Annual Technology Conference

Description

This same conference will also be held on June 18-19!

To register for the June offering, click here.

Agenda

    Tuesday, November 18, 2025

  • 8:00AM - 9:40AM / General Sessions
    Tech Update

    Staying up to date with advances in today's technology has never been more vital, and K2's Tech Update equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the rapid pace of innovation. This comprehensive session is designed for accountants who want to understand the evolving technological landscape and its implications for the accounting profession. 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. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

  • 9:55AM - 11:35AM / Concurrent Sessions – Choose one
    CPA Firm Update

    In a rapidly evolving public practice accounting landscape, K2's CPA Firm Update continues to be your essential guide to staying ahead. This session provides actionable insights into transformative technologies and management strategies reshaping the profession. With a focus on data analytics, cybersecurity, practice management, and client service excellence, this year's update delves into 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.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

    Taking a Fresh Look at Teams

    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. Participate in this session to learn how to get more from Teams and enhance your ROI on the platform. 

    In this session, you will learn about the core options available in Teams and how to leverage them. You will also learn about new enhancements in Teams, including threaded conversations, enhanced meeting features, and integration with Microsoft’s Copilot platform. If you use Teams and want a deeper understanding of the platform, don’t miss your opportunity to participate in this session.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

    Top Ten Productivity Booster Apps in Microsoft 365

    Staying up to date with advances in today's technology has never been more vital, and K2's Tech Update equips you with the knowledge to stay ahead of the rapid pace of innovation. This comprehensive session is designed for accountants who want to understand the evolving technological landscape and its implications for the accounting profession. 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. Attendees will leave with actionable insights, including ideas they may not have previously considered.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

  • 12:30PM - 2:10PM / Concurrent Sessions – Choose one
    Automation - Beyond the Basics with the Microsoft Power Platform

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

    Collaboration Tools & Best Practices

    Collaboration remains one of today’s hottest topics. Technology has fueled today’s collaboration options, and work-from-anywhere environments virtually demand collaboration platforms. In this session, you will learn today’s best tools and practices to facilitate more effective collaboration in your organization.
     
    In this session, you will learn about today’s mainstream collaboration platforms – Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Zoho – and how these options are similar and differ. You will also learn about other collaboration options, including Slack, Zoom, and Webex, 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.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

    Expense Reporting Automation

    Managing and auditing employee spending on personal and corporate credit cards is a challenge everywhere.  Legacy manual expense reporting preparation and approval processes are tedious and repetitive and are an excellent place to start your company’s use of business process automation solutions.  This session will 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.  Attend this session and learn how to use automation and cure the expense reporting blues for you and your employees.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

  • 2:25PM - 4:05PM / General Sessions
    Excel Tips - Today's Best Features

    Wow! So many new Excel features and 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. In this session, you will learn how to use many of Excel’s latest features to work more efficiently and effectively with your spreadsheets.

    Participate in this session to learn about 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. If you work with Excel – and who doesn’t – this session is necessary to help you improve your efficiency and effectiveness when using Excel.  

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

    • Wednesday, November 19, 2025

  • 8:00AM - 9:40AM / General Sessions
    Data Security and Privacy Issues & Solutions

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

  • 9:55AM - 11:35AM / Concurrent Sessions – Choose one
    Client Accounting Services for CPA Firms: Strategies for Growth & Success

    Client Accounting Services (CAS) have become a cornerstone of modern CPA firms, offering opportunities for enhanced client relationships, recurring revenue streams, and streamlined operations. This course provides accounting professionals with practical guidance on implementing and optimizing CAS within their firms. Participants will explore the foundational elements of CAS, including service offerings, pricing models, and client communication strategies. The course delves into the technology tools essential for CAS, including accounting software, workflow automation, and reporting platforms. It offers insights into best practices for managing client expectations and delivering consistent, high-value services. In addition, participants will 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 their firm's goals. The course also addresses the importance of data security, governance, and compliance in providing CAS to ensure ethical and professional service delivery.

    Credits

    2 Accounting and Auditing

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

    CRM - The Ultimate Business Automation Tool

    This course provides an in-depth exploration of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems as a critical tool for business automation. Designed for accounting professionals, it emphasizes CRM’s role in streamlining workflows, organizing communications, enhancing client relationships, and improving efficiency. Participants will learn about key CRM features, integration with accounting software, and best practices for successful implementation. We will highlight practical applications with actionable insights to help attendees optimize their processes. This two-hour session ensures you walk away with a basic understanding of CRM’s transformative potential for business and financial management.

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

    Taking Another Look at Power BI

    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. If this describes you, invest some time in this session to learn how to work with Power BI almost immediately.

    In this session, you will learn how to use Power BI to create compelling dashboard reports. You will also learn how to optimize these reports to enhance their effectiveness. If you want to improve financial and operational reporting processes, this session is for you!

