Agenda
Wednesday, August 20
8:00 AM – 8:50 AM
100: The State of the CPA Profession: Staying Agile for What’s Next
From new regulations and legislation to economic uncertainty, there’s plenty of issues keeping CPAs on their toes as they try to serve their clients and companies. If this year has shown us anything so far, it’s that being agile and adaptable is paramount. Join us as we dive into the changes, challenges, and trends impacting accounting and finance professionals today and discuss what’s next as we steward the profession into the future.
Geoffrey Brown, CAE
President and CEO, Illinois CPA Society
Brian Blaha, CPA
Chairperson, Illinois CPA Society and Managing Director, Winding River Consulting
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM
109: Get Your Head in the Game! Harnessing Your Mental Fitness
Today’s most effective leaders are like elite athletes, charting their visions of success, building high-performing teams, and setting challenging goals. Learn how to navigate uncertainty and stress as you hone your leadership skills by boosting your mental fitness and emotional intelligence. Find out how to actively shift from a negative to a positive mindset regardless of the obstacle and take away proven tools and tactics to help leverage these strengths.
Kristen Fox, MBA, PCC, CPCC, CPQC
Practice Leader, Coaching and Leadership Development, TalentRise
3:45 PM – 5:00 PM
118: Catch Me If You Can: Today’s Pink Collar Criminal
Embezzlement is a crime hiding in plain sight, and it’s often committed by long-term, trusted employees. Examine why this relatable and rapidly growing form of fraud is impacting organizations of all kinds. Learn how to spot the “pink flags,” hear strategies for protecting your assets, and discover ways to ensure your most trusted team member isn’t hiding a devastating secret.
Kelly Paxton, CFE
Principal, K Paxton LLC
TAX TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
101: Tax Ethics: Best Practices in SSTS
Dive into the ethical standards relevant to performing tax services. Discuss the revised AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services (SSTS) and Circular 230 using engaging real-life examples.
Luis Plascencia, CPA, MST | CPA Practitioner/Principal, Luis V Plascencia, CPA
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
105: Sales Tax Update: Illinois and Beyond
Receive a dynamic and timely overview of the most significant sales tax developments impacting businesses in Illinois and across the nation. Discuss key legislative and regulatory changes in the taxation of rentals and leases and compare how different states are approaching the taxation of digital advertising and products. Plus, assess the impact of recent nexus policy shifts on business operations, compliance obligations, and more.
Diane L. Yetter, CPA, MST | President and Founder, Yetter Consulting Services Inc., Sales Tax Institute
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
110: Business Tax Briefing: Key Updates, Insights, and Client Strategies
Discuss recent developments related to business tax and their impact on your clients. Explore updates from the United States Department of the Treasury and other legislative updates. Walk away with planning opportunities to present to your clients.
Mark Mirsky, CPA, MST | Partner, Aprio Advisory Group LLC
2:25 PM – 3:15 PM
114: Developments and Opportunities in International Tax
Track key developments in international tax rules and regulations. Explore export incentives for U.S. businesses. Hear strategies and tips to help foreign taxpayers invest in U.S. companies.
Mark Mirsky, CPA, MST | Partner, Aprio Advisory Group LLC
Michael Campbell, CPA, MTax | International Tax Director, Aprio Advisory Group LLC
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT / HUMAN CAPITAL TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
102: Psychological Safety: The Missing Link in Your Company Culture
A psychologically safe workplace promotes inclusivity, inspires creativity, builds trust, and improves team performance while helping employees manage stress— especially during times of change. While many firms struggle to prioritize psychological safety, those who do are seeing major benefits. Explore Google’s findings on high-performing teams and learn practical strategies for applying this research to improve performance and retention in your firm.
Erin Daiber, CPA | CEO, Well Balanced Accountants
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
106: Embracing Creativity and Innovation in Accounting
It’s time to fully embrace creative thinking in accounting and become the forward-thinking advisor that your clients, business partners, and teammates demand. Discover the importance of creative thinking in the field and learn techniques to sharpen your creative problem-solving skills. Leave with actionable tips, tricks, and techniques to transform yourself into the “go-to” person for new ideas and innovative solutions.
