2026 DIGITAL PROGRAM

We’re thrilled to have you join us for the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Coastal Conference (MACC) at the Princess Royale in Ocean City, Maryland!


The event is co-hosted by the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA) and the Virginia Society of CPAs (VSCPA). We are grateful that you can join us!

Parking is free for all attendees
If you are a hotel guest, parking is included in your overnight stay.  If you are joining us just for the day, please see the registration desk for a parking pass for each day you plan to attend.

View Princess Royale Floor plan

Please use the following for the WiFi:
Network: Princess Royale Private | Password: Private91

Please join us in the Exhibit Hall for breakfast starting at 6:30 a.m. We will also have morning announcements at 7:15 a.m.

DOWNLOAD E-MATERIALS HERE

Access presentation slides, handouts, and reference materials prepared by your event instructors. These resources are designed to help you follow along during sessions and reinforce key takeaways afterward.

Advocacy Team
ATTENDEE INTERACTION

Engage with MACC Through Conferences.io

Throughout the day, we’ll be using Conferences.io to make sessions more interactive and capture insights from attendees.

During each session, we encourage you to participate by:

  • Ask the Team Questions
  • Need help during the conference? Use this tool to submit anonymous questions about the event experience, agenda, locations, meals, activities, or conference logistics.
  • Speaker and session-related questions should be asked during the session's Q&A period.
  • Share Your Takeaways
    • After each session, post your key takeaway or insights.
  • Participate in Polls
  • We’ll also be asking a few questions throughout the day to gather your thoughts and perspectives.

Your participation helps us highlight the most valuable ideas from the conference and keeps the conversation going beyond the sessions.

Earning your CPE

Tidal Wave Pass

If you registered to attend all 3 days of the Mid-Atlantic Coastal
Conference, you should have this ribbon on your nametag.

We'll check you in at each session room door during the event..

Day Tripper

If you are a “Day Tripper” attendee, you have already pre-selected your sessions and will not be checked into each session room.

You should have already made your session selections upon registration and will not need to checked into each session room.

For all attendees, if you'd like to change sessions please see an MACPA staff person onsite. You will be able to attest to your CPE hours online following the conference.

Master key MBA concepts

Help us celebrate 125 years of connection and impact.

Share your favorite MACPA memory—we’ll be showcasing these moments at the celebration on June 18th. Click below to access our Kudoboard, where you can easily add your story (and even a photo!) to be part of this shared tribute.

