The 16 best learning opportunities at AICPA & CIMA ENGAGE 25
ENGAGE25, hosted by AICPA and CIMA, is coming to Vegas. And over 4,000 accounting professionals are expected to attend 🤯
With 250+ speakers and dozens of sessions, this is a growth opportunity for firm leaders ready to learn new insights, strategies, and perspectives.
To help you plan your schedule, here are 16 exciting learning opportunities.
Day 1: Monday, 9 June
From numbers to growth: Transform your CPA practice into a business coaching powerhouse
Presenters:
Mackey McNeill, Mackey Advisors
Sarah Grace Mohr, Mackey Advisors
Time: 8am
Creating value for clients all-year-round is about more than compliance. It takes creativity, strategy, collaboration, and above all, a genuine investment in their growth.
In this interactive session, Mackey McNeill and Sarah Grace Mohr will lead you through their battle-tested strategy for growing a business (yours and your clients’), empowering you to increase your impact and embrace your new role as a financial advisor.
Leave behind the traditional ways of working, and learn the modern approach to accounting in the age of AI.
Roundtable discussions: Hot topics in practice management
Presenters:
Chris Hervochon, Better Numbers
Kassi Rushing, Kassi Rushing Consulting
Matt Wilson, Wilson Ivanova Certified Public Accountants
Time: 8am
It’s not every day that you have the chance to connect with likeminded leaders, determined to tackle the biggest challenges in accounting practice management.
In this session, you’ll have the chance to join Chris Hervochon, Kassi Rushing, and Matt Wilson for a collaborative discussion, as they share their insights and solutions on the issues and opportunities that matter most to the industry right now.
Unpacking the true costs of a shifting global economy
Presenters:
Gary Cohn, IBM
Dana Peterson, The Conference Board
Time: 2:30pm
How do you make smart financial decisions in the face of an unpredictable economy? Hear from keynote speakers, Gary Cohn and Dana Peterson, as they address the elephant in the room, and shed light on the indicators that a firm is at risk.
You’ll walk away feeling clearer on what to watch out for, and more confident in how to navigate difficult conversations with your clients.
Day 2: Tuesday, 10 June
Belonging 2.0: Empowering people, strengthening inclusion
Presenters:
Brett Gaines, Forvis Mazars
Angela Ho, OceanFirst Bank
Carla McCall, AICPA
Time: 8am
Building a resilient workplace starts with diversity and inclusion. In this must-see session, Angela Ho, Brett Gaines, and Carla McCall will explore the power of inclusivity. They’ll also share the strategies they use to future-proof their firm.
A culture of belonging sharpens your competitive edge, and this is how (and why) to get started.
All aboard: Tips for successfully onboarding new clients
Presenters:
Deborah Rood, CNA
Stan Sterna, Aon
Time: 9.30am
Are you onboarding clients, or are your clients onboarding you?
In this session, Deborah Rood and Stan Sterna will show you how to establish the rules, build a repeatable workflow, and deliver a client onboarding experience that sets you and your clients up for long-term success. Every time.
A good first impression sets the tone for a lasting client relationship. It’s all about creating systems that allow you to work with your clients, not just for them. Attend to learn more.
Right-sizing your firm: Work smarter, earn more, and renew your passion
Presenters:
Sandy Johns, Revolution Financial
Michael Maksymiw Jr., Aprio LLP
Time: 11am
Growing your firm doesn’t always mean having more clients. Leaders Michael Maksymiw Jr. and Sandy Johns suggest a different approach: one that focuses on quality over quantity (and your peace of mind).
In this session, they’ll break down their approach to client culling, pricing strategies, and operational efficiency using technology. Get ready to rewire your thinking, and start putting structures in place that support work-life balance for yourself and your team.
Transformation of accounting marketing: Boosting your firm in 2025
Presenters:
Colette Sharbaugh, CPA.com
Holly Shier, Rehmann
Roman Villard, Full Send
Time: 2.30pm
In a competitive market, how you position your firm is everything. With dozens of options for clients to choose from, how can you make sure you stand out for the right reasons?
Let experts Colette Sharbaugh, Holly Shier, and Roman Villard demystify accounting marketing for you in this session on leveraging data and AI to efficiently, and effectively, promote your business. Understand what’s working for other firms, and how to make those strategies work for yours.
Latest trends and opportunities in CPA firm M&A and private equity
Presenter: Allan Koltin, Koltin Consulting Group
Time: 2.30pm
Join Allan Koltin as he reveals his most recent insights on mergers and acquisitions, and the influence of private equity, in accounting right now. You will learn the current trends, perspectives from buyers and sellers, and the types of private equity deals that currently exist.
