Meet the 2025-2026 RE Team!
Meet the 2025-2026 Regional Executive (RE) Team! Each one of HFMA’s 11 regions has one individual that is elected by the chapter presidents-elect to serve as their Regional Executive on the Regional Executive Council. The Regional Executive Council sets policy and goals related to the Chapter Dashboard, Davis Chapter Management System, and Founders Merit Award Program.
Brian Pavona
Regional Executive
Brian J. Pavona, CPA, FHFMA
Partner – Healthcare Audit and Advisory,
Forvis Mazars LLP
Chicago Healthcare Segment Leader
Regional Healthcare Segment Leader
Brian is a public accounting executive with over 22 years’ experience providing audit and advisory services to leading healthcare organizations, including hospitals and health systems, academic medical centers, community health centers/FQHCs, provider clinics, and other healthcare- and wellness-related organizations.
Brian is a member of the AICPA’s Health Care Entities Expert Panel which serves the needs of AICPA members on financial and business reporting and audit and attest matters specific to healthcare. As part of the panel, Brian works to protect the public interest by bringing together knowledgeable parties in the health care industry to deliberate and come to agreement on key health care issues.
He is a recent Past President of the First Illinois Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) Chapter, is a HFMA Region Executive (Region 7) and he is also a member of the Illinois CPA Society. He was recognized by Forbes Magazine in 2025 as one of its “Best-In-State Top CPAs.”
He has extensive experience auditing and advising clients on internal controls and processes, risk and reimbursement, grants and related compliance, critical allowances and reserves, revenue recognition, lease accounting, investments, business combinations, conduit and other debt issuances, contributions, CARES Act funding and other risk areas. He frequently advises clients on matters important to their forecasting/budgeting, accounting/financial reporting, and compliance.
Brian is a graduate of Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and a master’s degree in accounting. In addition to serving as an HFMA Regional Executive and AICPA Health Care Entities Expert Panel Member, he serves his community through several philanthropic leadership positions including Co-Chair of the Big Shoulders Fund Chairmen’s Advisory Council and Board Member of Chicago’s DePaul College Prep High School.
Lisa Earl
Regional Executive II
Lisa has been an HFMA member for 20+ years and has been an Indiana Pressler Memorial chapter volunteer for more than 12 years. Lisa has served on the Communication Committee, Education Committee, the Board of Directors and four years as a Chapter Executive (Secretary, Vice President, President-Elect and President). In her most recent year as Past President, she also chaired the Membership Committee. Lisa has received the Bronze and Silver merit awards and has served as a volunteer for the HFMA Annual Conference for two years.
Lisa has spent the last 20+ years of her career at Ascension in progressive roles in Financial Accounting and Reporting, from a small specialty cardiac hospital, to statewide corporate accounting, nationwide foundation accounting, and most currently on the Oracle ERP implementation team as the Finance General Ledger lead. Lisa is also the Enterprise Membership Coordinator for Ascension and participates in a quarterly HFMA 101 webinar for new associates. As an HFMA volunteer, her membership has provided tremendous returns both professionally and personally.
Lisa has a bachelor’s degree in Business from Indiana University Kelley School of Business and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. She is a Certified Public Accountant and is a Fellow of the Healthcare Financial Management Association.
Kara McAdam
Regional Executive III
Kara McAdam is the Executive Director of Finance at Gibson Area Hospital in Gibson City, Illinois, where she has worked since 2015. With over 15 years of experience in healthcare finance, Kara is deeply committed to supporting and advancing rural healthcare. A proud native of Gibson City, she was born in the very hospital where she now helps lead its financial strategy and operations.
Kara has been an active member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) since joining Gibson Area Hospital. She has served in numerous leadership roles, including President of the Greater Illinois Chapter. She played a pivotal role in the successful merger of the McMahon-Illini and Southern Illinois chapters, helping to establish the newly formed Greater Illinois Chapter.
In addition to her professional work, Kara is passionate about community service. She volunteers regularly at the local food bank and with the local Sleep in Heavenly Peace organization, helping provide beds for children in need.
Kara holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from Millikin University. Known for her energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to continuous improvement, Kara thrives on building connections and driving collaboration. She views HFMA not just as a professional organization, but as a family, and remains dedicated to supporting its mission and the success of its members.