Ralph Summerford

Ralph Q. Summerford is founder and president of Forensic/Strategic Solutions, PC, headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The firm consists of forensic accountants and fraud examiners who are trained specialists in the detection, investigation and deterrence of fraudulent conduct. Since founding this firm in 1992, Ralph has investigated hundreds of cases including the discovery of employees or executives who misappropriated company assets or fraudulently misstated financial statements. He has worked directly with the FBI, US Attorney's Office, Internal Revenue Service, Federal Trade Commission and other government agencies to investigate, resolve or testify about fraudulent schemes or fraud detection.

For over two decades, Ralph has worked closely with both plaintiff and defense attorneys; internal auditors; corporate boards and audit committees; bankruptcy trustees and creditors' committees; insurance company special investigation units; government inspector generals; and governmental agencies.

Ralph is on the faculty of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Since 1996 he has traveled around the world to train accountants, investigators, attorneys, law enforcement and government officials on how to recognize and investigate fraud. Since 1999, he has been a regular speaker at the annual ACFE fraud conference where he consistently ranks as one of the top speakers. Ralph has spoken on fraud topics for state CPA societies including Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Arkansas and Georgia. He regularly speaks on fraud topics to local and national legal associations and human resource managers.

Ralph has served as chairman of the ACFE's Professional Standards and Practices Committee; vice chairman of the Board of Regents; and chairman of the Board of Review. He also served the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants as a member of the Forensic and Valuation Services Section and currently serves as an Ambassador to that section.

Ralph testifies as an expert witness in federal and state courts on fraud and matters involving complicated financial transactions. He is a guest lecturer at seminars, colleges and universities where he strives to enhance the understanding of fraud and forensic accounting. He has published articles that have appeared in Accounting Today, Preventing Business Fraud, Financial Fraud, Baltimore SmartCEO, Bank Fraud & IT Security Report, and Fraud Magazine. Additionally, he has been quoted in numerous business journals, newsletters and national publications such as USA Today.