Agenda
Tuesday, August 27
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
100: The State of the CPA Profession: It’s Time to Think Big
From talent acquisition and retention to professional relevance, the CPA profession faces big challenges—so it’s time to think about big solutions. Join us as we dissect the trends impacting accounting and finance today and discuss the big ideas that could keep the profession moving forward.
Geoffrey Brown, CAE
President and CEO, Illinois CPA Society
Deborah Rood, CPA, MST
Chairperson, Illinois CPA Society and Risk Control Consulting Director, CNA Insurance
11:15 AM – 12:05 PM
109: Human Capital Management: How to Best Engage and Retain Top Talent
Turn the tide on decreasing employee retention trends by building a culture that proactively drives engagement and productivity. Learn how to spot, and prevent, employee burnout to keep your organization profitable and effectively moving forward.
Sirmara Campbell
Chief Human Resources Officer, LaSalle Network
3:20 PM – 5:00 PM
118: Techs and Trends: 2024 Update
Accounting technology has gone through significant changes—from the advent of the personal computer to the internet to remote digital collaboration prompted by the pandemic. Now artificial intelligence has been added to the mix, accelerating change even more. Walk through an optimum accounting system infrastructure with specific equipment and application recommendations to keep your firm or company on the leading edge. Plus, hear an update on burgeoning cybersecurity threats and specific steps your organization should implement today.
Roman Kepczyk, CPA, CITP, CGMA, LSS BB
Director of Firm Technology Strategy, Rightworks
TAX TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
101: Tax Insights for the Tax-Exempt World
Receive a comprehensive update on all the latest not-for-profit tax developments. Delve into key areas, such as tax-exempt status requirements, unrelated business income tax (UBIT), legislative updates, industry trends, and compliance best practices.
Jennifer Burke, CPA, MST | Tax Partner | Crowe LLP
Steve Lenivy, CPA | Managing Director | Crowe LLP
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
105: Navigating Tax Credits and Incentives for Maximum Business Advantage
Session Sponsor:
Recent legislative changes to tax credits and incentives present both opportunities and challenges for businesses across various industries. From federal tax credits and deductions to clean energy incentives and state-specific programs, gain valuable insights on leveraging these updates to maximize your clients’ tax advantages and fuel their growth.
Rick Lazio | Former U.S. Congressman of New York, and Senior Vice President | alliantgroup
12:55 PM – 1:45 PM
110: Applying the New Tax Ethics Standards
Take a deep dive into the AICPA’s newly revised Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTS), including standards that address the reliance on electronic tools and data protection. Using real case studies, discuss practical approaches to applying these tax ethics standards to your practice.
Luis Plascencia, CPA, MST | Principal | Luis V Plascencia, CPA
1:55 PM – 2:45 PM
114: Opportunities in Estate Planning
Discuss the ins and outs of the estate planning process, including basic terminology and planning documents. Understand how to handle marriage, remarriage, and divorce, as well as recognize signs of undue influence that may thwart a client’s true intentions.
Michael Ripani, CPA, JD, CFE | Senior Counsel | Handler Thayer LLP
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT / HUMAN CAPITAL TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
102: Blueprint for Offshoring Success
Session Sponsor:
More and more firms are turning to offshoring to expand their teams and meet pressing capacity needs. But not all global teams are created equal. Discover the art of building a successful global team, including using rhythms and culture to boost morale. Plus, learn about the hottest technology tools to drive productivity and ensure security.
Shirley Koss | Director for Strategic Partnerships | TOA Global
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
106: Branding Illuminated
Shine a light on how to develop a compelling and authentic brand for both personal and professional success. Through real-world examples and practical tips, discover how to craft an impactful story to strategically showcase your skills and achievements.
Mollie Lo | CEO and Business Coach | LoTUS Mentoring
12:55 PM – 1:45 PM
111: Build a World-Class Learning Organization on a Budget
Level up your talent development and knowledge management by investing in your workforce with a comprehensive learning strategy. Examine the 70:20:10 learning model and discover how to implement it for improved learning engagement and execution.
Tammy Daugherty, M.Ed. | Business Consultant and Coach | People Matter Consulting Ltd.
1:55 PM – 2:45 PM
115: Measure Your Ethics Through Change
New processes, technologies, and circumstances often necessitate changing ethical decisions. Learn to filter your decisions through a simple litmus test to ensure your actions are putting ethical principles into practice.
Tammy Daugherty, M.Ed. | Business Consultant and Coach | People Matter Consulting Ltd.
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
103: Accounting Update
Embark on a fast-paced journey through the most current hot topics in accounting and financial reporting. Leave equipped to provide a plain language executive summary of emerging issues in U.S. GAAP.
Jennifer Louis | President | Emergent Solutions Group
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
107: Auditing Update
Delve into the major auditing and attestation changes. Discover the new professional and ethical requirements that need to be addressed in your workpapers to avoid peer review issues.
