Agenda
With more than 20 years of research experience in client and employee satisfaction for professional service firms, Eric and his team have analyzed more than 7 million surveys with the goal of determining what drives client and employee engagement for the world’s top accounting, AEC, legal, recruiting and insurance firms. ClearlyRated’s popular Best of Accounting® program turns actionable client and employee satisfaction surveys into credible online ratings and testimonials for many top accounting firms in North America, recognizing the top firms on ClearlyRated.com.
Eric has served as an adjunct faculty member in Portland State University’s marketing program, and has published numerous articles, business cases, and technical notes in the field of marketing, client loyalty and employee satisfaction. Since its founding, ClearlyRated has been recognized on the Inc 5000 list of fastest growing companies in the United States, while earning recognition as a top workplace in Oregon by Oregon Business Magazine.
Eric received his MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business in 2003, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, with a Statistics minor in Spring of 1998 from Montana State University. He is a past President of the American Marketing Association’s Oregon Chapter. In his free time, Eric’s passions turn to his family and two rambunctious children, and the outdoors, where he enjoys hiking, camping and cycling.
Information technology and generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) are transforming the accounting profession faster than ever. Ensuring your firm has an optimized tech stack that scales is a top priority whether your practice remains independent or you are planning for private equity-driven growth.
In this fast-paced session, Roman Kepczyk CPA.CITP breaks down the must-have technologies and strategies firms need to stay competitive in 2026 and beyond. Backed by insights from the latest CPAFMA IT and application surveys, you’ll explore essential components of the modern tech stack, smarter collaboration tools, critical cybersecurity priorities, and the mindset needed to adapt to a world of accelerating disruption.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Identify core technologies driving firm productivity and what to invest into to future-proof your operations.
Explore the latest tools for secure and user-friendly collaboration with clients and staff, including how GenAI and Agentic AI are transforming client interaction.
Understand why fostering a “learning organization” mindset is critical and how it can help your firm adapt to rapid change.
Reframe cybersecurity as a foundational business priority, not just an IT issue, in the age of intelligent automation and data risk
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With experience that spans investment management, advisory, and capital markets, Michael Bannon has a deep understanding of the financial and practical needs of private businesses. From high growth founder-run companies to multinational enterprises, Michael has partnered with key stakeholders to craft unique transaction structures, utilized across dynamic macroeconomic environments.
Since joining CSG in 2017, he has advised middle market clients on shareholder liquidity options, including ESOP M&A transactions and recapitalizations. Michael has structured transactions, secured financing, and led extensive due diligence and valuation exercises for closely-held healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial firms, among others.
Michael previously worked with an independent, private equity fund of funds, deploying and managing $2.3 billion across private companies. As part of a Shanghai and Munich-based investment team, he managed growth capital and leveraged buyout-oriented investments across Europe and Asia.
A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Mike anchors CSG's ESOP investment banking efforts throughout the Midwest.
Welcome to the Winning Ways Conference!
Koltin Consulting Group, Inc. is a Chicago-based consulting firm that specializes in working with professional and financial services firms in the areas of practice growth, practice management, human capital, and mergers and acquisitions.
Highly sought for his ability to engage and inspire audiences, Allan enjoys delivering keynote addresses at conferences throughout the professional services industry. His passion is facilitating strategic planning retreats for firm leadership and partners. His specialties include strategy, governance, profitability, compensation, growth, human capital, succession, and mergers and acquisitions.
For the last twenty-four years, Allan has been named by Accounting Today as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the accounting profession. In 2023, he was listed as the “Second Most Influential” in the profession. For the past twenty-three years, Allan was voted as one of the Most Recommended Consultants in the “Annual Survey of Firms” conducted by INSIDE Public Accounting. For the past decade, Allan has been named by CPA Practice Advisor as one of the Top 25 Thought Leaders in the profession and, in 2016, they also inducted Allan into the Accounting Hall of Fame. Allan was one of the first to be inducted into the Accounting Marketing Hall of Fame by the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM). He has also been a recipient of the National Association of Certified Valuation Analyst’s Instructor of the Year Award and winner of the Journal of Accountancy Literacy Award. Previously, he was recognized by the Illinois CPA Society with the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service and commitment to the profession.
A nationally recognized speaker and industry analyst, he has appeared on CNN, WGN and FOX TV and has been quoted frequently in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, USA Today and New York Post, as well as Bloomberg News, BBC World Service, Business Week, Forbes and Reuters. He has also spoken nationally and internationally at hundreds of conferences, including those held by the AICPA, international CPA associations and state CPA societies.