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

  • 12:30PM - 1:20PM / Concurrent Sessions – Choose one
    AI - Better Prompts, Better Results

    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.

    In this session, you will learn the best ways to ask questions of your AI platforms so that you get the information you seek quickly and easily. Stop wasting time with inefficient and ineffective prompts! Learn the best ways to get the information you seek!

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

    Next Level Home Networking

    In this course, accounting professionals and technology enthusiasts will 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. With practical demonstrations and relevant use cases, this session equips you with the tools to optimize your home network for efficiency, security, and scalability.

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

    What's New with Quickbooks

    QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise Solutions remain three of the most widely used accounting applications in use 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. In this session, you will learn about many of the changes impacting QuickBooks Desktop, Online, and Enterprise users, and you can manage these changes for the benefit of your company or your clients.

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

  • 1:30PM - 2:20PM / Concurrent Sessions – Choose one
    After Quickbooks, What's Next?

    Accounting professionals face a critical technological shift with the discontinuation of QuickBooks Pro and Premier sales in 2024. This course explores the transition to modern platforms, including QuickBooks Online, Xero, Zoho Books, FreshBooks, and more. Participants will 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. Attend this session and learn more about platforms available for small businesses.

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

    AI - Security & Privacy Issues

    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!

    In this session, you will learn about AI security and privacy risks and how to manage them. This session includes discussions of the major AI companies’ security and privacy policies, how AI platforms might use your data, and how you can stay in control. Given how quickly AI is spreading, this is one session you simply cannot afford to miss.

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Randolph Johnston

    Ten PDF Tips You Need to Know

    Portable Document Format (PDF) documents are everywhere! Yet few know how to work effectively with these documents. If you are interested in working more effectively and efficiently with PDFs, this session is for you.

    In this session, you will learn valuable tips you can use to assist you with creating, editing, and securing PDFs. You will also learn how to convert PDFs to fillable forms and secure PDFs, among other features. Don’t miss this chance to learn ten PDF tips you need to know to increase your ROI on PDFs.

    Credits

    1 Other

    Speakers

    Tommy Stephens,
    K2 Enterprises

  • 2:35PM - 4:15PM / General Sessions
    Ripped From the Headlines: Lessons From Interesting Tech Crimes

    Credits

    2 Other

    Speakers

    Brian Tankersley,
    K2 Enterprises

Review and choose your sessions and options above.

Speakers

Randolph Johnston

  • One of the 2004-2022 Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential People
  • Top 25 Thought Leader in the Accounting Industry 2011-2023
  • Inducted into The CPA Practice Advisor Accounting Hall of Fame in 2011
  • One of nine technology stars in the U.S. - Accounting Technology Magazine
  • Has started and owns multiple businesses, including K2 Enterprises and Network Management Group, Inc., a leading provider for accounting professionals
  • Taught technology at Hutchinson Community College, James Madison University, Western Washington University, and the University of Central Oklahoma
  • Over 40 years of management and technology consulting experience!

Tommy Stephens

•Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Major in Accounting, Auburn University •Master of Science, Major in Finance (emphasis in Corporate Finance), Georgia State University •Thirty-four Years Public Accounting & Private Industry Experience •Twenty-four Years of Experience as a Continuing Professional Education Discussion Leader •Member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants; Past Member of the Institute of Internal Auditors •To Date, Has Presented Over 2,500 Continuing Education Sessions to Over 65,000 Participants

Brian Tankersley

Brian Tankersley is a consultant who advises US firms and companies on accounting technology issues. Mr. Tankersley is a frequent speaker at continuing education courses for K2 Enterprises, writes for multiple accounting media outlets, and publishes a nationally recognized blog on accounting and technology (www.cpatechblog.com). Mr. Tankersley has over 25 years of professional experience, including accounting, auditing, technology, and education, has been with K2 Enterprises since 2005.

Tankersley has been recognized eight times as one of the "Top 25 Thought Leaders in Public Accounting Technology" by Cygnus Business Media. Brian has made presentations in 48 of the 50 US states and has served as a guest speaker for many professional accounting organizations across Canada. He has received numerous awards for his writing and speaking from state CPA societies. Brian has presented sessions at most major national accounting technology conferences, including AICPA TECH+/Practitioners Conference, The Sleeter Group's Solutions Conference, Sage Summit, CCH Connections, and Thomson Reuters Synergy User Conference.

Brian is a certified public accountant (Tennessee), a certified information technology professional (CITP), and a Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). He holds bachelor's degrees in both Accounting and Finance, cum laude, from the University of Tennessee. Tankersley also maintains numerous vendor software certifications, and is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs.

Brian and his family make their home in Farragut, Tennessee.