March 05, 2026
Momentum and Vision: Key Takeaways from the 2026 Midyear Leadership Council and Members Meeting
College Station set the stage on January 22-23 as TXCPA members engaged in an energizing 2026 Midyear Leadership Council and Members Meeting. Open to all members, the event delivered fresh insights on governance, advocacy and the evolving future of the accounting profession – along with plenty of lively conversations, new connections and idea sharing across the TXCPA community.
Financial and Governance Updates. TXCPA Treasurer Tram Le, CPA-Fort Worth, and Investments Committee Chair Chris Lucas, CPA-Fort Worth, ABV, shared the Treasurer’s Report and financial outlook.
Members also received an update on proposed changes to the TXCPA Bylaws from Governance Committee Chair Tim Pike, CPA-Dallas, and Nisha Thakker, JD, of the Tenenbaum Law Group. The TXCPA Board of Directors approved proposed changes to the Bylaws during their November 6, 2025 meeting. The proposed changes were presented to the TXCPA Leadership Council on January 22, 2026 during the Midyear Meeting and the Board of Directors approved moving forward with a members vote on the proposed changes on February 4, 2026.
In accordance with Article XX (2), proposals to amend the Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds of the members voting to be adopted. The electronic ballot will be open to all eligible members until March 10, 2026. If approved, the changes will be effective March 10, 2026.
AcctoFi: Expanding Impact and Opportunity. AcctoFi Treasurer Lucas LaChance, CPA-Dallas, CIA, provided updates on AcctoFi’s completed technology launch and public rebrand. Members now receive co-branded AcctoFi communications alongside TXCPA messages, helping strengthen awareness of the new brand.
AcctoFi continues to grow its scholarship and student engagement efforts, awarding scholarships to 66 students this year:
- 61 university students.
- 5 community college students.
See the Take Note section in this Today's CPA issue to see the full list of recipients.
Looking Ahead: Rise 2040. Lexi Weber, CPA, Senior Manager of Emerging Professionals Initiatives at AICPA, led an interactive workshop connected to the global Finance and Accounting 2040 initiative. Through roundtable discussions, participants:
- Explored key hard and soft trends impacting the profession.
- Envisioned what a thriving accounting and finance profession could look like in 2040.
- Identified new opportunities to stay future-ready.
Their insights will help inform the AICPA-CIMA 2040 vision. The conversation continued with AICPA’s Barry Payne, who shared timely perspectives in “Future of Finance: Three Takeaways You Should Know Right Now,” highlighting evolving finance team capabilities and changing expectations for leaders.
Leadership, Member Benefits and Priorities. The Nominations and Elections Report introduced the 2026-27 slate of officers, directors and AICPA Council nominees, underscoring the strong leadership dedicated to advancing TXCPA’s mission across the state. Attendees were also introduced to TXCPA’s 2027-28 Chair, Dr. Tracie Miller, who shared her passion for a profession that “saves the world” and reaffirmed her commitment to TXCPA during her acceptance remarks.
Joe Barnard, CPA-Dallas, of Forrest T. Jones shared updates on TXCPA’s member insurance offerings. Visit txcpainsure.org to learn more about TXCPA’s insurance products.
TXCPA Chair Billy Kelley, CPA-Permian Basin, and President and CEO Jodi Ann Ray, CAE, celebrated significant progress in the midyear Society update. They highlighted membership growth, major technology upgrades, including 22 redesigned websites, and a strengthened workforce pipeline.
They also discussed critical advocacy wins, such as:
- Establishing an additional pathway to CPA licensure, now adopted by 27 states in just one year.
- Preserving PTET deductions and expanding 529 plan uses under H.R. 1.
- Advocating for the passage of the Filing Relief for Natural Disasters Act.
- Promoting accounting as a STEM profession through joint outreach to the Department of Homeland Security.
- Recruiting co-sponsors for H.R. 2911.
- Advocating for inclusion of accounting in federal student loan definitions tied to student loan relief.
The program concluded with an engaging Advocacy Panel featuring Marta Zanewski of Deloitte, Shelly Weir, President and CEO of the Florida Institute of CPAs, and TXCPA’s Jodi Ann Ray and Kenneth Besserman, JD. Panelists explored the evolving regulatory landscape, emerging risks and opportunities for collective action, leaving attendees informed, energized and ready to stay engaged.
TXCPA thanks all who attended the meeting and those who generously give their time, expertise and passion to support the profession. Your continued engagement and dedication play a vital role in strengthening the work being done every day on behalf of CPAs.
What’s Next. The momentum continues at the Annual Meeting of Members and Leadership Council Meeting, June 25-26, 2026, in San Antonio. Members are encouraged to join the conversation and help shape the next chapter of TXCPA and the profession.
Thanks to the Sponsors of Today's CPA Magazine
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