This presentation examines how cost and profit modeling has evolved over the last century. It will describe the trends and obstacles that have helped or delayed developments.  These evolving areas and trends include product and services costing methods, integrating managerial accounting with other performance management methods and the resistance you may experience to late adopters. 

Some key objectives to this session will include: 
* How to differentiate strategic KPIs from operation performance indicators (OPIs) in a scorecard and dashboard
* How to perform "predictive accounting" with driver-based budgeting and rolling financial forecasts and a what-if analysis
* How to imbed statistics and analytics into profitability analysis
* How to overcome behavioral and technical implementation barriers

Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
CPE: 1.50

System implementations are essential for businesses to survive and thrive in the digital age, but it can be a daunting task.  Where do I start? How much is this going to cost? Who on my team has capacity to work on the project(s)?This session will explore the hurdles and strategies for overcoming them.  Hear from experts who are leading their organizations through transformations as they share best practices, lessons learned, plotting a roadmap for strategic technology investments, and more in an informative and humor-filled session.

Field of Study: Information Technology
CPE: 1.20

The 2024 elections loom and this year the stakes are high for your business. Inflation remains sticky. Labor is still in short supply and regulatory agencies are active. Many tax breaks are expiring. AI is taking over the world and succession planning is now a bigger challenge.

What’s next for your business? What are other businesses doing to navigate their ways towards growth and profitability in 2024 and beyond? How are they attracting and retaining talent? How are they dealing with new rules impacting their workplace? What tax moves are they making now? What technologies are they investing in? What are you doing now to build value in your business for future generations...or buyers? How will both national and local elections potentially impact your business and what steps should you be taking now to prepare yourself?

During this fast paced, non-political, entertaining and extremely valuable discussion, Gene will go over real life, feet-on-the ground strategies and tactics that smart leaders are using to navigate their way through potential changes in our country's leadership, challenges in the current economy, and the spending and investment decisions required so that they can position their companies for future growth.

Field of Study: Economics
CPE: 1.50

Fraud is big business. By some estimates over $1 trillion is lost to Fraud and theft each year. Nevertheless, most Fraud goes undetected. Or does it? “Fraud and the Forensic Matrix” is a unique, (and sometimes humorous), look at the subjects of deceit and deception. Gary German will share stories from his own experiences in Fraud investigation and forensic accounting. He will explore such topics as the “ethics” of Fraud. You’ll learn to quantify a business’ appetite for Fraud and why audits don’t find Fraud. He’ll share with you his matrix approach to forensic accounting: a combination of financial analysis and the related inferential context to detect and investigate Fraud. Whether you are in law enforcement, the insurance industry, or audit and accounting, you are sure to benefit from this discussion as Gary dissects the dark side of accounting and finance.

Field of Study: Auditng
CPE: 1.30

This session will delve into the continued staffing challenges that have evolved over the past two years. Our key objectives will be the topic of keeping your talent, thinking like a candidate and using AI as a tool to identify trends. 

Session highlights will include the following:

1. Engagement & Retention:
- Explore the concept of internal equity and its impact on employee engagement.
- Discuss strategies for maintaining a productive hybrid working environment.
- Delve into professional development opportunities and their alignment with company mission statements, particularly in the context of public policy and advocacy.

2. Candidate Process and Point of View during a job search:
- Examine the role of talent attraction and the intricacies of headhunting, including the methods employed by recruiters.
- Compare virtual interviews with in-person interviews, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interview process.
- Reimagine recruiting as a sales process, focusing on effective strategies for selling the role to potential candidates.

3. Forecasting AI within the workforce:
- Analyze current trends and predict the future integration of AI in various workforce sectors.

Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
CPE: 1.20

Do you ever get blank looks when you present your company's financial statements? Does your board nod knowingly during your presentation, but never seems to have any meaningful questions? It could be that they have no idea what you are talking about and are just pretending to understand. Learn how to connect with your CEO, board, fellow managers and team members so they understand your message.

Field of Study: Accounting
CPE: 1.50

Most accountants know the basics of the budget process, but is it possible to enhance the process to be more effective, efficient, and even fun?  The traditional budgeting process can produce stale results and fatigue amongst both Accounting and cross-departmental leadership.  Organizations often fall into the trap of following the same steps of annual budgeting without weeding out the flaws that seep in over a number of years.  For large and small organizations looking to refresh the results, purpose, and engagement of their budgeting, several key tools will be discussed that are worth contemplating.  Learn more about the process keys of successful budgets and how to balance the important technical and human components of the process.  We discuss these keys in an engaging manner with thoughtfulness towards understanding our flaws and strengths, including how to build on these characteristics towards an enjoyable solutions-based method that should deliver effective results for your organization.

Field of Study: Accounting
CPE: 1.20

In today's multifaceted workplace, leaders are under unprecedented pressure to elevate performance amidst a backdrop of generational diversity, hybrid or outsourced teams, economic instability, and limited resources. This challenging environment is further complicated by the imperative to integrate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) principles into every conversation. 

As a result, leaders often find themselves navigating the delicate task of engaging with teams that may be indifferent, uncomfortable or even resistant. Mastering the art of clear, impactful communication without offending—achieving the delicate balance of being direct yet diplomatic—requires not only time and dedication but also a willingness from all parties to engage constructively. 

This session probes the question: Has the emphasis on DEI inadvertently made open, honest dialogue more challenging? Are we witnessing a reversal of roles where employees no longer feel empowered, and is there a crisis of trust in leadership and institutions at large? Join us as we explore the realities of leading an increasingly diverse workplace, offering insights and strategies to navigate these sensitive conversations effectively.

Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
CPE: 1.50

The generative AI technology of ChatGPT is being embedded into the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. This presentation will provide a preview of the AI capabilities Copilot will bring to the apps you use every day to compose better email messages, documents, reports, spreadsheets, presentations and more. We will also discuss the steps you can take now to prepare your organization to embrace this new technology.

Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications
CPE: 1.30

In this enlightening presentation we delve into the pivotal technology trends reshaping the accounting profession. We will cover an array of topics including cloud computing, big data, data analytics, Robotic Process Automation (RPA), Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and the metaverse. Designed for forward-thinking professionals, this session offers insights into how these technologies impact your business, your firm, your clients and most importantly, your career.

Field of Study: Computer Software & Applications
CPE: 1.20