AI UNCHAINED

WELCOME TO THE CONFERENCE: OPENING DOORS TO NEW OPPORTUNITIES - In HARBOR FOYER

Welcome! Our registration opens at 12pm in the Harbor Foyer. You'll be greeted by the excitement and energy of like-minded individuals eager to learn, network, and grow. Take a deep breath and get ready to explore the countless opportunities ahead of you. From inspiring speakers to informative breakout sessions, this conference is the gateway to new knowledge, experiences, and connections. So step inside, embrace the possibilities, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey of personal and professional growth. 

Consultant's Introductions - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

With years of experience and a wealth of knowledge to share. They are highly respected thought leaders in the accounting profession, who have made significant contributions to the industry and have been recognized for their outstanding achievements. They're passionate about what they do and are always eager to share their expertise, whether it's discussing the latest trends in accounting or providing tips and advice on how to grow your business. So get ready to be wowed by our dream team of consulting wizards and prepare to take your accounting skills to the next level! Trust us, they have rep.

Moderator:
Deneen Dias, Botkeeper

Consultant's Corner - In CARLTON

In just 10 minutes learn more about each of the Botkeeper Advisors (consultants and advocates). Share a snapshot of your future forward firm and determine if they might be the right fit to get you there.

Advisors:
Lauren Baptiste, Acheloa Wellness | Gale Crosley, Crosley & Company | Seth Fineberg, Accountants Forward | John Garrett, What's Your "And"? Consultant | Will Hill, Will Hill Consults | W. Michael Hsu, DeepSky, Measure x Hack, and CFO Club | Gaynor Meilke, Charisma Ink, LLC | Renee Moelders, ConvergenceCoaching, LLC | Donny Shimamoto, Intraprise Techknowlogies, LLC | Amy Vetter, B3 Method Institute | Geni Whitehouse, The Impactful Advisor / ITA President | David Wolfskehl, Whitman Transition Advisors

Develop Your CAAS Practice Like an Incubation Start Up (3 CPE) - In Harbor 1

You have a CAAS practice and a CAAS leader in place, so how do you bring inspiration to build a different type of business model? As an innovator and early adopter, being ahead of the curve and partnering with technology has most likely accelerated your practice. If you have started to build an advisory practice, what’s next?

Presenters:
Enrico Palmerino, Botkeeper | Dixie McCurley, Cherry Bekaert

Technology: A Day in the Life of a Firm (2 CPE) - In BURROUGHS

Technology, it's a beast, but we need it to make our work day manageable. Join the technology workshop to learn the connectivity of technology solutions that can simplify tasks for your bookkeeper, and ultimately bring time savings and efficiencies across your organization.

Presenters:
Deb Defer, CPA, Woodard | David Bergstein, CPA, Bergstein CPA

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTION CONSORTIUM - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III & HARBOR FOYER

Join the Technology Solution Sponsors during our 4-hour consortium to explore what they have to offer. Go ahead, ask those tough questions whether their app will connect to one you currently use. How their technology is going to help your CAS practice bring revenue to their firm. We triple-dog dare you!

Presenters:
AI Unchained Sponsors

Technology Solution Sponsors 15 Minute Previews - IN HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

Join some of the select Technology Solution Sponsors as they introduce their company and demonstrate how their application can work for your firm.

Wine Down Technology Solution Reception - In HARBOR FOYER

Come do some elbow-rubbing at our Tech Solution Wine Down! And what goes with elbow-rubbing better than wine? Beer, you say? Well, there will be some of that too. Cavort, hob-nob, converse, and otherwise be sociable.

REGISTRATION OPENS

Missed yesterday? That's okay, get checked in today! Don't forget to swing by registration to get checked in and get ready for a day of learning and networking! Our team will be on hand to assist you with any questions or concerns, and we're looking forward to helping you make the most of your conference experience. See you there!

Opening Breakfast

Welcome to AI Unchained 2023! With Enrico Palmerino, Founder & CEO of Botkeeper - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

Presenter:
Enrico Palmerino, Botkeeper

Going Darwin: How Self-Evolution is the Key to Future Success (1 CPE) - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

Technology is transforming our profession. Machines can now do the foundational things upon which our profession was built, and they can do them faster and more accurately than we can. How do we stay relevant in a world like this? The answer lies in mastering the things the machines CAN’T do. That means embracing a new mindset, a new skillset, and a new toolset that will make us not only future-ready, but future-proof.