Mike Manalac, CPA | Accounting Manager, Google
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
111: Transform Your Life in 30 Days With These Holistic Habits
Whether you’re launching your career, leading a team, or planning your next chapter, discover how to bridge the gap between where you are now and where you want to be. Hear simple yet powerful habits to improve focus, reduce stress, and create more time for what matters most. Walk away with practical strategies to improve productivity, strengthen work-life balance, and align your daily actions with your long-term vision.
Charlene Rhinehart, CPA, PMP, DTM | Personal Finance Editor, GoodRx
2:25 PM – 3:15 PM
115: Leading the Future: Managing and Supporting Young Professionals
Today’s young professionals bring fresh perspectives, tech-savviness, and a desire for meaningful work—yet many supervisors struggle to manage and lead them effectively. Explore their values, workplace challenges, and expectations, and gain insights into how to help them thrive as managers to better engage, develop, and retain them during this lively panel discussion.
Manal Ahmed | Student & Diversity Outreach Specialist, Illinois CPA Society
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
103: Advanced Concepts in Non-Audit Engagements
Get answers to your real-life non-audit questions and hear tips to minimize your quality control issues and professional liability risk. Examine the additional responsibilities between preparation engagements, compilations, and reviews. Explore the best practices for maintaining high-quality Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services engagements and learn how to analyze common peer review issues with agreed-upon procedure engagements.
Jennifer Louis | President | Emergent Solutions Group LLC
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
107: Avoiding Auditing Deficiencies in Yellow Book and Single Audits
Gain the insights and tools you need to avoid peer review deficiencies in your audits. Delve into the precautions to take when performing a financial audit under Yellow Book or a compliance audit under Uniform Guidance. Discuss the most misapplied concepts to avoid when testing internal controls and compliance.
Jennifer Louis | President | Emergent Solutions Group LLC
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
112: The Rapid Emergence of AI in Auditing
AI is quickly reshaping the audit landscape. Explore practical applications of AI in external financial statement audits, from risk assessment and data analysis to testing and documentation. Gain insights into how AI tools can complement professional judgment, streamline workflows, and strengthen audit evidence. Dive into real-world examples and best practices for integration and learn how to maintain auditor responsibility and skepticism in an evolving technology environment.
Megan Angle, CPA | Partner, Porte Brown LLC
2:25 PM – 3:15 PM
116: Get Ready for the New Quality Management Standards
With the Dec. 15 effective date of the Statements on Quality Management Standards quickly approaching, learning the ins and outs of these standards is more critical than ever. Delve into questions about the design, documentation, implementation, and operation of your firm’s quality management system while considering the impact of the standards on your day-to-day operations.
Heather Lindquist, CPA | Director, Peer Review and Professional Standards, Peer Review Alliance, Illinois CPA Society
CORPORATE FINANCE / TECHNOLOGY TRACK SESSIONS
9:00 AM – 9:50 AM
104: Hot Topics in Cryptocurrency
Hear an insightful discussion of the latest hot topics in today’s fast-moving cryptocurrency arena.
Shehan Chandrasekera, CPA | Head of Tax Strategy, CoinTracker
10:15 AM – 11:05 AM
108: The Transformative Role of AI in Accounting
Accountants are eager to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline tasks and save valuable time, but these tools can cause a ripple effect that goes beyond task automation throughout a firm. Examine the impact of AI on training needs and process adaptations within your firm. Discuss key considerations when introducing new tools and explore the implications for training programs, highlighting the necessity for upskilling in AI literacy, critical thinking, and more.
Erin Daiber, CPA | CEO, Well Balanced Accountants
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
113: Beyond the Numbers: FP&A for Strategic Accountants
Financial planning and analysis (FP&A) isn’t just for finance teams! Learn techniques for constructing dynamic business models that can integrate historical data, test assumptions, and translate intelligence into presentation-ready summaries. Whether you’re supporting budgeting, forecasting, or scenario planning, discover how to deliver financial models that inform smarter business decisions.
Carl Seidman, CPA, CSP | Principal, Seidman Financial
2:25 PM – 3:15 PM
117: Variance Analysis Insights and Implementation
Uncover the “why” behind the numbers and translate financial performance into meaningful insights with variance analysis! Explore how to structure variance reports, identify trends, and communicate actionable recommendations to leadership. Learn Excel shortcuts and leverage visualizations to highlight key deviations. Come away with a practical and implementation-ready approach to recurring reporting and correspondence.
