March 14th Dinner - Environmental, Social, Governance, DEI

Stephen J. Mannhaupt, CPA, is the Partner-in-Charge of Accounting and Attest Services and the Co-Leader of the NYC Market at Grassi. Steve specializes in public accounting, forensic accounting, auditing, and management consulting for clients in the not-for-profit, architecture and engineering, professional service, construction, and real estate industries. Since beginning his career in 1990, Steve has provided expert guidance to clients in specialized areas such as sustainability, internal control assessment, fraud prevention and investigation, and corporate operational efficiency, in addition to traditional accounting, tax, and audit support. Since starting his career, Steve has specialized in assisting clients in the construction and governmental contracting industry and performs audits in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR).

Steve has been a part of the Grassi. team for more than 30 years, and is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee. Steve also serves as the Chair of the Firm’s Internal Accounting and Auditing Committee. In this role, Steve is responsible for ensuring the Firm is in compliance with professional standards and that the staff is current with the ever changing accounting and auditing guidance. Additionally, Steve frequently provides formal continuing education (CPE) training programs for all levels of Grassi’s staff.

To keep abreast of the issues facing our clients, Steve stays active in industry trade associations and the New York Building Congress (NYBC). Steve is an active presenter at the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA) – Foundation of Accounting Education (FAE) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

An expert in his field, Steve has written articles on a variety of accounting topics and has conducted educational seminars for clients, accounting societies, and other professionals in banking, surety and law.

As part of Steve’s charitable endeavors, he serves on the board of directors of the ACE Mentor Foundation, where he holds the officer role of Treasurer.

Steve is a graduate of Queens College and is a member of the NYSSCPA and the AICPA.

Arianna Savoca is a manager in the Human Resources Consulting practice at Grassi. She specializes in outsourced HR, workforce planning, performance management, employee training and other services that help business owners realize maximum value from their HR function.

Arianna is also a core member of Grassi’s internal HR department, where she oversees the firm’s professional development and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives. Since joining Grassi in 2019, she has relaunched the Grassi Women’s Council and formalized the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council to promote the equality and advancement of the firm’s diverse workforce.

Prior to joining Grassi, Arianna worked in taxation at both a Big Four and a regional public accounting firm. She draws from her experience in client service, employee learning, tax and audits to make strategic decisions about Grassi’s professional development programs, employee engagement, staff scheduling and other policies and procedures.

Among her many accomplishments at Grassi, Arianna created the “Train the Trainer” program, which guides the firm’s professionals to become powerful instructors to internal staff.

Arianna’s passion for equity, inclusion and community extends beyond the office as well. She is the Long Island Committee Co-Chair for the Financial Women’s Association and a Moxxie Mentor for the Moxxie Mentoring Foundation, a nonprofit created to support and foster the career advancement and leadership development of young women through generational mentoring. She also volunteers frequently with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

A certified public accountant licensed in New York, Arianna is a member of the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). She received her Master’s in Accounting from Adelphi University and is a nationally certified SHRM professional.

As business banking innovator with a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Davi Tserpelis opened City National Bank’s Melville office in December of 2017. As senior vice president and Regional business banking manager supporting Long Island and NYC teams, she leads a team of experienced business bankers, providing advice on best practices with solutions to grow and protect family businesses, including financing, cash management, investments and international trade.

Ms. Tserpelis has over 35 years of commercial lending and banking experience. Prior to joining City National Bank, Davi was a senior banker at various Long Island based institutions for over 16 years.  Prior to business banking, Davi was an asset-based lender in specialty finance supporting finance companies and private lenders across the United States.

Ms. Tserpelis has served various not-for-profits during her business history, and most recently joined the Advisory Board of Touro Law school.  Davi also sits on the local Board of Directors of the Institute of Management Accounting Long Island chapter and Middle Market Alliance of Long Island where she is a co-founder and Secretary.   Davi has won various awards including Long Island Business News Executive Circle of Excellence, Long Island Power Women In Business, and Top 50 Most Influential Women in Long Island.  Most recently she was awarded the 2023 Premier Business Women Award by Herald Community Newspapers.

In her spare time, Davi enjoys spending time with her family, travel, golf, kayaking, poker, hiking, advising start-ups, mentoring college students, serving on advisory boards.

Davi is most proud of her family: Jonathan who just graduated the University of Albany majoring in Accounting and Kayla who is a fashion design major at SCAD.  She is very proud of her 23-year marriage to husband and best friend Van.