Agenda

Nov
14
10:45 AM — 11:45 AM
Harnessing Culture to Attract and Retain Top Talent

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, attracting and retaining top talent has become a pivotal challenge for organizations across industries, including the accounting profession. Beyond traditional compensation and benefits, company culture has emerged as a key factor in influencing the decisions of prospective employees and the commitment of existing team members. This session, led by QuickFee’s North America President Jennifer Warawa, will delve into the strategic integration of culture as a powerful tool for talent acquisition and retention. Attendees will leave this session equipped with actionable insights and a roadmap for leveraging their organization's culture to not only attract and retain top talent but also to foster a thriving workplace where employees are motivated, engaged, and committed to achieving shared goals.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to strategically integrate culture as a powerful tool to attract and retain top talent in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

  • Discover actionable insights and a roadmap for leveraging your organization's culture to create a motivating, engaging, and committed workplace that attracts and retains high-caliber employees.

  • Gain insights from QuickFee's North America President, Jennifer Warawa, on using culture as a key factor in talent acquisition and retention, beyond traditional compensation and benefits.

Participants will earn 1.0 CPE credits
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources 
Prerequisites: none
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653. 

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Jennifer Warawa
President, QuickFee
Jennifer Warawa
President, QuickFee
Experienced technology executive with demonstrated experience and success in Partner Management and Programs, Channel Sales, Product Marketing, Business Transformation, Strategic Alliances, Sales, Go-to-Market, Executive Leadership and Management. With a strong accounting and consulting background, I effectively lead the development of overall business strategy and driving it through to execution, delivering strong commercial results and successful outcomes. In addition, I am a frequent top-rated keynote speaker at industry events and business conferences around the globe.
11:45 AM — 01:00 PM
BREAK
01:00 PM — 02:15 PM
Welcome and State of the Industry

Join us for our Welcome and State of the Industry presentation, where we'll explore the dynamic shifts in culture within the accounting profession. Discover how these changes are shaping the future of accounting firms and gain valuable insights to thrive in this evolving landscape.

Learning Objectives:

  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of the key cultural shifts currently impacting the accounting industry.

  • Explore the implications of these cultural changes on the future of accounting firms.

  • Acquire actionable insights to adapt and thrive in the evolving landscape of the accounting profession.

 

Participants will earn 1.5 CPE credits
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: none
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653. 

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Allan Koltin
CEO, Koltin Consulting
Allan Koltin
CEO, Koltin Consulting

Allan Koltin is a seasoned business advisor and consultant with over 30 years of experience in the accounting and consulting industries. As CEO of the Koltin Consulting Group, he leads a team of professionals who provide strategic guidance and support to accounting firms and their leaders.

Throughout his career, Allan has worked with hundreds of accounting firms, ranging from small local firms to large international organizations. He has helped these firms navigate complex business challenges, develop growth strategies, and improve operational efficiency.

An esteemed thought leader in the industry, Allan is a frequent speaker at industry events and has authored numerous articles and publications on topics related to accounting firm management and leadership. He is passionate about helping firms grow and succeed, and his insights and expertise have proven invaluable to countless clients throughout his career.

Prior to founding the Koltin Consulting Group, Allan was the CEO of PDI Global, a leading provider of consulting and training services to accounting firms. He also spent several years as a Partner with Deloitte, providing strategic consulting services to clients in a variety of industries.

Allan holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the University of Illinois and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society.

With his extensive knowledge and experience, Allan has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor and mentor to accounting firm leaders across the country. He works closely with his clients to understand their unique challenges and goals, and develops customized solutions that drive growth and success.

Gary Shamis
CEO, Winding River Consulting
Gary Shamis
CEO, Winding River Consulting

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.

David Toth
CGO, Winding River Consulting
David Toth
CGO, Winding River Consulting

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.

03:30 PM — 04:00 PM
BREAK
04:00 PM — 05:30 PM
Managing Partner Panel

A Look at Culture from the Top Down

In today's interconnected world, culture shapes societies, defines identities, and influences decision-making at every level in the accounting profession. Join us for an engaging panel discussion where today's industry leaders will delve into the multifaceted dimensions of culture and its impact on diverse aspects of our profession and personal lives.

Learning Objectives:

  • Gain insights into how culture influences decision-making and societal aspects within the accounting profession from the perspectives of industry-leading managing partners.

  • Explore the multifaceted dimensions of culture and its impact on both professional and personal aspects of the accounting profession.

  • Learn from top industry leaders about the strategies and approaches they employ to effectively manage and shape culture within their firms from a top-down perspective.

