- Discuss recent developments in talent acquisition and the CPA pipeline.
- Formulate best practices for leveraging new technology to improve client communication.
- Identify strategies to assist clients with year two of FTE in Michigan
Conversations. Camaraderie. Career-Building.
Small firms, big ideas. Get ready to brainstorm with your professional peers, friends and colleagues about how to overcome today’s biggest challenges. Our objective: to facilitate a meaningful exchange of ideas that address real world problems, surprises and paths to success, while attendees forge new connections vital to their profession.
Arriving the day before? Join us for our Welcome Reception with Pints & Politics from 5 PM - 6 PM on Tuesday, August 15th! If you are not attending the pre-conference workshop on August 15th, but would like to join us for the welcome reception click here to RSVP by adding it to your cart before you check out.
Don't miss these exciting activities included in your registration!
- Hands On Demonstrations by our Event Partners during the morning break
- Reception & Trivia Night at the end of the day
If you intend to attend both days of the Small Firm Practitioners Conference don't forget to add Day 2 to your shopping cart before checking out! To register for Day 2 click here to add it to your cart.
OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS
Our primary room block at the
Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo has been sold out. Special room rates are now
available at the Hilton Garden Inn Kalamazoo Downtown by booking online. Click
this link to reserve your room today. Space is limited and the
cutoff to make your reservation at the group rate is August 4,
2023
. Please note, if you
book after August 4th, or
after the room block
is fully booked the direct link will no longer work.
PRICING DETAILS
Register early to
take advantage of the best price! Please note, discounted pricing is already
reflected in the online price. No promo code is needed.
Through July 19: $188
MICPA Members/ $263 Non-Members
July 20 - August 2: $208 MICPA Members/ $283
Non-Members
August 3 - August 16: $228 MICPA Members/ $303
Non-Members
CUSTOMIZE YOUR DAY WITH:
OUR TRADITIONAL SESSIONS.
The same session format you
know and love.
OUR INTERACTIVE SESSIONS.
Focused on group dialogue and
experience exchanges.
NEW! SUPPORT STAFF SESSIONS.
Advance the skillsets of
your team members.
Thank You to Our Presenting Partner:
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Thank You to our Program Partners:
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CPAs that are sole proprietors through firms with 15 CPAs.
After registering for this event, you can customize your sessions via 'My Registrations'
Keynote Presentation: Stop Overworking: The Magic of Having More by Doing Less 1.0 OT Details
Stop Overworking: The Magic of Having More by Doing
Less
Are you one of many accounting professionals experiencing
overwork and burnout? Dedication to excellent work does not have to come at the
expense of your own personal well-being and professional growth. Take a closer
look at what it means to be overworked and how it impacts balance, profits,
growth and client relations. Then, explore how to take your business to the next
level, by strategically doing less than you are now.
Erin Daiber,
CPA, PCC – Founder, Well Balanced Accountants, LLC, Oceanside,
CA
09:10 AM - 10:00 AM
Review relevant case studies to better understand and refine practices for individual and business tax reporting, including financial statements, workpapers and organizers.
Shawn Flattery, CPA – Integrated Financial Group, Franklin, TN
Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA – Founder and Member, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion
Jennifer J. Lundy, CPA – Shareholder, Mattina, Kent & Gibbons, PC, Rochester
Christine R. Peters, CPA – Shareholder, Partyka & Company PC, Warren
Colleen R. Reynolds – Co-Owner, Barry Associations Inc, Richland
Ethan F. Rickelmann, CPA – Tax Manager, Echelbarger Himebaugh Tamm & Co. PC, Grand Rapids
Knowing Your Limits and Those of Your
Clients
Oh, how the past two years have changed; will we ever be
the same? Knowing which boundaries to set could make all the difference. The
question is whose boundaries should you set, and how do you set them? Plus, join
the discussion about the competitive market we work in and the evolving
projection of the profession.
Sali L. Sheafor – Member, TAP
Consulting, LLC, Holmen, WI
The AICPA issued new quality management standards, derived from those recently issued by International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (IAASB), which will become effective on Dec. 15, 2025. Find out what small- to mid-size firms can do now to implement the new standards, including a review of the likely tax implications, new AICPA materials and toolkits, and insights into the new Risk Assessment Standard and Audit Guide.
Dave Arman, CPA, MBA – Senior Manager – Audit Quality, AICPA, Southport, NC
10:20 AM - 11:10 AM
Discuss the barriers for entry and common challenges associated with cannabis accounting. From the basics of 280E to common attestation procedures, this session covers everything you need to consider before getting started in the cannabis industry.
Andrea Russel, CPA – Senior Manager, Hungerford Nichols CPA + Advisors, Greenville
Todd Tigges, CPA – Partner, UHY LLP, Farmington Hills
Moderator: Kareyna Miller, CPA – Founder, LEACIF, Otter Lake
Review relevant case studies to better understand and refine practices for individual and business tax reporting, including financial statements, workpapers and organizers.
Shawn Flattery, CPA – Integrated Financial Group, Franklin, TN
Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA – Founder and Member, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion
Jennifer J. Lundy, CPA – Shareholder, Mattina, Kent & Gibbons, PC, Rochester
Christine R. Peters, CPA – Shareholder, Partyka & Company PC, Warren
Colleen R. Reynolds – Co-Owner, Barry Associations Inc, Richland
Ethan F. Rickelmann, CPA – Tax Manager, Echelbarger Himebaugh Tamm & Co. PC, Grand Rapids
The AICPA released a new audit guide this year, designed to assist auditors with navigating recent risk assessment standards. Discover best practices for implementation for smaller firms as well as tips for preparation, compilation, review and peer review.
Duane Reyhl, CPA, CGMA – Audit and Accounting Partner, AHP, Midland
11:30 AM - 12:20 PM
You’ve got flow-through entity (FTE) tax questions, and our panel has answers. Get the latest FTE updates, including state plans for aligning related notices and paper filing options.
John Eardley, CPA, MST – Partner, Crowe LLP, Grand Rapids
Angela Matelski, CPA – Department Specialist, Michigan Department of Treasury, Lansing
Michael J. Merkel, CPA, MST – Partner – State and Local Tax, Plante Moran, Southfield
Review relevant case studies to better understand and refine practices for individual and business tax reporting, including financial statements, workpapers and organizers.
Shawn Flattery, CPA – Integrated Financial Group, Franklin, TN
Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA – Founder and Member, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion
Jennifer J. Lundy, CPA – Shareholder, Mattina, Kent & Gibbons, PC, Rochester
Christine R. Peters, CPA – Shareholder, Partyka & Company PC, Warren
Colleen R. Reynolds – Co-Owner, Barry Associations Inc, Richland
Ethan F. Rickelmann, CPA – Tax Manager, Echelbarger Himebaugh Tamm & Co. PC, Grand Rapids
A non-technical overview of today’s cryptocurrency landscape, including discussions on centralized bank digital currencies (CBDCs), digital tokens vs digital coins, centralized crypto exchanges vs decentralized crypto exchanges, and hot vs cold crypto wallets. Tax implications of each digital currency in this cryptocurrency landscape will also be briefly addressed.
Greg Frazier, CPA.CITP – Owner, Greg Frazier, CPA, LLC, Detroit
02:10 PM - 03:00 PM
Join our panel for their insights on today’s best tech for small firms, including a frank discussion of the pros and cons of using today’s most popular technology and how to help clients adopt your new tech solutions.
Matthew S. Kidd, CPA – Partner, Blunden & Kidd Accounting & Consulting PC, Livonia
Regina Nock, CPA – Principal, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion
Chris Picciurro, CPA – Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Integrated CPA Group, Franklin, TN
Moderator: John Higgins, CPA.CITP – Strategic Technology Advisor, CPA Crossings, LLC, Rochester
In the fight against global corruption, accountants are being asked to be more forthcoming when they discover information or evidence that points to illegal or prohibited activities. This ethics workshop considers new international professional ethics proposals for responding to non-compliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR).
Albert Spalding, JD, PhD, CPA/CFF – Associate Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University, Detroit
03:10 PM - 04:00 PM
From SMS to Slack, rediscover best practices for managing client communications by leveraging the technologies and CRMs that make the most sense for your workflow.
Regina Nock, CPA – Principal, Capocore Professional Advisors, Lake Orion
Colleen R. Reynolds – Co-Owner, Barry Associations Inc, Richland
Moderator: Christine R. Peters, CPA – Shareholder, Partyka & Company PC, Warren
How to Fix the Quiet Quandary of Quiet Firing
and Quiet Quitting
Quiet firing and quiet quitting make for
interesting headlines but cost businesses and workers time and money. Find out
how to resolve issues on engagement by creating a positive work environment,
fixing work issues before they arise and keeping employees motivated. Plus,
learn which four questions employees want answered before they commit to an
employer and how to circumvent interpersonal conflict for stress-free, healthy
collaboration.
Tom Borg, CHDA, CPDFA, MA – Founder &
President, Tom Borg Consulting, LLC, Canton
04:10 PM - 05:00 PM
Ask our panel how partnering with your financial planner to address client issues and concerns can create new levels of efficiency within your firm.
Brooke Acre, CFP – Executive Office & Founder, Wealth Reimagined Group, Sterling Heights
Nate Hamil, MBA – Founding Partner, Integrated Investment Group and VP Member Engagement, Integrated Financial Group, Franklin, TN
Matthew S. Kidd, CPA – Partner, Blunden & Kidd Accounting & Consulting PC, Livonia
Moderator: Chris Picciurro, CPA – Executive Officer & Co-Founder, Integrated CPA Group, Franklin, TN
Are you properly allocating the flow-through entity tax federal income tax deduction amongst partners? Join this session for an exploration of Section 704(b) and tax allocations under common partnership agreements and which types of these agreements are most likely to result in unexpected economic allocations of the FTE tax.
Andrew Kramer, CPA – Senior Manager, Yeo & Yeo CPAs & Advisors, Ann Arbor
05:15 PM - 07:00 PM
Member
Non-Member