) best practices for reducing tax compliance risks; and 2) approaches for leveraging sales and use tax overpayment/refund opportunities. The conference had an impressive schedule and list of presentations, including one that explored how tax data can be harvested for executive reporting and analytical insights (a topic we’ll be covering in more depth throughout the rest of the year).  

Speaking of impressive, Mike Bernard’s 30-plus years of services to TEI was honored at the event by International President Wayne Monfries. Wayne presented the President’s Award to Mike who has been an active member of the TEI Seattle Chapter for more than three decades. Mike’s commitment and numerous contributions to TEI are extensive. Which includes sharing his expertise with others as he regularly contributes insightful articles and analyses to Tax Executive, the organization’s professional journal. His editorial contributions have addressed transactional tax trends, tax-procurement integration, tax leaders’ response to global disruptions, and the new tax leadership model. 

Congratulations, Mike!