Agenda

GENERAL SESSION

LAUNCH GENERAL SESSION
8:00 AM – 8:55 AM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Tech Stack: Building Your Best-in-Class Practice
Technology can make or break a modern accounting practice. Firms stuck with fragmented systems struggle with inefficiency while their competitors deliver seamless CFO insights using integrated tech stacks. This session cuts through the confusion to reveal exactly which tools create the automation, clarity, and client experience that transform standard firms into sought-after integrated tech stacks. This session cuts through the confusion to reveal exactly which tools create the automation, clarity, and client experience that transform standard firms into sought-after.
Amy Vetter, CPA, CGMA, RYT 500, CSP – CEO, The B³ Method Institute, Cincinnati, OH
Credits: 1.0 OT

4:25 PM – 5:15 PM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Coolest Profession (Update) Around
Brings profession news, legislative updates, member benefits and opportunities to you.
Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Associations of CPAs, Troy
Credits: 1.0 OT

LAUNCH CHANNEL ONE

CHANNEL ONE

9:05 AM – 9:55 AM
Financial Fraud Schemes: Identification, Prevention & Detection
Despite ongoing prevention efforts, material financial fraud schemes remain a major threat. Consider key studies and findings on high-risk financial statement accounts, common red flags and perpetrator characteristics. Then, review several broad preventative and detective internal control concepts that assist in decreasing an entity’s risk of fraud.
Glenn Helms, PhD, CPA – Greensboro, NC
Credits: 1.0 AA

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM
Modern Personalized Investments for Retirement
As new technology reshapes our lives at an unprecedented rate, your approach to investing needs to keep pace. As a fiduciary, you’re in charge of leveraging this technology to impact participant outcomes. Are you up to date with the latest trends in personalization and investing?
Brian Raymond, AIF, CMFC – Chief Investment Officer, Sentinel Group, Troy
Credits: 1.0 OT

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Inside the AICPA Analytics Practice Aid for Reviews
Analytical procedures and inquiries are the primary procedures used to obtain review evidence in a SSARs AR-C Section 90 review engagement. Discuss the AICPA Practice Aid and how it can help you design your analytical procedures, especially with the important concepts of forming expectations and considering the precision of the expectations. These concepts contribute significantly to analytical procedures that provide a greater level of assurance in a scalable and efficient manner. The same concepts can be used in designing substantive analytical procedures in an audit engagement, so this session can help anyone who performs assurance engagements.
Michael Manspeaker, CPA, CGMA – Consultant, Assurance and Advisory, SEK, CPAs & Advisors, Hagerstown, MD
Credits: 1.0 AA

1:05 PM – 1:55 PM
Practical Implementation Tactics for New QM Standards
Any accounting firm that provides audit, compilations, agreed-upon procedures, attest examinations and financial statement or attest review engagements are subject to the AICPA’s new quality management (QM) standards. Compare the old QM standards to the new requirements and determine effective strategies for implementation ahead of their effective date on Dec. 15, 2025.
Duane M. Reyhl, CPA, CGMA – Audit and Accounting Partner, AHP, Midland
Credits: 1.0 AA

2:05 PM – 2:55 PM
Michigan Specific Ethics – The Impact of State Statute & Administrative Rules on Your CPA License
Explore matters such as qualified CPE, firm licensure requirements, prohibited conduct and more. We guide you on a deep dive into Michigan’s accountancy law and administrative rules to help you steer clear of any violations. Explore case studies and ask the experts your questions about licensure and compliance with Michigan’s accountancy act.
Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Associations of CPAs, Troy
Credits: 1.0 MI

3:25 PM – 4:15 PM
How Accounting Ethics Account for AI
As artificial intelligence reshapes the accounting profession, maintaining ethical standards, accountability and public trust is essential. Discuss the most effective uses of AI as well as potential ethical implications of its deployment to the financial function. Plus, explore potential regulatory action by the SEC and IRS, and determine best AI practices and monitoring strategies.
Dorothy J. Danko, CPA, MBA – Accounting Instructor & Accounting Internship Coordinator, Grand Valley State University Seidman College of Business, Grand Rapids
Credits: 1.0 ET

LAUNCH CHANNEL TWO

CHANNEL TWO

9:05 AM – 9:55 AM
A SALTy Retrospective
Review the latest SALT update and examine the ongoing, and potential upcoming, SALT cases from states across the nation! Learn how potential changes at the Federal level related to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act may impact taxation at the State level.
Jordan Goodman – Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Chicago, IL
Credits: 1.0 OT

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM
Navigating Federal and Michigan R&D Credits and Renewable Energy Incentives
How can businesses, especially manufacturers, leverage federal and Michigan R&D tax credits alongside renewable energy incentives to fuel innovation and sustainability? We highlight Michigan’s newly reinstated R&D credit, compare it with federal programs, and explore how to integrate these incentives into a cohesive tax strategy for both financial returns and environmental impact.
Randy Crabtree, CPA – Co-Founder, Partner, Tri-Meritt LLC, Arlington Heights, IL
Phill Williams – Partner, Tri-Meritt LLC, Arlington Heights, IL
Credits: 1.0 OT