Previously, Allan was the CEO of PDI Global, which was the largest provider of marketing products and services for CPA firms. Allan sold PDI Global to H&R Block in 1998, buying it back in 2008, and then selling it to Thomson Reuters in 2011. Prior to that, Allan was a partner in the Chicago-based CPA firm of FERS, where he served as leader of the Investment Banking and Law Firm Services Groups. At age 27, Allan had the distinction of being named the youngest partner in the history of the firm and was also a member of the Fim’s Executive Committee. FERS was acquired by H&R Block in 1998.
He is a founding member of The Advisory Board, a think tank for the accounting profession. For 20 years, The Advisory Board hosted the Winning Is Everything Conference. Allan has served on various advisory boards, including SS&G, Outsource Partners International (OPI), the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM), The National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts (NACVA), and H&R Block (HRB Business Services).
Koltin is the author-editor of three books for professional services firms: CPA Firm Merger Strategies That Work, CPAs That Sell and the AICPA’s Marketing a Consulting Niche. He serves or has served on the editorial advisory boards of CPA Practice Advisor, the Journal of Accountancy, Accounting Today, Inside Public Accounting and Law Firm Management.
Allan attended both the University of Wisconsin – Madison and – Milwaukee and received degrees in accounting and marketing. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Sharon, his three children, Jack, Brian and Julia, and his two dogs, Bucky and Cody. His hobbies include travel, chess and all sports.
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.
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As private equity reshapes the accounting profession, firms are being bought, rolled up, and repositioned with unprecedented speed. While some see opportunity, others feel pressure: to keep up, to sell, or to redefine themselves before someone else does. That’s where FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and FOBO (Fear of a Better Option) emerge as powerful, yet often unrecognized, psychological forces influencing high-stakes decisions across the industry.
In this timely keynote, Patrick J. McGinnis, the originator of the term FOMO, draws on his experience in private equity and his expertise in decision-making to offer practical insights for firm leaders and professionals seeking to navigate this moment with clarity and independence.
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Dubbed a "pop entrepreneur" by New York magazine, Patrick J. McGinnis is a venture capitalist, bestselling author, and creator of the hit podcast FOMO Sapiens whose works centers on the intersection of decision-making, influence, and entrepreneurship.
He coined the term FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and its lesser-known twin, FOBO (Fear of a Better Option), in a 2004 article at Harvard Business School. FOMO has since been added to the dictionary, and FOBO was the subject of Patrick's popular TED Talk "How to Make Faster Decisions." The New York Times, Le Monde, FT, and El País have covered his work on FOMO, FOBO, and decision-making.
The author of The 10% Entrepreneur: Live Your Startup Dream Without Quitting Your Day Job and Fear of Missing Out: Practical Decision-Making in a World of Overwhelming Choice, Patrick is the brand ambassador for Latin American tech titan MercadoLibre's award-winning "Fear of Missing Audience" campaign.
Additionally, Patrick appears in the cautionary crypto documentary This is Not Financial Advice, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. With a passion for harnessing the power of words to elevate humanity, Patrick he serves on the boards of Bridge USA, a campus-based youth movement fighting political division through dialogue, the Leadership Now Project, and the Planet World Museum in Washington, DC.
A graduate of Georgetown University and Harvard Business School, Patrick has visited more than 115 countries and is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
In an era of consolidation and private equity rollups, some firms are doubling down on independence—and thriving. In this dynamic panel, you’ll hear directly from firm leaders who’ve resisted the pressures to sell, merge, or conform. Instead, they’ve chosen to bet on their people, their culture, and their long-term vision.
Panelists will share candid insights into what it really takes to stay independent—from navigating partner expectations and financial realities to building internal systems that fuel growth without giving up control. We’ll dig into how their paths unfolded, the hard decisions they faced, and what they’re doing today to stay competitive, relevant, and profitable. Learn from their experience: what they'd replicate, what they'd rethink, and what warning signs they failed to catch. Whether you're exploring your options or firmly committed to independence, this session will challenge your thinking, offer real-world strategies, and deliver lessons you can apply right now.
With 40 years of experience in the accounting industry, Suzanne specializes in accounting, tax and business consulting services. In addition to her client work, Suzanne is the managing partner for the firm, which provides her with a business owner’s understanding of day-to-day responsibilities that she leverages for her clients. Suzanne advises in areas such business acquisitions, mergers or dispositions, profit enhancement, cash flow analysis, cash management, business forecasts and projections, financing and investor options, and accounting systems design and controls. She is also a member of our Real Estate Services Team, which focuses on developers, assets managers, lessors and real estate operations.
Suzanne’s passion lies in nurturing economic development and using her creative side to help businesses grow. Her consulting work has included fostering employment opportunities, retaining professionals in the community and finding supportive resources for companies. In one instance, she helped a client find and obtain over $100,000 in economic incentives.
