Kickstart Your Partner Journey

Our CEO, Gary Shamis, is an industry pioneer who transformed what began as his father’s small firm into the 37th largest accounting and consulting firm in the nation (acquired by BDO in 2014).

In his three-decade tenure as firm managing partner, Gary saw a significant lack of leadership development training designed specifically for accounting firm managing partners. Often, he realized, CPAs find themselves elected or appointed to senior leadership positions without receiving any formal leadership or practice management training. Gary took the skills he believes every firm leader should have, including those he gained through trial and error leading one for more than forty years, and created MPB.

Now, we are taking the principal programs of MPB and combining them with new partner-focused courses to help today's partners lead and drive firm growth.

Basic Training Bootcamp covers three key pillars:

Growing Your Practice – How do you build your book of business and sustain it? Dive into today's top tips and tricks, refine your executive presence, and hone your ability to work a room and cross-sell at your firm.

Taking Care of Clients – It's crucial to provide exceptional client experience at every corner of your relationships. In these sessions, we'll cover delegation, case studies, time management, and more. 

Growing People – talent acquisition, management, and retention are going through a period of profound change in the accounting industry. These sessions tackle contemporary issues such as difficult conversations, behavioral decision-making, self-care, and building a network that lasts.

Sessions at Bootcamp are a blend of lectures, discussions, case studies, and group exercises. Because attendance is limited to 15 participants, every session is interactive and allows participants to openly explore the challenges they face in their firms.

Additionally, days two and three of your program will include an optional physical bootcamp in the morning. We incorporate physical well-being with our program under the belief that in order to take care of others, it is crucial that you learn to take care of yourself. 

Partners have always learned through trial and error. There has never been a strong source of knowledge and training for newer partners to hone their skills and become exceptional leaders...

Until now.

Basic Training Bootcamp is that program. It’s our focus to equip leaders with both the mindset and skills they need to move themselves, their firms, and the entire profession forward. 

The accounting industry faces a unique set of challenges – those that a generic leadership development course simply can’t prepare accounting firm partners for. The accounting industry is unique and needs strong leaders to move their firms forward toward success. We hope you will embrace the challenge to become one of those leaders.

The investment is $4,500. This covers your courses, food, and apparel. 

The price does not cover your travel expenses or lodging. 

Maximizing client value through cross-selling is a crucial strategy for accounting firm partners looking to enhance service offerings and deepen client relationships. This course provides practical techniques and proven strategies to identify cross-selling opportunities, communicate value effectively, and integrate additional services seamlessly into client engagements. This course combines real-world examples with interactive discussions to equip partners with the skills necessary to expand their service portfolios and drive firm growth.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identifying Cross-Selling Opportunities: Participants will learn to recognize potential cross-selling opportunities within their client base, including analyzing client needs, leveraging existing relationships, and understanding the firm's service offerings.
2. Communicating Value to Clients: Attendees will discover effective methods for articulating the benefits of additional services to clients, including crafting compelling value propositions, using consultative selling techniques, and addressing client concerns and objections.
3. Implementing Cross-Selling Strategies: Participants will gain insights into best practices for integrating cross-selling into their regular client interactions, including coordinating with internal teams, tracking cross-selling efforts, and measuring the impact on client satisfaction and firm revenue.

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Communications and Marketing 
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

As CPAs, we’re well-equipped to understand the financial aspects of our practices. But our firms can’t be managed well through numbers alone. Numbers on the balance sheet are a function of the environment shaped by its leaders. Everything from the way you manage your time to the way you interact with your competitors can affect your organization from the top down. Gain practical techniques you can use every day to design your firm, not simply manage it as problems arise.

Session objectives are:

1. Leverage your human capital to play a part in the development of culture, business development, and lines of communication
2. Understand the importance of open relationships with competitors and how to leverage them
3. Grasp the importance of the physical environment and first impressions on clients of the firm, both within and without, and understand how to keep your finger on the pulse of your organization
4. Develop a clear protocol for delegation and accountability throughout the organization

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

We’ve all sat through presentations that were dry and unengaging. Our most important ideas are regularly conveyed in front of a group yet often presenters rely too heavily on PowerPoints and buzzwords. Our persuasive success requires we have the charisma and skill to narrate these ideas in a meaningful yet relatable way. In this session, we’ll review the tools and techniques necessary to hone a skill that remains essential to our success as thought leaders.

Our learning objectives in this session are to:

1. Be able to understand the correlation between confident presentation skills and strong leadership
2. Build confidence in using presentations as business and communication tools
3. Identify some of the psychology behind what makes a presentation effective
4. Recognize the benefits and detriments of oral and visual delivery
5. Establish a “jumping-off point” for participation in individual presentations for the second session of Managing Partner Bootcamp

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Communications and Marketing
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

In today's competitive business environment, the ability to network effectively is essential for building and maintaining professional relationships. "How to Work a Room" is designed to equip participants with the skills and strategies needed to confidently engage with others, create meaningful connections, and leave a lasting impression. Through practical tips, interactive exercises, and real-world scenarios, attendees will learn how to navigate social events, conferences, and networking opportunities with ease.