Presenter:
Bill Sheridan, Maryland Association of CPAs

Scaling Up CAS Accounting Services with Automation (1 CPE) - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

In this session, Elizabeth Manso, CEO of Brigade, a full-service client accounting services firm, shares her insights and best practices for leveraging AI while still creating a winning culture of team engagement. Elizabeth’s own plan to go fully remote and scale her firm was enacted prior to the pandemic and it serves as a proven roadmap for any firm looking to adapt to the changes shaping the future of CAS. This interactive session will prepare your firm to build a solid framework for creating their own virtual and hybrid staffing model to support the realities of today’s diverse remote workforce.

Presenter:
Elizabeth Manso, Brigade

Artificial / Augmented Intelligence in Practice at Botkeeper (1 CPE) - In BURROUGHS

The buzzwords “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) and “Machine Learning” (ML) are tossed around liberally these days in every industry. Accounting is no exception. Delve into how AI & ML can impact the bookkeeping space without the gory technical details. Understand what AI models are, how they are created and trained, what role does human intuition play in developing them and why despite all the data we have, the models still make mistakes. At Botkeeper, we believe knowledge is power and we would love to arm you with the information to make YOU more efficient.

Presenters:
Jenny Blackwell, Botkeeper | Travis Cherry, Botkeeper | Brian Emposimato, Botkeeper

Selecting New Services for the Growing CAS Tech Stack in Accounting Firms (1 CPE) - In HARBOR BALLROOM II/III

CAS practices in the early stages are often recommended to stick to the few core services they can manage well. But as the client base grows, so does the demand for new services. Those demands often include the expansion of sales tax compliance as part of the monthly engagement. Join Avalara as they share their experiences in deciding to offer CAS services, planning their CAS services model, choosing appropriate technology, and introducing CAS services to their clients.

Presenter:
Marianne Fisher, Avalara

Unleash the Bots! Streamline Your Firm with Botkeeper and Reap the Rewards - In BURROUGHS

Botkeeper drives workflow efficiency in your CAS practice. Attend this session to see how best to take advantage of all the time-saving features of the Botkeeper Platform. Get a first-hand look at the automation available in the platform, and walk through best practices to ensure your firm and clients are optimized to drive efficiency. If you love tips, tricks and best practices, this is a can’t-miss session for both brand-new and existing users.

Presenter:
Angelina DeLago, Botkeeper | Brian Emposimato, Botkeeper

Elevate or Die (1 CPE) - In Harbor Ballroom ii/iii

If you haven’t elevated your practice, then now is the time. Your firm may be making modest improvements in systems, technolgy, and even people which in the past might not only have worked but set your firm on a trajectory above the rest. Unfortunately, modest improvements or the "if nothings broken, don't fix it" mindset, will not be enough to keep up in the rapidly changing and increasingly competitive accounting industry.

Enrico Palmerino, founder and CEO of Botkeeper is joined by W. Michael Hsu, founder and CEO of DeepSky and CFO Club to challenge the way you think about your practice and the pace of improvement and innovation needed to not only merely survive but thrive. Bring your firm into the future with the knowledge, skills, and motivation that will awaken your entrepreneurial spirit. Learn how a tech-first approach + differentiated offering + staff training can not only position your firm for success but better yet, industry dominance.

Presenters:
Enrico Palmerino, Botkeeper | W. Michael Hsu, DeepSky, Measure x Hack, and CFO Club

Lunch and Learn

Lunch and Learn with a stream from David Barrett, CEO of Expensify as he explores the past, present and future of expense management. Stream time: 12:15 - 1:05pm

Presenter:
David Barrett, Expensify

Winning and Learning: Creating Massive Growth Without Changing Your Business (1 CPE) - In Harbor Ballroom II/III

While we know what it's like to have "highs" in our business, many of us have been stuck in the "lows". This leads to decreased revenue, increased pressure and an unrelenting burnout that impacts us professionally and personally. Instead, what if we could bounce-back from our failures faster? What if we could create massive growth just by changing our mindset? Creating more isn't about doing more; it's about redirecting your mind. Join Lauren Baptiste, Life Coach for the Hardest-working Professionals Who Want to Have It All, to learn how you can win in the highs and learn in the lows, resulting in higher margins, more time and more joy.