Carl Seidman, CPA, CSP | Principal, Seidman Financial
Thursday, August 21
8:00 AM – 9:15 AM
200: The U.S. Economy: Labor Challenges and Solutions
Receive an update on the trajectory of the U.S. economy with a focus on labor challenges and solutions. Discuss the direction of the Federal Reserve and the impact of government policies on trade, tax, and spending.
Jeffrey Korzenik
Chief Investment Strategist, Fifth Third Bank
David Snyder
President and CEO, The Economic Club of Chicago
11:40 AM – 12:30 PM
209: Cultivating Creativity to Transform Your Career
In today’s data-driven, automated world, the most impactful finance and accounting professionals aren’t just technically strong—they’re strategic thinkers, storytellers, and problem-solvers who leverage creativity to drive business decisions. Through real-world examples and actionable insights, challenge the idea that creativity and accounting are mutually exclusive and explore ways to elevate your career and add value to your organization.
Liz Barhydt, CPA, CMA
CFO, Optimism
2:25 PM – 3:40 PM
214: The Evolving Technology Landscape
Delve into today’s technology landscape and its implications for the accounting sector. Learn which trends are worth monitoring and examine the proper hardware and software for your strategic and tactical plans. Explore the influence of AI, quantum computing, software as a service, and productivity suites like Microsoft 365. Leave with actionable insights on how to maximize your return on investment.
Randy Johnston, MCS
Executive Vice President, K2 Enterprises
TAX TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
201: Individual Tax Update
Discuss tax regulations and recent changes while discovering new strategies to help mitigate tax implications your clients may be facing.
Sali L. Sheafor, CPA | Member, TAP Consulting LLC
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
205: The Ins and Outs of IRAs
Putting money into retirement isn’t as easy as making a deposit. The options for planning ahead seem endless as we scour through the many types of accounts and work to ensure penalties stay at bay. Hear tips for maximizing your retirement funds, including when to watch for Medicare in tax planning and when to consider a back-door Roth IRA conversion.
Sali L. Sheafor, CPA | Member, TAP Consulting LLC
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
210: Rich and Famous in Illinois: Strategies for Working With High-Net-Worth Clients
Every new client is an adrenaline rush, but if it’s a high-profile or high-net-worth client, it’s even more exciting – until a dispute arises. Learn why working with the rich and famous may result in expensive and time-consuming claims and hear strategies for reducing the impact on your firm.
Deborah K. Rood, CPA, MST | Risk Control Consulting Director, CNA Insurance
Jeremy Dubow, CPA, MST | Tax Partner, Prosperity Partners LLC
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
215: Revolutionizing Tax Advisory: Leveraging Technology to Drive Business Growth
Session Sponsor:
Join us for an engaging workshop on best practices to deliver strategic advisory services. Learn how advanced technology can help your firm drive revenue growth and elevate client service.
Betty Ross | Director, Product Management, Wolters Kluwer
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT / HUMAN CAPITAL TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
202: Navigating Conflicts and Difficult Conversations
In today’s dynamic work environments, navigating conflicts and handling difficult conversations with grace and professionalism are invaluable skills. Whether you’re a manager or team member, conflicts and challenging discussions are a part of professional life. Equip yourself with the tools and strategies to effectively manage and resolve conflicts, fostering a more harmonious and productive workplace.
Susan Stutzel, CPA | Partner, PartnersCoach Inc.
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
206: Earning Your Seat at the Leadership Table
How do we get invited to have a seat at the table? Don’t fake it till you make it—develop the skills to lead with confidence as your authentic self. Understand the micromessages you’re sending and walk away with the strategies you need to step up, stand out, and confidently earn your seat at the leadership table.
Susan Stutzel, CPA | Partner, PartnersCoach Inc.
1:25 PM – 12:30 PM
211: Make It Clear, Make It Count: Communication That Drives Action
Session Sponsor:
Sharpen your communication style, strengthen your messaging, and leverage AI tools like ChatGPT to improve clarity and save yourself time. Learn how to lead with intent, motivate your team, and ensure your message cuts through the noise—whether you’re writing a client email, delivering performance feedback, or preparing a firmwide announcement. Walk away with communication tactics and resources you can implement immediately.