 

Participants will earn 1.8 CPE credits
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization
Prerequisites: none.
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653. 

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Josh Beck
Managing Partner, MarksNelson Advisory
Josh Beck
Managing Partner, MarksNelson Advisory

Prior to assuming the role of Managing Partner in 2020, Josh Beck served as a Partner in MarksNelson’s advisory services area, member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and leader of the Real Estate industry niche. He joined MarksNelson as leader of the Location Strategies practice after merging-in the St. Louis-based corporate site selection and economic development consulting firm he founded.

In addition to his responsibilities as Managing Partner, Josh regularly provides site selection, credits and incentives, and economic development counsel to companies and communities of all sizes. His experience, holding key positions for economic development organizations at both the state and local level, along with private-sector sales and marketing, provides Josh with the unique experience to help his clients shape and implement plans for growth.

Jessica Freiburg
Managing Partner, Sassetti, LLC
Jessica Freiburg
Managing Partner, Sassetti, LLC
Jessica is the Managing Partner at Sassetti LLC, and brings nearly 20 years of experience to the firm. She provides tax, audit, advisory, and accounting services to a diversified client base including publicly-traded and privately-held businesses, non-profit organizations, employee benefit plans sponsored by those entities, and family offices. In each client relationship, Jessica takes the time to understand every client’s goal and designs uniquely tailored strategies to ensure their organization thrives. She is a former winner of the Chicago Sky #RedefinePossible Women’s Leadership Award and the 2017 Influential Women in Business Award from The Daily Herald.
Tom Barry
Managing Partner, GHJ
Tom Barry
Managing Partner, GHJ

Tom Barry, CPA, believes in building a successful life one day at a time. He does that by leveraging technology to create a flexible schedule that allows him to be a father and husband in addition to fully committing to his career at GHJ, where he has worked since 1997. Tom’s role as GHJ’s Managing Partner is a combination of entrepreneur, partner, consultant, coach and business advisor.

Additionally, with more than 25 years of public accounting experience, Tom provides audit and accounting, tax and general business advisory services to clients in a variety of industries including waste and recycling.

Tom is the current chairman of HLB North America and sits on the Executive Committee of HLB International. Tom is an active member of YPO - Santa Monica Bay and is currently Treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee. He is also Chairman of the Accounting Advisory Board for Loyola Marymount University. Tom serves as Treasurer for GHJ Foundation, GHJ’s vehicle for purposeful and proactive giving to the community.

When Tom is not working, you will find him spending time with his wife and four children. He is an avid fisherman and sports fan. He has launched the Firm’s concept of #BeMore, which encourages members of the firm to live their best lives, professionally and personally.

Due to his leadership both at GHJ and the community at large, Tom was recognized in 2018-2022 as one of “LA’s 500 Most Influential People in Business,” in 2017-2019 as one of the “Top 40 in Their 40s” and in 2021-2022 for "Thriving in Their 40s" by the Los Angeles Business Journal.

Tom is a graduate of Villanova University where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting. He has received a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of CPAs.

Nov
15
08:00 AM — 09:00 AM
How to Maintain Culture During a Merger
Mergers can be one of the biggest blows to your firm culture. How do you maintain your culture through the trying process of a merger? Additionally, what should you look for in the culture of the firm you intend to buy? We plan to tackle these questions and more.

Learning Objectives:

  • Discover practical methods to safeguard and preserve your firm's culture amidst the complexities of a merger.

  • Gain insights into the critical aspects of assessing and aligning the culture of a potential acquisition with your firm's values and goals.

  • Acquire a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and solutions associated with maintaining a strong organizational culture during the merger process.

 

Participants will earn 1.0 CPE credits
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
Prerequisites: none.
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653.

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Richard Kopelman
Managing Partner, Aprio
Richard Kopelman
Managing Partner, Aprio

For almost three decades, I've helped to grow and manage Aprio, a CPA-led advisory firm. Find out more about our work by contacting me directly on here or https://www.aprio.com/people/richard-kopelman/

As well as leading the organization, I help us to innovate service delivery and improve the use of technology in the profession. I am always looking for the next cool opportunity that will move our partners and clients up a level. As a business, we call it being Passionate for What's Next®.

I'm honored to have been awarded most influential and most admired CEO in Atlanta, and Aprio has been awarded best place to work in Atlanta for the last three years.

09:00 AM — 10:30 AM
CHRO Panel

A conversation tailored toward firm leaders focused on people, culture and influencing the firms ability to grow.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explore strategies and insights from CHROs that can empower firm leaders to effectively nurture and shape organizational culture, ultimately enhancing the firm's growth potential.

