CPA Crossings Subscription: Talent Development

Consultant, ConvergenceCoaching

Renee is a consultant with ConvergenceCoaching, LLC, a national leadership and marketing consulting firm dedicated to helping leaders achieve success by working with them to develop and implement leadership, succession, human resources, and training and development plans. Prior to joining ConvergenceCoaching, Renee was a Firm Administrator for Copeland Buhl & Company, PLLC, a medium-sized public accounting firm in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. In her role as Firm Administrator, she was responsible for finance, operations, human resources and oversight of the administrative team. Over the course of her 20+ year career, Renee has worked for four different accounting firms around the country, exposing her to a variety of challenges in day-to-day operations as well as being instrumental in devising and executing long-term strategy. Renee has managed a variety of firm projects in the past including management and monitoring of the succession process as partners retire; developing and improving firm performance evaluation, career development and goal setting processes; software conversions and improvement in the firm’s utilization of computer systems and software; and development of dashboard financial reporting systems to help the organization focus on key metrics to move the organization forward. Because success in her prior Firm Administrator roles required Renee working closely with the Managing Partner and the partners to manage change, she is perfectly suited to her consulting role working closely with firm leaders within the ConvergenceCoaching client community. For many years Renee has been an active member and leader in the CPA Firm Management Association. She served as the Vice President of the CPAFMA Minnesota Chapter, where she scheduled exciting and meaningful monthly programming for engaged participants. She also serves on the Planning Committee for the BDO Alliance HR Roundtable. Renee is a frequent speaker and writer on topics impacting CPA firm leaders and offers practical strategies for improvement and change. In her free time, she practices vinyasa yoga and enjoys walking, cooking for her husband and two kids, singing baritone in a women’s barbershop chorus, and reading.

Founder, Samantha Mansfield, LLC

Samantha Mansfield firmly believes that technology enables accounting professionals to share their expertise more effectively and deliver higher value. She is passionate about working with accounting professionals to help them transform the services they provide, and reach their goals. Samantha does this through instructing, leadership coaching, facilitation, and planning and building educational events. Over the years she has consulted with firms of all sizes on implementing relevant technology to improve processes and develop future ready services.

Her love of teaching and coaching others is seen throughout her career, and personal hobbies. After 20 years in the tax and accounting industry she started her own consulting and education firm focused on building materials and resources for the profession. There is nothing more inspiring than witnessing the moment when someone learns that new idea that creates a vision for their future.

She has a bachelor of arts in business administration/ marketing from Hillsdale College. She has served on the board of 2 non-profit organizations. In her free time she loves being outdoors with her family and spending time volunteering in the community.

Samantha has been recognized by the profession in multiple ways. In 2016 and 2018 Samantha made Accounting Today's "Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting" list, 3 consecutive years made CPA Practice Advisor's "40 Under 40", and in 2018 and 2019 was honored with AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor's "Most Powerful Women in Accounting" award.