This course explores how CPAs can recognize and navigate complex ethical challenges that arise in today’s professional environment. Through practical examples, case studies and decision-making frameworks, participants will strengthen their ability to evaluate difficult situations, apply professional standards and respond with integrity and sound judgment. Attendees will learn how to address workplace values conflicts and confidently communicate ethical concerns in a constructive and professional manner. This course includes the Georgia-specific ethics content approved by the Georgia State Board of Accountancy. Complete this pre-conference workshop and check off all of your ethics requirements for the 2025-2026 reporting cycle.

This optional add-on session is an additional $125.

Lindsay Patterson, CPA, CIA
CPA QualityPro , New York, NY

Significant updates to CPA licensure and mobility laws are reshaping practice privileges across the country. While much of the attention has been on how these rules affect individual CPAs, state board enforcement actions show another critical reality: firms themselves are at risk if they fail to follow licensure and practice regulations in states where they serve clients. This session will provide a practical roadmap for navigating the latest accountancy law changes and best practices for firm compliance. It will cover recent updates to state licensure and mobility laws, examine state board actions, highlight common pitfalls that ensnare CPAs and firms, and explore what firm management leaders can do to proactively protect practice rights, avoid penalties and strengthen compliance processes.

Elizabeth D. Cook, CPA
Chief Relationship Officer / The Georgia Society of CPAs , Alpharetta, GA

Brad Schafer, Ph.D., CIA
Associate Professor / Kennesaw State University KSU Center , Kennesaw, GA

Margaret H. Christ, Ph.D., CIA
Director, J. M. Tull School of Accoun / The University of Georgia , Athens, GA

Peter Demerjian, Ph.D.
Georgia State University School of Accountancy , Atlanta, GA

Dr. Ellen Best, Ph.D.
University of North Georgia , Dahlonega, GA

With the implementation of the Public Accountancy Act of 2025 (HB 148), accounting education in Georgia has entered a period of meaningful change that is reshaping how programs attract, prepare and support future CPAs. This keynote session brings together academic leaders from across the state for a candid conversation about how their institutions are responding in real time. As new licensure pathways take effect, programs must adapt, revisit curriculum, refine their messaging and introduce new models designed to meet students where they are. Panelists will share what they are seeing on their campuses and how schools are reaching a broader range of students while continuing to emphasize the value of advanced education. Step beyond the classroom into the preparation of students for the realities of practice and the integration of emerging areas like data analytics and AI. Grounded in firsthand perspective and practical experience, this session offers a clear view of how accounting education is evolving in Georgia and what that evolution means for the profession moving forward.

Melisa Galasso, CPA, CGMA, CSP, CPTD
Galasso Learning Solutions LLC , Charlotte, NC

Hear about key accounting and auditing developments together in one session. This course combines recent standard-setting activity issued by the FASB with major audit and attestation updates from the AICPA. Get a  well-rounded view of changes impacting financial reporting and engagement performance specially designed for preparers, auditors and firm professionals. Attendees will understand how recent accounting and auditing changes intersect and what to anticipate as standards and expectations continue to evolve.

Joshua Jenson
Joshua Jenson, CPA, PC , Edmond, OK

Join us for a practical, execution-focused program designed to move beyond understanding tax law and into how it is applied in real-world client situations. The course emphasizes execution, not just understanding, of business tax rules. Coverage includes key developments affecting partnerships and S corporations, IRS guidance, tax court insights and OBBBA provisions, with a focus on audit risk areas, loss limitations and applying complex rules within the normal workflow of preparing business tax returns.

Todd Stanton
Stanton Law LLC , Atlanta, GA

The 95% Rule program is a set of employment-law axioms created for CPAs expected to have real-time answers with imperfect facts. This is a lively program built around real decision points drawn from two decades of management experience and the patterns that keep showing up in the EEOC/DOL/NLRB/OSHA alphabet soup. This session is practical, discussion-friendly and aimed at what you can implement on Monday. Cover how to spot preventable issues most likely to devolve into litigation and how to coach managers through a common-sense framework you can share with HR and business leaders. Copies of the bestselling The 95% Rule will be available for purchase.

Greg Creech
Techedutainment Services, Inc. , Pine Lake, GA

With Copilot's artificial intelligence, Microsoft 365 apps have many new features and enhancements aimed to increase productivity. This session will explore using Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and Outlook. We will create Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, Excel charts and Outlook emails using Copilot. Learn how to use Copilot to improve documents with editing features, such as translations and grammar.

Melisa Galasso, CPA, CGMA, CSP, CPTD
Galasso Learning Solutions LLC , Charlotte, NC

The Enhancing Audit Quality Initiative has identified inadequate or nonexistent audit documentation as one of the most significant issues facing the profession today. Over half of the engagements reviewed by the AICPA failed to meet the requirements of AU-C 230, highlighting a critical need for improvement. This course addresses common misconceptions about audit documentation and provides actionable strategies to overcome these deficiencies. Attendees will learn best practices to ensure compliance with professional standards, enhance audit quality and mitigate risks associated with poor documentation. Whether you are an experienced professional or new to auditing, this course will help you strengthen your documentation practices and uphold the highest standards of the profession.

Jeff Dorris, CPA
SALT Practice Leader / Mauldin & Jenkins CPAs LLC , Atlanta, GA

This SALT session will discuss current trends within state and local tax as well as other hot topics of 2026.