Jennifer Louis | President | Emergent Solutions Group
12:55 PM – 1:45 PM
112: Single Audit Update
Examine the impact of the 2024 Compliance Supplement on Single Audits, as well as the proposed changes to the Uniform Guidance. Plus, learn how to recognize and avoid the most common audit deficiencies found in Single Audits.
Melisa Galasso, CPA | Founder and CEO | Galasso Learning Solutions
1:55 PM – 2:45 PM
116: Yellow Book Update
Get up to speed on the unique independence requirements in Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards (GAGAS). Understand all the recent changes to quality management in the 2024 Yellow Book that are impacting government audit organizations and public accounting firms.
Melisa Galasso, CPA | Founder and CEO | Galasso Learning Solutions
CORPORATE FINANCE / TECHNOLOGY TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
104: Develop Insights to Improve Decision-Making
While reporting, and even some analysis, are becoming more automated, the one thing technology hasn’t mastered yet is developing deep, meaningful insights from that data. Discover a systematic way to develop these insights to become a valued advisor who helps organizations solve difficult problems and improve their bottom lines.
John Sanchez | Business Coach and Managing Director | The FPA Group
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
108: Making Complex Ideas Easy to Understand
Accounting and finance professionals often need to communicate complex ideas in a way that’s easy to understand, especially for people who lack a financial background. Uncover the common causes of complexity and discover specific tips to present complex information in a way that keeps your audience engaged.
John Sanchez | Business Coach and Managing Director | The FPA Group
12:55 PM – 1:45 PM
113: The Role of AI in the Workplace
In today’s competitive job market, organizations are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence (AI) for every stage of the recruitment cycle. From automating candidate sourcing and resume screening to conducting predictive analysis for talent forecasting, discover how AI-driven tools can enhance decision-making, minimize bias, and streamline the recruitment process.
Karrie Sullivan | Founder and CEO | Culminate Strategy Group
1:55 PM – 2:45 PM
117: Anatomy of a Collaborative Budget Process
Budgeting, done the right way, can be a powerful tool to bring departments together and promote alignment on short-term goals and long-range strategies. But without a collaborative and well-designed process, budgets can turn into just another annual “to-do” item. Discuss effective preparation and execution processes that promote organizational buy-in and accountability.
Kim Szalkus, CPA | Vice President of Financial Planning and Analysis | ReSource Pro
Wednesday, August 28
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
200: A Look Ahead at the U.S. Economy
The real state of our economic environment is buried in the details. Discuss current economic indicators—including GDP, production trends, consumer demand, market sentiment, and employment trends—to better understand what lies ahead. Plus, take a deep dive into the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and its implications for interest rates and credit markets.
LaVaughn Henry, Ph.D., CBE
Former Sr. Economist, Council of Economic Advisers, Executive Office of the President (the White House) and Sr. Regional Officer and VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
1:25 PM – 2:40 PM
213: Maintaining Ethical Objectivity and Independence
Threats to independence are everywhere. Hear cautionary tales of when lines were crossed and learn what safeguards to put in place to stay independent. Plus, review guidance from the AICPA’s Code of Professional Conduct and Circular 230 to help navigate relationships with clients while maintaining objectivity and integrity.
Kathy Enstrom, MBA, EA, CFE
Director of Investigations, Moore Tax Law Group LLC
Guinevere Moore, JD
Managing Member, Moore Tax Law Group LLC
4:10 PM – 5:10 PM
218: REAL Leadership: Navigating Today’s Workplace
The workplace is changing at an alarming rate—there are more generations in it than ever before, anxiety is at an all-time high, AI has arrived, and employees are working outside of a common space more than ever. All these changes (and more) have caused the traditional leadership approach to become obsolete. With a workforce that demands belonging, it’s important for leaders to acknowledge the rapidly shifting landscape by getting below the surface within their teams. Learn how to fit the “REAL Leadership” approach into your own style and leave inspired with actionable steps.
LaTonya Wilkins, MBA
Founder and CEO, Change Coaches
TAX TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
201: Individual Tax Update
Get all your federal income tax questions answered at this insider look at recent tax court decisions and other developments and updates.
David Shiner, CPA, BSBA, JD, LLM | Shareholder, Leader of Tax and Employee Benefits Practice Group | Chuhak & Tecson PC
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
205: Business Tax Update
Discuss the latest congressional and IRS hot topics, including the proper treatment of Section 174 and recent developments impacting the Employee Retention Credit. Learn to identify a beneficial owner and the required FinCEN filings.
Mark Mirsky, CPA, MST | Partner | KRD Ltd.
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
209: Tax Update: Flow-Through Entities
Identify commonly missed items in computing basis and at-risk limits for partnerships and S corporations, and learn the questions to ask clients to properly characterize debt and appropriately allocate on K-1s. Determine when K-2/K-3 forms are required to be filed and discuss other commonly overlooked situations.
