2025 CPAConnect Annual Leadership Retreat Agenda
October 19-22, 2025
The Westin Phoenix Downtown, Phoenix, AZ
Sunday, October 19
5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Mentor/Mentee Meet & Greet
First time attendees will meet their assigned mentors in person and get to know fellow first-time attendees immediately before Sunday’s Welcome Reception.
Location: The Westin Phoenix Downtown Complimentary for Mentors & Mentees
Attire: Casual
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. │ Welcome Reception
Join us as we kick off our 2025 CPAConnect Annual Leadership Retreat! Enjoy hors d ’oeuvres, beer and wine while mingling with your peers and meeting new friends
Location: The Westin Phoenix Downtown Complimentary for all Attendees & Spouse/Guests (free)
Attire: Casual
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. | CPAConnect Advisory Committee Dinner
Monday, October 20
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. │Breakfast
9:00 – 9:10 a.m. | Welcome and Opening Remarks
Chloe Hunt, Director of CPAConnect
9:10 – 10:40 a.m. | Talent Development for Retention and Succession
Kristen Rampe, CPA, Managing Partner, Rosenberg Associates
1.8 CPE |Personal Development
Having a competitive strategy for talent development can make a huge difference in a firm’s succession plan. Recruiting, retention, engagement and evaluation are some the many human capital challenges firms are facing today. In this session, we’ll talk through unique ways successfully recruit the best candidates, the benefits in-demand of today’s talent pool, and techniques for retaining and evaluating your employees. Keep your firm on the road to strong succession with actionable take aways for talent development.
10:40 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. │ Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Challenges & Opportunities in 2025-2026-2027
Taylor St. Germain, Economist & Senior Consulting Speaker, ITR Economics 1.8 CPE | Economics
2025 and beyond will present opportunities and challenges to business leaders. Inflation and interest rates will return on the wings of government spending, a tightening labor market, global demand, and higher-cost production inputs from raw materials to electricity. Navigating the twin challenges of inflation and interest rates will require immediate action. We will discuss the timing and the actions to take to get your company ready for the next few years and the rest of the decade.
Manufacturing and the economy in general are in recovery, but the rate of rise will vary by industry and even geographic region. The information we present on the various domestic and global landscapes will allow decision-makers to position their companies for maximum return through the coming years.
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. | Next Gen Panel
Kristen Rampe, CPA, Managing Partner, Rosenberg Associates 1.2 CPE |Business Management & Organization
Join us for a no holds barred session providing the opportunity for multigenerational dialogue. What is on their minds when they consider their role and their future in the profession, etc. A survey will be sent prior to the meeting to gather specific questions and topics for the panel.
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. | Break
2:45 – 4:15 p.m. | Tax Policy Shifts: 2025 Legislative Update for Firm Leaders
Rick Lazio, Senior Vice President, Alliant Group 1.8 CPE |Taxes
We’ll examine key changes implemented in 2025 under the new administration, discussing potential impacts on various client segments and service areas. The presentation will cover emerging trends in tax policy, updated to R& D expensing, and providing a balanced view of challenges and opportunities facing the profession. Gain insights to inform your firm’s strategic planning and service offerings in light of the evolving tax landscape. This season aims to equip firm leaders with the knowledge needed to navigate change effectively.
4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Free Time
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Monday Meet Up (Dinner on own)
Location: The Westin Phoenix Downtown Complimentary for Attendees & Spouse/Guests (free) Attire: Casual
Tuesday, October 21
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. │Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. | Business Before Hours: AI – The Future of Accounting: How AI is Revolutionizing the Profession
Harrison Schofill, IT Director, CPAmerica 1.2 CPE |Information Technology
Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming the accounting landscape! From automating routine tasks to unlocking strategic insights, this session explores the cutting-edge tools reshaping financial decision-making. Learn how to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving profession and embrace AI-driven opportunities.
