IRS/Practitioners Forum - Webcast

Neki Cox

Neki Cox is a C&L Division Sr. Stakeholder Liaison in Denver. As a stakeholder relationship manager, she has served as a coordinator for IRS seminars, meetings, and multi-speaker engagements. She focuses on developing communication and educational opportunities with tax practitioner, civic, non-profit and for-profit business organizations in Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, New Mexico,
and Utah. She also works with practitioners in Montana, Oregon and Washington. She has led and coordinated the IRS Disaster Assistance program with FEMA. She has also led a cadre team that serve as tax professional data breach dispatchers to Criminal Investigation and other divisions.
Neki began her IRS career in 1995. She has held other positions in the Human Capital Office as a Recruiter and Analyst, in the Taxpayer Advocate Division as a Sr. Taxpayer Advocate, and in the Exam Division as an Office Auditor, Earned Income Credit Coordinator, and an e-File Marketing Specialist. She has prior experience in computer report writing, bookkeeping, collections, purchasing, customer service, sales, and restaurant management.
Neki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Small Business Management with an emphasis in Accounting from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

(12-10-25)

Kyle Behnke

Kyle Behnke serves the IRS Independent Office of Appeals as an Appeals Team Manager.  In his career in the private sector, Kyle created and managed two start-up businesses before working for a decade at Microsoft in varying engineering and management roles, primarily as a Sr. Program Manager in the SQL Server, Windows Server, and OEM Divisions.  He then transitioned to public service, where he started with the IRS as a Field Revenue Officer in the Small Business and Self-Employed Division, before later becoming an Appeals Officer.  He earned a Master of Business and Public Administration degree from Willamette University in Salem, OR.  He serves in the Seattle, WA, Post of Duty.

(10/2/25)

David Higgins works for the IRS in the Communications and Liaison Division as a Tax Specialist in Seattle, WA. David serves as the primary IRS contact to community, industry, and business organizations throughout Washington and Alaska. David educates on a variety of tax topics to all taxpayer communities, including employers, community groups, small business resource partners and tax practitioner organizations.

9/15/2025

 

Valerie is an attorney with the law firm of Samuels Yoelin Kantor in Portland, Oregon where she heads the firm's tax department. She speaks about topics (usually tax topics) that interest her. She is a fellow of the both the American College of Tax Counsel and the American College of Trusts and Estates Counsel. She also co-wrote a very exciting book you should read called Oregon Estate Planning with Forms, which is going into its third edition this January.

(11-10-25)

Jessica McConnell is an attorney with Samuels Yoelin Kantor LLP. She submerges herself in the world of tax law. Her practice focuses on federal, state, and local tax controversies, including tax audits, offers in compromise, and tax collection matters. Since 2004, she has helped dozens of businesses and individuals efficiently resolve major tax and financial problems. Jessica has been admitted to the Oregon State Bar, the U.S. District Court – District of Oregon, as well as the U.S. Tax Court.

Well-versed in all areas of tax controversy, Jessica excels at complex audits, offers in compromise, employment tax liabilities, and protecting her clients against unwanted and unexpected collection efforts. She also handles a variety of bankruptcy cases, a majority of which involve tax dischargeability issues.

Jessica was recognized as a Rising Star in the area of tax law by Oregon Super Lawyers. The annual Rising Stars list identifies the best attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for ten or fewer years. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in the state receive the honor.

A natural leader, Jessica works closely with the Oregon State Bar. Dedicated to the practice of law, and sharing her knowledge of the her field, Jessica plans and presents educational seminars, serves on legislative work-groups, and pens articles about developments in the law. She volunteers at the Bar’s bankruptcy clinic, and provides legal assistance through other pro bono matters.

(9/10/20)

Cameron Wall

Bio for Cam Wall Cam Wall has been a special agent with IRS-Criminal Investigation for approximately three years. Prior to that, Cam spent five years working with the IRS as a revenue agent with SB/SE and SEP. Cam is a Portland native who graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Accounting in 2005. Cam currently specializes in identity theft and narcotics-related financial investigations.

Alan Edwards is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Communications Division of the Social Security Administration (SSA). With more than 30 years working as a bilingual Claims Representative and Information Officer, Alan has extensive experience with SSA's many programs and conducts educational seminars and trainings throughout the country.

(12-12-25)