Mark Mirsky, CPA, MST | Partner | KRD Ltd.
2:50 PM – 3:40 PM
214: State and Local Tax Update
Receive a comprehensive overview of all the notable state tax updates for 2024. Learn to recognize the activities that may create a nexus for sales and income tax and understand how certain internet activities can create a state filing obligation.
Jamie Baker, CPA, CGMA | SALT Director | KRD Ltd.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT / HUMAN CAPITAL TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
202: 3 Simple Ways to Ensure Your Employees Never Want to Leave
People are your most valuable asset, yet employee retention is becoming more challenging every day. Discover what employees really want but may never tell you. Explore what’s missing when it comes to engagement and walk away with tips to help employees feel more connected to the work they do.
Susan Stutzel, CPA | Partner | PartnersCoach Inc.
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
206: The Art of Intentionally Saying No
Have you heard, “Say yes—it’ll lead to more opportunities!”? While that may be true, saying yes also means saying no to something else. Learn how to use “no” as a complete sentence without sabotaging your career. Walk away with strategies to be more intentional about where you spend your time to increase your success and confidence as a leader.
Susan Stutzel, CPA | Partner | PartnersCoach Inc.
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
210: Sexual Harassment Prevention Training: Being Proactive and Accountable
Discover how to develop a comprehensive sexual harassment policy and what leadership needs to do to stay accountable. Learn what an accessible harassment complaint system should entail and what constitutes effective harassment prevention training.
Michael Gregory, MS, MBA | Founder | Michael Gregory Consulting LLC
2:50 PM – 3:40 PM
215: Essential Strategies and Skills for Successful Negotiations
Discover the key skills needed to excel in a negotiation. Take a detailed look at how soft, hard, and principled negotiators operate and approach a negotiation. Using real-world stories, drill down into six different negotiation models and leave with a pocket guide and checklist to help you determine which elements to consider.
Michael Gregory, MS, MBA | Founder | Michael Gregory Consulting LLC
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
203: ESG: Emerging Trends and Evolving Regulations
Learn about the U.S., European, and global ESG regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions, climate risk, and broader sustainability topics. Explore how companies can prepare for sustainability reporting requirements while aligning regulatory compliance with business strategies and stakeholder priorities.
Matthew Pelton | Audit and Assurance Managing Director | Deloitte & Touche LLP
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
207: The Successful Exit: Preparing for the Sale of a Business
Explore the various strategies to optimize value when preparing a company for sale and identify the different types of buyers in the M&A market. Hint—they are not always limited to primary competitors. Plus, discuss the current market valuations for privately held businesses of various sizes.
Brian Lunt | Managing Director | Stevenson & Company
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
211: Accounting and Auditing for Small Businesses
Receive an in-depth analysis of recently issued FASB Accounting Standards Updates affecting small businesses. Plus, hear how newly issued Statements on Auditing Standards and SSARS guidance will impact financial statement-related engagements.
Daryl Krause, CPA | Manager and CEO | DG Krause LLC
2:50 PM – 3:40 PM
216: Fraud Trends and Topics
Take a deep dive into the latest fraud-related trends as identified by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ recent survey and consider their implications on internal controls and financial statement-related engagements.
Daryl Krause, CPA | Manager and CEO | DG Krause LLC
CORPORATE FINANCE / TECHNOLOGY TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
204: Secure Choice: Retirement Saving Options
Uncover the nuts and bolts of the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, including the administrative responsibilities of a facilitating employer and options for program participants.
Christine Cheng | Executive Director of Secure Choice | Illinois State Treasurer’s Office
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
208: Optimizing Internal Controls: Focus on Value
Optimizing internal controls is more than a simple “control rationalization” exercise. Learn how to create a comprehensive approach to embed controls into your organization’s operation, creating a reliable, efficient, systematic, and audit-ready process that increases value.
Jim Hannan, CPA | Founder | IFG Chicago’s Advisory Practice and Outsource Accounting Practices
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
212: Finance Automation: A Roadmap to Sustainable Transformation
Despite advances in technology and the explosion of generative AI, accounting teams are still weighed down by innumerable, burdensome manual processes. Learn how to leverage and optimize technology to effectively reduce costs and risks while improving your organization’s performance.
Jim Hannan, CPA | Founder | IFG Chicago’s Advisory Practice and Outsource Accounting Practices
2:50 PM – 3:40 PM
217: Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
Explore the why behind cybersecurity issues, the methods being used by attackers, and how the use of artificial intelligence has shifted the threat landscape. Plus, discover the technology-related controls needed to secure information throughout your organizational environment.
Paul M. Perry, CPA, CITP, CDPSE, CISM | Member, Risk Advisory and Assurance Services | Warren Averett
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