Suzanne’s work with the community is also borne out of this passion. She serves on the Board of the DeLand Area Chamber of Commerce, is a former Chair of the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce and is currently on that organization’s economic development committee. She is also active with the Daytona Beach Community Foundation and previously served on the Daytona Beach Checkered Flag Committee. Throughout her career she has also authored articles on accounting and income tax issues and has conducted numerous courses on these topics.
Her accomplishments have led to several recognitions over the years. Florida Trend has twice named her one of the top 500 influential business leaders in the state (in 2021 and 2023), and the Daytona Beach News Journal named her its Private Sector Woman of the Year in 2020.
As Managing Shareholder, Anita oversees the firm’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Her leadership is focused on integrating all facets of the firm to be focused as one firm, instilling the firm’s mission vision, and values across all offices. Her dedication to driving Brady Ware into its next chapter underscores her commitment to both the firm’s success and the long-term vision that defines Brady Ware’s unique position in the industry and to its clients.
Additionally, Anita brings over 15 years of comprehensive tax experience to the firm helping clients with international, federal, state, and local tax issues. Her expertise extends to quality control across all aspects of the firm’s tax services, ensuring the highest standards in client service and strategic tax planning. With a focus on domestic and international companies, Anita collaborates with businesses spanning various industries, including real estate, technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy.
Attributes & Approach
- Client-Centric Tax Consulting: Anita’s approach centers around providing quarterback-style service to clients. She ensures timely responses, serving as a trusted advisor who navigates complex tax scenarios and other tax-related issues.
- Research: Researching intricate tax matters to help clients find the best possible outcome, she remains dedicated to delivering answers.
- Communication Excellence: Anita’s ability to distill complex tax concepts into understandable language helps facilitate a clear understanding for the path forward.
Anita’s professional background includes a significant tenure at CohnReznick, where she honed her technical tax research skills over a decade, eventually becoming a senior manager. Her commitment to excellence and strategic mindset led her to Brady Ware, where she has been instrumental in driving the international tax practice, renewable energy, and, as managing director, helping the firm position for growth and success.
At Winding River Consulting, we believe that in order to take care of others, you need to be able to take care of yourself. Join Matt Terlop for a physical workout before breakfast and let's get energized!
A former law enforcement officer and martial arts champion, Matt now coaches C-Suite executives to peak performance through physical fitness, mental agility, and emotional balance. Matt is our regular trainer as part of MPB | Leadership Accelerated and we're excited to share one of his routines with Winning Ways Attendees. We'll see you there!
Please be sure to wear athletic attire to this workout. You will have time to change before breakfast.
As a former law enforcement officer and border patrol agent, Matt Terlop knows the importance of discipline and the value of a healthy, active lifestyle. As a coach to many in the C-Suite, Matt helps executives attain physical fitness, mental agility, and emotional balance, combating daily stress to achieve peak performance in their personal and professional lives.
Through his “executive athlete” structured programs, clients gain increased energy, clarity of mind, sharpened focus, and an improved sense of well being.
As a local, state, national, and international martial arts champion, Matt is well versed in understanding an individual’s motivation and philosophy behind competition. He works with clients one-on-one to optimize their wellness, creating custom tools to manage stress and maintain a superior performance standard. His methods of training are modeled off those used in the armed forces and in law enforcement agencies worldwide ensuring results.
- BA, Communications, John Carroll University
- Former Member, U.S. Martial Arts Team
- United States Federal Law Enforcement Academy (FLETC)
- Certified, International Sports Science Association (ISSA)
Focusing on the future has always been important to Chris’ leadership style — whether that
means helping individuals at the firm grow in their roles or identifying market opportunities
to better serve clients. He places great value on learning from others and remaining humble and
flexible in his approach to guiding the strategic direction of a diverse group of professionals.
Chris began his career with Cohen & Company in 1999 and initially focused on providing audit and
tax services to privately held business. In 2004, he helped establish the firm’s investment industry
practice and played an important role in its growth, including the expansion into the Milwaukee, Chicago, New York City and Baltimore markets. Chris also served as a lead audit partner for many of the
firm’s largest mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, private equity fund and alternative investment
fund clients up until his appointment as CEO in 2022.
As CEO, Chris is always looking at the bigger picture, evaluating new ways to position the firm for
long-term success. He is responsible for strategic direction, growth and development of the firm
against three key areas: being the employer of choice, driving operational efficiency in client engagements, and serving as a premium provider in priority markets and industries.
Chris lives in Avon Lake, Ohio, with his wife and three children, and is an avid golfer and Cleveland
sports fan. Chris has visited more than half of the Major League Baseball stadiums with his two sons
with a goal of seeing them all before his youngest son turns 18.
accounting and auditing experience serving clients in a variety of industries and is a 25-veteran of LBMC.