  • Gain a deep understanding of the pivotal role played by HR leaders in shaping the culture and driving growth within professional firms.

  • Discover best practices for aligning people-focused strategies with the broader goals of the organization, as shared by experienced CHROs.

 

Participants will earn 1.8 CPE credits
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
Prerequisites: none.
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653.

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Arianna Ehmer
COO, CBIZ
Arianna Ehmer
COO, CBIZ
Experienced strategy and operations professional with extensive C-suite advisory experience. Trusted partner that consistently delivers clearly communicated results addressing complex business and organizational challenges. Proven ability to drive projects from concept to implementation that provide impact and growth across the organization. Collaborative leader with a deep foundation of analytical problem solving expertise developed across strategy, operation, and finance roles across the professional services, finance, and entertainment industries.
Trisha Daho
Culture & DEI Consultant, Winding River Consulting
Trisha Daho
Culture & DEI Consultant, Winding River Consulting

Trisha spent most of her career leading large, diverse teams toward the delivery of value for her clients at a Big 4 Accounting and Advisory firm, wherein she served as a partner. She has been pivotal in the discovery and sustainability of value in the billions of dollars for her clients. She has worked with executives and their teams in dozens of Fortune 500 companies in the majority of states. She has also created enormous value for entrepreneurs, high-growth companies, and aspiring start-ups.

Having made partner in a Big 4 accounting firm in 9 years, Trisha was charged with building thriving practices from scratch in 4 different regions of the country. Through laser-focused strategies and the ability to scale talent and service delivery quickly, she was able to create growth businesses that have expanded exponentially. The leaders she’s cultivated have gone on to be partners, CFOs, CEOs, and much more.

With her own company, Empowered Leadership Cultivation, Trisha partners with C-suites and managing partners to think, plan, and execute strategically for the purpose of accelerated and sustainable growth, primarily in professional service firms. She also partners with larger firms to create success for women and diverse people who are entering leadership positions through a diversity and inclusion peer advisory experience focused on strategy, high-performing teams, and advocacy in leadership.

With a law degree from Case Western Reserve University and a business degree from Miami University, Trisha brings practical results-driven insights as well as leadership acumen. She regularly writes and speaks on a variety of topics, including authenticity in leadership, high-impact teams, creating growth cultures, diversity and inclusion, and many more.

Trisha is married to a Frenchman named Bachir, whom she met while on vacation in Paris. They plan to travel the world together as soon as he is permanently stateside. In her spare time, Trisha fosters Labrador Retrievers, travels to faraway places, and watches lots of foreign films.

Christina Ricke, CPA, CGMA
Principal and People Leader, Pinion LLC
Christina Ricke, CPA, CGMA
Principal and People Leader, Pinion LLC

As Pinion’s people strategy leader, Christina Ricke creates a legacy of talent. She champions change in the areas of recruiting, retention, human resources, employee engagement, internal communications, learning and talent development, and human resources consulting.

Christina discovers people’s distinct abilities–what a person is best at and loves to do–leveraging one-of-a-kind systems the firm has built and employing tools and resources such as KOLBE and DISC. Then, she helps each person harness his or her passion to boost their career and the firm’s results.

In Pinion’s brick and mortar and virtual offices from coast to coast, Christina fosters a firm culture of entrepreneurship, continual improvement, and creative destruction that breeds out-of-the-box ideas, innovation, and forward progress.

Originally from an ag community in rural southwestern Kansas, she grew up family farming and custom harvesting. To this day, she lives with farmer’s values and loves her continuing involvement with the food and ag industry.

Christina joined Pinion 27 years ago, and eventually led the firm’s community banking practice. At that time, she performed tax work, strategic planning, and business development, building the firm’s bank-industry presence in the Kansas, Oklahoma and Colorado markets. But devoted to people issues throughout her career, she became driven to transition to her current role, where she now creates career opportunities for the firm’s team members. As a member of the firm’s executive leadership team, she focuses on understanding and cultivating the distinct abilities that enable each unique team member to flourish. Additionally, she continually builds and supports an environment that makes it enjoyable for people to stay and grow as satisfied professionals who continually expand their talents.

