2026 Decision Makers Conference (13005)

Thursday, April 23, 2026 / Alpharetta, GA

Managing the strategic and financial direction of a changing workplace is challenging. Continual developments require you to have the most up-to-the-minute knowledge and insight. Discuss critical issues that finance professionals undertake including economic forecasting, the newest business tax update, private equity and artificial intelligence and its role in financial reporting. Sessions on the CPA talent pipeline and human resources issues can help you strengthen your business from the inside out. The Decision Makers Conference is designed to give industry CPAs, CEOs, CFOs and accounting experts a comprehensive platform to stay informed, engage in important discussion, exchange ideas and find solutions to common challenges facing your business, clients and employees.

Alternate Attendance Option:

Virtual, Live Stream (LS13005) >

 

Event Status: OPEN

Event ID: #13005

CPE: 8.0 credits

Total Price: $299.00

Other Attendance Options

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MATERIALS
This conference is a paperless conference and all materials will be available electronically as PDFs. Materials will be available for download in advance and participants will receive an email when they are available. For more information about eMaterials, visit ematerials.gscpa.org.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

8:00am-9:15am
A - CFO Panel Credits: 1.5 FT

Matthew D. Clark, CPA, MAcc, MBA
Chief Financial Officer / Veritas CFO , Mableton, GA

Steven E. Russell
Visiting Nurse Health System , Atlanta, GA

Janet Yang
REVEAM , Norcross, GA

Dan Marx
SAKAEM Logistics , Tucker, GA

Join a panel of distinguished CFOs as they discuss today’s most pressing financial leadership challenges, share practical strategies and offer insights into the role of finance in driving business success. Panelists will share practical insights on navigating today’s complex business environment, strategic financial leadership, risk management and advice on how to reach the C-suite. Attendees will gain real-world perspectives on emerging trends, challenges and best practices shaping the future of finance.

9:25am-10:15am
B - Minority Equity: Applications and Implications Credits: 1.0 FT

Michael Lonergan
Georgia Oak Partners , Atlanta, GA

Corey Clemons
Georgia Oak Partners , Atlanta, GA

David Walker
Georgia Oak Partners , Atlanta, GA

Financial professionals involved in the sale of a business should understand how private equity investors can enhance a company's legacy post-sale by driving growth and continuing the business's success. Opportunities include providing equity ownership and upward mobility for employees, expanding the company's geographic footprint and/or market share through strategic acquisitions, value creation and more. CPAs can ensure the deal is a win-win-win for all parties involved.

10:25am-11:15am
C - Business Tax Update Credits: 1.0 TT

Philip E. Laminack, CPA
Partner / Forvis Mazars , Atlanta, GA

This session will provide an update on recent federal business tax legislation and accounting pronouncements related to income tax accounting.

11:25am-12:15pm
D - Key Talent Trends Every Firm Needs to Know Credits: 1.0 PR

Will Ousley, MAcc, CPA
Associate Director of Finance and Acc / Vaco , Atlanta, GA

As the demand for CPA talent continues to outpace supply, firms must rethink how they attract, develop and retain accounting professionals. This session highlights the most important trends affecting the CPA talent pipeline, including workforce demographics, mobility patterns and evolving candidate priorities. Attendees will walk away with actionable takeaways to improve hiring strategies and strengthen long-term talent planning.

1:00pm-2:15pm
E - Economic Crosswinds & Market Signals: What CPAs Need to Know Now Credits: 1.5 EO

Patrick Maffett, CIMA, AIF, MBA
Regions Bank , Atlanta, GA

This session equips CPAs with a clear, actionable understanding of the forces shaping today’s economic landscape. Patrick will break down the key macroeconomic trends and translate them into practical insights you can apply in client conversations and strategic planning. Explore current market behavior across equities, fixed income and alternative assets, with an emphasis on identifying risks early and spotting emerging opportunities. The goal is simple: to give financial professionals the clarity and confidence needed to navigate uncertainty and guide clients through a rapidly evolving environment.

2:25pm-3:15pm
F - From Information to Intelligence: An Auditor's AI Roadmap Credits: 1.0 AO

Kristina Turner, CPA, CISA, MMIS
Georgia Department of Audits , Atlanta, GA

What does it actually take to transform audit and financial reporting with AI? This session cuts through the hype to share real lessons from an ongoing transformation of 200+ government audits—including the wins that proved AI's value, the mistakes that almost derailed progress, and the technology choices that mattered most. Discover how AI eliminates human errors, dramatically improves accuracy, and creates efficiencies you can't achieve manually. Whether your firm is just exploring AI or already experimenting, you'll get a practical roadmap and honest insights from the middle of the journey.

3:25pm-4:15pm
G - The 95% Rule: 29 Employment Law Axioms Credits: 1.0 BT

Todd Stanton
Stanton Law LLC , Atlanta, GA

After two decades representing companies in employment law issues, Todd has assembled a running list of (currently) 29 things that are simply true in the HR world. This program spurs great discussion about practical and effective ways to address the most common employee issues. It has the added benefit to offer owners, managers and HR professionals comfort to know they're not alone in their struggle to introduce common sense into the workplace.

Conference Site

The Georgia Society of CPAs
5405 Windward Pkwy Ste 300
Alpharetta, GA 30004

404-231-8676

 

For more information about hotel reservations, please refer to the information tab.

Early Bird Registration

$299 GSCPA Members, $399 Non-Members (by 3/23/2026)

 

Standard Registration

$359 GSCPA Members, $459 Non-Members