Why Attend CPAs by the Bay
CPAs by the Bay (formerly CPE by the Sea) offers diverse sessions tailored to help you stay on top of current business challenges. Expect sessions on tax, auditing, technology, professional development, and more.
Don't miss our four-hour state board-approved ethics session.
Registration Closed June 9.
When: June 16-18, 2025
Where: League City, Tx | South Shore Harbour Resort and Conference Center
2500 South Shore Blvd., League City, TX 77573 | Map
Hotel: Room rate is $144, room block expires May 27, 2025, or when room block is full. Reserve a room.
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* * * * SOLD OUT * * * * Optional Pre-Conference Tour:
Space Center Houston with Herb Baker
Kick off your CPAs by the Bay experience with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour of Space Center Houston, led by former NASA veteran Herb Baker. With 42 years at NASA, Herb brings firsthand insights into space exploration, astronaut training, and mission operations.
This optional add-on is a rare opportunity to explore space history through the eyes of an industry expert. Spots are limited for this 1.5 hour tour—secure yours today!
When: 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Space Center Houston - 1601 Nasa Pkwy, Houston, TX 77058
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Optional Texas State Board Approved Ethics
1 – 5 p.m. - Ethics for CPAs – It’s a Matter of Choice
Speaker: Deanna Sullivan, CPA/Principal/SullivanSolutions
If we believe there are only two choices for being successful in business: 1) to win by doing whatever it takes, or 2) to lose by behaving ethically, we are faced with a true moral dilemma. While most individuals don’t set out to be dishonest or unethical, no one wants to lose, and it becomes easy to rationalize our choices and do what is most convenient. This session provides a look into the ethical philosophies we hold that guide our personal and professional lives and discusses the values upon which our choices are based. Ethical behavior is more than knowing what’s right and what’s wrong. It’s making the right choices for our profession and the organizations and customers we serve. The public looks to us to maintain a standard of ethics and integrity and the Texas State Board holds us accountable for protecting the CPA brand. Are we meeting these obligations?
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Regulatory Ethics (Technical)
8 – 8:50 a.m. -Financial Markets Update (General Session)
Speaker: Chris A. Matlock, CPA, CFA/Chief Investment Officer/Goodman Financial Corporation
This presentation will provide insight into recent financial market developments and prospects for what the future might hold. We will discuss the equity and fixed income markets, as well as cover current economic and monetary conditions.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Finance (Technical)
9 – 11:50 a.m. - Federal Tax Update for Individuals (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Blaise C. Bender, JD, CPA
This session will provide a tax update associated with our individual tax clients. The session will include discussion on relevant revenue rulings, revenue procedures and developing case law. Relevant estate tax and trust matters will also be examined. Included in the discussion will be potential legislation and conversation on the extension of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act provisions that are due to expire at the end of 2025.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Taxes (Technical)
9 – 10:50 a.m. - A&A Updates (Breakout Session)
Speakers: Gosia Kanda, CPA, Partner/abip CPAs & Advisors/Houston
C. Eric Huddleston, CPA, MBA, Partner/abip CPAs & Advisors/Houston
Identify proposed financial accounting and reporting standards from the Financial Accounting Standards Board. Understand the impact of new requirements and the timeline of implementation for private and public companies.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Accounting (Technical)
11 – 11:50 a.m. - Underwritten by Artificial Intelligence (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Ernesto Fonseca, Sr. VP, Director of Business Banking
In the financial world, giving a client a quick decision on their financing request is a competitive advantage over the competition. But to be quick and nimble, financial institutions need a reliable process to expedite routine decision making and mitigate risk. This session will discuss the benefits and risks of how AI is quickly integrating into the underwriting process.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Information Technology (Technical)
12:20 – 1:10 p.m. - Lunch Session – Privacy Pandemonium (General Session)
Speaker: Jason Barret, JD/Principal and Owner/JAME Consulting, LLC
Texas and 18 other states now have laws that protect the privacy rights of employees and regulate how employers and business owners may use, store, or process an employee’s personally identifiable information (PII). These new laws go well beyond employee rights and responsibilities go well beyond existing laws like the ADA, FMLA, HIPPA, and the Privacy Act. This presentation will provide critical information about the new state laws, the focus of criminal and/or civil enforcement, and practical compliance considerations for employers and business owners.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources (Non-Technical)
1:20 – 2:10 p.m. - Texas Franchise Tax Developments (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Stephen Webster, CPA/State and Local Tax Senior Manager/Crowe LLP