Prior to taking on the CEO and Managing Shareholder role, Jim served as a shareholder in the firm’s
assurance practice and was the leader of the technology industry segment.
development. He also works with firm leadership in spearheading efforts to expand the firm's industry
specializations and enhancing its market presence through strategic partnerships. His leadership
emphasizes investing in global talent recruitment and developing a tech-forward environment that
integrates AI-powered tools and data analytics to optimize operational efficiency and client service. Jim's
responsibilities include continually developing a nurturing workplace that prioritizes employee
development and satisfaction, and ensuring that LBMC continues to set itself apart as a trusted advisor
in the accounting and business consulting industry, delivering transformative value and fostering long-
term client relationships.
LBMC’s affiliate company boards and other governance committees.
Active in the community, Jim is a member of community leadership organizations, serves on community-
focused not-for-profit boards, and is a champion of the LBMC Cares Foundation.
Jim also serves on advisory boards for organizations that promote entrepreneurship in the region and
support a healthy continuum of capital.
Education
University of Memphis, Degree with an area of concentration in accounting; summa cum laude graduate
Pritpal Kalsi, the Chief Executive Officer of SC&H, succeeded the firm’s co-founder Ron Causey as CEO on January 1, 2021. In this role, he is focused on building upon SC&H’s people mission by nurturing our existing colleagues and clients while looking for growth opportunities through expansion into new services and geographies.
Whether it’s a quick chat or dropping into a happy hour, his efforts to be present are appreciated by everyone, and his simple acts of kindness have become well-known throughout each of SC&H’s offices. Not to mention, you can always count on Pritpal to be up for a team lunch which is his preferred method to keep a pulse on the state of the firm through engaging with various team members.
Prior to his promotion to CEO, Pritpal helped lead organizations in the pursuit of financial transformation and the deployment of innovative solutions that optimize the monthly close, improve forecasting accuracy, and transform an organization’s reporting and analysis capabilities. Kalsi had a particular focus in the following industries:
- Government Contracting
- Manufacturing
- Financial Services
- Hospitality
- Healthcare, et al.
As he continues the tradition of service to clients, colleagues, and community, Pritpal brings a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion to the role of CEO. For nearly 15 years, Kalsi’s strategic insight has helped SC&H plan for the next generation of services to provide the marketplace—in all areas of finance, accounting, and technology. He took the early initiative to spearhead the firm’s corporate-wide leadership and training programs by sourcing our professional development program, SC&H University.
In addition to partaking in the firm’s community outreach and service projects, Pritpal also serves on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for Make-A-Wish® Mid Atlantic.
In 2020, he was recognized on the Baltimore Business Journal’s top 40 under 40 list as well as making The Daily Record’s VIP list – Very Important Professionals Successful by 40 awards. In 2024, Pritpal was named an Influential Marylander by The Daily Record for his significant contributions to the finance field and his leadership in Maryland.
Pritpal holds a B.S. degree in Decision and Information Sciences from the R.H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland, College Park. He also serves on the Smith School’s Business Advisory Board.
Outside the office, Pritpal enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, and collecting and using vintage film cameras dating back to the early 1900s.
As a real estate investor himself, he understands the benefits and challenges of investing in real estate. He knows what it takes to create and protect wealth as an entrepreneur. This is why he is passionate about sharing his knowledge and expertise with others who share his vision and goals. Brandon has spearhead several initiatives to educate and empower real estate investors, such as the Tax Foundation Strategy Course, the Tax Smart REI Podcast, and the Tax and Legal Summit
As National Managing Principal of Tax, Matt is responsible for the strategy and operations of
BDO’s tax practice in the United States, leading more than 3,500 tax professionals and serving
as a member of BDO’s Executive Leadership Team. Matt is also a member of BDO
International’s Global Tax Advisory Committee, working with BDO tax leaders from around the
globe to direct the strategy of BDO International’s tax function.
As a BDO tax principal since 2005, Matt has helped large multinational organizations in
diverse industries and high-net-worth individuals from around the world address their
complex tax needs. Matt also has vast experience leading the strategic direction and
operations of tax practices.
In addition to his roles within BDO’s tax practice, Matt served as the Chairperson of the Board
of Directors of BDO USA, serving for the maximum term allowed. His NACD (National
Association of Corporate Directors) Fellowship and Board experience have provided him with
a unique ability to advise on long-term value-creation strategies for companies. Matt serves
BDO clients in a business advisory capacity as well, often serving on advisory boards for some
of BDO’s most significant clients.
Outside of his role at BDO, Matt is part of various community organizations including roles on
the Boards of Directors of John Ball Zoo, The Right Place, Junior Achievement of the Michigan
Great Lakes, Literacy Center of West Michigan, and Indian Trails Camp
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.