Instructor
Vivian J. Paige, CPA, CGMA, MBA, MS, has extensive experience in taxation and accounting. She was a successful sole practitioner until selling most of her firm and joining the faculty of her alma mater, Old Dominion University (ODU). She is actively involved with the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA), serving as a member and past chair of the Tax Advisory Committee and as a member of the VSCPA Political Action Committee Board, the ad hoc Educators' Symposium Task Force, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council. She authored the VSCPA Legislators' Tax Guide and presented briefings to the legislature on taxation. She is the co-author of VSCPA ethics courses and has been a presenter at several VSCPA conferences.
Instructor
Arthur Joseph Werner, J.D., M.S. (Taxation)
Arthur Joseph Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), is the president and is a shareholder in the lecture firm of Werner-Rocca Seminars, Ltd. Mr. Werner’s lecture topic specialties include business, tax, financial and estate planning for high net worth individuals.
In addition, Mr. Werner is a former adjunct professor of taxation in the Master of Science in Taxation program at the Philadelphia University.
Mr. Werner received his B.S. in Accounting and his M.S. in Taxation from Widener University. He holds a J.D. in Law from the Delaware Law School. Mr. Werner lectures extensively in the areas of Estate Planning, Financial Planning, and Estate and Gift Taxation to Certified Public Accountants and Financial Planners and has presented more than 3000 eight-hour seminars over the past twenty-five years as well as numerous webinars and video presentations. Mr. Werner has been rated as having the highest speaker knowledge in his home state of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, was awarded the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award in the State of Nevada, the Florida Institute of CPAs Outstanding Discussion Leader Award, and the South Carolina Association of CPAs Outstanding Discussion Leader Award.
Instructor
Elissa Borges is Assistant General Counsel in the Office of Tax and Revenue, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, for the D.C. Government. Prior to joining OTR in 2016, Elissa was a partner at the law firm of Ober Kaler in Baltimore, Maryland (now Baker Donelson) for more than a decade where she was a member of the firm’s Tax and Litigation practice groups. Elissa is the past chair of the Tax Section of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Instructor
Nick joined YHB in 2020 with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Nick is a graduate of Carthage College with a BS in Accounting and Business, the University of Connecticut with an MA in Accounting, Case Western Reserve University with a JD, and Georgetown University with an LLM in taxation. Nick has also worked with the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent and an Attorney with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.
EXPERTISE
Nick’s expertise includes helping high wealth individual and large business entities with complex tax compliance, along with specializing in international, non-for-profit tax issues, and tax ethics issues. He has used his tax expertise not only to serve his clients, but also his peers. He has authored publications for the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy, AICPA’s Tax Advisor, NATP’s Tax Pro Journal, and CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure and co-authored a textbook, Tax Preparer Penalties and Circular 230 Enforcement, published by Thomas Reuters. He has also lectured nationally on topics such as ethics, complex tax transactions, and IRS practice and procedure.
Instructor
Instructor
Sean O'Connell is a Tax Principal with Sikich, a Top 30 CPA firm with offices in Rockville, MD and Alexandria, VA. He has been designated as a Personal Financial Specialist, and just completed his Master's in Taxation at DePaul University. Sean's clients are owner-managed, closely held businesses.
Hosted in collaboration with the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA) and the Greater Washington Society of CPAs (GWSCPA). Join us for a high-impact, timely update featuring a powerhouse lineup of tax experts covering today’s most pressing topics for CPAs and tax professionals. Whether you’re navigating state tax complexity, evaluating nexus concerns, or diving into emerging issues like crypto taxation, this conference delivers the insights you need.
Hear from nationally recognized speakers, including Vivian Paige, Art Werner, Nick Preusch, and Kirk David Phillips. Plus — Get the Latest from the Source: Hear directly from tax representatives from Maryland, D,C and Virginia as they provide critical jurisdictional updates, legislative developments, and what’s ahead for their respective states.
Topics will include:
Whether you serve individuals or businesses — or both — this forum delivers the critical knowledge you need to start 2026 strong. Don’t miss your chance to learn from leading tax minds and connect with fellow professionals across the region.
This event has been pre-approved for IRS CE. The host (the Virginia Society of CPAs) will process the credits for you within 2 weeks following the program. Please complete the sign-in sheet in the ematerials section as soon as possible prior to the event date.
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Vivian J. Paige, CPA, CGMA, MBA, MS, has extensive experience in taxation and accounting. She was a successful sole practitioner until selling most of her firm and joining the faculty of her alma mater, Old Dominion University (ODU). She is actively involved with the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA), serving as a member and past chair of the Tax Advisory Committee and as a member of the VSCPA Political Action Committee Board, the ad hoc Educators' Symposium Task Force, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council. She authored the VSCPA Legislators' Tax Guide and presented briefings to the legislature on taxation. She is the co-author of VSCPA ethics courses and has been a presenter at several VSCPA conferences.
Kick off the day with a comprehensive overview of HR-1 and the sweeping federal tax changes shaping the 2025 filing season and beyond. This opening session will establish the foundation for the day's discussions on business and individual tax updates, state responses, and emerging issues. By grounding attendees in the core legislative changes, this session prepares you to dive deeper into the detailed sessions that follow and to better understand the full picture of how these changes impact your clients and organizations.
