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Wednesday, September 23, 2026
1:00 pm
Registration & Networking
1 hr
2:00 pm
2:15 pm
Keynote From Pieces to Platform: Building a Practice Model That Scales
50 min
CPE Eligible
Sustainable, measured, and controlled growth is never the result of one decision, one hire, or one software solution. This type of growth results from a cohesive strategy.
3:05 pm
Coffee Break
20 min
3:25 pm
Case Study Secure by Design: Lessons from Sassetti LLC’s CAAS Growth Journey
30 min
As firms expand their Client Accounting and Advisory Services (CAAS) offerings, protecting client data becomes just as critical as delivering strategic advice. In this case study, Sassetti LLC shares how it built and scaled its CAAS practice while embedding security into every stage of the client experience. Supported by Rightworks, the firm implemented practical safeguards that strengthened operations without creating friction for staff or clients.
4:00 pm
Panel Developing a Scalable and Executable Growth Strategy
1 hr
CPE Eligible
Gale Crosley
CEO
Crosley+Company
Michael Horwitz
Executive Director
BDO Alliance USA
Cosmin Nicolaescu
CEO & Co-Founder
Accrual
Joe Woodard
CEO
Woodard Consulting
High-performing firms don’t grow by accident—they follow a deliberate, repeatable strategy. In this panel, industry leaders will break down how they define, operationalize, and execute on growth initiatives that scale. From setting a clear strategic direction to aligning leadership, resources, and accountability, learn how top firms are turning growth plans into measurable outcomes.
5:00 pm
Reception
1 hr
Thursday, September 24, 2026
7:00 am
Networking Breakfast
1 hr
8:00 am
8:05 am
Keynote The Blueprint for Growth: Inside the Strategies Powering High-Performing Firms
50 min
CPE Eligible
Lisa Myers
Managing Partner
Boyer & Ritter LLC
Jonathan Priestley
General Manager, Global Accountancy Solutions and Transformation
IRIS Software
An exclusive dive into Accounting Today’s Blueprint for Growth research—an in-depth survey of firm leaders, including many of the profession’s Fastest-Growing Firms. This keynote will unpack the strategies, operating models, and decision frameworks that consistently separate high-performing firms from the rest of the market.
9:00 am
Panel Smarter Growth Starts with Better Clients
50 min
CPE Eligible
Gale Crosley
CEO
Crosley+Company
Jennifer DuBois
CEO and Managing Partner
Hantzmon Wiebel LLP
Rachel Ellis
Owner
Ellis CPA, LLC
Not all growth is good growth. This session will explore how leading firms define their ideal client profile—and build systems to attract, select, and retain the right relationships. From refining client selection criteria to improving onboarding and service delivery, learn how a focused client strategy can drive stronger margins, better experiences, and more sustainable growth.
9:50 am
Networking Break
30 min
10:20 am
Fireside Chat Designing a Scalable Advisory and CAS Strategy
50 min
CPE Eligible
David Bundy
Retired CEO & Strategic Advisor
Dean Dorton / Thomson Consulting
Nathen McEown
Chief Executive Officer
Whitley Penn
As firms evolve beyond compliance, determining the right mix of services is critical to growth. This session will examine how firms are expanding into higher-value offerings like advisory and CAS, aligning services to client needs, and building scalable delivery models. Learn how to prioritize, package, and deliver services that drive both client impact and firm profitability.
11:15 am
Case Study The Bookkeeping Bottleneck: How Pruitt Prep Used AI to Scale
30 min
Pruitt Prep needed to create capacity for growth without sacrificing client service or margins. In this case study, Pruitt Prep and Digits will share how the firm standardized workflows and used firm-specific AI to automate statement collection, categorization, and reconciliation. Hear how they managed implementation, migrated clients, and processed two years of activity across 24 accounts in just a few hours—while reducing client follow-up.
11:45 am
Lunch Briefing From Compliance to Growth: How AI and Automation Are Transforming the Modern Accounting Firm
1 hr
CPE Eligible
As firms face increasing pressure to grow without adding proportional headcount, accounting professionals are rethinking how technology, automation, and AI can create capacity, expand advisory services, and strengthen client relationships.
Networking Lunch
1 hr
12:45 pm
Extended Networking – Dessert on the Floor
30 min
1:15 pm
Panel Technology as Strategy: Powering Growth Through the Right Stack
50 min
CPE Eligible
Samantha Bowling
Managing Partner
GWCPA
Waseem Daher
Founder & Executive Chair
Meridian
Lucia Valenzuela
Chief Innovation Officer
James Moore & Co.
Technology is no longer just an enabler—it’s a core driver of growth. This panel will explore how firms are designing tech strategies that align with their long-term vision, support operational scale, and remain adaptable as needs evolve. From tech stack integration to ongoing optimization, hear how leading firms ensure their technology investments keep pace with growth.
2:10 pm
Roundtable Building the Backbone: Establishing the Internal Infrastructure to Support Firm Growth
50 min
CPE Eligible
Growth places new demands on internal operations—and many firms struggle to keep up. In this interactive roundtable, attendees will exchange insights on building the management, marketing, HR, technological and other operational infrastructure needed to scale effectively. Discuss when to build vs. buy, how to create accountability across leadership, and what it takes to support sustained, strategic growth.
3:00 pm
Networking Break
30 min
3:30 pm
Panel The New Workforce Model: Balancing Talent, Tech, and Outsourcing
50 min
CPE Eligible
Jamie Ellis
Chief Operating Officer, Partner
Katz, Sapper & Miller
Rebekah Olson
CEO
Maryland Association of CPAs
Kristen Rampe
Managing Partner
Rosenberg Associates
Capacity constraints remain one of the biggest barriers to growth. This closing session will explore how firms are developing integrated workforce strategies that balance hiring, outsourcing, and automation. Learn how leading firms are leveraging AI, offshore talent, and smarter staffing models to increase capacity, improve efficiency, and support long-term scalability.
4:20 pm