2026 Mid-Atlantic Coastal Conference

Agenda
Monday • June 22
Tuesday • June 23
Wednesday • June 24
6:30 – 7:30AM
Continental Breakfast & MACC Kickoff
Breakfast at 6:30 AM • Kickoff remarks at 7:15 AM
7:30 – 9:30AM
Choose one session
Session 01
Nonprofit Tax and Form 990 Essentials
Fred Longwood • 2.4 Taxes
Room C
Session 02
Professional Ethical Considerations for CPAs
George Luff • 2.4 Regulatory Ethics
Room D
Session 04
The Algorithm Can't Do This: Leading People in the Age of AI
Jennifer Elder • 2.4 Personal Development
Room A/B
9:30 – 10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Break — Coffee w/ Our Sponsors
Collect passport stamps for prize entry
10:00AM – 12:00PM
Choose one session
Session 05
Current State of AI: Facts, Data & Live Demos
Nick Damoulakis • 2.4 Information Technology
Room D
Session 06
2026 Yellow Book Update
Tricia Reaver • 2.4 Auditing (Governmental)
Room C
Session 08
Balancing the Books on AI: Managing Risk, Maximizing Reward
Jennifer Elder • 2.4 Information Technology
Room A/B
12:00 – 12:45PM
Lunch Break & Exhibit Hall Visit
12:45 – 2:45PM
Choose one session
Session 09
Work Smarter, Delegate Safely: Automating Your Accounting Practice
Bryant Harrison • 2.4 Business Management
Room D
Session 10
Once Upon a Spreadsheet: The Art and Science of Data Storytelling
Jennifer Elder • 2.4 Communications
Room A/B
Session 11
Employee Benefits Update: Trends
Gregory Usberti • 2.4 Personnel/HR
Room C
Session 12
Upskilling That Sticks: From Content to Capability
Phil Mills • 2.4 Business Management
Room E
2:45 – 3:00PM
Exhibit Hall Break — Coffee w/ Our Sponsors
Collect passport stamps for prize entry
3:00 – 4:00PM
Choose one session
Session 13
Promotable: The Promotion You Can't Afford to Get Wrong
David Arrington • 1.2 Personnel/HR
Room E
Session 14
Power Off: Strategies for Healthy Digital Boundaries
Maureen Dingus • 1.2 Personal Development
Room D
Session 15
HR Compliance Check-in: Strategies for Small Businesses
Sharon Webb & Moira McFarlin • 1.2 Personnel/HR
Room A/B
Session 16
Rethinking Talent Strategy: How Offshoring Enables Growth
Heather Karpawich • 1.2 Personnel/HR
Room C
4:30 – 6:00PM
Welcome Reception
Kick off MACC with coastal vibes, great conversation, and connection
6:00 – 7:00AM
🧘 Sunrise Yoga (optional)
6:30 – 7:30AM
Continental Breakfast & MACC Kickoff — Day Two
Breakfast at 6:30 AM • Kickoff remarks at 7:15 AM
7:30 – 9:30AM
Choose one session
Session 17
Technology Trends for CPAs and CFOs: 2026 Update
John Higgins • 2.4 Information Technology
Room A/B
Session 18
Linking It All Together: Audit Planning & Risk Assessment Under AU-C 315
Phil Mills • 2.4 Auditing
Room C
Session 19
Audit Your Security: The Big 5 Safeguards Every Accounting Firm Must Have
Bryant Harrison • 2.4 Information Technology
Room D
Session 20
No Title Required: How CPAs Lead Through Influence, Not Authority
Jennifer Elder • 2.4 Personal Development
Room E
9:30 – 10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Break — Coffee w/ Our Sponsors
Collect passport stamps for prize entry
10:00AM – 12:00PM
Choose one session
Session 21
See What's Possible: A Live Demo of AI with Claude and Claude Cowork
Nick Damoulakis • 2.4 Information Technology
Room D
Session 22
AI Ethics 2026 (VBOA approved)
John Higgins • 2.4 Regulatory Ethics
Room A/B
Session 23
Internal Audit in the Government Environment
Tricia Reaver • 2.4 Auditing (Governmental)
Room C
Session 24
Succession Starts Today
Barrett Young • 2.4 Business Management
Room E
12:00 – 12:45PM
Lunch Break & Exhibit Hall Visit
12:45 – 2:45PM
Choose one session
Session 25
Microsoft 365 for CPAs: Unlocking Hidden Productivity Tools
John Higgins • 2.4 Computer Software
Room A/B
Session 26
Estate Planning: Local Issues (MD, VA, DC)
Arthur Werner • 2.4 Taxes
Room D
Session 27
Picture This: What Finance & Audit Pros Need to Know About Data Visualization
Joe Oringel • 2.4 Communications
Room E
Session 28
Leadership in Motion: How Finance Leaders Steady the Ship During Change
Jessica McClain & Janice Stucke • 2.4 Specialized Knowledge
