Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Which technology trends are worth monitoring? What are the proper hardware and software products for your strategic and tactical plans? How do artificial intelligence, quantum computing, software-as-a-service, and productivity suites like Microsoft 365 influence practice, especially since this year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of Excel? Separate vendor hype from reality and discover how to achieve a 2X or more return on investment from your technology expenditures. Leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.

Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Focus on data analytics, cybersecurity, practice management, and client service excellence to learn how firms can thrive amidst change. Key technologies covered include AI-powered auditing, blockchain applications for financial processes, advancements in cloud computing, robotic process automation (RPA), and workflow optimization tools. Gain clarity on significant trends and how they affect your firm's strategy, enabling you to make well-informed decisions for sustainable growth.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Just because Microsoft Teams is no longer a new tool doesn’t mean it hasn’t evolved…it certainly has! Since its introduction in 2016, Teams has become the de facto business productivity platform for organizations worldwide. Yet, many users barely scratch the surface of all that Teams offers. Learn how to get more from Teams and enhance your ROI on the platform, the core options available, and how to leverage them. Discuss new enhancements, including threaded conversations, enhanced meeting features, and integration with Microsoft’s Copilot platform.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Explore ten key apps — Shared Mailboxes, Planner, Lists, To Do, Stream, Viva Learning, Forms, Bookings, Approvals, and Places — and learn to integrate them effectively into your workflows. Practical applications will be emphasized within accounting contexts, to streamline operations and foster collaboration.

Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Managing and auditing employee spending on personal and corporate credit cards is challenging everywhere. Legacy manual expense reporting preparation and approval processes are tedious and repetitive, but they are an excellent place to start your company’s use of business process automation solutions. Cover a variety of expense workflow tools, which use technologies and features like bank feeds, mobile receipt capture, OCR data extraction/filling, automated policy enforcement, and artificial intelligence-based validation to automate and eliminate the tedium. Learn how to use automation and cure the expense reporting blues for you and your employees.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Collaboration remains one of today’s hottest topics. Technology has fueled today’s collaboration options, and work-from-anywhere environments virtually demand collaboration platforms. Examine today’s best tools and practices to facilitate more effective collaboration in your organization, and learn about today’s mainstream collaboration platforms – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Zoho – and how these options are similar and differ. Collaboration options, including Slack, Zoom, and Webex, will also be discussed, and you can incorporate these tools into your collaboration environments. Further, you will learn about some of the best practices and procedures that must be in place to optimize your collaborative environments and experiences.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Explore techniques to create simple workflows and develop custom applications, including "describe it to design it," to enhance your automation expertise with the low-code/no-code tools in Microsoft Power Apps and Power Automate. Focus on automating processes like approvals, workflow automation, and data manipulation while accessing and utilizing data from Microsoft Fabric and external databases. Learn about different types of workflows and the platform's tools for Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and leave with a better understanding of the Power Platform to drive digital transformation in your organization.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

There are so many new Excel features in so little time! Microsoft continues to add tremendous functionality to Excel – the business professional’s tool of choice. Yet most Excel users have not discovered these new tools and remain mired in yesterday’s practices for working in Excel. Learn how to use many of Excel’s latest features to work more efficiently and effectively with your spreadsheets and explore recently released features such as PIVOTBY, GROUPBY, Office Scripts, integration with Copilot, new ways to share and collaborate in Excel, and data entry and formula improvements.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Data security and privacy issues continue to plague businesses of all sizes. No matter where you look, the numbers are bad – really bad! But that doesn’t mean you can’t take steps to reduce these risks. Discuss the key security and privacy risks facing businesses today and the steps you can take to mitigate these risks. Review how cybercriminals attack businesses of all sizes and the related costs of these attacks. Explore practical tools, policies, and other solutions you can use to mitigate cybersecurity risks to prudently acceptable levels.

Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Client Accounting Services (CAS) have become a cornerstone of modern CPA firms, offering opportunities for enhanced client relationships, recurring revenue streams, and streamlined operations. Receive practical guidance on implementing and optimizing CAS within your firm. Explore the foundational elements of CAS, including service offerings, pricing models, and client communication strategies. Delve into the technology tools essential for CAS, including accounting software, workflow automation, and reporting platforms. Learn best practices for managing client expectations and delivering consistent, high-value services. Examine case studies of successful CAS implementations, review current trends impacting CAS, and identify critical steps to build a scalable CAS practice that aligns with your firm's goals. Address the importance of data security, governance, and compliance in providing CAS to ensure ethical and professional service delivery.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Explore Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems as a critical tool for business automation. Discussion will emphasize CRM’s role in streamlining workflows, organizing communications, enhancing client relationships, and improving efficiency. Learn about key CRM features, integration with accounting software, and best practices for successful implementation. Practical applications with actionable insights will be highlighted to help attendees optimize their processes.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Although Power BI has been available for ten years, most business professionals don’t fully appreciate all it can do and its easy use. Further, many are intimidated by the platform and continue to use less efficient and effective reporting practices. Learn how to work with Power BI almost immediately, use it to create compelling dashboard reports, and optimize these reports to enhance their effectiveness.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise Solutions remain three of the most widely used accounting applications today. However, each platform continues to experience major changes across several fronts. Feature sets, licensing requirements, and price changes all impact users at unprecedented levels. Further, competition continues to emerge in the small business accounting battleground, adding confusion to the options existing QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online users may have. Explore many changes impacting QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise users and how you can manage these changes for your company or clients' benefit.

Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Generative AI is seemingly everywhere, and business professionals are embracing the technology. And for a good reason – generative AI provides opportunities for enormous gains in efficiency and productivity. However, those gains can be even greater if you understand best practices for issuing AI prompts. Discuss the best ways to ask questions of your AI platforms so that you get the information you seek quickly and easily.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Explore advanced home networking concepts to support remote work and modern digital needs. Learn to select prosumer-grade hardware, configure multi-SSID networks, and integrate functionalities like VPNs, media servers, and remote file access to boost productivity and security. Discover cutting-edge technologies, including SPF+ (10G networking), to future-proof your setup for data-intensive workflows. Practical demonstrations and relevant use cases will equip you with the tools to optimize your home network for efficiency, security, and scalability.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Accounting professionals face a critical technological shift with the discontinuation of QuickBooks Pro and Premier sales in 2024. Explore the transition to modern platforms, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, Zoho Books, FreshBooks, and more. Gain insights into key features, integration capabilities, add-on solutions, and payroll and reporting functionalities. Learn strategies for seamless implementation and discover how to guide clients effectively through this change. Comparative tables and expert insights will equip you to make informed recommendations for your practice or small business.

Randolph P. Johnston, MCS
K2 Enterprises , Hutchinson, KS

Security and privacy issues must be top-of-mind concerns for business professionals using AI. Yet, for far too many of these professionals, no concern is given for the potential security and privacy risks associated with AI, setting the stage for potentially disastrous results. Learn about AI security and privacy risks and how to manage them. Discussion includes the major AI companies’ security and privacy policies, how AI platforms might use your data, and how you can stay in control.

Thomas G. Stephens Jr, CPA, CITP, CGM
Managing Partner / K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Portable Document Format (PDF) documents are everywhere! Yet few know how to work effectively with these documents. Learn valuable tips to assist you with creating, editing, and securing PDFs. Also learn how to convert PDFs to fillable forms and secure PDFs, among other features.

Brian Tankersley, CPA.CITP, CGMA
K2 Enterprises , Hammond, LA

Generative AI and “ransomware for hire” have helped cybercriminals thrive in the post-pandemic period – but how do they do it? This all-new session is a series of case studies that examine actual criminal filings and news accounts and use them to highlight some of the actions you can take to limit your exposure to similar schemes. Discuss how high-profile control failures occurred so you can be more effective at preventing crimes such as theft, malware, ransomware, phishing, and hacking.