This session will focus on the most recent legislative updates affecting Texas franchise tax and clarify how they impact taxpayers. We’ll also highlight potential refund opportunities generated by these changes, offering insights on how to assess these opportunities. Practical solutions will be offered that help organizations adapt to evolving tax laws and minimize potential risks.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Taxes (Technical)
1:20 – 2:10 p.m. - Navigating Critical Employment Laws (Old and New) that Impact Businesses in Texas (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Luke C. MacDowall/Attorney/Littler Mendelson PC
This workshop presentation will review employment law developments that all Texas employers need to be aware of in 2025. There will be an overview of foundational principles of the legal framework for employment relationships in Texas. We will also delve into the practical impact these laws have on business operations, wage and hour regulations, leave and accommodation issues, and much more. We will also explore the litigation process when employers become entangled in litigation under applicable laws to highlight the importance of being able to "issue spot" potential legal risks.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources (Non-Technical)
2:20 – 3:10 p.m. Social Security 2025: What’s Changed and Its Effects (Breakout Session)
Speaker: David Zander/Owner & Founder/Back Nine Financial, LLC
We've seen several changes recently, specifically the elimination of the WEP and the GPO. We’ll discuss how these changes will impact individuals and Social Security solvency. We'll also cover Social Security claiming going forward.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Finance (Technical)
2:20 – 3:10 p.m. - Pipeline Initiatives and the Future of the Profession (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Julia Woislaw, Director/AICPA/College Station
Discuss the current pipeline initiatives of AICPA in response to the declining number of young people entering the accounting profession and becoming CPAs.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Personnel/Human Resources (Non-Technical)
3:30 – 4:20 p.m. - Creating Value in Your CPA Practice (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Wade Holmes/Business Broker/Accounting Practice Sales
Have you thought about what you can implement now in your CPA practice so when it's time to exit, you're able to have the strongest amount of buyer interest and receive the greatest value? Join us as we explore some of the key factors driving a practice's value. We'll also look at what concerns buyers and sellers have during the purchase and sale process.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Communications and Marketing (Non-Technical)
3:30 – 4:20 p.m. - Reviews, Compilations and Preparations (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Bob Armstrong
4:30 – 5:20 p.m. - Medicare Primer (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Bryn Poland, Partner/Mayo & Poland, PLLC/Houston
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge (Technical)
4:30 – 5:20 p.m. - Organization Governance – Concepts and Issues (Breakout Session)
Speaker: H. Stephen Grace, Jr., Ph.D./President/H.S. Grace & Co.
In this session, we’ll discuss contrasts in perceptions of governance. We’ll define organizational governance, oversight and management.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Business Management & Organization (Non-Technical)
8 – 8:50 a.m. The Impact of AI on the Future of Accounting (General Session)
Speaker: Michael Quirke
9 – 11:50 a.m. - Federal Tax Update for Businesses (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Blaise C. Bender, JD, CPA
This session will cover recent developments associated with sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations and S Corporations. We'll discuss recent IRS revenue rulings, revenue procedures and tax cases. We’ll also discuss proposed business tax credit adjustments, tax procedure developments, proposed legislation, including extensions proposed on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), and the current developments under the beneficial ownership information reporting rules that may continue to impact some domestic entities
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Taxes (Technical)
9 – 10:50 a.m. - Financial Planning Roadmap (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Wade D. Egmon, CPA, CFP®/Senior Financial Advisor/Goodman Financial Corporation
In this session, we will explore strategies to increase the probability of being able to fully fund your goals and enjoy the retirement you envision. We will use a case study format with a baseline financial plan and begin to evaluate the impact of decisions in critical planning areas. We will also examine the impact of risks to the plan, such as market volatility, taxation, low Social Security payments, longevity, inflation, and health care expenses so that you can anticipate and plan for such risks.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Finance (Technical)
11 – 11:50 a.m. - Mastering Your Time: Mindfulness Strategies for Accountants (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Jessica Malone/Life Design Strategist/Nacho Average Fro