Room C
2:45 – 3:00PM
Exhibit Hall Break — Coffee w/ Our Sponsors
Last chance for passport stamps
3:00 – 3:30PM
Choose one session
Session 29
AI Automation in Tax Preparation: What CPAs Can Adopt Right Now
Jaideep Singh • 0.5 Taxes
Room A/B
Session 31
Hiding in Plain Sight: Disaster Refunds After Abdo and Kwong
Rebecca Sheppard & Peter Haukebo • 1.0 Taxes
Room D
3:00 – 4:00PM
Choose one session
Session 30
CPA & Banker Partnership, Fraud, & Economic Outlook
Chris Sweeney • 1.2 Management Services
Room C
Session 32
Supervised AI Agents as Audit and Finance Team Members
Joe Oringel • 2.4 Auditing
Room E
3:30 – 4:00PM
Choose one session
Session 33
The 2026 Risk Outlook: Emerging Exposures and Priorities for CPA Firms
Robert Albertini & Joe Hackimer • 0.5 Business Management
Room A/B
7:30 – 8:30PM
🍹 AICPA Sponsored Happy Hour
8:30 – 10:00PM
🔥 AICPA Sponsored Bonfire
6:30 – 7:30AM
Continental Breakfast & MACC Kickoff — Day Three
Breakfast at 6:30 AM • Kickoff remarks at 7:15 AM
7:30 – 9:30AM
Choose one session
Session 35
ChatGPT Deep-Dive Hands-on Bootcamp for CPAs
John Higgins • 2.4 Computer Software
Room A/B
Session 37
Federal Tax Update
Arthur Werner • 2.4 Taxes
Room D
Session 38
Alternative Firm Structures
Matthew Bosher • Business Management
Room C
9:30 – 10:00AM
Exhibit Hall Break — Coffee w/ Our Sponsors
Final stamps for passport prizes
10:00AM – 12:00PM
Choose one session
Session 39
What's Ahead in Financial Reporting: FASB Updates & Regulatory Developments
Ryan Walker & Julia Bell • 2.4 Accounting
Room E
Session 40
Forensic Accounting and Fraud Prevention Techniques
George Luff • 2.4 Accounting
Room C
Session 41
Smarter Tax Services with Artificial Intelligence Tools
John Higgins • 2.4 Taxes
Room A/B
Session 42
Tax Planning Strategies for Today's Environment
Arthur Werner • 2.4 Taxes
Room D
12:00 – 12:45PM
Lunch Break & Exhibit Hall Visit
Be sure to stay for the raffle drawing for your chance to win!
12:45 – 2:45PM
Choose one session
Session 43
The AI Revolution in 2026: What CPAs Should Know
John Higgins • 2.4 Information Technology
Room A/B
Session 45
Common Federal Tax Issues Practitioners Are Seeing Now
Arthur Werner • 2.4 Taxes
Room D
Session 46
Designing an AI-Ready Firm
Barrett Young & John M. Benish • 2.4 Business Management
Room C
2:45 – 3:00PM
Exhibit Hall Break — Final Wrap-Up
3:00 – 4:00PM
Choose one session
Session 47
When Clients Get Creative: Ethics in Practice
Rebecca Sheppard & Peter Haukebo • 1.2 Regulatory Ethics
Room A/B
Session 48
Economic Update
Leonard Arvi • 1.2 Economics
Room D
Session 49
Private Equity in Accounting Firms: Pros, Cons & Lessons Learned
Matthew Bosher • 1.2 Business Management
Room C

Special Events & Activities!

Professional Headshots

A fresh headshot, on us! Find an available time slot using this calendar. You can also visit the registration desk to secure your time.

Fun Events

Welcome Reception, Complimentary Morning Yoga, Happy Hour, and our annual Bonfire!

PRIZES! PRIZES! PRIZES!

Visit all of our amazing sponsors during the event to be included in the drawing for some great prizes!

Spread the Word!

Use #BeachCPE in all your posts to join the broader conversation and ensure your content is
discoverable by other attendees and the associations.

Sponsor passport

Stamp You Sponsor Passport & Win

Be sure to visit our sponsor tables throughout the day! During the breaks, stop by participating sponsor tables to learn more about their organizations and collect a stamp on your Sponsor Passport card.

Once your passport card is fully stamped, return it to the registration table to be entered into raffles for prizes on the last day of the conference.This is a great opportunity to connect with the organizations that support Converge and the MACPA community.

Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible!


Even More fun

Discover more Ocean City!

Sponsor Directory

We encourage you to visit our sponsors during the conference.

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