2026 Member Appreciation Day

Member Appreciation Day Sessions:

• 8:30 to 9:20 a.m. | Professional Issues Update

  Speaker: Tim Pike

  Overview: A timely update on the latest issues and anticipated changes facing the CPA profession. Hear about new opportunities to enhance and shape the profession in Texas and ways your professional association is representing your interests while connecting, protecting and advancing CPAs in Texas.

  Designed For: CPAs and other tax professionals who want to stay informed about current issues, emerging developments, and advocacy efforts affecting the CPA profession in Texas and beyond.

  Major Topics: Professional Issues

  Learning Objectives: Educate CPAs about profession developments affecting the practice of accounting now and in the near future

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge – Technical

  Level of Knowledge: Basic

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

   

• 9:20 to 10:10 a.m. | Latest Trends in Tax and Technology, Including AI

  Speaker: Venkat Venkatesan

  Overview: Discuss recent trends in AI Understand how AI agents and digital teams can impact the Tax function Identify AI tools and use cases being deployed within tax

  Designed For: CPAs and other tax professionals who want to understand the latest trends in AI and how generative AI, intelligent agents, and automation are reshaping tax workflows and advisory roles.

  Major Topics: Defining artificial intelligence (AI) Why data matters AI skills, agents and digital teams AI use cases in tax

  Learning Objectives: Now you should be able to Discuss recent trends in AI Understand how AI agents and digital teams can impact the Tax function Identify AI tools and use cases being deployed within Tax

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Information Technology – Technical

  Level of Knowledge: Intermediate

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

• 10:20 to 11:10 a.m. | Turning Numbers Into Narratives

  Speaker: Emily Jones

  Overview: What do great broadcasters and successful CPAs have in common? The ability to turn numbers into stories. Learn how to transform raw statistics into narratives that captivate, inform, and drive understanding.

  Designed For: CPAs and other accounting professionals who want to improve their ability to interpret data and communicate financial information through clear, engaging, and meaningful narratives.

  Major Topics: Interpreting and analyzing data Identifying key insights and trends Crafting a clear message or takeaway

  Learning Objectives: Explain how storytelling techniques are used to make statistical information more engaging. Identify the key elements of effective data-driven narratives. Transform raw data into clear, compelling stories. Apply techniques used by broadcasters to enhance the presentation of financial information.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Communications and Marketing –Non-technical

  Level of Knowledge: Basic

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

• 11:10 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. | Quality Management Unfiltered: What Implementation Taught Us

  Speaker: Lindsey Kennimer, CPA

  Overview: With the AICPA’s Quality Management (QM) Standards now fully in effect, firms are moving beyond planning and into the realities of daily application. This session explores the practical lessons learned during implementation, highlighting what has worked well, where firms have struggled, and how the risk‑based approach to quality management is reshaping assurance practices.

  Designed For:  This session is designed for accounting and assurance professionals who are actively implementing—or have recently implemented—the AICPA Quality Management (QM) Standards and want practical, real‑world insight beyond the technical requirements.

  Major Topics:

  • Common challenges & pain points encountered during implementation of the QM standards
  • Impact of the risk‑based approach
  • Evolving practices & continuous improvement to refine systems post rollout

  Learning Objectives:

  • Describe key lessons learned by firms during the rollout of the AICPA Quality Management Standards.
  • Identify the implementation challenges firms most commonly encountered and the practical solutions that proved effective.
  • Analyze how risk assessment and monitoring processes have evolved through actual application.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Auditing – Technical

  Level of Knowledge: Basic

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

• 1:05 to 1:55 p.m. | 2026 IRS Enforcement Update

  Speaker: Michael A. Villa, Jr

  Overview: Last year was a roller coaster for staffing and organizational shifts at both the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Justice. This presentation will focus on recent IRS enforcement efforts, criminal tax investigations, and cases that have proceeded to court.

  Designed For: Professionals who advise, prepare, or represent taxpayers and need to understand IRS enforcement risk and trends.

  Major Topics: IRS Criminal Investigation enforcement priorities, civil tax examinations and audits, criminal tax investigations in 2026, IRS and DOJ staffing and organizational changes, criminal tax enforcement strategies.

