PROGRAM AGENDA

August 17th

8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
Conference Welcome & Morning Announcements

8:40 AM - 9:30 AM
Keynote Presentation - MICPA: Support Through Disruption & Beyond
MICPA President & CEO Bob Doyle reflects on a challenging and transformative year for both the profession and business community. Find out how the association is providing support and revitalizing its commitment to advocacy, collaboration and education for the next 120 years. Then pose your questions to Bob in an ‘Ask Me Anything’ segment.
Bob Doyle – President & CEO, Michigan Association of CPAs, Troy

9:40 AM - 11:30 AM
Federal Tax: During/Post Pandemic  (Qualifies for CFP & EA credit)
The U.S. economy felt the effects of the pandemic and took steps, with several pieces of legislation including the COVID-Related Tax Relief Act of 2020 and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to mitigate the negative results. We dig into the latest and subsequent tax developments impacting both businesses and individuals.
Douglas J. Van Der Aa, JD – Self Employed, Byron Center

11:40 AM - 12:30 PM
Keynote Presentation -Mastering Your Message
Communication is vital to our everyday environments- whether they be virtual or in-person, with clients, colleagues or family. But have you really become the master of your message? Paula provides techniques that will help you identify your own communication style and recognize negative triggers that impede productive communications with others.
Paula Tutman – Multi-Emmy Winning Journalist and Communications Facilitator, Detroit

12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Break for Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM
The Quality Approach: Increasing Revenue with Fewer Clients
Avoid the trap of thinking more clients mean larger profits. A proven method to achieving long-term client satisfaction, avoiding ‘bottlenecks’ and maintaining sustainable firm growth is to systemically increase your average revenue per client- we’ll show you how with a 3-step process.  
William Hamilton – Co-founder, SmartPath.co, Irvine, CA 

2:30 PM - 3:20 PM
On the Menu: Company Coverage
Protection seems overrated- until you need it. We run through a variety of critical types of company coverage so you can see how they fit/work together for your own company or a client’s to cover situations from director & officer liability to cybersecurity and workers’ comp.  
Jonathan D. Anibal, CPA – President and Owner, Boston Charter, Inc., Waterford

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM
The Next Step: Firm Transitions
Have the last few years left you thinking about the next stage of your life outside the firm? If so, begin to explore the transition process and find some answers to questions from finding a buyer, merger options, common concerns form both sides of the transaction and more.
Trenton Holmes – Business Broker, Accounting Practice Sales, TX

4:30 PM - 5:20 PM
Fight Over Remote Employees?
As the world reopens, offices are beginning to as well. But with the rise in popularity of remote work, many firms are discussing long-term strategies for incorporating this working style into their company cultures. What will this mean for communication, administration, employee retention/attraction?  In this presentation, Chad shares his 8-year journey operating Canada's largest remote-only CPA firm.
Chad Davis – Co-Founder, LiveCA LLP, Canada

5:20 PM
Day 1 Adjourns

August 18th

8:30 AM - 8:40 AM
Conference Welcome & Morning Announcements

8:40 AM - 9:30 AM
Keynote Presentation - Adapt & Thrive
Small firms and their clients have faced significant disruption over the last year. Discover what other small firms are saying from around the country, what clients really want from their CPA, assess top practice issues and updates on the CPA evolution/new licensure model and ways to be future ready.
Carl Peterson, CPA, CGMA – VP - Small Firm Interests - Public Accounting, AICPA, Durham, NC

9:40 AM - 10:30 AM
CPR Ready: Compilation, Preparation, and Review (A&A credit)
We’ll cover the latest updates in compilations, preparations and reviews as well as the continuing issues with disclosures and what a practitioner needs to know. Dig into SSARS updates.
Michael Brand – Member, BMSS, Huntsville, AL

10:50 AM - 11:40 AM
The BV LTE (A&A credit)
How many acronyms can we fit together? It’s the business valuation long term evolution and we’re analyzing trends for practitioners, digging into valuation discount sources, methods and gift/estate valuations as well as divorce case updates.
Michelle F. Gallagher, CPA/ABV/CFF – Strategic Partner, Adamy Valuation, Lansing

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM
Technology Trends for 2021 & Beyond
You know where technology has been, but where is it headed? What technologies are coming that would be useful to you and to your company? Attend this session to learn how using the right hardware and software can improve your business and your everyday life.
Greg Soule, CPA, CISA, CISSP, CFE – Partner, Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC, Auburn Hills

12:40 PM - 1:40 PM
Break for Lunch

1:40 PM - 2:30 PM
"Asking for a Friend"…Recent Ethics Inquiries (Ethics credit)
This session will quick hit issues asked by “friends” of the CPAs regarding issues from billing to specific services being provided.
Gary Leeman, CPA/ABV/CFF, CGMA, CMC – Gary Leeman CPA, PC, West Bloomfield

2:40 PM - 3:30 PM
Be Aware or Beware: Drivers of Large Accounting Malpractice Claims (A&A credit)
Unfortunately, there is no magical crystal ball to tell CPA firms what will happen when a new client or engagement is accepted. Everything could go smoothly, or a dispute could arise. If a dispute does arise, will it be resolved quickly or drag out for years resulting in a significant headache for the firm?  Learn identified common indicators of claim severity and the warning signs to help mitigate the risk of a large claim before it happens to your firm.
Sarah Ference, CPA – Risk Control Director, Professional Services, CNA Insurance Company, Chicago, IL

3:40 PM - 4:30 PM
Remote Assurance Services (A&A credit)
Ready your teams (and clients) for continued work in the remote services sphere while ensuring everyone’s protection from audit and fraud risk. With tools on how practitioners can maximize efficiency and achieve success in the three critical areas of remote auditing your team will be ready to tackle what lies ahead.
Alan W. Anderson, CPA – President, ACCOUNT-ability Plus, LLC, Burnsville, MN

4:40 PM - 5:30 PM
The Taxing Implications of Leases
Despite the delays in implementation, key considerations in several areas of tax including deferred tax- state and international tax as well as organizational processes need to be reviewed for the new leasing standard- get started. 
John P. Eardley, CPA, MST – Partner, Crowe LLP, Grand Rapids

5:30 PM
Day 2 Adjourns