We are delighted to share the official dates and location for the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Beach Retreat!
📅 Monday, June 22 – Wednesday, June 24, 2026
📍 Princess Royale, Ocean City, Maryland (newly renovated all-suite sleeping rooms and meeting space)
This annual retreat brings together accounting and finance professionals from across the region for three days of learning, collaboration, and inspiration — all in a beautiful beachside setting.
For 2026, we’re elevating the Coastal Conference experience. With four concurrent tracks and immersive two-hour sessions each day, you can build an agenda that fits your goals.
Here’s a preview of confirmed sessions and speakers — and this is just the beginning. Additional programming will be announced soon.
Day One – Monday, June 22
Tech, Tax, Audit & Leadership Highlights
- NFP Tax & 990 Issues - Fred Longwood, CPA, MST – Senior Manager, GRF CPAs & Advisors
- Professional Ethical Considerations for CPAs - George Luff, III, CPA, CFE, MAFF, CFF, CVA, Luff & Associates
- Human Leadership in an AI World - Jennifer Elder, CSP, CPA, CGMA, CSCA, AICPA
- Current State of AI: Demystifying the Tools & Real-World Examples - Nick Damoulakis, Orases
- Yellow Book Update - Tricia Reaver, CPA, Frederick County Government
- Economic Outlook & Tariffs - Chris Sweeney, PNC Bank
- Ethics in the World of AI - Jennifer Elder, CSP, CPA, CGMA, CSCA, AICPA
- Risk Management - Jennifer Elder, CSP, CPA, CGMA, CSCA, AICPA
- Upskilling That Sticks: From Content to Capability - Phil Mills, CPA, Aprio
- Employment Law Update (VA & MD), Speaker to be Announced, Blackwell HR
- Rethinking Talent Strategy: How Offshoring Enables Growth & Retention - Heather Karpawich, CPA, Grant Thornton
Day Two – Tuesday, June 23
Innovation, Compliance & Succession Focus
- Technology Trends for CPAs & CFOs: 2026 Update - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- Linking It All Together: Audit Planning & Risk Assessment (AU-C 315) - Phil Mills, CPA, Aprio
- Tax Planning Strategies for Today’s Environment - Art Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), Werner Rocca Seminars
- Claude & Claude Work - Nick Damoulakis, Orases
- Ethical AI Practices for CPAs - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- Nexus – Know Your Triggers - Art Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), Werner Rocca Seminars
- Succession Planning for CPA Firms - Barrett Young, III, CPA, GWCPA
- Microsoft 365 for CPAs: Unlocking Hidden Productivity Tools - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- Internal Audit in the Government Environment - Tricia Reaver, CPA, Frederick County Government
- Data Visualization for Finance & Audit Professionals - Joe Oringel, CPA, CIA, MBA, Visual Risk IQ
- Leadership in Motion: Steadying the Ship During Change - Janice Stucke, CPA, CREW Network, and Jessica McClain, CPA, CISA, PMP, CGFM, American Staffing Association
- Supervised AI Agents as Audit & Finance Team Members - Joe Oringel, CPA, CIA, MBA, Visual Risk IQ
Day Three – Wednesday, June 24
Technical Updates & The Future of the Profession
- ChatGPT Deep-Dive Bootcamp for CPAs - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- Federal Tax Update - Art Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), Werner Rocca Seminars
- Alternative Firm Structures - Matthew Bosher, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
- FASB Update - Ryan J. Walker, CPA, Crowe LLP
- Forensic Accounting & Fraud Prevention Techniques - George Luff, III, CPA, CFE, MAFF, CFF, CVA, Luff & Associates
- Smarter Tax Services with AI Tools - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- Corporate Finance Topic - Janice Stucke, CPA, CREW Network
- The AI Revolution in 2026: What CPAs Should Know - John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
- VSCPA & MACPA Town Hall - Rebekah Olson, CPA, Maryland Association of CPAs, and Maureen Dingus, CAE, Virginia Society of CPAs
- Individual Income Tax Update - Art Werner, JD, MS (Taxation), Werner Rocca Seminars
- Designing an AI-Ready Firm - Barrett Young, III, CPA and John Benish, Jr., CPA, CGMA, GWCPA
- Private Equity in Accounting Firms: Pros, Cons & Lessons Learned - Matthew Bosher, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
- Women in the CPA Profession (Roundtable Experience) - Jessica McClain, CPA, CISA, PMP, CGFM, American Staffing Association, Janice Stucke, CPA, CREW Network, Jennifer Elder, CSP, CPA, CGMA, CSCA, AICPA and Rebekah Olson, CPA, Maryland Association of CPAs
