Anatomy of a Good Idea & Problem Solving

Ace Callwood, ENVOY

In “The Anatomy of a Good Idea & Problem Solving,” Ace debunks the widely held idea that brilliance is born of epiphany or a knock to the head (a la Doc Brown in “Back To The Future”). The process of coming up with a quality idea is characterized by discipline and adherence to a handful of core principles. Beyond the idea, the work of ensuring we’re solving the right problem is paramount for optimal outcomes.

It’s time to stretch.

1. The Road So Far: Lease Accounting Implementation

   Daryl Krause, CPA, DG Krause, LLC

   Implementation of the new accounting rule under ASC 842 Leases is still underway, but organizations will be refining their processes for some time yet. Join this retrospective for insight into avoidable risks and strategies for explaining ASC 842 changes to financial statement users.




2. Keynote Follow-Up: What Problem Are We Solving?

   Ace Callwood, ENVOY

   Building on key points from Anatomy of a Good Idea, Ace Callwood will take audiences through what it takes to solve a problem when rules, regulations, and our working environments are constantly changing. This highly interactive session will provide the in-depth tools that you and your teams need to creatively and strategically tackle problems, big and small.

It’s time to stretch.

1. A Hot QMS

   Ahava Goldman, CPA, AICPA

   Four quality management standard (QMS) changes are fast approaching, effective December 2025. Ensure your QMS doesn’t become a hot mess by finding out what you can do now to get your practice ready with an overview of all four components.

   
   

2. National Business & Economic Update

   Dan Morgan

   Session description coming soon.

   
   

It’s time to stretch.

1. Hot Topic: Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Standards Update

   Melisa F. Galasso, CPA, CGMA, Galasso Learning Solutions LLC

   Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) has become a hot topic among standard setters. This session will look at the work of the FASB, GASB and AICPA in the areas of ESG. We’ll also look at the types of engagements CPAs can provide to entities who want to have assurance around their ESG reporting.

   
   

2. Empathetic Leadership: It's Time to Remove the Earplugs

   Jaclyn Badeau, CPA, CGMA, EQ Certified, MBA, Badaeu Consulting

   It's a basic human need to feel heard and understood, yet people struggle to act on this need in day-to-day business interactions. Building your empathy leadership skills helps grow relationships, develop trust, manage conflict, implement change, and understand other's perspectives even if they are different from your own. Dive into this critical emotional intelligence area to transform your team and take your business to new heights.

   
   

It’s time for a lunch break.

1. Ethics: Tales of Corruption—Ethical Misdeeds

   Clare Levison, CPA, CGMA, Inspired Responsibility

   This course is designed with information from actual "ripped from the headlines" ethics cases. Most of these cases are on the extreme end of ethical misdeeds, but there’s a lot that can be learned about "doing the right thing" from examining these cases. An ethical decision-making model will be presented in relation to each case. The key to utilizing an ethical decision-making model is appreciating how they each may be useful depending on the circumstances. By better realizing what is needed in a given situation, you can do a better job of choosing the right decision-making model to address necessary issues.

 

2. Forgotten Managerial Accounting Tools

   Christopher Harper, CPA, CFP, CIMA, Plante Moran Financial Advisors

   This course is designed with information from actual "ripped from the headlines" ethics cases. Most of these cases are on the extreme end of ethical misdeeds, but there’s a lot that can be learned about "doing the right thing" from examining these cases. An ethical decision-making model will be presented in relation to each case. The key to utilizing an ethical decision-making model is appreciating how they each may be useful depending on the circumstances. By better realizing what is needed in a given situation, you can do a better job of choosing the right decision-making model to address necessary issues.

 

It’s time to stretch.

1. 7 Retirement Risks Worth Avoiding

   Carlos Dias, Jr., Dias Wealth, LLC

   Americans are living longer, just one of seven major risks that can erode or even eliminate retirement saving completely. Find out what other risks are impacting your clients’ retirement, and how you can tailor your advisement to compensate.

   
   

2. From Bitcoin to Parachains: How One Strand of the Blockchain Industry is Evolving

   Louise Reed, CPA, Louise W. Reed, CPA, PC

   New ecosystems have grown from the bitcoin concept. In this session, Louise will refresh the audience on current key phrases like hashing, smart contract, and triple entry accounting. She will then use Polkadot as an example to demonstrate how part of the blockchain industry has evolved into global, city-like infrastructures with parachains and why decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are more appealing entities in that community than traditional corporate structures.

   
   

It’s time to stretch.

1. Tax Update

   Joshua Jenson, CPA, THE CPA FIRM

   Cover the major Federal business and individual tax issues, including the Inflation Reduction Act, the minor changes (with significant implications) to Schedule K-1, K-2, K-3s from both Partnerships and S-Corporations, tax traps set by QBI reporting with more than one activity with at-risk basis and passive activities, the “rest of the story” with excess business loss limitation, the little known reality of the individual NOL carryforward, the fine details of qualified improvement property (QIP) beyond the headlines, cautions with the Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC), S-Corporation compensation issues under the rug, accountable plans in anticipation of increased audit risks, missed self-employed tax credits, IRS tax pro accounts, student loan forgiveness tax implications, the new Form 1099-K tax issues, anticipated future IRS enforcement and audit targeted issues, Form 7203 issues for S-Corp owners, the forgotten work opportunity tax credit, prior tax laws suspended by the CARES Act now back in play, what’s new in 2022 compared to 2021, and the latest IRS developments.




2. Fraudsters Gonna Fraud

   Daniel Porter, CFE

   Study the investigation and prosecution of a former conference center director who exploited the lax internal controls of a joint venture to steal thousands. Take these lessons learned and apply them to safeguarding your own assets from opportunistic fraudsters.

It’s time to stretch.

1. The Future of Data Security for CPAs

   Jon Melloy, Practice Protect

   With privileged access to client data including financial records, it is no surprise that many cybercrime experts consider accountancy to be on the front line of the war against data theft. In this session we’ll look at what the emerging threats are for CPAs, and how to secure your firm today and for tomorrow.




2. DEI Issues: Recruitment and Retention of Diverse Talent

   Clare Levison, CPA, CGMA, Inspired Responsibility

   This course is intended to start the conversation about recruitment and retention of diverse talent in the accounting profession. We will discover what DEI means and why it is important to retaining and recruiting diverse talent, and discuss recruitment and retention techniques; and lastly, where we go from here.