8:00-8:30 a.m. | Registration and Breakfast
8:30-9:10 a.m. | Opening Remarks, Awards Presentation, and Networking
9:10-10:15 a.m. | Taking Ownership in Your Role and Across Your Career
Scott J. Allen, Ph.D., Instructor, SMU Cox School of Business, Executive Education
Technology and new business models may have reduced some traditional “busy work,” but they’ve also raised expectations. You’re being asked to think bigger, contribute sooner, and help drive growth, all while delivering high-quality work. Explore what it means to take ownership at a micro level—team meetings, 1:1 meetings, and client relationships—to broader organizational priorities. You’ll leave with practical ways to show greater initiative, strengthen your impact, and take a more active role in shaping your future.
10:15-10:45 a.m. | Break
10:45-11:50 a.m. | Panel: Chart Your Own Course—Unique Pathways in Accounting
Dan Giancola, Vice President, Partnerships and Customer Success at Double Good
Anna Gomez, Chief Financial Officer, ITG Americas
Alek Michali, Senior Manager, Assurance,Tech and M&D at Aprio
Charlene Rhinehart, CPA Exam Instructor and Personal Finance Educator
There’s no single path to a successful career in accounting. Hear from professionals who have built rewarding careers across public accounting, corporate finance, and other areas of business. They’ll share the decisions, challenges, and unexpected opportunities that shaped their journeys, along with advice to help you explore your options and confidently choose what’s right for you.
11:50 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Break