New England Practice Management Conference

Speaker 1: Rebecca Sherman, Distinct Recruitment Inc  

Speaker 2: Georgina Ross, Distinct Recruitment Inc

What do candidates really think about your firm after the interview? Drawing on real conversations with experienced accounting professionals, this session explores the five key reasons CPA firms win (or lose) top talent. Learn what candidates value throughout the hiring process, from culture and busy-season expectations to flexibility, career growth, compensation and credibility. You'll leave with practical strategies to communicate your firm's strengths more effectively, plus a 10-point talent audit to help strengthen your hiring process. 

This session is available to registrants only.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Jon Lokhorst, Your Best Leadership LLC

As a finance leader, you’ve seen it firsthand: miscommunication, stalled decisions and avoidable tensions.?These challenges are often driven by style differences more than by?intentions. In this highly interactive session, you’ll use a brief assessment and a guided discussion to explore how different preferences within your team shape communication, trust and other team dynamics. Explore a practical framework you can use with your team to improve alignment and collaboration in your workplace. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, AAFCPAs

Why build every capability alone? This session explores how firms have turned informal conversations into a trusted alliance, working together on technology, talent, referrals and shared resources to expand what they can do, and do it better. We’ll cover a practical approach to building strategic partnerships, from finding the right collaborators and establishing trust to identifying opportunities and navigating challenges. You’ll walk away with actionable ideas for expanding capabilities, staying competitive and adapting to a rapidly changing profession.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, Powerful Accounting

You don’t have to transform your firm overnight to start benefiting from AI. Whether your firm is just getting started or ready to scale, this session provides practical first steps that meet you where you are. Learn how to identify opportunities to save time, implement AI tools that improve daily operations and focus on solutions that deliver meaningful results without adding unnecessary complexity. You’ll leave with actionable strategies you can put to work right away.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Brian Kush, Intend2Lead

As accountants, we like to be known as the Chief Problem Solver (CPS). But when it comes to developing our teams, we must instead empower our people to become more resourceful on their own. In this session, we’ll explore how you can empower and influence your team using professional coaching techniques, instead of finding fault or prescribing solutions. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, Boscia & Boscia PC

A smoother tax season starts with a connected workflow. In this session, you’ll learn how to build a streamlined tax process from intake through filing by aligning people, processes and technology. Discover practical strategies for standardizing onboarding, improving workflow visibility, reducing bottlenecks and creating a scalable tax operation that supports your team and clients, without making things more complicated.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Jason McKeever, Whitman Advisory

The most valuable firms don’t become valuable by accident, they’re built intentionally over time. This session explores the leadership, operational and financial practices that increase enterprise value while creating a stronger, more resilient firm. You’ll leave with practical strategies to improve scalability, reduce owner dependency, develop future leaders and position your firm for long-term success, whether you’re planning for succession, a sale or continued independent growth.

This session is available to registrants only.

This session is available to registrants only.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Thomas Stephens Jr, CPA, CGMA, CITP, K2 Enterprises

AI is rapidly changing the way tax professionals conduct research and manage compliance. The challenge isn’t whether to use AI, it’s how to use it effectively while maintaining the professional judgment, quality and credibility clients expect. In this session, you’ll learn how to write better prompts, identify the right AI tools for tax work, establish effective governance guardrails and use AI to improve efficiency and accuracy. You’ll leave with practical strategies for integrating AI into your practice with confidence. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, Boscia & Boscia PC

Advisory services don’t fail because of a lack of demand, they fail because firms lack the capacity to deliver them. In this session, we’ll share how rethinking workflows, pricing and client processes can reduce administrative work, improve data quality and free your team to focus on strategic client advice. You’ll leave with practical ideas for building a more efficient, advisory-focused firm.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Chelsea Berry, Epicenter Collective

The right relationships can open the door to the right opportunities. In this interactive session, you’ll identify the Centers of Influence (COIs) surrounding your ideal clients and uncover opportunities for introductions, referrals and collaboration. You’ll also explore how to add value to these relationships and build genuine, mutually beneficial connections. You’ll leave with your own COI web, a visual map of the people, professions, organizations and communities that can connect you with more of the clients you want to work with, along with clear next steps to put your network to work.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Michael Platt, The Platt Consulting Group LLC