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Sophisticated Estate Planning, Explained Simply (CFP credit)
Change is coming to estate planning as policies enacted under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are set to expire on Jan. 1, 2026. Review the current thresholds for the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption and explore strategies for addressing their expiration ahead of time.
Neal Nusholtz – Attorney, Kemp Klein Law Firm, Troy
Credits: 1.0 OT

1:05 PM – 1:55 PM
Your Federal Tax Update 100 Minute Session
Tax policy is always changing, but 2025 is positioned to be among the most active years in recent history. Review all the latest changes to federal individual and business tax policy, including IRS procedures, payroll, current tax court cases, incoming legislation and more. Plus, learn techniques for quickly and efficiently implementing new standards as they arise.
Allison McLeod, LL.M., CPA – Allison M McLeod, LL.M., CPA A PLLC, Denton, TX
Credits: 1.0 OT

2:05 PM – 2:55 PM
Your Federal Tax Update 100 Minute Session continued
Tax policy is always changing, but 2025 is positioned to be among the most active years in recent history. Review all the latest changes to federal individual and business tax policy, including IRS procedures, payroll, current tax court cases, incoming legislation and more. Plus, learn techniques for quickly and efficiently implementing new standards as they arise.
Allison McLeod, LL.M., CPA – Allison M McLeod, LL.M., CPA A PLLC, Denton, TX
Credits: 1.0 OT

3:25 PM – 4:15 PM
Risky Business: Insufficient Risk Assessment
Risk assessment continues to be an area of growing concern among regulating bodies as frequently changing standards often lead to lagging procedure updates among firms and, ultimately, ongoing deficiencies. Review the common risk assessment errors, including the role of client internal controls, determining audit plan risks and the importance of re-performance.
Heather A. Funsch, CPA – Director of Professional Standards, Rehmann, Saginaw
Julie B. Killian, CPA – Principal, Rehmann, Troy
Credits: 1.0 AA

LAUNCH CHANNEL THREE

CHANNEL THREE

9:05 AM – 9:55 AM
Costly Intellectual Property Mistakes to Avoid
Intellectual Property (IP) is an often-overlooked asset among business owners and executives, which can leave an organization’s unique services or brand exposed to theft, imitation, and infringement. A failure to understand the importance of IP may also lead to costly consequences. Learn about the different forms of IP and explore some IP mistakes made among organizations, their consequences, and tips for avoiding them altogether.
Alozie Etufugh, JD – Managing Partner, Law Offices of Alozie N. Etufugh, PLLC, New York, NY
Credits: 1.0 OT

10:25 AM – 11:15 AM
No session offered at this time.

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
What’s the “Deal” With AI?
If artificial intelligence and other technological advances can make business functions more efficient, accurate, fast and creative, then imagine how those tools can transform the art of the deal. Analyze the potential application of AI tools to the deal space, including how to leverage it for marketing, analysis and, crucially, closing better deals.
Jamar Cobb-Denard, J.D. – Business Broker, Indiana Business Advisors, Indianapolis, IN
Credits: 1.0 OT

1:05 PM – 1:55 PM
A Frank Discussion of Today’s Top Corporate Finance Issues
Leaders in corporate finance are contending with a variety of fresh concerns in 2025, from ongoing economic unpredictability to compliance with government regulations. Explore the strategies finance executives are employing to assess company performance and mitigate risk with our cross-industry panel of professionals.
Lisa A. Fisher, CPA – Manager-Treasury & Tax Accounting, Daimler Truck North America, Redford
Lorene N. Suidan, CPA – Chief Financial Officer, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester Hills
Regan C. Thorpe, CPA – Site Controller, Bell’s Brewery, Galesburg
Moderator: George Salloum, CPA – Elevate Corporate Advisors, LLC, Livonia
Credits: 1.0 OT

2:05 PM – 2:55 PM
Protecting Profits: Mitigating Financial Risks from Compliance to Employee Disengagement
Recent studies conducted by Gallop indicate that employee engagement with compliance remains a long way from pre-pandemic heights. Disengaged employees can view compliance as a burden or, worse, become careless. Explore the expensive risks disengagement presents for organizations, including the cost of human resources noncompliance, turnover, productivity and employee satisfaction.
Sherell Wiggins, MBA – Principal Consultant, Wiggins HR Consulting, LLC, Metro Detroit Area
Credits: 1.0 OT

3:25 PM – 4:15 PM
Beyond the Ledger: Building a Stronger Team Through Effective Communication
Can something as simple as a personality test eliminate conflict from the workplace? No, but it can make navigating those conflicts less daunting and more productive. Become familiar with the DiSC behavioral framework and understand how adapting communication to different personalities leads to better outcomes in workplace conflicts and other high-stakes situations.
George Copeland – Founder and CEO, GMC Consulting, Saginaw
Credits: 1.0 OT

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