Business & Industry Spring Conference

Business & Industry Spring Conference

Business & Industry Spring Conference

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 post-pandemic normalization of economic and market trends, navigating business exits, the underutilized capabilities of Excel, employment law changes, practical AI tools for decision-makers, GAAP alternatives, best practices for cash management, the power of culture in the workplace, ethical conflict resolution, and more.

Audience

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

Overnight Accommodations

A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn in Brookfield (next to the Brookfield Conference Center) for the night of Monday, March 23, with a room rate of $136 (plus tax). To reserve a room in the block, please book online at bit.ly/2026-BISC by March 1.

Online Option

For those unable to attend the conference in person, another option is available! This year's Business & Industry Spring Conference will be streamed live, including all of the general sessions and the most popular breakout session! The registration page and more details for attending via WICPA CPE Livestream 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.

7.7 CPE Credits

Registration

Registration is open through 03/24. Register by 03/03 for Early Bird Pricing.

Member Price

$379 / $329 Early-Bird pricing ends on 03/03/2026.

Nonmember Price

$479 / $429 Early-Bird pricing ends on 03/03/2026.

Student Price

$30

Tuesday, March 24

8:00am to 4:35pm (Check-In 7:30am)

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Brookfield Conference Center

325 S Moorland Rd
Brookfield, WI 53005

Map and Directions

Agenda

Tuesday, Mar 24th

7:00AM TO 8:00AM / General Session

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

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

Jeffrey Allsop, Chief Investment Officer, Capital Investment Services of America, Inc.

Explore the economic and market post-pandemic landscape through a series of important charts. This session will review inflationary forces, fiscal policy observations, employment trends, housing and interest rates. By the end, you will know how to frame the current structure of the stock market by examining valuation and earnings.

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9:30AM TO 10:25AM / Breakout Sessions

Chris Harper, Associate Professor of Accounting, Siedman College of Business Grand Valley State University

Dive into the powerful -- yet often underutilized -- capabilities of Microsoft Excel. Designed for sophisticated users willing to approach spreadsheets from a unique perspective, this session encourages you to challenge the status quo by taking ordinary spreadsheets to the next level.

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Jason Glisczynski, CEO, Principal Advisor, Silvertree, LLC.

Keith Jochims, CFO, QPS Employment Group

Kevin Kraft, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Wisconsin River Partners

Erik Owen, President/Founder, Oak Hill Business Partners

FACT: 100% of business owners will transition out of their companies. Join industry experts as they break down the real-world factors that make -- or break -- a successful business transition, offering practical insights on deal factors, exit paths and planning decisions that shape stronger outcomes for privately held businesses.

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10:40AM TO 11:40AM / Breakout Sessions

Michael Gregory, Senior Counsel, Husch Blackwell LLP

Navigate the complex landscape of employment laws in 2026 with confidence. This session will highlight the most impactful developments from last year.

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Mary Newby, Data Analytics Consultant, 7Rivers, Inc.

In a world where finance teams are still stitching together pivot tables and manual charts from ERP exports, there's a smarter, faster and more strategic way forward. Explore how today's finance leaders can harness the power of AI and modern data tools to elevate reporting, forecasting and decision-making. This session will highlight real-world, practical applications of AI designed specifically for CFOs and finance professionals. Whether you're Excel-savvy or just tech-curious, this session will open the door to what's possible when you streamline your data flows and embrace AI for finance.

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12:30PM TO 1:20PM / Breakout Sessions

Mitchell Suter, Chief Innovation Officer, Naviant, Inc.

In an era of tight margins and workforce challenges, automation is no longer optional. This session is designed for financial leaders who need to drive operational efficiency now. Learn the fundamental tools and strategies to relieve margin pressure, solve labor shortages and remain competitive. Move beyond theory and learn how to build a practical, results-driven automation blueprint for your organization.

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Chris Harper, Associate Professor of Accounting, Siedman College of Business Grand Valley State University

Companies operating in today's business climate are weathering a storm of major FASB updates. Businesses and their advisors may want to consider non-GAAP options as they develop strategies involving revenue recognition, leasing, credit losses and other FASB pronouncements. This session will provide an overview of special-purpose frameworks that may present salient alternatives to GAAP for certain entities.

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1:35PM TO 2:25PM / Breakout Sessions

John Daly, President & CEO, Executive Education, Inc.

You may not currently manage cash, but cash management skills are likely to affect your future advancement. Poor liquidity kills organizations, but strong liquidity allows them to grow. This session will help you develop your cash management skills to make you indispensable.

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William Cronin, Managing Partner, Integrity Wealth Managment

In today's evolving workplace, financial wellness has emerged as a key pillar of overall employee well-being. This session will explore how organizations can integrate financial education and support into their benefits strategy to meet the diverse needs of a multigenerational workforce -- especially the growing population of younger employees. Gain insights into why financial literacy matters now more than ever, how it impacts retention and productivity and what innovative programs companies are using to drive engagement. This session will equip you with actionable strategies to make financial education a meaningful, measurable part of your company's total rewards offering.

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2:35PM TO 3:25PM / Breakout Sessions

Chris Harper, Associate Professor of Accounting, Siedman College of Business Grand Valley State University

Enhance the preparation and utilization of your budgets with a renewed understanding of popular techniques and fundamental budgeting concepts. In this session, you will develop an appreciation for the holistic nature of budgeting as an integral tool for planning and control.

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Corrie Hoffman, Leadership Coach & Culture Consultant, The Perk

Culture isn't what's written on the wall; it's what happens in the hall. It's the daily behaviors, choices and interactions that shape how your team feels, works and stays. This interactive session will break down what culture really is (and isn't), explore why it's the strongest lever for retention and uncover how intentional culture-building drives engagement, trust and performance. You will walk away with a clear action plan to build the culture you want.

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3:35PM TO 4:35PM / General Session

John Daly, President & CEO, Executive Education, Inc.

At some point in their career, every financial manager will face the choice of doing the right thing or taking the easy way out. Skillful handling of an ethical conflict can make a big difference in your career's trajectory. Learn how to turn a situation around and get others to do the right thing.

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4:35PM TO 4:40PM / General Session

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