Learning Objectives:

1. Mastering the Art of Introduction: Participants will learn techniques for making strong first impressions, including effective body language, conversation starters, and the best ways to introduce themselves and others.
2. Building and Maintaining Relationships: Attendees will discover strategies for cultivating and sustaining professional relationships, including active listening, follow-up practices, and leveraging social media for networking.
3. Navigating Different Networking Scenarios: Participants will gain insights into handling various networking environments, from large conferences to intimate gatherings, and will develop the confidence to approach and engage with a diverse range of individuals.

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Communications and Marketing
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

Steering a firm to world-class stature requires a holistic approach – not just to the firm but to our everyday lives. Because running a firm is so mentally and physically challenging, and because there are so many demands on our time, we can only invest in our firms what we invest in ourselves. In this session, we’ll learn why it behooves you to take a wellness-minded approach to your living and fold that into your firm culture.

Our learning objectives in this breakout are to:

1. Gain a broader understanding of the term wellness and how it relates to your organization and employees
2. Introduce new ideas on how to create a corporate wellness climate
3. Gain an understanding of specific methods used to achieve wellness for yourself and your employees
4. Grasp personal and corporate benefits of wellness implementation

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Personal Development
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

Nobody likes to have difficult conversations, but as a firm leader, you’ll have your fair share of them. They’re inevitable. The ability to manage conflict is one of the most necessary qualities in a leader. This session will provide you with the tools necessary to resolve a myriad of situations and to navigate successful outcomes in difficult conversations.

Our learning objectives in this breakout are to:

1. Be able to describe communication strategies based on a given situation’s intended outcome
2. Distinguish the types of conversations you need to be involved in
3. Have a list of new strategies/tools to successfully negotiate difficult conversations

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Personal Development
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

Companies have brands. Products have brands. Even services have brands. But did you know that you have a brand? With it, you can effectively achieve success in building strong relationships, cultivating loyal talent, and growing the firm. Still, you can’t realize your full potential and impact as a leader without possessing executive presence. In this session, we get personal with a deep dive into your brand and presence. Bring your laptops for this hands-on workshop.

Our learning objectives include:

1. Understand what a brand is and how it works
2. Creating, developing, and managing your brand
3. Developing internal and external factors for executive presence
4. How your brand and executive presence work together
5. Creating your leadership legacy

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Personal Development
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

Being an effective leader now means something very different than it did just 2 years ago. There are so many variables that a managing partner must manage in order to be the firm of choice both as a service provider and as an employer. We will explore what your biggest priorities should be as you navigate growth, the talent wars, brand relevance, the economy, and much more.

Learning objectives include:

1. What your people really need from you
2. How adaptability in leadership allows you and your people to thrive
3. Why spreading power, but also accountability is a managing partner imperative
4. How clients can clue you in on the way forward

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Personal Development 
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Level: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

This course equips new partners in accounting firms with essential communication skills to enhance leadership presence and client relationships. Through interactive sessions, participants will learn to communicate clearly, navigate difficult conversations, and actively listen.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop clear, impactful communication strategies.
• Handle challenging conversations with confidence.
• Improve active listening skills to better understand team and client needs.

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

In today's fast-paced and competitive accounting landscape, managing partners and firm leaders face an overwhelming array of responsibilities. This course is a strategic session designed to help firm leaders cut through the noise and focus on what matters most for their firm’s growth and sustainability. Through practical tools and real-world examples, participants will learn how to effectively prioritize their efforts to drive better results and stronger leadership.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the most critical areas of focus for firm growth and stability in the current market.
2. Develop a clear, actionable plan to prioritize key initiatives while managing competing demands.
3. Enhance leadership decision-making by aligning firm priorities with long-term strategic goals.

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live

Transitioning into a partnership role comes with new responsibilities and challenges. This session is designed to help new partners focus their time and efforts on areas that will have the greatest impact on their firm’s success. Participants will gain insights into balancing client work, business development, and leadership duties, ensuring they allocate their time effectively to drive personal and organizational growth.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify key areas where new partners should focus their time to maximize firm contributions.
2. Learn how to balance client responsibilities with business development and internal leadership roles.
3. Develop a time management strategy that aligns with personal strengths and the firm's long-term goals.

Credit Hours: 1.0
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: None
Who Should Attend: Accounting Leaders
Program Level: Intermediate
Advanced Preparation: None
Delivery Method: Group Live