Christine M. Hollinden, CPSM, CEPA, CVGA, CM&AA | Partner, Hollinden
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
216: Ethics and Privacy in AI
Since its emergence in 2022, generative AI has transformed industries, but rapid adoption has raised concerns about data misuse and confidentiality. As AI regulations tighten, it’s critical to establish ethical guidelines, but complex terms of service and end-user license agreements are often overlooked. Learn how to demystify these agreements and develop and enforce principles addressing privacy and the responsible use of AI.
Randy Johnston, MCS | Executive Vice President, K2 Enterprises
ACCOUNTING & AUDITING TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
203: Firm Acquisitions: Liability Risk Considerations for Buyers and Sellers
Whether you’re a buyer or seller of a CPA firm, or considering a private equity investment, there are risk considerations that can’t be ignored. Learn the pitfalls to avoid as you venture into transaction territory.
Stan Sterna, JD | Risk Control Leader, Aon
Sarah Ference, CPA | Risk Control Director, CNA Insurance
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
207: Inside FASB’s 2025 Agenda
This year, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) is finishing priority projects and looking to the future. Discuss what you need to know about new and upcoming standards, hear the latest on post-implementation reviews, examine the feedback received from the 2025 comment periods, and discover how your continued input on projects and initiatives informs the board’s cost-benefit analysis to ensure standards are effective and operable.
Hillary Salo, CPA | Vice Chair, Financial Accounting Standards Board
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
212: What’s Happening at the AICPA
The AICPA is buzzing with activity in 2025—stay ahead of the curve with a comprehensive overview of what’s happening. Explore the new quality management standards becoming effective this year and their impact on practice management. Dive into the latest Auditing Standards Board proposals, then close with a quick review of Statements on Auditing Standards No. 149 for group audits, which will be effective next year.
Melisa Galasso, CPA | Founder and CEO, Galasso Learning Solutions
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
217: Post Implementation Review
Discuss the impacts of recent AICPA and FASB activities. Get started with a review of current expected credit loss and other recent standard-setting to address implementation issues, then assess the impact of Statement on Auditing Standards No. 145, and hear insights from peer review.
Melisa Galasso, CPA | Founder and CEO, Galasso Learning Solutions
CORPORATE FINANCE / TECHNOLOGY TRACK SESSIONS
9:25 AM – 10:15 AM
204: Why Good Strategies Fail: The Four Keys to Organizational Effectiveness
Unlock organizational effectiveness to drive long-term growth by focusing on four key elements: operating model/structure, skills, talent, and talent effectiveness. Together, these components empower organizations to not only design effective strategies but also execute them successfully, ensuring a framework for sustained growth and adaptability in an ever-evolving landscape.
Dwain Young, Jr., PHR | Director, Protiviti
10:40 AM – 11:30 AM
208: The Outsourcing Edge: CAS Advantages for Small- to Medium-Sized Businesses
As technology evolves rapidly and staffing shortages persist, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly turning to outsourced financial support. Explore how client accounting services (CAS) practices can strategically position themselves to offer sustainable solutions for the pain points SMB clients are experiencing today.
Seth Hopkins | Director, Forvis Mazars US
1:25 PM – 2:15 PM
213: AI in Excel: ChatGPT, Copilot, or Both?
Gain a competitive edge! Walk through integrating AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot and ChatGPT into Excel to enhance your productivity. Dive deep into Microsoft’s security, compliance, privacy, and responsible AI principles, and discuss practical uses of Copilot, ChatGPT, and other plugins in daily workflows to streamline tasks and improve overall efficiency.
Randy Johnston, MCS | Executive Vice President, K2 Enterprises
4:10 PM – 5:00 PM
218: AI Safety and Governance in the Workplace
AI is a hot topic in nearly every industry, but with significant upside comes substantial risk—fraud, bias, data security, and internet protocol (IP) issues. By 2026, municipal, state, federal, and international regulations will be in place regarding the safe use of AI and will require organizations to implement robust governance practices. Discuss the steps you should take to safeguard your organization’s interests in this fast-moving era of innovation.
John Rood | President, Proceptual Inc
Copyright, Illinois CPA Society
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