Are you registered for MBAC25?
Head over to the conference portal to access your sessions.
Enter the portal
2025
Management and Business Advisers Conference

Agenda

All times are Central.
IIA = Session developed in partnership with The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Twin Cities Chapter.

6:30 - 8 a.m. | Check-in, Continental Breakfast and Exhibits
7 - 7:50 a.m. | General Session
00. Bonus Session: Enhancing Productivity With Microsoft Apps: OneNote, Stream, Forms and More
John Higgins
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (1.00)
8 - 9 a.m. | Keynote
A1. The AI Revolution: Unlocking the Future of Business
Chuck Gallagher
Information Technology - Technical (1.00)
9 - 9:20 a.m. | Break and Exhibits
9:20 - 10:35 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
B1. The New Normal? Legal and Financial Uncertainty in 2025 and Beyond
Chad Blumenfield, Aaron Knoll
Business Law - Technical (1.50)
B3-C3. Double Session: Hands-on Boot Camp: ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot (9:20 a.m.-12:10 p.m.)
John Higgins
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (3.00)
10:35 - 10:55 a.m. | Break and Exhibits
10:55 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
C1. Future-Proof Your Leadership: Building Flexibility, Agility and Resilience
Jonathan Lokhorst
Personal Development - Non-Technical (1.50)
C2. Level Up the Way You Connect: Rethink Networking
Katie Gabriel
Personal Development - Non-Technical (1.50)
12:10 - 1 p.m. | Lunch and Exhibits
1 - 2:15 p.m. | General Session
D1. Economic Conditions in Minnesota and the U.S.
Joseph Mahon
Economics - Technical (1.50)
2:15 - 2:35 p.m. | Break and Exhibits
2:35 - 3:50 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
E1. Empowering a Hybrid Workforce: Strategies for Success
Jonathan Lokhorst
Personnel/Human Resources - Non-Technical (1.50)
ETHICS
E2. Current Issues in Business Ethics: 2025
Boz Bostrom
Behavioral Ethics - Non-Technical (1.50)
IIA
E3. Building an Integrated View of Risk
Lucas Leaon
Management Services - Technical (1.50)
3:50 - 4:10 p.m. | Break and Exhibits
4:10 - 5 p.m. | Keynote
F1. Don't Limit Your Challenges...Challenge Your Limits
Justin Osmond
Personal Development - Non-Technical (1.00)
5 - 6 p.m. | Happy Hour (Sponsored by Korn Ferry)
8 - 9 a.m. | Keynote
G1. Work Smarter, Not Harder: Transform Your Leadership for Peak Performance
Nick Bontis
Personal Development - Non-Technical (1.00)

Attendees receive FREE access to Nick Bontis' e-book!

9 - 9:15 a.m. | Break
9:15 - 10:30 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
H1. Federal Tax Update for Business and Industry
Douglas Van Der Aa
Taxes - Technical (1.50)
H2. Hands-on Boot Camp: Elevate Your Impact With LinkedIn
Anne Pryor
Communications and Marketing - Non-Technical (1.50)
H3. Tech Update
Tommy Stephens
Information Technology - Technical (1.50)
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Break
10:45 a.m. - Noon | Breakout Sessions
I1. Optimizing Profit in the Face of Constrained Resources
Christopher Harper
Finance - Technical (1.50)
ETHICS
I2. Ethical Dilemmas: Navigating Blurred Lines
Robert Berry
Behavioral Ethics - Non-Technical (1.50)
I3. Software Showdown: ERP Systems
Robert Jacobs, Jaime MacFall, Nathan Rodgerson, Geniene Scherer, Tommy Stephens
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (1.50)
Noon - 12:40 p.m. | Break
12:40 - 1:55 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
J1. GAAP Alternatives: The Perfect Storm of Accounting Updates
Christopher Harper
Accounting - Technical (1.50)
J2. HR Compliance Update
Carrie Krautkramer, Nicole Peterlin Schnell
Business Law - Technical (1.50)
J3. Artificial Intelligence: Risks and Concerns
Tommy Stephens
Information Technology - Technical (1.50)
1:55 - 2:10 p.m. | Break
2:10 - 3:25 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
K1. Accounting Fast and Slow: Thinking About Analysis
Robert Berry
Accounting - Technical (1.50)
ETHICS
K2. Ethical Intelligence for Artificial Intelligence
Christopher Harper
Regulatory Ethics - Technical (1.50)
K3. Excel's Best New Features
Tommy Stephens
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (1.50)
3:25 - 3:40 p.m. | Break
3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
L1. Economic Update: What in the World Is Happening?
Jeff Lewis
Economics - Technical (1.00)
L2. Getting Tax Decisions Right in a Changing Global Economy
Christine Martin, Doug Ormsby
Taxes - Technical (1.00)

Session sponsored by Avalara

IIA
L3. 2025: How Technology Can Help Your Team Navigate the Wild Ride
Grant Ostler
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (1.00)
8 - 9:25 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
M1. Navigate Uncertainty With Scenario Planning
Leah Donti
Finance - Technical (1.50)
ETHICS
M2. Ethical Lessons Learned From an $8.5 Million Fraud
Nathan Mueller
Behavioral Ethics - Non-Technical (1.50)
M3. Software Showdown: Business Intelligence Tools
Makenzie Buss, Nathan Rodgerson, Carl Werner
Computer Software & Applications - Non-Technical (1.50)
9:25 - 9:40 a.m. | Break
9:40 - 10:30 a.m. | Breakout Sessions
N1. FASB in Focus: What’s Effective in 2025
Leah Donti
Accounting - Technical (1.00)
N2. Presenting and Communicating in Today's Office Dynamic
Robert Mims
Communications and Marketing - Non-Technical (1.00)
IIA
N3. Auditing With and Against AI
J.P. Cook, Spencer Judd
Auditing - Technical (1.00)
10:30 - 10:45 a.m. | Break
10:45 a.m. - Noon | Keynote
O1. Building a Better Future of Work
Steve Cadigan
Personnel/Human Resources - Non-Technical (1.50)
Noon - 12:40 p.m. | Break
12:40 - 1:55 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
IIA
P2. Navigating the Waters of Third-Party Risk Management
Stephanie Tantillo, Elizabeth Watts
Management Services - Technical (1.50)
P3. Exploring the A-B-C-D of the Digital Age and Their Impact on Accounting
Donny Shimamoto
Information Technology - Technical (1.50)
1:55 - 2:10 p.m. | Break
2:10 - 3:25 p.m. | Breakout Sessions
ETHICS
Q2. Ethics Case Studies: Accounting Fraud and Embezzlement
Allison McLeod
Regulatory Ethics - Technical (1.50)
Q3. Non-Techie Cybersecurity Update for Accountants
Donny Shimamoto
Information Technology - Technical (1.50)
3:25 - 3:40 p.m. | Break
3:40 - 4:30 p.m. | Keynote
R1. The Power of Motivation: Pursuing Your Sole Purpose
Manny Ohonme
Personal Development - Non-Technical (1.00)