Learning Objectives:
• Summarize the key provisions of HR-1 and how they reshape the federal tax landscape for individuals and businesses.
• Explain how Virginia, Maryland, and DC are responding to HR-1, including areas of conformity and decoupling.
• Connect the federal changes under HR-1 to broader tax implications.
Nick joined YHB in 2020 with over 15 years of experience in the industry. Nick is a graduate of Carthage College with a BS in Accounting and Business, the University of Connecticut with an MA in Accounting, Case Western Reserve University with a JD, and Georgetown University with an LLM in taxation. Nick has also worked with the Internal Revenue Service as a Revenue Agent and an Attorney with the IRS Office of Professional Responsibility.
EXPERTISE
Nick’s expertise includes helping high wealth individual and large business entities with complex tax compliance, along with specializing in international, non-for-profit tax issues, and tax ethics issues. He has used his tax expertise not only to serve his clients, but also his peers. He has authored publications for the AICPA’s Journal of Accountancy, AICPA’s Tax Advisor, NATP’s Tax Pro Journal, and CCH’s Journal of Tax Practice and Procedure and co-authored a textbook, Tax Preparer Penalties and Circular 230 Enforcement, published by Thomas Reuters. He has also lectured nationally on topics such as ethics, complex tax transactions, and IRS practice and procedure.
Major shifts in individual taxation are on the horizon with the federal tax law changes enacted in July 2025. This 75-minute session will unpack the most significant updates affecting individual taxpayers, including changes to rates, deductions, credits, estate and gift tax thresholds, and retirement-related provisions. Designed for CPAs serving clients across Maryland, DC, and Virginia, this session focuses primarily on understanding and interpreting the federal updates—while briefly touching on how the tri-state area is responding. Gain the clarity and practical insights you need to guide clients through the upcoming filing season and implement proactive planning strategies for 2025 and beyond.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Explain the major federal individual income tax provisions enacted in July 2025 and how they impact taxpayers.
2. Evaluate how changes to deductions, credits, and rates may influence individual tax planning and compliance strategies.
3. Develop proactive tax planning strategies to help clients adapt to and benefit from the new federal individual tax provisions enacted in 2025.
Sean O'Connell is a Tax Principal with Sikich, a Top 30 CPA firm with offices in Rockville, MD and Alexandria, VA. He has been designated as a Personal Financial Specialist, and just completed his Master's in Taxation at DePaul University. Sean's clients are owner-managed, closely held businesses.
Session details to come!
Elissa Borges is Assistant General Counsel in the Office of Tax and Revenue, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, for the D.C. Government. Prior to joining OTR in 2016, Elissa was a partner at the law firm of Ober Kaler in Baltimore, Maryland (now Baker Donelson) for more than a decade where she was a member of the firm’s Tax and Litigation practice groups. Elissa is the past chair of the Tax Section of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Join representatives from the Virginia Department of Taxation, the Office of Tax and Revenue in the District of Columbia, and the Comptroller of Maryland for an in-depth discussion on current and emerging state tax developments. This interactive panel will explore how each jurisdiction is responding to the sweeping federal changes under HR-1, the legislative initiatives shaping their respective tax policies, and the administrative priorities impacting taxpayers and practitioners alike. Gain direct insight into how each state is navigating compliance, enforcement, modernization, and guidance efforts to align with federal reforms while addressing unique regional challenges.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Arthur Joseph Werner, J.D., M.S. (Taxation)
Arthur Joseph Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), is the president and is a shareholder in the lecture firm of Werner-Rocca Seminars, Ltd. Mr. Werner’s lecture topic specialties include business, tax, financial and estate planning for high net worth individuals.
In addition, Mr. Werner is a former adjunct professor of taxation in the Master of Science in Taxation program at the Philadelphia University.
Mr. Werner received his B.S. in Accounting and his M.S. in Taxation from Widener University. He holds a J.D. in Law from the Delaware Law School. Mr. Werner lectures extensively in the areas of Estate Planning, Financial Planning, and Estate and Gift Taxation to Certified Public Accountants and Financial Planners and has presented more than 3000 eight-hour seminars over the past twenty-five years as well as numerous webinars and video presentations. Mr. Werner has been rated as having the highest speaker knowledge in his home state of Pennsylvania by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants, was awarded the AICPA Outstanding Discussion Leader Award in the State of Nevada, the Florida Institute of CPAs Outstanding Discussion Leader Award, and the South Carolina Association of CPAs Outstanding Discussion Leader Award.
Nexus rules are evolving rapidly, impacting businesses and practitioners alike. This session will break down the key concepts and recent developments that determine when and where a taxpayer has sufficient presence to be taxed. We’ll address how these rules apply in a multistate context, the potential risks of noncompliance, and strategies to reduce exposure. Attendees will leave with practical insights to apply immediately in advising clients engaged in interstate activities.
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
* Identify the concept of nexus and explain its implications for multistate taxation.
* Recognize common triggers for creating nexus in multiple jurisdictions.
* Apply practical strategies to assess and manage nexus-related risks.
Session details coming soon!
