Darren Root is an author, entrepreneur, speaker, and creative visionary dedicated to reimagining what it means to lead in the accounting profession. While putting himself through college working at a high-end men’s clothing store, Darren developed an early appreciation for style, service, and design-values that would shape his entire professional journey.

After starting and scaling his own accounting firm, Darren launched a men’s clothing store, became a partner in a luxury Asian antique lamp company, and served as Executive Editor of CPA Practice Advisor Magazine. He went on to found Rootworks, one of the profession’s first firm transformation platforms, and later launched Better Everyday, a private community designed to support firm owners seeking clarity, simplicity, and freedom.

A lifelong writer and thinker, Darren has authored multiple books and written extensively for publications like Accounting Today, CPA Practice Advisor Magazine, and INC Magazine.

Ken Powell is the Chief Revenue Officer at K1x and a recognized authority in change management and business growth strategies. With a career spanning leadership roles in sales, revenue strategy, and consulting, he has helped numerous firms transform their operations, drive efficiency, and expand into higher-value markets. Ken specializes in guiding accounting firms through the shift from compliance-based services to advisory-driven revenue models, ensuring long-term profitability and client retention. His expertise in strategic positioning and market differentiation makes him a sought-after speaker and advisor in the industry. Passionate about empowering firms to scale effectively, Ken brings a dynamic, results-driven approach to leadership and business transformation.

Tyler Otto is the president and owner of Specialized Accounting, a thriving seven-figure remote firm dedicated to the hospitality industry. Before joining forces with his wife Karen at her fledgling practice, he honed his finance chops with leadership roles at Vail Resorts and Imprint Hospitality. Known for his energy and approachability, Tyler believes wholeheartedly in collaboration with fellow professionals and finds joy in welcoming new accountants to the field.

Tyler is passionate about sharing his expertise and has presented at conferences such as Intuit Connect, Accounting Today’s Firm Growth Forum, Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP), BKX (Bookkeepers.com), Association of Lodging Professionals (ALP) Unlocked, The Successful Bookkeeper Summit, Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo (OHCE), Universal Accounting GrowCon, and The Glamping Show, and in webinars with Relay, ThinkReservations, Earmark, and Kaplan. He has also appeared as a featured guest on Relay’s On the Money Mondays video series, as well as podcasts including Universal Accounting’s Building the Premier Accounting Firm, The Successful Bookkeeper, and The Ambitious Bookkeeper.

Drawing on his deep industry knowledge and a commitment to innovation, Tyler recently launched Firm Foundation, a step-by-step course turning firm-building from daunting into doable. Whether on the stage or trading insights with his good friend Jeremy Van Groll on their accounting gameshow podcast, UnAccountable!, Tyler brings both expertise and a dash of fun to any discussion.

Kyle is a tax partner at Eide Bailly with more than 14 years of experience in public accounting. He leads the firm’s Idaho Tax Department, managing a team of over 45 professionals across the Boise and Twin Falls offices. Kyle specializes in federal and state taxation for closely held corporations, individuals, and complex partnerships. His industry experience spans manufacturing, real estate, technology, and high-net-worth individuals and families. Known for building lasting relationships with both clients and team members, Kyle is valued for his practical, approachable style. He is committed to understanding client concerns, navigating emerging tax issues, and delivering clear, effective strategies aligned with long-term goals. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Brigham Young University–Idaho and is a Certified Public Accountant. Kyle is also an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants. Outside the office, Kyle enjoys life in the Idaho mountains with his wife and twin daughters. He spends as much time as possible outdoors: hunting, fly fishing, skiing, and mountain biking.

Martin Moll is a founder and lead investor of KeyMaster, which owns and operates financials services companies including Breakaway Advising, Cadencia, and Starboard Labs. He brings 15 years of experience leading a top 10 West Coast CPA firm as its CEO and managing partner. He has a diverse skill set in working with small to medium sized businesses – from initial formation to exit.

Martin is committed to providing intelligent business counsel to his clients, including growth strategies and long-term planning. He thrives in seeing his clients’ businesses grow and connecting the dots of business mergers, specializing in entrepreneurial healthcare.

Martin currently holds a Juris Doctor of Tax Law/Taxation from the Northwestern College of Law at Lewis and Clark College and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon. An avid cyclist, Martin is the chair of the Board of Trustees of Pacific University. He and his wife Lois have two beautiful children, Emily and Ryan.