Richard B. Kopelman, CPA, CGMA
Managing Partner & CEO / Aprio , Atlanta, GA

Donald H. Bravaldo III, CPA
President / Bravaldo Capital Advisors, Inc, , Atlanta, GA

Christopher S. Arnone, CPA
Moore Colson CPAs and Advisors , Atlanta, GA

Sean Taylor, CPA
Smith & Howard, PC , Atlanta, GA

Jeff Call, CPA, CFP, PFS
Bennett Thrasher, LLP , Atlanta, GA

Hear the facts on this growing hot topic within the accounting profession. Don will guide attendees through the practical differences between traditional partner-owned firms and PE-backed platforms (minority vs. majority investment). Compare how each model impacts partner economics, governance, talent development, service lines and client experience. Identify key diligence questions and decision points for firms considering outside capital or structural change. Clarify independence, regulatory and ethics guardrails that shape what structures are feasible.

Donald P. Cook
The Georgia Society of CPAs , Alpharetta, GA

Frank O'Connell, J.D., LL.M
Of Office Tax Policy / Georgia Department of Revenue , Atlanta, GA

Georgia’s transition from the long-standing Tax Tribunal to the newly established Georgia Tax Court marks one of the most significant structural changes to the state’s tax dispute system in years. Join Chief Judge Frank O'Connell and Don Cook of The Georgia Society of CPAs for a practical discussion designed specifically for CPAs and tax practitioners. This session will provide attendees with a foundational understanding of the newly created court, including how it differs from the former tribunal led by Larry O'Neal, the types of tax controversies and appeals the court hears, and the procedural and structural changes practitioners should understand moving forward. Attendees will gain insight into how cases move through the court, what role CPAs can play in supporting taxpayers and legal counsel and how the new judicial framework may impact dispute resolution strategies in Georgia. The discussion will also explore practical considerations for practitioners representing clients before the Department of Revenue and engaging in the broader tax controversy process. Whether you work in public accounting, industry, or tax advisory services, this session will equip you with a clearer understanding of Georgia’s evolving tax adjudication system and the practical implications for taxpayers and practitioners alike.

Jennifer Louis, CPA
Emergent Solutions Group , Charlotte, NC

All firms who perform engagements under the SSARSs, SASs and SSAEs are required to comply with the AICPA’S Quality Management Standards effective December 15, 2025.  This session will focus on the on-going application of critical elements of the new risk-based approach to ensure a continuous and iterative approach to quality management. Focus on compliance with new requirements in both fact and in substance.

Joshua Jenson
Joshua Jenson, CPA, PC , Edmond, OK

Join us for a practical, execution-focused program designed to move beyond understanding tax law and into how it is applied in real-world client situations. The course emphasizes execution, not just understanding, of individual tax rules. Coverage includes key developments under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), IRS guidance and Tax Court insights, with a focus on current-year filings, extended returns and identifying planning opportunities within the normal workflow of preparing individual tax returns.

Mary A. McDaniel
Goldman Sachs , Atlanta, GA

Corey Schroer
Goldman Sachs , Atlanta, GA

Join us for an informative discussion with Goldman Sachs as they share their economic and market outlook.

Greg Creech
Techedutainment Services, Inc. , Pine Lake, GA

Using Copilot with Excel, you can create analytics, charts, insert function columns and much more. This session will give demonstrations of the popular and important analytical features of Excel with Copilot, such as PivotTables. Learn more about the functions feature in Excel using Copilot and the advantages and disadvantages of artificial intelligence in Excel. 

Jennifer Louis, CPA
Emergent Solutions Group , Charlotte, NC

Accounting and reporting for uncertainty in financial statements is always a challenge. With tariffs, natural disasters, government assistance, regulatory uncertainty and more, the current operating environment is particularly challenging. This session will focus on critical considerations when ensuring the proper accounting and reporting for gain and loss contingencies in GAAP-basis financial statements.

Hale E. Sheppard, Esq.
Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP , Atlanta, GA

The employee retention credit has all the elements for a major fight: four complex laws, multiple sources of IRS guidance, rules with retroactive effect, processing delays, large numbers of eligible taxpayers, companies advertising aggressive claims, special assessment periods and repeated warnings of serious civil and criminal enforcement. This presentation explains common misconceptions, positions by taxpayers, attacks by the IRS, legislative changes and different types of litigation now happening in the ERC world.

Kelley C. Long, CPA/PFS, CFP®
Financial Bliss with Kelley Long , Tucson, AZ

Health insurance premiums continue to climb, and most people respond by shopping for a better plan. But what if the real problem isn’t finding cheaper insurance? What if we need to rethink how much insurance we actually need? This session takes a personal financial planning approach to healthcare costs, challenging common assumptions about coverage and exploring alternatives that could help you and your clients keep more money for other financial goals.

Joe Domaleski
Country Fried Creative , Peachtree City, GA

Digital marketing does not have to feel overwhelming, and it should not be measured by guesswork alone. This session gives CPA firms a practical roadmap for improving visibility, building trust and supporting long-term growth. We will cover the key pieces of an effective digital presence, including your website, search visibility, content, social media, email, reputation, analytics and marketing metrics. Learn how to prioritize the right activities, track what matters and use data to make smarter marketing decisions.