Use this session to help inform whether M&A is the right opportunity for you, and how to make your firm more attractive if it is.
Day 3: Wednesday, 11 June
How a firm harnessed cultural practices to drive business success
Presenters:
Crystal Cooke, AICPA & CIMA
Trevor Williams, GRF CPAs and Advisors
Time: 9am
Does inclusivity matter? In this session, Crystal Cooke and Trevor Williams will settle the debate, explaining the business case for diversity and inclusion, including the benefits for innovation, employee engagement, and growth.
Expect practical takeaways on the benefits and strategies for nurturing a culture of inclusion that drives results for your firm.
Empowering leadership: Developing visionary leaders in the accounting profession
Presenters:
Kendra LaFleur, Forvis Mazars
Alexis Weber, AICPA & CIMA
Time: 10.05am
The traditional model of leadership doesn’t work anymore. Discover a new, people-first approach to tackling the challenges of today’s accountants, and nurturing the next generation of leaders.
In the new age of AI, diversity and inclusion, and multigenerational teams, it’s time to embrace conscious leadership. Be prepared to reexamine your own leadership style, and gain actionable next steps for attracting and developing new talent.
Revolutionizing client advisory services with AI: Unlocking unparalleled impact
Presenters:
Kimberly Blascoe, CPA.com
Elinor Litwack, GRF CPAs and Advisors
Kane Polakoff, CohnReznick
Wesley Wahlberg, CliftonLarsonAllen
Time: 3pm
How are you using AI at your firm today? 56% of accounting professionals believe that the value of a firm drops if it doesn’t use AI. So, why not start your journey at ENGAGE25?
In this session, discover how you can embrace AI to unlock new growth opportunities from people who have done it before. You’ll learn more about using AI to scale advisory services and deliver more personalized, impactful guidance to your clients.
You’ll come away with effective change management strategies to help train and onboard both your staff and clients, ensuring your transition to AI-augmented services is seamless.
Thriving amidst technological advances: The power of 5 key leadership skills
Presenters:
Jaclyn Badeau, Badeau Consulting LLC
Jessica McClain, Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital
Time: 3pm
Business isn’t just business anymore. It’s interpersonal. And these days, human skills like empathy, relationship building, and creativity are the markers of a future-forward leader.
In this session, Jessica McClain and Jaclyn Badeau will explain the five essential skills of a leader, their importance in the age of AI and automation, and how to leverage them to drive value for both you and your firm.
Day 4: Thursday, 12 June
Cyber incidents, breaches, and beyond
Presenter: Christopher Tait, Baker Tilly
Time: 10.05am
The accounting industry has always been vulnerable to cyber attacks. Now, it’s more digitized, more cloud-based, and more at-risk than ever.
In this session, firm leader, Christopher Tait, will identify the latest cybersecurity trends, raising awareness on potential threats, as well as the protocols and controls that can help you prevent them. Understand how to assess the security of your firm, and then fortify it.
From behind-the-scenes to center stage: Elevate your personal brand and professional impact
Presenter: JoLayna Arndt, JLK Rosenberger LLP
Time: 10.05am
Career growth is as much about your professional experience as it is about your personal brand.
Join Marketing Director, JoLayna Arndt, for a session on building and leveraging your personal branding to influence decisions, craft a winning reputation, and prove your value at work, so you can carve the career path you want.
Don’t treat burnout as a badge of honour
Presenter:
Randy Crabtree, Tri-Merit
Daniel Moore, D.T. Moore & Company
Time: 11.10am
In this session, Randy Crabtree and Daniel Moore will tackle the question of mental health in the accounting industry, recognizing the prevalence of burnout and its impact on your life, your employees, and your firm.
You’ll hear their advice on how to assess and respond to mental health situations, including strategies and initiatives you can implement to relieve stress, promote wellbeing, and ultimately improve outcomes for your firm.
Generational differences in governance
Presenter: William Pirolli, Succession Institute LLC
Time: 11.10am
In this session, William Pirolli will aim to bridge the gap between the current and the new wave of leaders by clarifying the cultural differences around transparency, trust, and communication.
As you prepare to make the most out of a multigenerational workforce and plan ahead for the future of your firm, he’ll offer essential insights into different governance structures, and how they’re expected to evolve over time.
See you at Stand 829
ENGAGE25 is the event for decision-makers who are ready to take their leadership and business strategy to the next level.
It’s about more than just numbers: it’s about how to step into a way of working that centres the humanity, wellbeing, and collaboration of your team, to drive greater productivity and value for your clients.
Start your itinerary with a visit to Stand 829, so you can say hi to the Karbon team 👋