In this 50-minute session, participants will learn how to manage tasks mindfully, set boundaries to protect their time and make clear, confident decisions under pressure. We’ll explore strategies for prioritizing work without overwhelm, creating boundaries to maintain focus and work-life balance, and using mindfulness techniques to improve decision-making. By the end, participants will have practical tools to navigate their workload with greater clarity, efficiency and peace of mind.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Personal Development (Non-Technical)
12:20 – 1:10 p.m. - Lunch | Fraud Happens! (General Session)
Speaker: Chuck Cummings, CPA, CFE/Owner/Charles C. Cummings, Jr. Certified Public Accountant
Examine the size of fraud in America, reasons for the problem, principles to remember, and danger signs that should alert you to a fraud occurrence. Discover the number one deterrent to fraud. The session will also cover common and unusual ways embezzlement fraud is committed.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge (Technical)
1:20 – 2:10 p.m. - One Spreadsheet to Rule Them All: Finance Transformation on the Grid (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Jesse Rubenfeld, CPA/Founder/FinOptimal/Houston
Spreadsheets are no longer just a passive tool for organizing numbers—they’re a dynamic interface for automation, efficiency and transformation. As accounting has long been the language of business, spreadsheets have been its universal medium. From month-end close and cash management to interactive reporting and tax reconciliations, this session will explore how finance professionals can leverage spreadsheets to automate workflows, enforce data integrity and integrate seamlessly with modern accounting systems. Join us to discover how automation can turn your spreadsheets from a necessary chore into a strategic advantage.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Information Technology (Technical)
1:20 – 2:10 p.m. - The Future of Work and Your Personal Brand (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Kevin Box, MBA/Founder/Fuel Your Growth
This session will explore the evolving landscape of the future of work, emphasizing the growing importance of personal branding in a digital age shaped by AI and social media. You'll gain insight into how technology trends are impacting careers and learn strategies to build and maintain a strong personal brand in a rapidly changing professional environment.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Personal Development (Non-Technical)
2:20 – 3:10 p.m. - Leadership Dynamics (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Dana Garnett, MADR, MSA, CPA/Conflict Resolution Strategist/The Mindful Strategy LLC
Risking ruffling feathers, differences between generations have been way over analyzed where it's created greater gaps, making understanding each other a lot harder than it should be. Trying to keep up with generational characteristics and “how to” and “how not to” interact to not have conflict can be exhausting. Fortunately, there's a much easier way to relate to each other no matter what year you were born.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Personal Development (Non-Technical)
2:20 – 3:10 p.m. - How to Configure Customized Software Solutions (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Stephanie Livingston, CPA/President & CEO/Livingston CPA PLLC/Houston
This session will illustrate how to coax customized software solutions from QuickBooks Plus or Desktop to bypass the need for more costly or industry-specific reporting programs using a few tips and tricks, and for-profit and non-profit case studies, in an economy where every dollar counts.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Intermediate
Field of Study: Computer Software and Applications (Non-Technical)
3:30 – 4:20 p.m. - IT Project Management 101 for Accountants and Business Leaders (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Scott E. Johnson, CPA, PMP/SAP Project Delivery Executive
In today's world, the Information Technology department has become facilitators and servant leaders to the largest company projects that often call upon business leaders to sponsor or even run the projects. Many times, large IT projects are contracted out and the CPA and business leader must be savvier in negotiating and guiding the project budget, scope and timeline. The business should be intimately involved in the early stages of the project. This session attempts to arm the business side with a basic understanding of what goes on inside an IT project manager’s head and how to respond appropriately.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Information Technology (Technical)
3:30 – 4:20 p.m. - Quality Management Standards (Breakout Session)
Speaker: Robert (Bob) Armstrong
4:30 – 5:20 p.m. - Charting the Path from RPA to Agentic AI (Closing General Session)
Speakers: Edwin Harvey, Ph.D./Director/Your Part-Time Controller, LLC and Patricia Bueso/Manager/Your Part-Time Controller, LLC
What does it mean to give agency to generative AI algorithms, and what makes them capable of accepting and wielding said agency? How close are we to implementing agentic AI for auditing and financial management, what leaps have yet to be made, and what baby steps are already behind us? This session will answer these pressing questions by way of concepts and case studies. We’ll also consider how to employ early AI agents responsibly and prepare our teams for an increasingly “agentic” future.
Major Topics:
Learning Objectives:
Skill Level: Basic
Field of Study: Information Technology (Technical)
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