Q & A with Kelly Janke-Ogurkis, CFE

Kelly Janke-Ogurkis, a fraud supervisor, recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Atlanta, Ga. When Kelly is not fighting fraud, she finds enjoyment in reading, exercising, and traveling. But this past April, Kelly put some time aside for herself to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Becoming a CFE has provided Kelly with a higher level of credibility and a sharper insight into the different business areas in which fraud may occur.

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?

Janke-Ogurkis: I received my CFE credential in May 2015.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Atlanta and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site. Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after each daily session.

Janke-Ogurkis: The four-day course is filled with a lot of information, presented in a really short time. It is helpful to study before attending the course. 

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?

Janke-Ogurkis: I loved the speakers and the interaction. Hugo Holland was one of the instructors for the four-day course, and he provided examples that helped you remember the material when you were taking the test. All of the instructors were able to apply real experiences and examples to the material they covered. 

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?

Janke-Ogurkis: The CFE credential explores different aspects of fraud; it is not isolated to one area. The credential is beneficial, as it gives you a sharper insight into different areas of a business in which fraud may occur. 

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day? 

Janke-Ogurkis: I started studying before the exam, a little bit every day. I reviewed each section and the sample questions over and over until I felt I had mastered that area. After each class, I reviewed the material to be covered the next day. 

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?

Janke-Ogurkis: Absolutely! The instructors are great, and the ACFE provides many options to help ensure your success.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?

Janke-Ogurkis: Fraud can impact people and businessesin different ways. When you see the damages cause by fraud, both personal and monetary, your outlook changes, and you want to change the way things are done so you can make a difference. 

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?

Janke-Ogurkis: I like to read, and I exercise because it is a good way to reduce stress. I also enjoy traveling. 

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?

Janke-Ogurkis: The workbook materials you receive in class are great, and you can take it with you anywhere and use it at any time. Also, study with your CFE Exam Prep Course prior to the class start date. Take your time to understand what you are studying, and use all of the tools that are available to you. 

Thank you for your time and congratulations on your new CFE credential.

Q & A with Tiffney Rayford

July interview:

Tiffney Rayford of Georgia became a CFE after attending the Atlanta CFE Exam Review Course. In Tiffney’s downtime, she enjoys working out and working around her home planting beautiful flowers. Tiffney also loves traveling to different beaches. But recently, Tiffney put some of that fun time aside to accomplish her goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Combined with her experience as a manager of internal audit, the knowledge Tiffney obtained through attending the CFE Exam Review Course will aid her in identifying red flags that could possibly indicate the potential for, or evidence of, fraud. 

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?
Rayford: I completed the CFE Exam Review Course on April 30, 2015, and passed all four parts during the four-day course.  I received the email stating that I could use my credential on May 12, 2015.
 
Coach:  You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Atlanta and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.
Rayford: Participating in the four-day course and sitting for the exam immediately after was INTENSE. Intense, but the instructors did an excellent job of going over the material and making sure that the principles were understood before those of us who wanted to take the exam on-site actually did so. 
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 
Rayford: The CFE Exam Review Course was excellent because the instructors were knowledgeable.  We were given an opportunity to ask questions, and real-life examples were used to ensure that we could relate the topics to our everyday professional lives.

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Rayford: My new CFE credential has given me the proficiency needed to add value in the area of fraud, waste, and abuse reviews.
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?
Rayford: I began studying about two months prior to attending the four-day on-site course. I studied for two hours per day, at least five days per week.  I normally took time off on the weekends. 
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?
Rayford: I would highly recommend this course to my colleagues. 

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?                                                                            Rayford:  I am a manager in the Internal Audit department at MARTA. I feel strongly that it is my responsibility to the Authority to help mitigate fraud by ensuring that proper controls are in place and/or detecting as much fraud as possible. In every review conducted, we look for those red flags that could possibly indicate the potential for, or evidence of, fraud. 
 
Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it? 
Rayford: In my downtime, I love to work out in the yard, planting flowers and keeping everything beautiful around the house.  My other love is the beach, so I travel to a beautiful body of water as often as I can. Doing so calms me. 

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs? 
Rayford: The key to passing the exam is to take time to work through the four sections of the material, answer the study questions in the Prep Course, and participate in the four-day review course.

Q & A with Michael Matkowski

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?
 Matkowski: On March 13, 2015, I received notification of my CFE credential.  The committee approved my CFE package a couple weeks after I attended the training course in Las Vegas, Nevada.  I had submitted all the required references and documentation before attending the training.
 
Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Las Vegas and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.
Matkowski: For my particular situation, attending a CFE Exam Review Course was by far the most appealing and best method of accomplishing the CFE credential.  I was a member of the ACFE for many years prior to taking the exam, and I never dedicated enough effort toward preparing for and taking the exam.  I had studied some of the material in the past, but something always interfered with completing the task.  I did not work for an agency that allowed employees to attend a training session and earn the credential at work.   After retiring from federal service, I saw the opportunity to attend the course in Las Vegas, and I decided to go. The on-site training was clearly the best fit for me, as the entire week was dedicated to earning the credential without distractions. 
 
The trainers in Las Vegas moved through large volumes of material very quickly in the classroom, and I enjoyed that type of learning experience.   I also enjoyed meeting and speaking with the very diverse group of attendees.  After listening to the instructor presentations, I felt comfortable testing immediately afterward. This made for a long day, but in the end, I was rewarded with success.  I am very happy that I decided to attend the course; for me and my career situation, it was clearly the best option.
 
For a couple weeks prior to attending the event, I reviewed many of the practice test questions and related course material, and I focused on the sections that I felt most uncomfortable with based on my prior knowledge and work experience.  After each classroom session, I felt confident enough to immediately test for the section.  The trainers’ attitudes helped eliminate some trepidation with the financial and accounting sections that I felt least comfortable testing on.   
 
I retired months prior to attending the course.  After a fairly lengthy career in federal law enforcement, I felt my experiences and training as a federal criminal investigator would provide a great “head start” and the on-site training would allow me to successfully complete the course and testing on site. 
 
I also enjoyed meeting a very diverse group of younger and older attendees who work in the field.  
 
Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course? 
Matkowski: I most liked that I could attend with a goal in mind and accomplish that goal in a week, without worrying about distractions.  I liked that the classroom instruction and materials were catered to allow attendees to reach their goal as long as they came prepared, regardless of if their prior training was from instructional materials, real-world experience, and/or a combination.
 
Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Matkowski: I felt that the credential would be beneficial to bolster my resume and my ability to contract as a paid licensed private investigator/consultant with companies that perform work for the federal government. I hope to provide services to contractors who perform under federal grants, contracts, or other funding agreements, where my expertise lies.  The credential solidifies my career accomplishments--almost 27 years of federal service conducting investigations, primarily in the white-collar fraud arena and related to government contracting.  I started my own business after I retired.  
 
Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?
Matkowski: I spent some time reviewing the financial statement and accounting material. For the most part, I had a beer(s) each night at the Guesthouse with another IRS 1811 who also tested each night.   He also passed each night, so we felt it appropriate to celebrate our successes. 
 
Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?
Matkowski: Yes, I already have. I recently recommended a friend, a currently employed federal criminal investigator who has around 7 years until he is eligible to retire.  I advised him to not wait as long as I did and that it will be of far more value to him in his career, especially since he resides in WA DC.  He also is employed with an agency that supports employee attendance at a CFE training session.  I had to pay for all my training, travel, and meal expenses.   I recognize that the course was expensive and attendance has to be weighed against the alternative testing methods, but I would recommend to a younger person to spend the money on a training course and get the credential much earlier in life than I did, as they will get much more return on their investment.  It may turn out that I merely accomplished what I always wanted to accomplish earlier in my career, and that I don’t use it that much, but I still have the pride in knowing I reached a goal.   
 
Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Matkowski: I began working for the federal government conducting background security and suitability investigations shortly after graduating from college.  My college courses were heavily weighted toward science, and summer jobs included research associate and field investigation duties for state and federal agencies related to invasive species problems in Washington.  I figured that employment with the “Office of Federal Investigations,” an Office of Personnel Management agency, would be a good start while I figured out if I wanted to work toward a master degree.  I also found that I enjoyed performing investigation work.  After a couple years, I was hired into a federal criminal investigator position (1811) with the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Inspector General.  The Energy department has some very interesting programs, very expensive and complex projects.  I found many of the energy projects fascinating and interesting to learn about.  I worked my entire career in Washington State and was responsible for investigating issues that involved DOE operations and/or funds in the northwestern United States.  The DOE OIG employs a relatively small cadre of Special Agents (criminal investigators) across the nation, to conduct criminal and civil fraud investigations.  Over my career, I worked on and/or supervised numerous cases involving federal and state criminal activity, civil fraud and tort claims, suspension and debarment matters, and significant administrative issues.  I thoroughly enjoyed the work.  When I retired, it was estimated that I had worked on and/or supervised over 325 open investigations and used discretion in reviewing many other complaints or issues to make referrals or case opening decisions.  I coordinated numerous matters with federal and local prosecutors, and discussed many issues with senior DOE and DOE OIG managers to effectively and properly resolve cases.  My work on and supervision of investigations resulted in at least: 121 criminal indictments, 93 convictions, 18 pretrial diversions, and investigative recoveries totaling over $45 million.  I thoroughly enjoyed the work. 
 
Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?
Matkowski: I enjoy spending time with my family--my wife of 23 years, 15-year-old daughter, and 12-year-old son. When not being a “soccer dad”, my primary interest revolves around the bass fishing industry and fishing competitive bass tournaments.  I enjoy working with the companies that sponsor my fishing efforts.  I grew up playing competitive sports and always enjoyed fishing and spending time in the outdoors in the great Northwest.  Around 1988, I became interested in competitive bass fishing and have become a well-known and respected regional tournament fisherman.  I really enjoy the camaraderie among friends and time spent in the outdoors pursuing an interest, that God willing, I can enjoy well into my retirement years.         
 
Thank you for your time and congratulations on your new CFE credential.

Q & A with Oakley Fungaroli, CFE

Oakley Fungaroli of Los Angeles, CA, recently became a CFE after attending the CFE Exam Review Course in Las Vegas, NV. Oakley enjoys spending his free time with his wife and baby girl, but this past February, he put some time aside to accomplish his goal of obtaining the CFE credential. Becoming a CFE has provided Oakley with a higher level of credibility in his work as a Detective Supervisor. 

Coach: When did you receive your CFE credential?
Fungaroli: I attended the CFE review course over the last week of February of this year. In early March, I was notified that the CFE Certification Committee approved my application to become a Certified Fraud Examiner.

Coach: You attended the CFE Exam Review Course in Las Vegas and following the course you sat for the CFE Exam on-site.  Please describe your experience of participating in the 4-day course and then sitting for the exam immediately after.
Fungaroli: Prior to attending the CFE Exam Review Course, I completed the CFE Exam Prep Course. In addition to exposing me to new subject matter, the Prep Course exposed me to the question format and lowered my "test anxiety" (a bit). So I would have to say that sitting for the course provided both context for subjects I was less familiar with, and I got instant feedback when I answered the practice questions.

Coach: What did you like most about the CFE Exam Review Course?
Fungaroli: The networking aspect was beneficial. Listening to first hand experiences of the instructors and other students really helped put some of the more challenging accounting principles into context for me.   

Coach: In what ways do you feel that your new CFE credential will be beneficial to you in your current profession?
Fungaroli: I work for the Los Angeles Police Department as a Detective Supervisor. Over the last twenty years I’ve worked with a variety of subject matter experts. Previously, when working with financial analysts, I’ve felt as if we weren’t speaking the same dialect. It took a while to convey our needs and expectations. Recently, however, I sat down with a police auditor to discuss an investigation, and. I noticed on her business card that she was a CPA and CFE. When I told her I was also a CFE, the meeting seemed to shift into high gear. So I have to say that for me, the CFE credential and training provided a mechanism to communicate almost instantly.   

Coach: How did you prepare yourself to sit for the exam on-site? Did you spend any additional time studying after class each day?
Fungaroli: As I stated above, the CFE Exam Prep Course was a real anxiety reliever. After the first day, I felt confident with the level of instruction. (Passing the first test was also a pretty big boost to my confidence.)

Coach: Would you recommend this course to your colleagues?
Fungaroli: I do, and I have.

Coach: How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
Fungaroli: Twenty five years ago, while stationed overseas, I was in charge of the quality assurance inspection programs at a large air force base in England. My job was to inspect vendor deliveries of subsistence for compliance with quality assurance provisions. Over three years, my office saved the US government hundreds of thousands of dollars. As diligent as we were at checking tare weights, and seeking price adjustments or rejections for substandard products, a coworker was walking thousands of dollars’ worth of subsistence out the back door and selling it on the black market. He was in charge of receiving and rotating stock.

When he was arrested it really hit home. He was a supervisor and a friend. I trusted him explicitly, but when I look back, all of the signs were there (opportunity, pressure, and rationalization). We had missed the signs because he was such a “great guy.” It turns out that one of his subordinates turned him in. That experience brought home what Ronald Reagan meant when he said to “trust but verify.” 

Coach: Now that we know what you do professionally, what do you like to do for fun and what do you find enjoyable about it?
Fungaroli: My wife and I have a three year old daughter. She’s amazing! I marvel at how she’s developing and discovering the world. Hearing her giggle makes all of the bad go away. When I’m not chasing our daughter, I love to read.

Coach: Do you have any study tips or suggestions for aspiring CFEs?
Fungaroli: Have a plan. Whatever time you have, write down on a calendar when you are going to study and asses your compliance every week. If you don’t hit your goal, reassess and recommit. The other thing that kept me on a really aggressive schedule was enlisting my wife in the process. We talked about and agreed on the time commitment and personal cost. Then we put together a study schedule, and I committed to attending the CFE Exam Review Course two months later in Las Vegas. She also told me that I wasn’t allowed to quit or fail, so I didn’t

Thank you for your time and congratulations on your new CFE credential.