Agenda

GENERAL SESSION

LAUNCH GENERAL SESSION
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: Profession Outlook: Challenges & Opportunities
The CPA profession is heating up, from private equity and artificial intelligence to expanding client advisory services and the global community. Join AICPA President and CEO Mark Koziel for a frank discussion about the challenges facing today’s profession and the opportunities worth seeking.
Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA – President & Chief Executive Officer, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Durham, NC
Mark G. Peterson – Executive Vice President, Advocacy, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Durham, NC
Credits: 1.0 OT

11:00 AM – 11:50 AM
The Evolving CPA – Finance Partnership in an AI-Enabled Future
AI is transforming how accounting and finance functions are performed and deliver value, accelerating the shift from compliance-focused work to insight-driven decision making. Examine how CPA firms are expanding advisory services and how finance leaders are leveraging real-time analytics and emerging technologies to redefine roles, expectations, and collaboration models. Gain practical strategies to strengthen partnerships, align on evolving responsibilities, and deliver greater strategic impact in a rapidly changing environment.
Matt Calvano – Co-Founder & CEO, Adaptive, New York
Stacie Kwaiser – CEO, Rehmann, Saginaw
Rob Trexler, Sr. – Director of Professional Services, CPA.com
Moderator: Kalil Merhib – EVP Growth & Professional Services, CPA.com
Credits: 1.0 OT

4:15 PM – 5:05 PM
KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: On the Road: The Coolest Profession (Update) Around
MICPA President & CEO Bob Doyle is hitting Michigan’s roads in celebration of the association’s 125th anniversary to share timely profession news, legislative updates, and insights on member benefits and opportunities. Join fellow members in your hometown to hear how MICPA is supporting CPAs across the state in 2026 and to connect, engage, and be part of the conversation.
Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Associations of CPAs, Troy
Credits: 1.0 OT

5:15 PM – 6:05 PM
BONUS HOUR: Beyond the Tipping Point: Insights from the 2026 AI Tax Research Solution Outlook
Examine findings from Blue J and CPA.com’s 2026 AI Tax Research Outlook Report, focusing on adoption trends, performance advantages over legacy tools, and emerging use cases. Evaluate how AI-powered tax research is reshaping practitioner workflows, influencing firm operations, and redefining the role of tax professionals. Identify practical implications for integrating AI into tax research processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, and strategic decision-making.
Ankit Dhawan – Partnerships Manager, Blue J, Toronto, ON, Canada
Credits: 1.0 OT

LAUNCH CHANNEL ONE

CHANNEL ONE

9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Fraud Investigations from A to Z
Each fraud investigation is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get. Despite these differences, a series of logical steps must be followed, and specific techniques must be used to reach an accurate conclusion. From handling the initial tip, planning and executing your investigation, maintaining chain of custody over evidence, analyzing data, interviewing witnesses and subjects, documenting your work, to writing your report to communicate your results to management, law enforcement and prosecutors. Whether you conduct fraud investigations full time or on an as needed basis, this course will provide you with multiple takeaways you can immediately implement in your fraud investigation practice. You will be guided through the entire process and provided relevant case studies of actual fraud investigations to reinforce the training and in some cases provide entertainment.
Daniel Porter, CFE – Consultant/Trainer, Cape Coral, FL
Credits: 1.0 AA

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Quality Management and How to Prepare for Your Peer Review
Are you ready for your 2026 peer review? The AICPA’s quality management standards became effective on Dec. 15, 2025, bringing significant change to firm processes. Connect over lessons learned from implementation and determine strategies to ensure a successful peer review.
Duane Reyhl, CPA, CGMA – Audit and Accounting Partner, AHP, Midland
Credits: 1.0 AA

1:40 PM – 2:30 PM
Ethical AI Practices for CPAs: Ensuring Responsible Use
Explore the ethical implications of using generative AI. Address potential risks and dilemmas, providing guidelines to ensure responsible and compliant integration of AI into your business processes. Learn how to balance innovation with ethical obligations to maintain trust and integrity and mitigate the risks associated with using generative AI.
John Higgins, CPA.CITP – Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory, LLC, Rochester Hills
Credits: 1.0 ET

2:40 PM – 3:30 PM
Michigan Specific Ethics – The Impact of State Statute & Administrative Rules on Your CPA License
Discover what Michigan CPAs need to know to stay compliant and protect their license. We’ll cover qualified CPE, firm licensure requirements, prohibited conduct, and more – paired with real-world case studies. Take a focused tour through Michigan’s accountancy law and administrative rules, gain practical strategies to avoid violations, and get answers to your questions directly from the experts.
Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Associations of CPAs, Troy
Michelle Randall, CPA, CGMA – Executive in Residence, Detroit Neighborhood Entrepreneurs Project (DNEP), University of Michigan Ross School of Business and Board Member, American Institute of CPAs (AICPA)
Credits: 1.0 MI

3:30 PM
Blue J Demo
Get a firsthand look at how Blue J’s AI-powered tax research solution delivers defensible tax answers in seconds, easily transforms research into client deliverables, and empowers your team to focus their judgment where it matters most.
See why thousands of leading firms choose Blue J.

