Meet the Instructors

Peter Thompson

Peter S. Thompson is the Program Director for RetirePath VirginiaSM, the Commonwealth of 

Virginia’s automatic-enrollment, state-facilitated retirement savings program for private sector workers. RetirePath is designed to expand access to retirement savings and provide more Virginians with a path to economic security. Commonwealth Savers Plan (formerly Virginia529), an independent agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia, serves as program manager for RetirePath.

Prior to joining Commonwealth Savers, Peter served as the Defined Contribution (DC) Plans Administrative and Services Supervisor with the Virginia Retirement System, one of the largest public or private pension funds in the U.S. As a member of the DC Plans leadership team, Peter supported agency leadership in executing strategic initiatives and organizational performance objectives specific to the administration of eight defined contribution plans with an aggregate value of $7.3 billion as of June 30, 2021.

In the private sector, Peter brings to Commonwealth Savers previous experience as an entrepreneur and business owner as well as work experience with several Fortune 500 companies, including UnitedHealthcare, Northwestern Mutual and Prudential. As a licensed insurance professional and registered representative, he previously held the Investment Company and Variable Contracts Products Representative (Series 6) and Uniform Securities Agent (Series 63) FINRA-administered licenses.

Peter earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Loyola University New Orleans. He also completed the Executive Program in Financial Planning and earned the Certificate in Financial Planning from The Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.

Peter is a member of the Governing Council of the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists (ISCEBS) and serves on the Leadership Advisory Group of The Collaborative for Equitable Retirement Savings (CFERS). He is active in the National Association of State Treasurers (NAST) and the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators (NAGDCA).

Terry Steiniger

Terry Steiniger is an Accountant/Enrolled Agent from Fredericksburg, Virginia.  She has operated a Tax and Accounting practice in Fredericksburg since 1975.

Terry became a member of NATP in July 1988.  She was one of the original Virginia Chapter charter members at the first VA/NATP conference. She served as Executive Director of the Virginia Chapter until 2006.  She has attended numerous NATP classes and conferences over the years.  She has been a VA/NATP instructor at VA/NATP conferences and classes, including  past training programs for IRS accreditations.

Latia Rowland

Latia Rowland is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and owner of Majestic Consulting in Newport News, VA with 14+ years of experience. Latia possesses a strong background in various areas of accounting, taxation, and auditing. Her expertise extends to auditing, financial statement preparation, tax planning and compliance, bookkeeping, tax resolution, and business advisory services.

Chris Smith

With over 30 years of experience in tax preparation — including 15 years as a seasoned professional — Chris brings expertise and a practical, client-focused approach to every return and consultation. Based in Glen Allen, Virginia, with an office conveniently located in Mechanicsville, Chris specializes in personalized tax preparation and consulting for individuals, families, and small businesses.

Before launching his professional tax practice, Chris spent years as a corporate controller, gaining firsthand insight into financial strategy, compliance, and operations. 

Whether you're planning for the future, sorting through the past, or trying to make sense of the present, Chris offers trustworthy, experienced guidance tailored to your needs.

Mark Sullivan

Born and raised in Washington, DC.  

Mark has lived in Virginia since 1980 and is currently live in Sterling, Va.

During Mark’s early career he worked in banking and finance and then moved into audit, both internal and external.

Mark graduated from George Mason University with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy

Mark also has a master’s Certificate in Enterprise Resource Management from Indiana University

Mark started in the tax business in 1984 working as a specialist for a sole practitioner.

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Affiliations: 

member of the American Institute of CPAs

member of the AICPA Tax Section

member of the AICPA Not for Profit Section

member of the Maryland Society of Accounting and Tax Professional

member of the NATP and the Va Chapter of the NATP

Certificates:

Internal Auditor designation (CIA)

Information Systems Auditor Designation (CISA)

Financial Services Auditor designation (CFSA)

Certified Government Auditing Professional Designation (CGAP)

Vaughan M. Long

Vaughan is an Enrolled Agent (EA) and the founder of both Tax Solutions Alliance (a firm that specializes in IRS Tax Resolution) as well as the owner of Ally Tax & Accounting (a firm that specializes in small business taxes and accounting).  Vaughan is based in Richmond, VA.

Vaughan was mentored in the world of the IRS by a former IRS Revenue Officer and the two of them worked many cases together over the years until his mentor retired in 2019.  Vaughan has previously taught for the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA), Virginia Society of Enrolled Agents (VASEA), the National Association of Tax Professionals (NATP), CPA Academy, CPA Practice Advisors and is currently in his 4th year as the Director of the VA Tech Income Tax School for whom he has also taught for the past 11 years.  

Vaughan has been married for 26 years to his wonderful wife and has 2 great children, a son and a daughter.  

Helen O'Planick

Helen O’Planick has been a taxing individual all her life.  The owner of HELJAN Associates, LLC, she has been making life less taxing for her community for over 35 years.   A former ETAAC member, she has also served NAEA, PA-NAEA, NATP and PA-NATP as a volunteer and as a board member.

She is proudest of her husband, Jim and their children Toni and Jason along with their spouses and dearly loves her two grandsons Brooks and Cooper.  She enjoys gardening as well as canning and preserving food for her family and friends.

Helen has been a professional speaker for over 25 years, speaking from small groups to groups of over 300 at the IRS Tax Forums.  She loves being at VA-NATP and have been here the last five years.  This is the most fitting place to announce her retirement from teaching professional development to other taxing individuals.  She loves it, but it is time for the youngsters to get into the game!