Leadership

LupeGarcia
Lupe Garcia
Public Sector | Audit Partner

Lupe Garcia provides audit services to various governmental entities, including counties, cities, school districts, universities, community colleges, and other special-purpose governments.

Professional Certifications

  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • AICPA’s Advanced Single Audit Certificate

Professional Organizations

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)
  • Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA) – Director, 2014-2017
  • Houston CPA Society – Director, 2014-2015; Treasurer, 2016-2017
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials
  • Government Finance Officers Association of Texas
  • Fort Bend Leadership Forum – Class of 2013
  • Houston CPA Society – 2014 Distinguished Public Service
  • Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants – 2013 Rising Star
  • Houston CPA Society – 2013 Young CPA of the Year; 2016 Significant Contribution by a Member in Public Practice
  • Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants (TXCPA) – Director, 2014-present
  • Houston CPA Society – Director, 2014-present; Treasurer, 2016-2017; Secretary 2017-2018

Education

  • B.B.A. in Finance, University of Houston

Professional Experience

  • Whitley Penn, LLP, Houston, Office, (2012–Present)
    • Audit Partner (2017–Present)
    • Audit Senior Manager (2015–2016)
    • Audit Manager (2012–2015)
  • Null-Lairson, P.C., Houston, TX (2007–2012)
    • Audit Supervising Senior (2010–2012)
    • Audit Senior (2009–2010)
    • Audit Staff (2007–2008)

Seminars/Lectures/Publications

2019 Speaking Engagements

  • Houston Community College – “GASB 68/75 Training”; July 29, 2019; Houston, TX
  • Fort Bend County Mayor-Council Association – “Financial Management”; July 27, 2019; Kendleton, TX
  • TXCPA Texas School Districts Accounting & Auditing Conference – “Complying with the Big 3: Federal Programs in School Business”; June 4, 2019; San Antonio, TX
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) – “ACT208 Managing Special Revenue and State Programs”; May 7, 2019; Region 7 ESC; Kilgore, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – “Single Audit Update”; April 25, 2019; Houston, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – “Single Audit Update”; April 18, 2019; Irving, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – Master of Ceremonies; April 18, 2019 (Irving) and April 25, 2019 (Houston)
  • Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) Bi-Annual Staff Training – “Single Audit Best Practices”; February 6, 2019; Austin, TX
  • Texas Association of School Business Officials (TASBO) Budget Academy – “PIC-ing the Right Code”; January 17, 2019; Pflugerville, TX

2018 Speaking Engagements

  • Lone Star College – Governmental Accounting Guest Lecturer; November 5, 2018; Houston, TX
  • Fort Worth TSCPA Young Emerging Professionals Conference – “Career Development Forum”; November 2, 2018; Fort Worth, TX
  • TSCPA Single Audit Conference – “Fundamentals for Successful Single Audits”; October 1, 2018; Austin, TX (Co-presented with Celina Cereceres)
  • City of Round Rock – “Grants Training”; July 24, 2018; Round Rock, TX (Co-presented with Laura Lynch)
  • Lone Star College – Audit Guest Lecturer; June 18, 2018; Houston, TX
  • Houston-Galveston Area Council: Newly Elected Officials Workshop – “Financial Management for Elected Officials”; June 12, 2018; Houston, TX
  • TSCPA School District Accounting and Audit Conference – “PIC-ing the Right Code”; June 4, 2018; San Antonio, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – Master of Ceremonies; April 20, 2018 (Irving) and April 27, 2018 (Houston)
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – “GASB Statement No. 75: Accounting for Other Post-Employment Benefits”; April 27, 2018; Houston, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – “Update on Hurricane Harvey and FEMA Issues”; April 27, 2018; Houston, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – “GASB Statement No. 75: Accounting for Other Post-Employment Benefits”; April 20, 2018; Irving, TX
  • Houston IIA Government Audit Conference – “Grant and Contract Management and Monitoring”; February 21, 2018; Houston, TX
  • GFOAT Region 16 Meeting and Luncheon – “Post Harvey: Managing your FEMA Award”; February 15, 2018; Port Neches, TX
  • Gulf Coast GFOA Meeting and Luncheon – “Lessons Learned from Prior Reports on Disaster-related Procurement and Contracting”; January 18, 2018; Houston, TX

2017 Speaking Engagements

  • TASBO 2017 Accounting & Finance Symposium – “Financial Statement Missteps – Tips from the Auditors”; November 16, 2017; San Antonio, TX
  • Lone Star College – Accounting Careers Town Hall; November 6, 2017; Houston, TX
  • TASBO 2017 Accounting & Finance Symposium – “Financial Statement Missteps – Tips from the Auditors”; October 25, 2017; Dallas, TX (Co-presented with Chris Breaux)
  • Gulf Coast GFOA Meeting and Luncheon – “Post Harvey – Managing Your FEMA Award”; October 19, 2017; Richmond, TX
  • TSCPA Single Audit Conference – “Effective Subrecipient Monitoring Under the Uniform Guidance”; October 2, 2017; Austin, TX (Co-presented with Celina Miller)
  • TSCPA School District Accounting and Audit Conference – “Goodbye NCLB, Hello ESSA: Changes Impacting Title I, Part A; IDEA, Part B Revisited”; June 5, 2017; San Antonio, TX (Co-presented with Celina Miller)
  • 59th County Auditors Institute – “New Supercircular – Uniform Guidance and Procurement”; May 3, 2017; Austin, TX
  • Whitley Penn Public Sector CPE – Master of Ceremonies; April 26 2017 (Dallas) and April 28, 2017 (Houston)
  • Sam Houston University – “Auditing in the Public Sector and Single Audits”; April 19, 2017; Huntsville, TX (Co-presented with Laura Lynch)
  • Houston IIA Government Audit Conference – “Evaluating Internal Controls: Common Deficiencies in a Financial Statement Audit”; February 22, 2017; Houston, TX

Professional Board Service

  • Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce – Board Member