We'll explore current issues and hear recommendations regarding the specific needs of members in public practice, focusing on recruiting, talent retention, succession planning, and technology solutions.

Experts will also offer insights on digital marketing for finance professionals. We will also discuss tips for maintaining quality, including practical considerations for small firms.

CPE Hours: 9 (in person) | 8 (webcast​)

Event location: Marriott Quroum Dallas by the Galleria | Reserve a room
Hotel rate $179 until July 1, 2023 or whenever room block fills.

This conference is also available via webcast.

Member fee: Member Early bird rate $279 | Standard member $310
Early Bird Deadline: ​June 23, 2023​
Non-member fee: ​$399​

July 21, 2023

8:30 – 9:30 a.m. - How to Recruit, Hire and Retain, THE RIGHT PEOPLE!
Chuck Bauer/Owner/Chuck Bauer Professional Business Development/Dallas
An efficient staff makes an efficient, productive business! Chuck Bauer can tell you how to hire the right people, keep them and train them efficiently. This training teaches you how to immediately implement proven tactics on recruiting the right team members. You will learn about what traits to look for, what to avoid, and how to conduct a third level appraisal interview. Chuck knows that hiring isn’t a one-and-done situation: he will teach you strategies to properly train and keep employees, including onboarding guidelines that define expectations.

Major Topics:

• How to recruit, hire and retain THE RIGHT PEOPLE 

Skill Level: Intermediate 

9:40 – 10:55 a.m. - Succession Planning – Considerations in the Sale of a CPA Firm – Panel Discussion
Jordan Bass/Senior Vice President/Frost Bank/Richardson
Ryan Pannell/Practice Transition Consultant/Accounting Practice Sales/Dallas
The session will discuss best practices for CPA firms contemplating a sale in the future. Panel leaders will offer advice regarding steps in the process and options available for a successful transaction/exit. 

Major Topics: 

• Practice valuation 
• Practice preparation pre-sale 
• Financing options and bank partners for existing management team or outside firms 

Learning Objectives: 

• Outline steps in the sales process and best practices at each interval  
• Detail areas for improvement that can add value to small/medium-sized CPA firms  
• Identify financing options/banking partners that may not be widely known 

Skill Level: Intermediate 

11:05 – 12:05 p.m.  - How to Stop Wasting Your Most Valuable Tool: T-I-M-E! 
Chuck Bauer/Owner/Chuck Bauer Professional Business Development/Dallas
Our speaker has developed the Wasted Workday training from day-to-day coaching of owners and staff, and learning from routine inefficiencies found in CPA and tax and accounting offices throughout our country. The training is based on the U.S. Department of Labor stats that show just how inefficient owners and firms are. The Wasted Workday training includes strategies you can incorporate immediately to not only fix inefficiencies but prevent them from happening again. With the Wasted Workday, you will not only learn how to not waste time but produce it! Chuck provides business development training specifically for the entrepreneurial side of the tax and accounting industry. His goal is to help people work smarter, make more money and take more QUALITY time off.

Major Topics: 

• Top tax and accounting tactics in becoming more efficient 

Learning Objectives: 

• Admit that you and your firm are 70% inefficient 
• Start enforcing boundaries and buy back time! 

Skill Level: Intermediate 

12:15 – 1:15 p.m. | LUNCH  |  (Webcast has a lunch break; in person will participate in roundtable discussions)

IT Technology/Software Tools Roundtable (in person attendees only) 
Misty Mata, CPA (Moderator)/Tax Partner/Jennings, Hawley & Co PC/Corpus Christi  
This session will be a group discussion related to the technology the attendees use in their practice that make them more efficient. 

Major Topics: 

• Software used in each category:  
• Practice management  
• Time and billing  
• Tax  
• Audit 

Learning Objectives: 

• Roundtable discussion 

Skill Level: Basic 

1:30 – 2:30 p.m.  - Digital Marketing for Financial Experts
Ashley Small, MBE, WBE, WBEA, WBENC/Communications Strategist & Founder of Medley Inc./Houston
This session will focus on the basics of content marketing and using social media tools to build digital brand authority. We will primarily focus on tops tips and techniques to use LinkedIn and newsletter distribution services to reach new and existing audiences.

Major Topics:

• Brand building on social media
• Advertising online
• Top tools for newsletter distribution
• LinkedIn best practices

Learning Objectives:

• To learn how to streamline your social media presence
• To maximize your time spent online
• To meet your audiences where they are online

Skill Level: Intermediate

2:40 – 3:55 p.m.  - Retaining Talent in Today’s World of Work 
Mallory Herrin, SPHR, SHRM-CP/CEO/HerrinHR/Dallas 
In this session, participants will take a look at the current labor market, labor market projections and the importance of retaining talent. In addition, this session will cover action items that employers and managers can take to retain talent throughout the employee lifecycle. 

Major Topics: 

• The talent shortage 
• Employee retention initiatives that can be implemented at each phase of the employee lifecycle 
• Compensation and benefits planning as it relates to retention 
• How to retain employees during company "growing pains" 

Learning Objectives: 

• The importance of implementing retention initiatives throughout the employee lifecycle 
• How focusing on the employee experience improves retention and bottom-line results 
• Easy actionable steps to implement immediately for improved employee retention 

Skill Level: Basic 

4 – 5 p.m.  - Quality Control vs. Quality Management ... What’s the Difference? 
Lindsey Kennimer, CPA/Partner/Snow Garrett Williams/Weatherford  
In this session, we will be covering the new Quality Management Standards, revisit the existing Quality Control Standards and discuss the differences between the two. We will also discuss tips for maintaining quality, including practical considerations for small firms. 

Major Topics: 

• Differences between the Quality Management and Quality Control Standards  
• Tips for maintaining quality 

Learning Objectives: 

• Gain an understanding of the differences between the Quality Control and Quality Management Standards  
• Learn practical considerations for maintaining quality 

Skill Level:  Basic