David Wurtzbacher
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ascend
David Wurtzbacher
Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ascend

David Wurtzbacher is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Ascend, a platform that empowers entrepreneurial CPAs to reach their goals with an innovative growth model that brings their firms into the new age. Ascend is backed by Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm that previously backed David as President and CFO of Lightwave Dental which he helped grow from scratch to $300 million in revenue over five years. He spent the early years of his career at J.P. Morgan in New York, identifying, researching, and executing investments for its Asset & Wealth Management division. David earned an MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School and a BS in Finance, magna cum laude, from Wake Forest University. David is proud to be from Colorado but he lives in northern Virginia with his wife and two young kids.

10:30 AM — 11:30 AM
Navigating the New Normal: Building Resilient Organizational Culture in the Post-Pandemic Era

One of the unforeseen and unexpected outcomes of the COVID pandemic is the impact on the culture and work practices of many organizations, large and small, public, private, nonprofit, and institutions.  Throughout the US and the rest of the world, employers and employees are adjusting to this new reality, trying to come to grips with the changes and challenges of remote work locations, schedules, and team processes in workplace culture.  

These changes have impacted service-based organizations quite distinctly.  To further complicate matters, issues of workplace demographics, competition for talent, and anticipation of AI's role going forward in the workplace have left many wondering what the future of work and culture looks like.

During this presentation, we will look at aspects of culture building that remain important despite the upheaval we are experiencing, including:

  • How to address and manage the workplace power dynamic shift
  • When and how to create organizational alignment, utilizing values and vision
  • Opportunities to drive employee retention and engagement, becoming a preferred employer

There will be opportunities for discussion and sharing of thoughts and information.

Learning Objectives:

  • Learn strategies for effectively addressing and managing the evolving workplace power dynamic shift in the post-pandemic era.

  • Understand when and how to create organizational alignment by leveraging values and vision to build a resilient culture in a changing work landscape.

  • Explore opportunities to enhance employee retention and engagement, positioning your organization as a preferred employer in the evolving world of work.

 

Participants will earn 1.5 CPE credits
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources
Prerequisites: none.
Who Should Attend: Managing Partners, Accounting Leaders
Advanced Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group Live
Refunds and Cancellations: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by November 1, 2023, and will be subject to a cancellation fee. No refunds will be granted after November 1, 2023. For more information regarding refund, complaint, and/or program cancellation policies please contact our offices at 440-723-3653.

Winding River Consulting is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org. 

Tom Hopkins
Senior Vice President of HR, Sherwin-Williams
Tom Hopkins
Senior Vice President of HR, Sherwin-Williams

Thomas E. Hopkins was Corporate Officer and Senior Vice President, Human Resources for The Sherwin-Williams Company. He held that position from 1997 to his retirement at the end of 201

In that role, Tom was primarily responsible for the development, implementation, and transformation of the enterprise-wide Human Resources Strategy to drive superior performance of Sherwin-Williams’ business objectives. Tom’s scope of responsibility included: Global Talent Management, Compensation, Benefits, Employee Engagement and Culture Building, EH&S, Diversity, and Community Engagement.

Prior to assuming the senior HR Leadership role in 1997, Tom held various HR and Training positions of increasing responsibility within the Paint Stores Group, including VP-Human Resources from 1990-1997. Tom joined The Sherwin-Williams Company in 1981 as an intern in the Training Department for the Paint Stores Group. Early in his career he created and implemented a Management Trainee Program. The innovative program became institutionalized and has long been the talent development engine for the company, resulting in deep leadership bench strength and high levels of employee retention. Later, he supported the development and roll out of SW’s Culture of Excellence, that has become the cornerstone of continuous improvement for Sherwin Williams with a particular emphasis on supply chain and innovation.

Tom has been actively involved with several Northeast Ohio based organizations and agencies. He has a strong interest in talent and workforce development supporting the economic growth and vitality of the region. He is the former Chair of the Cleveland Leadership Center and Vocational Guidance Services and was on the Cleveland Commission on Economic Inclusion. Tom became a Trustee for Cleveland State University’s Foundation in 2014 and became Chair of the Foundation in 2019, while also serving on the CSU Board of Trustees. Finally, Tom is a Vice Chair for JumpStart.

Originally from Wooster, Ohio, Tom graduated from Malone College in 1978 (magna cum laude), earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Religion. He holds a Master’s Degree from Cleveland State University (1982) where he studied Organizational Psychology. In 2012, Tom was recognized with the Archer Lifetime Achievement Award in Human Resources, and was also named as one of Cleveland State University’s Distinguished Alumni. In 2018, Tom was recognized as the George B. Davis Award for service to the University. Tom and his wife Marsha have three adult children, seven grandchildren and reside in the Chagrin Falls area. His hobbies include golf, biking, fishing, music and reading.