Members on the Move

Toni Messer, CIA, CPA, has been elected to the board of the Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA). Messer serves as the director of Audit and Compliance at the University of Texas in Dallas, where she has been working with students in the Endorsed Internal Audit Program in the UT Dallas School of Management. Before joining UT Dallas, Messer was employed in the Texas State Auditor's Office. She is a member of The IIA-Dallas Chapter.

Brenda Sandbank, CPA, has joined SB and Co. LLC in Hunt Valley, Md., as principal in Internal Audit and Risk Consulting. She will be responsible for leading and expanding the Risk Consulting practice which includes financial analysis, operational compliance, internal audit, risk evaluation, process improvement, and fraud and information technology audits. Sandbank is the former internal audit director for the Injured Workers' Insurance Fund. She is the current president of The IIA-Baltimore Chapter.

Gary Sturisky, CPA, has joined Jefferson Well's Atlanta office as global practice leader, Internal Audit and Controls. He will be responsible for directing the development and management of global internal audit and controls practice, as well as ensuring the continuity of critical business services. Sturisky brings more than 13 years of expertise to his new position. Before joining Jefferson Wells, he held regional leadership positions at KPMG in the Enterprise Risk Management and Contract Compliance Services solutions offerings. Sturisky is a member of The IIA-Atlanta Chapter.

Vision Bank of Ada, Okla., recently announced the promotion of Sonja Hightower, CPA, to vice president and manager of Internal Audit and Compliance. She brings more than 19 years of experience in banking and business consulting to her new position. Before joining the organization, Hightower worked as an investment banker in mergers and acquisitions for a German company. She is a member of The IIA-Oklahoma City Chapter.

Lyndon Group, an accounting, finance, IT, and governance professional services firm in Newport Beach, Calif., has announced the addition of Vicki A. McIntyre, CPA, CIA, to the firm's expanding ethics and compliance practice group. With more than 25 years of experience, McIntyre possesses an extensive background in the areas of risk, compliance, internal auditing, public accounting, and regulatory examination experience. Before joining Lyndon Group, she served as a state bank examiner, as well as a vice president of risk management in the banking industry. An active member of The IIA, McIntyre serves as the Western U.S. District Advisor and is a two-term past president of The IIA-Orange County Chapter, where she was distinguished as the "Auditor of the Year" in 1995 and 2003.

Laurie Mulford has joined the SolomonEdwardsGroup LLC (SEG) as principal. She will launch the New York Metro office, as well as provide oversight, guidance, client leadership, and consulting business leadership. Mulford, who has 28 years of experience, was national principal of IT with AC Lordi before joining SEG. She also has worked for Protiviti, Hudson Financial Solutions, and spent 18 years at Xerox where she held both global and executive leadership positions. Mulford is a member of The IIA-New York City Chapter.

Citizens Republic Bancorp recently hired Louise O'Connell, CFSA, as senior vice president and general auditor. As general auditor, O'Connell will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the audit department and will report directly to the audit committee. Before joining the organization, O'Connell was audit manager for ABN AMRO/LaSalle Bank's Michigan operations. She was also project manager and supervisory auditor for the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO), where she received five GAO Commendation awards. O'Connell is a member of The IIA-Detroit Chapter.

The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. recently announced that Richard Pegher has been named vice president of Internal Audit at the company headquarters in Akron, Ohio. Pegher will implement audit programs and evaluate risk exposures relating to the company's governance, operations, financial reporting, and information systems. Before joining Goodyear, Pegher served as vice president of Internal Audit at XM Satellite Radio, where his responsibilities included assessing enterprisewide risks and risk management activities. He is a member of The IIA-Detroit Chapter.

To submit information for "Members on the Move," send information about your recent promotion or new position, along with a headshot, to the editor.