Pennie Bagley
Dr. Pennie Bagley is a Professor of Accounting and the Chair of the Accounting Department at Appalachian State University. She teaches auditing and is a co-author on a leading audit textbook. She has published audit educational cases in Issues in Accounting Education. Her research interests include a variety of auditing topics; more recently, her research focus has turned to examining the remote work environment and how that impacts relationships in the workplace. Her research has been published in Auditing: A Journal of Practice and Theory, Behavioral Research in Accounting, Journal of Accountancy, and Current Issues in Auditing. Currently, she serves as a NCACPA Education Task Force representative. In her spare time, Pennie enjoys traveling, participating in running races and triathlons, and, most importantly, spending time with her family.
Stephen Bevins
Stephen Bevins is an Associate in the Blackburn, Childers, & Steagall, PLC Managed Accounting Services department. He has been with the firm since 2022 and works in the Johnson City, TN office. Stephen graduated from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in December 2009 and a Master of Accountancy in May 2011. Stephen’s experience includes bookkeeping, payroll, and financial statement preparation. Stephen writes accounting articles for the BCS website and ClientTell magazine. Stephen enjoys ring announcing for professional wrestling, hosting writing workshops for teenagers at the library, entertaining nursing homes with his poetry and stories and attending comic book conventions.
Brian Crutchfield
Brian is a Senior Tax Associate with Blackburn, Childers Steagall, PLC in their Johnson City, TN location. He specializes in business entity taxation, with primary industry expertise in the medical and real estate industries. Brian practiced in the Asheville, NC area before relocating to Tennessee in 2021. He is a licensed CPA in Tennessee and North Carolina. Brian graduated from Appalachian State University in 2009 with bachelor’s degrees in Finance Banking and Risk Management Insurance.
Shawn Bergman
Shawn Bergman, Ph.D., is the co-founder and Research Director at the Vela Institute, a non-profit organization that employs analytics to increase educational outcomes. He is also the Kulynych/Cline Distinguished Professor of Psychology and HR Science Research Team co-director at Appalachian State University. Shawn’s work reflects his dedication to using science, psychology, data, and technology to solve organizational problems, help individuals make positive changes, and improve peoples’ lives. He has published 44 academic articles, co-authored over 120 professional and technical reports, and given over 100 keynote addresses, invited talks, workshops, and conference presentations. Shawn is a member of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers and Academy of Outstanding Graduate Mentors, has received multiple Psi Chi Excellence in Teaching Awards, and earned the Appalachian’s Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished Graduate Faculty awards.
Kim Buckles
Kim has been with Blackburn, Childers & Steagall since June 2017, and is a Supervisor in the Johnson City Audit Department. She possesses Bachelor of Science degrees in Accounting, Computer Information Systems, and Business Administration from Milligan University. Kim is also a member of the TSCPA and the Young Professionals of Johnson City.
Chad Kisner
Kisner, CPA, CISA, CITP, is an audit partner at Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, where his main areas of practice concentration are financial statement audits and related advisory services. He has been with BCS for 27 years and has been a partner since 2009. Chad holds a degree from Milligan University and is a licensed CPA in Tennessee. He has also completed the Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) designations. Chad specializes in audit services, information systems auditing and cybersecurity, healthcare, and non-profit organizations, including higher education, governmental entities, and SOC engagements.
Kevin Eller
Dr. Kevin Eller is an Associate Professor of Accounting at Appalachian State University. He teaches in the areas of tax and financial accounting, and he is also the Internship Director for the department. His primary research interests include whistleblowing, fraud reporting, taxation, and accounting education. His research has been published in Behavioral Research in Accounting; Advances in Accounting Behavioral Research; Advances in Accounting Education; Journal of Information Systems; Practical Tax Strategies; The Tax Adviser; Internal Auditing; The CPA Journal; Accounting and the Public Interest; Journal of Accounting Education; Advances in Accounting; Policy Studies; Journal of Accounting, Ethics and Public Policy, and Journal of Accountancy. Before academia, Kevin worked in public accounting for a few years. He enjoys playing music and spending time outdoors with his family and friends.
Mark Walker
Mark is a private wealth advisor with Walker and Associates, a private wealth advisory practice
of Ameriprise Financial, LLC. He graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne University and is a
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Chartered Financial Consultant®. Mark has been
a financial advisor for 30 years helping his clients navigate various financial situations. He
specializes in wealth preservation strategies, estate planning strategies, investments, tax planning
strategies, small business and charitable giving. He spends his free time hiking in the mountains
of North Carolina with his wife and dogs.