Business & Industry Spring Conference Livestream

Overview

Your Source For Key Updates & Insights on Timely Issues

Attend this year's Business & Industry Spring Conference to hear from prominent leaders and experts about the latest updates and insights on the economic and capital market outlook, employee recruitment and retention strategies, labor and employment law updates, Microsoft Copilot AI, ethical AI practices, and more.

Audience

CPAs, CEOs, CFOs, controllers, directors, managers, HR professionals and accounting staff will benefit greatly by attending.

In-Person Option

For those looking to attend the conference in-person, including the choice for breakout sessions, this year's Business & Industry Spring Conference will be held at the Brookfield Conference Center. The registration page and more details for attending in person is available here.

Registration Changes

We are excited to provide the convenience of offering both in-person and livestream options for attending our conferences. However, if a registrant wishes to change from in-person to livestream attendance 14 days or less prior to a conference, the WICPA CPE Department must be contacted to make the change and a $25 fee will apply. For Cancellation Policy details, please see the registration form or visit wicpa.org/CPE.

7.3 CPE Credits

Registration

Registration is open through 03/20.

Member Price

$369

Nonmember Price

$469

Student Price

$30

Thursday, March 20

8:00am to 4:30pm (Check-In 7:00am)

Add to Calendar

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Agenda

Thursday, Mar 20th

8:00AM TO 8:15AM / General Session

This is a general session

Welcome & Opening Remarks

8:15AM TO 9:30AM / General Session

This is a general session

Economic & Capital Market Outlook

Review the current market environment and the 2025 economic outlook, featuring a presentation from the UBS Chief Investment Office.

9:45AM TO 10:35AM / General Session

This is a general session

Most Popular Session

Megan Henika, Director of Operations, Skilled Trades, QPS Employment Group

John Higgins, Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory LLC

Brittany Kulka, Director, Talent Aquistion & Development, Husco International

Laura Piotrowski, CEO & President, Cavendish Vernal LLC

Carver Smith, Managing Partner, Truity Partners

Candy Underwood, VP, Human Resources, LPi Digital, LLC

Session will be determined from one of the following, based on the number of in-person registrations for this breakout session time frame:

Mastering Microsoft Copilot AI

Learn how to leverage the power of AI in your Microsoft 365 ecosystem. Through live demonstrations, you will see how Copilot AI's practical applications can improve your daily workflow. This session will help you evaluate the potential value of the Copilot subscription fee.

Strategies for Success: A Panel Discussion on Recruitment & Retention Excellence

Join an engaging and insightful facilitated panel discussion on recruitment and retention where industry experts, thought leaders and seasoned professionals will share strategies, challenges and best practices for attracting and retaining top talent. Whether you're looking to refine your hiring processes or strengthen your employee retention efforts, this interactive discussion will provide valuable insights and actionable takeaways to help your organization thrive in a competitive job market.

10:55AM TO 11:55AM / General Session

This is a general session

AI: The CPAs Guide to Navigating the New Frontier

John Higgins, Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory LLC

Generative AI is transforming the way business operates. This session will explore practical applications for research, learning, workflow automation, data analysis and more.

12:55PM TO 1:55PM / General Session

This is a general session

Most Popular Session

Eric Coryell, President, Core Connections, LLC

Margaret Kurlinski, Shareholder, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C.

Session will be determined from one of the following, based on the number of in-person registrations for this breakout session time frame:

Creating & Leading Accountable Teams

Gain a new perspective of what accountability is, how it can be managed and why holding someone accountable is a myth. More importantly, you will have a deeper insight as to what is required for a team to function and then ultimately become accountable. Finally, there will be a deep dive into the five ways around which real issues can be dealt with on a team and which of these will help you create an adult organization as opposed to the parent/child dynamic most organizations operate from.

Labor & Employment Legal Update

Navigate the complex landscape of employment laws in 2025 with confidence. This session will highlight the most impactful developments from the past year, ranging from federal agency initiatives to landmark court rulings and emerging state law trends.

2:15PM TO 3:15PM / General Session

This is a general session

Most Popular Session

Andrea Hayes, Principal, SVA Consulting, LLC

James Lindell, President, Thorsten Consulting Group, Inc.

Jon Rosene, Practice Manager, Business Applications, SVA Consulting, LLC

Session will be determined from one of the following, based on the number of in-person registrations for this breakout session time frame:

The Art of Financial Storytelling

Unlock the secrets of transforming complex financial data into captivating stories that resonate with any audience. In this dynamic session, you'll master the art of weaving qualitative insights with quantitative data, creating narratives that bring financial reports to life. Discover how to replace technical jargon with crystal-clear communication, using powerful visualization techniques and presentation skills that will keep your audience engaged. Whether you're presenting to the board or briefing operational teams, you'll learn to craft financial stories that inform, inspire and drive decision-making.

The Road to Successful Business Transformation: Challenges & Strategies

ERP implementations are more than just technology projects - they are business transformations that must be guided by strategic initiatives. This session will explore common challenges organizations face when implementing ERP and how to overcome them by anchoring the process in core business objectives. We'll discuss how a clear strategic foundation ensures a more effective, scalable and value-driven transformation, rather than allowing technology to dictate the path.

3:30PM TO 4:30PM / General Session

This is a general session

Ethical AI Practices: Ensuring Responsible Use

John Higgins, Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory LLC

As organizations begin to leverage the power of generative AI, there are many ethical implications that come along with its use. This session will review these implications and provide practical guidelines for mitigating them.

4:30PM TO 4:35PM / General Session

This is a general session

Closing Remarks

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Agenda

Thursday, Mar 20th

10:55AM TO 11:55AM /

This is a general session

AI: The CPAs Guide to Navigating the New Frontier

John Higgins, Strategic Technology Advisor, Higgins Advisory LLC

Generative AI is transforming the way business operates. This session will explore practical applications for research, learning, workflow automation, data analysis and more.