David Toth built his marketing expertise around a strong digital comprehension. Understanding the importance of data, he reasoned, should guide each step of the process, using informed decision making to adapt when and where necessary. Armed with the evidence, David challenges the status quo to drive results.
He is a strategic-thinker and believes the path to successful outcomes includes integrating technology with tried-and-true practices. As David sees it, when it comes to digital transformation there will always be new dots to connect. The challenge is having the discipline to make the connections that close the gap between marketing dollars and sales revenue.
David has served as an outsourced CMO, agency executive, and change agent for organizations in sectors from fast-growing start-ups to well established Fortune 500 companies. He has a knack for building meaningful relationships. David has found that while each business and industry is unique, the foundation to success is always the same — know your audience.
Invites leaders into a dynamic, high-energy experience that shows what it takes to stay relentless, relevant, and steady while the world keeps shifting. Through vivid stories, sharp insights, and memorable moments of audience engagement, this keynote equips participants with the elements required to lead with confidence in an age of nonstop disruption.
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Scott is an award-winning leadership development expert, educator, and speaker who blends academic rigor with real-world insight. A trusted advisor, author, and podcast host, he helps leaders and firms drive growth, culture change, and strategic clarity.
Scott is a leadership development expert, educator, and keynote speaker who brings deep insight and practical wisdom to every engagement. With a Ph.D. in leadership and more than 18 years as a professor of management, Scott blends academic rigor with real-world application. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-moving world. A trusted advisor and facilitator, Scott partners with organizations to design and deliver experiences that drive lasting leadership growth, culture change, and strategic clarity. He has authored multiple books on leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication, and his podcast Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders is followed by thousands of global listeners each week. Scott supports the WRC’s mission to build better firms by creating better leaders.
Scott is an award-winning leadership development expert, educator, and speaker who blends academic rigor with real-world insight. A trusted advisor, author, and podcast host, he helps leaders and firms drive growth, culture change, and strategic clarity.
Scott is a leadership development expert, educator, and keynote speaker who brings deep insight and practical wisdom to every engagement. With a Ph.D. in leadership and more than 18 years as a professor of management, Scott blends academic rigor with real-world application. His work focuses on helping leaders and teams thrive in an increasingly complex and fast-moving world. A trusted advisor and facilitator, Scott partners with organizations to design and deliver experiences that drive lasting leadership growth, culture change, and strategic clarity. He has authored multiple books on leadership, emotional intelligence, and communication, and his podcast Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders is followed by thousands of global listeners each week. Scott supports the WRC’s mission to build better firms by creating better leaders.
Brian is a visionary strategist who believes that sustainable firm growth begins with people and an outward mindset. At Winding River, Brian works with private equity firms, individual businesses, and accounting leaders to craft intentional growth strategies, integrate acquisitions, and align leadership teams around shared outcomes.
From launching new markets to transforming go-to-market teams, he brings both a strategic and operational lens to leadership. Brian’s belief in people-first culture and transparent metrics reflects WRC’s core values of clarity, collaboration, and impact. His approach is data-informed, people-driven, and built to last. A natural collaborator and industry thought leader, Brian brings decades of experience driving transformational change across professional services.
As former Chief Growth Officer at Wipfli LLP, he led the firm’s growth from $227M to more than $590M, building a nationally recognized go-to-market model rooted in industry specialization, innovation, and client value.
David Toth built his marketing expertise around a strong digital comprehension. Understanding the importance of data, he reasoned, should guide each step of the process, using informed decision making to adapt when and where necessary. Armed with the evidence, David challenges the status quo to drive results.
He is a strategic-thinker and believes the path to successful outcomes includes integrating technology with tried-and-true practices. As David sees it, when it comes to digital transformation there will always be new dots to connect. The challenge is having the discipline to make the connections that close the gap between marketing dollars and sales revenue.
David has served as an outsourced CMO, agency executive, and change agent for organizations in sectors from fast-growing start-ups to well established Fortune 500 companies. He has a knack for building meaningful relationships. David has found that while each business and industry is unique, the foundation to success is always the same — know your audience.
Gary Shamis is a highly experienced and accomplished business advisor, entrepreneur, and Certified Public Accountant with over 40 years of experience in the accounting and consulting industries. As the Managing Director of Winding River Consulting, Gary provides strategic guidance and support to accounting firms, helping them navigate the complex challenges of the modern business landscape.
Throughout his career, Gary has worked with hundreds of accounting firms across the United States, ranging from small local practices to large international organizations. He has a deep understanding of the challenges facing the industry, and has helped countless firms overcome those challenges and achieve long-term success.
Gary is a recognized thought leader in the industry and a frequent speaker at industry events. He has authored numerous articles and publications on topics related to accounting firm management, leadership, and growth. He is passionate about helping accounting firms achieve their full potential and has dedicated his career to this mission.
Prior to founding Winding River Consulting, Gary was a co-founder of SS&G, a top 50 accounting and consulting firm, where he served as Managing Partner for over 30 years. Under his leadership, the firm grew from a small local practice to a regional powerhouse with multiple offices and a diverse portfolio of clients.
Gary is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Ohio Society of Certified Public Accountants. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Akron.
With his extensive knowledge, experience, and passion for the industry, Gary has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor to accounting firm leaders across the country. He works closely with his clients to develop customized strategies that drive growth and profitability, and he is committed to helping accounting firms thrive in the face of the challenges and opportunities of the modern business world.