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. │ Transition Break
9:15 a.m. –10:45 a.m. | Practice Management Strategies to Future Ready Your Firm – Part I
Heath Alloway, Director, Upstream Academy 1.8 CPE |Business Management & Organization
During this interactive session, Heath will share actionable management strategies to future-ready your firm success through the Four Pillars of High Performance: Culture, People, Clients, and Growth. Whether you are looking to inspire your team, align firm goals and objectives, or position your firm for longterm success, this session is designed to equip you with practical tools and insights.
10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. │ Break
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Practice Management Strategies to Future Ready Your Firm – Part II
Heath Alloway, Director, Upstream Academy 1.2 CPE |Business Management & Organization
During this interactive session, Heath will share actionable management strategies to future-ready your firm success through the Four Pillars of High Performance: Culture, People, Clients, and Growth. Whether you are looking to inspire your team, align firm goals and objectives, or position your firm for long-term success, this session is designed to equip you with practical tools and insights.
12:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. │ Lunch
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. │ Member Sharing – Anything Goes
This interactive session is your chance to bring up topics that matter most to you! Drawing from a mix of survey responses and spontaneous contributions, we’ll create an open forum for candid discussions, idea sharing, and collaboration.
Member Co-Facilitators:
1.8 CPE │
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. │ Topic Breakouts
Topic #1: The Case for Proactive Business Development
Heath Alloway, Director, Upstream Academy
1.2 CPE | Personal Development
Healthy growth has always been vital to the success of high-performing firms. While the importance remains constant, firms often cycle between prioritizing intentional growth or reacting to opportunities as they arise based on profession trends. In recent years, growth has largely been reactionary, but the focus is shifting back to proactive and intention strategies.
One of the biggest questions firms ask is why should we grow if it will stress out our team? Not all growth is created equal. The wrong kind of growth can burn out valuable talent. The question should be, what kind of growth will lead to increased team engagement, firm profitability and future success.
Topic #2: Cybersecurity Essentials for Accountants: Protecting Data in the Digital Age
Harrison Schofill, IT Director, CPAmerica
1.2 CPE | Information Technology
As financial professionals, safeguarding sensitive data has never been more critical. In this session, dive into the latest cybersecurity threats targeting accountants and firms, and learn practical strategies to protect client information, prevent breaches, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. | Free Time
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. │ Reception & Dinner
Enjoy an extended networking reception & dinner
Location: Mancuso’s Restaurant – 201 E Washington St Ste 201 Phoenix, AZ 85004
Complimentary for Attendees; Spouse/Guest price: $150
Attire: Casual
*Private group events incur additional costs, including labor and preparation. CPAmerica is transparent with event expenses and is willing to share more details upon request as we understand the meal cost for your guest is substantial.
Wednesday, October 22
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. │ Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. │ Business Before Hours Sponsored by TBD
1.2 CPE │
9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. │ Transition Break
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Diffusing Practice Problems
Steve Platau, University of Tampa
CPE: 1.2 |Regulatory Ethics
Professional practices face exposure to liability from disgruntled clients in unexpected ways. This session explores the most current risk issues facing firms as they navigate equity, changing government reporting requirements, disengagement, outsourcing, offshoring and more. Current issues and the pathways to avoiding risk while growing the practice are explored in this session.
10:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. │ Break
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. │ Topic Breakouts
Topic #1: Cybersecurity Essentials for Accountants: Protecting Data in the Digital Age
Harrison Schofill, IT Director, CPAmerica
CPE: 1.2 | Information Technology
As financial professionals, safeguarding sensitive data has never been more critical. In this session, dive into the latest cybersecurity threats targeting accountants and firms, and learn practical strategies to protect client information, prevent breaches, and ensure compliance with evolving regulations.
Topic #2: TBD
Steve Platau, University of Tampa
CPE: 1.2 | Regulatory Ethics
Participants will identify practice area liability risks appearing most frequently in their practices. These risks could include pushback on firm practices, engagement letter terms, service offerings, use of third party vendors, additional service offerings, independence challenges, NOCLAR and changes to the regulatory landscape. Participants will share concerns and potential solutions to maintain compliance with regulatory strictures balancing risk and reward.
11:30 – 11:45 a.m. | CPAConnect Services Update & Meeting Wrap-Up
Chloe Hunt, Director of CPAConnect