Every CPA knows the importance of measuring performance, but how does your firm compare to others? In this interactive session, you’ll benchmark your firm’s key financial and operational metrics against peer firms to gain a clearer picture of its strengths and opportunities for improvement. You’ll receive a list of financial information to gather before the conference, enabling personalized benchmarking and actionable insights you can use to improve performance and make more informed business decisions.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Brian Kush, Intend2Lead

Accountability is essential to every successful firm, but traditional approaches often create blame instead of results. This session introduces a fresh approach to accountability that empowers employees, builds trust and encourages greater ownership. Learn practical coaching techniques that will help support your team, strengthen performance and create a culture where accountability drives engagement and success. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Nick Boscia, CPA, EA, Boscia & Boscia PC

AI is everywhere, but many firms still struggle with how to use it practically in their daily workflow. In this session, we’ll share real-world ways you can use AI to save time, improve communication, reduce repetitive work and support internal processes without overcomplicating implementation. You’ll get practical use cases for client emails, meeting summaries, workflow support and internal documentation, along with common mistakes to avoid. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Roman Villard, CPA, Full Send - Accounting | Data

Most firm websites focus on logos, credentials and technology, but more often clients choose firms based on the outcomes they deliver. This interactive session explores how to reposition your firm’s messaging to emphasize value over tools. Through real-world examples and hands-on exercises, you’ll learn how to refine your marketing, strengthen your value proposition and develop offers that resonate with prospects, win more business and support premium pricing. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Nora Burns, The Leadership Experts

What is your team really saying about your firm when leaders aren’t in the room? Drawing on real-world research and hundreds of candidate and staff conversations, this session reveals how workforce expectations are changing and what that means for hiring, retention and culture. You’ll gain practical strategies to improve the employee experience, strengthen engagement and reduce turnover, without relying on costly perks or programs. Leave with actionable ideas you can implement immediately to build a more connected, talent-focused organization. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Kassi Rushing, APR, Kassi Rushing Consulting

Succession planning is about more than replacing retiring partners, it’s about building a stronger, more resilient firm. In this session, we’ll help you rethink succession as a leadership and growth strategy, with practical frameworks to develop future leaders, strengthen your leadership pipeline and prepare your firm for long-term success. Through real-world examples, you’ll learn how to move beyond succession plans on paper and create a culture of continuous leadership development. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Robert Fletcher Bryant III, Esq., CPA, Tax Point Advisors

Looking to expand your firm’s tax advisory services? This session provides a practical roadmap for building a tax credit niche, from identifying client opportunities to developing effective engagement and pricing strategies. You’ll learn how to partner with subject matter experts and deliver high-value services, including R&D tax credits, cost segregation, energy incentives, payroll tax credits and more. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker 1: David Humphrey, Beacon Equity Advisors 

Speaker 2: Jay Galasso, Beacon Equity Advisors

Retaining high-performing employees is critical to firm growth, succession planning and long-term value. In this session we’ll explore four practical strategies that help strengthen employee loyalty, reduce turnover and protect against poaching, particularly among managers and other key team members. You’ll learn how these approaches can be implemented within your own firm and offered as value-added solutions to clients, helping you improve retention while expanding your advisory role. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Nik Vasilakos, CFA, ConnectPay

Whether you’re planning for growth, succession or a future sale, understanding what drives firm value is essential. In this session we’ll explore the latest merger and acquisition (M&A) trends affecting small and mid-sized CPA firms and what they mean for valuation. You’ll gain practical insights into the factors buyers value most, including the impact of in-house payroll services, along with strategies to strengthen your firm’s value and position it for future opportunities. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker 1: Melissa Hiatt, MS Consultants, LLC 

Speaker 2: Jeff Hiatt, MS Consultants, LLC

Looking to expand your firm’s advisory services without expanding your team? This session shows how strategic partnerships can help firms deliver cost segregation studies and other specialized tax incentives that create measurable client value. Learn how these solutions can deepen client relationships, uncover new planning opportunities and position your firm as a more proactive advisor.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Corey Adams, Robert Half

Session details coming soon

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Richard Austin, Integrated Partners

With the federal estate tax exemption now permanently set at $15 million, the greatest planning opportunities for most clients have shifted to income tax and basis planning. This session will cover inherited IRA rules, pre-death planning strategies and the key tradeoffs between basis step-up and estate tax, along with where advanced techniques such as testamentary CRUTs and leveraged sales to grantor trusts fit. We’ll close by exploring how proactive tax planning creates lasting value for clients, and lasting relationships for advisory firms. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Firms will be divided by size

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker 1: Robert Albertini, Aon Insurance  

Speaker 2: Stan Sterna, Aon Insurance

As firms expand their use of generative AI (Gen AI), clear policies and safeguards are essential. In this session, we’ll explore how to build a firmwide Gen AI policy addressing privacy, transparency, bias, human review, appropriate use cases and risk transfer. You’ll learn how to define what information can and cannot be used with AI tools, set expectations for human oversight, train staff on responsible use and monitor compliance. We’ll also examine how contracts, insurance and other risk management strategies can address residual AI-related risks. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Konrad Martin, Tech Advisors Inc

Cybersecurity, compliance and AI are creating new risks and advisory opportunities for accounting firms. In this session, we’ll examine common cyber threats and essential safeguards, along with key compliance requirements, including the FTC Safeguards Rule, GLBA, CTDPA and written information security plans (WISPs). We’ll also explore practical AI tools, governance considerations and risks such as shadow AI, data leakage and inaccurate outputs. You’ll leave with actionable strategies to strengthen your firm and expand your role as a trusted advisor to clients. 

This session is available to registrants only.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Thomas Stephens Jr, CPA, CGMA, CITP, K2 Enterprises

The pace of technological change can make it difficult to know which innovations deserve your attention. This session offers a strategic look at the evolving technology landscape, highlighting the trends that are reshaping the profession, including AI, automation and cloud-based ecosystems. You’ll learn how to evaluate new technologies, avoid costly missteps and leverage innovation to improve efficiency, strengthen client service and position your firm for the future.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Roman Villard, CPA, Full Send - Accounting | Data

Your brand is more than a logo, color palette or tagline. It‘s the reputation your firm builds through every interaction. Discover how to strengthen your brand by sharpening your market position, creating messaging that attracts ideal clients and aligning your internal culture with the experience you promise externally. You’ll leave with practical strategies to differentiate your firm and deliver a more consistent client experience.

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Misty Resendez-Woods, Ed.D., InvigorateHR

Busy season is demanding, but burnout doesn’t have to be inevitable. Leaders play a critical role in protecting performance while supporting the wellbeing of their teams. This session reveals practical strategies for maintaining productivity, resilience and morale during periods of sustained pressure without sacrificing results or people. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Jon Lokhorst, Your Best Leadership LLC

Critical thinking is one of the most valuable skills CPAs can develop to deliver greater value to clients. This session explores practical strategies for strengthening judgment under pressure by asking better questions, identifying trends, uncovering root causes and challenging assumptions. You’ll also learn how to use AI to enhance, not replace, professional judgment by adding context, evaluating outputs and turning analysis into meaningful, client-ready insights. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, Powerful Accounting

As AI makes firms more efficient, pricing based on hours becomes increasingly difficult to sustain. This session examines the two biggest barriers to value-based pricing: fear and confidence. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, you’ll learn how to transition to upfront value-based pricing, strengthen client relationships and protect your firm’s profitability as AI continues to reshape the profession. 

This session is available to registrants only.

Speaker: Jason McKeever, Whitman Advisory

Great managers do more than deliver results, they inspire teams, strengthen client relationships and help shape the firm’s future. This session provides practical strategies for developing managers into the leaders the firm needs. Explore how to assess leadership readiness, coach high-potential talent, strengthen business development skills and create individualized growth plans. You’ll leave with tools to help managers move from technical success to broader leadership impact.

This session is available to registrants only.