The MACPA Business & Industry Conference will give you insight into recent trends and topics affecting not only CPAs but all financial professionals in the business and industry sectors.
Sessions to be offered during this four -hour program:
The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Speaker: Anirban Basu, MPP, MA, JD, Ph.D., Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Sage Policy Group, Inc.
Has the Federal Reserve successfully engineered a soft landing? Or, is the confluence of geopolitical conflict, a presidential election, rising consumer debt levels, and still high-interest rates conspiring to produce an economic downturn in 2024? It is difficult to know whether 2024 will be a good year – but one thing is clear – it will be a very interesting one. This presentation will supply an in-depth analysis of major factors shaping economic outcomes, including interest rates, global conflict, wage dynamics, business confidence, and demographics. It will then turn toward a forecast for the coming year, highlighting the major risks that economic stakeholders will likely encounter.
A&A Update
Speaker: Claudia Wolter, CPA, CCIFP, CCA, Shareholder, KatzAbosch
This course provides a practical overview of the most important issues facing most companies and their accountants. The focus is on explaining the basis behind major issues and trends in plain language, enabling professionals to understand the most important aspects of relevant standards and why any planned or potential changes are coming down the pike.
10 minute break
Best Practices on Recruiting and Retention
Speakers: Brian Deffaa, Chief Marketing Officer, Kerry Weber, MsM, Employer Branding & Recruitment Marketing Specialist,, LifeBridge Health
In today's competitive job market, attracting and retaining top talent is essential for the success of any organization. Join us for an insightful session on Employee Recruiting and Retention, where we will explore effective strategies and best practices to attract, engage, and retain skilled employees.
10 minute break
Behavioral Health 101 – Facts and Fictions
Speaker: Oleg Tarkovsky, MA, LCPC, MBA, Director of Behavioral Health Services, CareFirst, BCBS
Interested in sponsoring this event? Learn more here .
CEO
*Maryland Association of CPAs
Rebekah (Brown) Olson, CPA, is the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and an influential figure in the accounting profession, recognized as one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2022.
Joining the MACPA in 2012, Rebekah assumed the position of Manager of Membership Development and Engagement in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Development, where she served on the leadership team steering the association through the complex challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the departure of longstanding CEO Tom Hood.
Passionate about the future of the accounting profession, Rebekah is a sought-after speaker who frequently shares her insights on professional trends and opportunities. As a certified facilitator, she has guided numerous organizations, both in the United States and Canada, in the strategic planning process.
Rebekah's contributions have garnered recognition from various prestigious entities. CPA Practice Advisor recognized her as a top thought leader under 40 in the CPA profession in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2019, she was honored with the President's Award by the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Baltimore Chapter for her community service. Additionally, Rebekah was named a Maryland Daily Record Leading Women Honoree in 2020.
Rebekah holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, dual specializing in Accounting and Sports Management, from The Max M. Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University, which she earned in 2009. She obtained her CPA designation in 2011. After gaining invaluable experience at a Top 100 firm, Rebekah decided to leave public accounting and leverage her talents and experiences to work on behalf of the profession at the Maryland Association of CPAs.
CEO
Sage Policy Group
Anirban Basu is Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group, Inc., a Baltimore-based economic and policy consultancy he founded in 2004. He serves the Chief Economist function for many organizations, including the Maryland Bankers Association and Associated Builders and Contractors. The Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010. In 2022, he entered the Daily Record newspaper’s Circle of Influence. He is the Distinguished Economist in Residence at Goucher College, where he teaches History of Economic Thought. He holds four graduate degrees, including a J.D. and a Ph.D.
