Certified Fraud Examiners elected Eric R. Feldman, CFE, and Bethmara Kessler, CFE, to the 2019-2020 ACFE Board of Regents. Fellow CFEs elected them from six candidates selected by the Board’s ACFE Nomination Committee. Feldman and Kessler took office
at the board’s meeting in February at ACFE headquarters in Austin, Texas. They fill the seats of retiring board members Alexis C. Bell, CFE, PI; and Vidya Rajarao, CFE, CA.
“Congratulations to Eric and Bethmara as they join the Board of Regents,” said Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA, president and CEO of the ACFE and chairman of the ACFE Nominations Committee. “We’re fortunate that we’ll have their years of experience to draw
from. And we can’t thank Alexis and Vidya enough for their service to the ACFE. We’re a better association because of their hard work.”
Eric R. Feldman, CFE, Affiliated Monitors Inc., Los Angeles, California
Feldman is senior vice president and managing director, corporate ethics and compliance programs, for Affiliated Monitors Inc. He’s the lead independent monitor for assisting companies to resolve fraud and corruption-related cases, matters involving federal
suspension and debarment actions, federal regulatory court orders, and deferred or non-prosecution agreements with the U.S. Department of Justice. He also conducts global proactive assessments of corporate ethical culture and compliance programs.
Feldman joined Affiliated Monitors after retiring from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in 2011. He enjoyed a 32-year career with the CIA and the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, including executive positions with
Offices of Inspector General at the Department of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the CIA. He also was the longest-serving inspector general of the National Reconnaissance Office.
Feldman is a member of the ACFE faculty. He’s been a CFE since 1991. He’s a sought-after speaker and author on procurement fraud detection and prevention, bribery and corruption, and corporate business ethics and compliance. Feldman was the 2018 recipient
of the ACFE James R. Baker Speaker of the Year Award.
Bethmara Kessler, CFE, Consultant, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Kessler has been a fraud fighter for more than 25 years. She’s been a lecturer, consultant, advisor and thought leader to businesses on fraud, audit, compliance and enterprise risk management. She’s on the ACFE faculty and its Advisory Board.
Kessler is the former head of integrated global services for the Campbell Soup Company. She’s been a chief audit executive, chief compliance officer and head of enterprise risk management in a range of industries and companies including EY, Nabisco, Avon,
EMI, L Brands, The Fraud and Risk Advisory Group and Warner Music.
She says she builds capability that enables companies to be proactive in their fight against fraud and develops unique approaches to data mining for fraud and realistic anti-fraud practices and policies. Her extensive experience leading corporate investigations
and re-designing vulnerable business processes has significantly helped reduce fraud risk, she says.
Kessler is highly invested in helping others learn and succeed, she says. She mentors numerous professionals and volunteers at local colleges and universities “to bring fraud concepts to life for students,” she says.
Industry magazines have published several articles by Kessler, and she’s contributed material to the Fraud Examiners Manual and Fraud Casebook: Lessons from the Bad Side of Business,
edited by Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA.