LEARNING, AT THE NEXT LEVEL
Elevate your expertise and connect with fellow CPAs at an event built to address today’s toughest challenges with innovative solutions and collaborative problem-solving that allows you to take your understanding to the next level.
Looking for live instruction and networking opportunities? Join us for the in-person option instead.
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 May 21: $220
MICPA Members/ $370 Non-Members
May 22 - June 4: $240 MICPA Members/ $390
Non-Members
June 5 - June 18: $260 MICPA Members/ $410
Non-Members
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All CPAs
After registering for this event, you can customize your sessions via 'My Registrations'
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
09:40 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
One Big Beautiful Bill Act Tax
Update
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
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
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
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
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
01:40 PM - 02:30 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
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
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
02:40 PM - 03:30 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)
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
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