Presenter:
Lauren Baptiste, Acheloa Wellness

Ask Me Anything: Navigating Infinite Automation Possibilities with Botkeeper & Zapier - In Burroughs

Join us for an illuminating AMA session with Botkeeper’s Product and Engineering Leadership, dedicated to demystifying the world of infinite automation possibilities. Whether you’re a seasoned Botkeeper user, exploring potential solutions like Zapier, or simply curious about the next wave of automation innovation, this session promises insights for all.

Our leaders are eager to share and discuss the power of Botkeeper & Zapier’s integration. But beyond the technicalities, we aim to explore the broader vision of how such integrations are shaping industries, and what they mean for professionals like you.

Presenter:
Travis Cherry, Botkeeper | Angelina DeLago, Botkeeper

Think Like a CEO: Unleashing the Entrepreneurial Mindset in Your Firm (1 CPE) - In Harbor Ballroom II/III

Step into a world brimming with innovation and boundless potential. Drawing from powerful anecdotes, Martin Zych, CEO and co-Founder at Jirav, unveils a new paradigm, urging you to shift your perspective and unlock the untapped possibilities for your firm where you, a visionary catalyst for change, will guide your firm and clients to success.

Presenter:
Martin Zych, Jirav

Invaluable Lessons from a "Data Evangelist" (1 CPE) - In Harbor Ballroom ii/iii

Join us for an insightful keynote from Ben Royce, AI expert and Business Development Leader at Google. Known as a ‘Data Evangelist,’ Ben will share the invaluable lessons he learned from his extensive leadership experience in the world of AI and data science. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to hear from one of the industry’s top thought leaders about the intersection of AI, data, and business.

Presenter:
Ben Royce, Google Cloud AI

The Botkeeper Journey - Empowering Your Future - In Harbor Ballroom ii/iii

Join us for the highly-anticipated Botkeeper Spotlight, hosted by our CEO, Enrico Palmerino. In this special session, Enrico will take you on a journey through Botkeeper’s remarkable achievements and provide a glimpse into our exciting future. We’ll be unveiling our latest product innovations, sharing key updates, and showcasing the groundbreaking work that is propelling Botkeeper forward. Get an exclusive look at what lies ahead for Botkeeper as we continue to redefine the boundaries of bot technology. Don’t miss this chance to hear directly from Enrico Palmerino about our latest advancements and the thrilling opportunities that await.

Presenter:
Enrico Palmerino, Botkeeper

1950'S NIGHT CLUB DINNER & SHOW - Cocktails in Harbor I, Dinner in Harbor Ballroom ii/iii

The conference may have been informative and insightful, but now it's time to let your hair down, relax, and have a good time.  Enjoy a delicious dinner with a swanky 50's nightclub-style theme. Sip on a classic cocktail while you soak in the retro vibes. And just when you think the night couldn't get any better, the hilarious John Garrett will have you in stitches. Get ready for an evening of non-stop laughter and entertainment! 

Farewell Fuel-Up: Join Us for a Delicious Light Breakfast on the Final Morning of the Conference - In Harbor Foyer and Harbor Ballroom ii/iii

The perfect start to the final day of the conference! Enjoy a mouthwatering selection of light and healthy breakfast bites, packed with flavor and nutrition to help you power through the last sessions with ease. So come join us, fill up on tasty treats, and get ready to make the most of the last day of the conference!

Is CAS King at Your Firm? (1 CPE) - In Harbor i

CAS is the fastest growing revenue source for firms, yet somehow firms still have struggles. We invite you to participate in the session with Deneen Dias, VP of Growth and Strategic Relationships at Botkeeper as she discusses ways to future ready your firm around:

- Trends in the profession

- Trends in CAS

- Is CAS King at your Firm

Presenter:
Deneen Dias, Botkeeper

CAS Marketing Botcamp: How to Win and Grow More CAS Relationships (2 CPE) - In Burroughs

Join Gaynor Mieilke, to learn how to master marketing in the CAS Marketing Botcamp. Learn how to build the perfect CAMP (Client. Accounting. Marketing. Plan.) FIRE (Find opportunities. Identify channels. Reap revenue. Execute services). Together, we’ll explore best practices for CAS marketing, the latest tactics and tools that work, and customize a marketing plan that you can take with you and implement when you return from Botcamp! Gather ‘Round the CAMP FIRE for Proven CAS Marketing Strategies.

Presenter:
Gaynor Mielke, Charisma Ink, LLC