Beyond easy to use: Totally intuitive, to make tax research less taxing
Instant, defensible answers: Powered by primary authoritative content, Tax Notes and IBFD
Fits your workflows: To become your team’s go-to choice when tax questions come up
Built for professional judgment: Less searching, more advising—the way tax work

LAUNCH CHANNEL TWO

CHANNEL TWO

9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
One Big Beautiful Bill Act Tax Update (CFP Credit)
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Pub. L. 119 21) spans more than 1,200 pages of sweeping federal fiscal policy, introducing new tax code provisions, and extending key elements of the TCJA that were set to expire. Analyze the individual and small business provisions most relevant to Form 1040 preparation and payroll administration. Learn to navigate the complex new rules surrounding “No Tax on Tips” and “No Tax on Overtime,” understand the operational and compliance nuances of TRUMP Accounts, and apply the updated Social Security Number requirements for various credits. Planning strategies, compliance considerations, and real world application for the 2025 filing season and beyond are emphasized. Leave with clear, actionable insight into the deductions, expanded credits, and administrative changes introduced by the Act, equipping them to advise clients confidently and accurately in a rapidly shifting tax landscape.
Mary Jane Hourani, MM, EA – Tax Practitioner & Bookkeeper, Werner-Rocca Seminars LTD, Philadelphia, PA
Credits: 1.0 OT

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Michigan State Tax Changes for 2026
Michigan’s 2026 tax landscape is undergoing major changes, including the introduction of “No Tax on Tips,” “No Tax on Overtime,” and “No Tax on Social Security,” along with important updates to bonus depreciation, individual income tax provisions, and cannabis taxation. Examine each development and evaluate how these shifts will influence planning strategies, compliance considerations, and taxpayer outcomes in 2026 and the years that follow.
Mary Jane Hourani, MM, EA – Tax Practitioner & Bookkeeper, Werner-Rocca Seminars LTD, Philadelphia, PA
Credits: 1.0 OT

1:40 PM – 2:30 PM
Inside the FY2025 DoD Audit
The Department of Defense’s (DoD) FY2025 financial statement audit resulted in a disclaimer of opinion driven by 26 material weaknesses and pervasive internal control deficiencies. Examine key findings from the Independent Auditor’s Reports, including financial management systems modernization challenges, unsupported accounting adjustments, and inventory reporting deficiencies. Analyze how material weaknesses emerge and aggregate into significant audit risk- then apply insights from the DoD’s experience to strengthen governance, accountability, and financial reporting in complex organizations.
Stephanie L. Bowie, CPA, MBA – CEO, B. Empowered Leadership Academy, LLC, Indianapolis, IN
Credits: 1.0 AA

2:40 PM – 3:30 PM
No Vendor SOC Report? Alternative Assurance Methods in the Cloud Era
As more businesses migrate ERP and mission-critical systems to the cloud, dependence on third-party vendors (ISPs) has become routine. Yet many small and mid-sized providers do not maintain SOC 1 or SOC 2 reports—creating uncertainty around security, compliance, and operational resilience. This course equips auditors, IT risk managers, and executives with practical alternatives when formal SOC reports are unavailable. Explore ISO 27001 certification, NIST CSF alignment, PCI-DSS compliance, Agreed-Upon Procedures (AUP) reports, and structured vendor due diligence frameworks to develop defensible, evidence-based assurance strategies capable of withstanding audit and regulatory scrutiny.
Greg Frazier, CPA – Owner, Greg Frazier, CPA, PLLC, Detroit
Credits: 1.0 AA

LAUNCH CHANNEL THREE

CHANNEL THREE

9:40 AM – 10:30 AM
Strategy, Talent, Tech: Transforming Your Firm
Are you reconsidering your approach to growth, talent and technology in 2026? Engage in a peer discussion to investigate the actionable steps it takes to transform a business model and determine effective strategies for building an initiative that drives meaningful change.
Orumé Hays, CPA, CGMA, MST – Hays, CPA LLC, Staten Island, NY
Credits: 1.0 OT

12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
Cybersecurity, AI, and IT Governance: What CPA Firms Need to Know Now
Cybersecurity, AI, and compliance expectations are increasing risk for CPA firms of all sizes. This session covers key governance gaps, secure and ethical AI use, and emerging technology trends CPAs must understand to protect client data and meet professional responsibilities.
Toussaint Carpenter – President & CIO, CMIT Solutions of Northwest Metro Detroit
Credits: 1.0 OT

1:40 PM – 2:30 PM
Secret Trusts – You May be a Beneficiary and Don’t Even Know It!
Effective February 21, 2024, Michigan now allows for “secret” or “undisclosed” trusts. Discuss how trusts are made “secret”, and how beneficiaries are protected during the time the Trust is otherwise silent to them. Review how an undisclosed trust becomes – no longer a secret. Finally, look at how CPA’s may be excellent candidates to act as a guardians of secret trusts.
Davis C. Martin, JD – Partner, Willis Law, Grand Rapids
Michael Willis, JD, CPA – Co-Founder and Director, Willis Law, Kalamazoo
Credits: 1.0 OT

2:40 PM – 3:30 PM
Smarter Tax Services with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools
There has never been a greater opportunity to leverage technology tools to automate your tax services. Explore specific examples of how you can use AI-based tools to complement your tax planning, research and compliance services. Learn to leverage AI to automate the collection and organization of client data, the engagement management process, tax research and enhance client advisory services.
John Higgins, CPA.CITP – Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory, LLC, Rochester Hills
Credits: 1.0 OT

Technical Difficulties? Use the chat function on the right to get help, or you may call (785) 274-9105.
(Please leave a message if we are busy helping others.)