  Learning Objectives: Learn which IRS Criminal Investigation enforcement areas are a high priority in 2026. Learn how civil tax examinations and audits can escalate into criminal tax investigations. Learn how recent IRS and Department of Justice staffing and organizational changes are shaping criminal tax enforcement strategies.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Business Law

  Level of Knowledge: Intermediate

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

• 1:55 to 2:45 p.m. | Federal Tax Update

  Speaker: Renee Prince, CPA

  Overview: This one-hour course unpacks some of the major individual and business tax provisions of Public Law 119-21—also known as the “One Big, Beautiful Bill.” Led by Renee Prince, CPA, this course provides a practitioner-focused overview of the most consequential changes, including the permanent extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) tax brackets, enhancements to the standard deduction, significant revisions to the Child Tax Credit, and bonus depreciation. Participants in this CPE course will also explore updates to employer-paid student loan exclusions, discharged student debt relief, new deductions for tips and overtime, and nuanced rules around Social Security number requirements that affect client eligibility for key benefits. Designed with practical application in mind, this CPE course emphasizes client-facing impacts. With a focus on what’s permanent, what’s changed, and what practitioners need to act on now, this course ensures tax professionals are prepared to guide clients through a rapidly evolving policy landscape.

  Designed For: This session is designed for tax and accounting professionals who advise individual and business clients and need a practical, up‑to‑date understanding of the federal tax changes enacted under Public Law 119‑21 (OB3).

  Major Topics: HR 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill) Provisions

  Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to: Identify which TCJA provisions have been extended, modified, or allowed to expire under OBBB Explain the new deductions available for tips, overtime, and senior workers. Describe the changes made to major tax credits, including those that were expanded, enhanced, or terminated.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Taxes – Technical

  Level of Knowledge: All Levels

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-Live

  CPE Credit: 1

• 2:55 to 3:45 p.m. | Buying In or Selling Out: What CPAs Need to Know About Today’s Firm Market

  Speakers: Ryan Pannell, Barbara Agerton and Donna Rutter

  Overview: The market for buying and selling CPA firms continues to evolve as many firm owners approach retirement and the next generation of leaders considers partnership opportunities. This panel discussion will explore current market trends, valuation considerations, deal structures, and the practical realities of firm transitions. Panelists—including brokers, firm partners, and buyers—will share insights on preparing to sell a firm, acquiring a practice, or purchasing a book of business to expand an existing firm. The discussion will also address what future partners should evaluate when deciding whether to buy into the firm where they currently work, including financial commitments, governance, and long-term growth expectations.

  Designed For: This session is designed for CPA firm owners, partners, and next‑generation leaders who are planning for ownership transitions, succession, or long‑term firm growth. It is also well suited for CPAs and senior professionals evaluating opportunities to buy or sell a firm, acquire a book of business, or buy into the firm where they currently work.

  Major Topics: Market Trends & Valuation
   (Current landscape, demand, and key drivers of firm and book-of-business value)

  Transactions & Transition Strategies
   (Deal structures, financing, selling a firm, and buying a firm or book of business)

  Path to Ownership & Future Outlook
   (Internal buy-ins, partnership considerations, risks, and the evolving future of firm ownership)

  Learning Objectives: Identify current trends in the market for buying and selling CPA firms, including factors influencing valuations and deal structures.

  Recognize key considerations for firm owners preparing to sell, including succession planning, timing, and transition strategies.

  Evaluate common structures used in firm acquisitions and internal buy-ins, including financing, compensation adjustments, and equity arrangements.

  Assess the financial and professional implications for employees considering buying into the firm where they currently work.

  Discuss risks and opportunities associated with firm ownership transitions from the perspectives of brokers, buyers, and firm partners.

  Identify questions future partners should ask when evaluating a buy-in opportunity, including governance, profitability, and long-term growth expectations.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Business Management & Organization – Non-technical

  Level of Knowledge: Basic

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-live

  CPE Credit: 1

   

  
  

• 3:45 to 4:35 p.m.| Preparing Business Owners for Exit - A Combined Effort of CPAs, Wealth Advisors and Business Brokers

  Speaker: Chris Lucas, CPA/ABV, CFA, CEPA

  Overview: The session will identify: 1) important unmet planning needs of most small & medium sized business owners, 2) logical providers for those planning needs, 3) how providing those needs can benefit business owner, local & regional accounting firms and the TXCPA.

  Designed For: This session is designed for CPAs who work with small and medium-sized business owners and are interested in expanding their advisory role beyond traditional compliance services. It is particularly relevant for practitioners seeking to support business owners through exit planning while developing new, profitable service opportunities in collaboration with wealth advisors and business brokers.

  Major Topics: Major topics will include: 1) consideration of holistic needs of business owners when they transition out of their businesses 2) identification of tools designed to help meet those needs 3) sources of potential profit for CPAs

  Learning Objectives: The objective of the course is to raise CPA awareness of an unmet need of most small and medium sized business owners and how CPAs can profitably help to meet that need.

  Prerequisites: None

  Advanced Preparation: None

  Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge – Technical

  Level of Knowledge: Basic

  Instructional Delivery Method: Group-live

  CPE Credit: 1