Nathen McEown has served for more than 20 years at Whitley Penn, a Southwest-based firm ranked 34^th in the nation by Accounting Today. Having built a distinguished career marked by progressive leadership and strategic growth, Nathen began his career at the firm as an intern, advanced to Audit Partner in 2015 and later played a key role in expanding the firm’s Houston market presence through the development of Oil & Gas–focused Client Accounting & Advisory Services. He was subsequently appointed Partner‑in‑Charge of Consulting and later Chief Growth Officer, where he helped shape the firm’s long‑term growth strategy. In January 2025, Nathen assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer, leading Whitley Penn into its next chapter of growth and innovation.

Earlier in his career, Nathen served as the firm’s Energy Practice Leader, working extensively with private equity‑backed energy companies and leading the development of Whitley Penn’s Client Accounting and Advisory Services, including Energy Outsourced Accounting, Land Administration, and Mineral Management service lines. After relocating from Dallas to Houston in 2016, he served as Partner‑in‑Charge of the Houston office from 2016 through 2022, overseeing significant regional growth. In 2022, Nathen transitioned from audit into firm leadership, joining the management committee as Partner‑in‑Charge of Consulting.

In 2024, Nathen expanded his executive responsibilities as Chief Growth Officer, where he led the integration of two strategic acquisitions that further strengthened the firm’s consulting capabilities. As CEO, he continues to champion leadership development across the firm, including leading Whitley Penn’s Growth Champions initiative designed to prepare future partners for firm leadership.

Nathen is a recognized thought leader in the energy industry, having co‑authored PPC Practice Aids for Audits of Oil and Gas Entities, published by Thomson Reuters. His professional honors include being named to the Dallas Business Journal’s “Who’s Who in Energy” and receiving its “Forty Under Forty” award. He is a graduate of Leadership Dallas and currently serves on Texas Tech University’s Accounting Advisory Council.

Beyond the firm, Nathen remains deeply committed to community and professional leadership. He co‑founded the Bayou City Houston Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization and currently serves as its Learning Officer. He also serves as Audit Committee Chair for the American Council on Exercise Fitness nonprofit and, alongside his wife, supports the Houston March of Dimes.

Brent McDaniel is the Chief Digital Officer at Aprio, where he leads a dynamic technology team focused on driving growth through intelligent automation, data activation, and creating the industry’s best client experiences. With a passion for innovation and a relentless drive to shape the future, Brent partners with Aprio’s leadership and management to develop transformative solutions that enhance operations, empower team members, and deliver exceptional client results.

Bringing nearly 30 years of experience, Brent has a proven track record of aligning technology with business strategies to achieve measurable growth. His knowledge spans building organizations from the ground up – including scaling a startup into the world’s largest financial exchange – and implementing impactful, scalable solutions. At Aprio, Brent specializes in simplifying complexity and designing actionable roadmaps that fuel the firm’s strategic objectives.

Alexis is a Project Manager with Atchley & Associates LLP driving the implementation of technology and processes to streamline and automate traditional workflows. A background in Operations Management that spans 20 years and multiple industries has allowed Alexis to bring a fresh perspective on the challenges facing the modern firm. With a focus on optimizing processes and improving efficiency, Alexis is helping redefine the scope of roles within A&A.

Outside of work, Alexis is a proud parent to two 16-year-old daughters, that keep life interesting and fun. When not running lists and creating project plans, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, cooking, and reading. A commitment to lifelong learning enables her to remain agile, well-informed, and innovative while meeting the demands of a continuously evolving business environment.

Steven is a Sales Executive at SafeSend, bringing over a decade of experience in tax industry software. With a deep understanding of the market and a proven ability to connect solutions with customer needs, he is dedicated to helping firms streamline their workflows and maximize efficiency. His expertise and commitment to client success make him a trusted advisor in the industry.

An Army veteran, Steven lives in Meridian, Idaho, with his wife and three daughters. Outside of work, he enjoys shooting sports, camping, fishing, motorcycle riding, and embracing new outdoor adventures.

In her 22+ years at Arizent, Jennifer has worked in editorial, marketing services and most recently, research, in roles including managing editor, project manager and operations director. She brings the skills she’s developed over the years into her current position, where she manages clients, projects, schedules and budgets for the company’s varied research undertakings. Beyond day-to-day operations, Jennifer works closely with clients on developing their research-based content, with particular expertise in the areas of accounting, financial planning and employee benefits. She holds a project management professional (PMP) certification as well as a BS from the University of Michigan. In her non working hours, she enjoys quality time with her 2 feline superiors, visiting her local Farmer’s market and helping out at the nonprofit art gallery where she is a board member.