ASCPA Converge Conference - Two Day
13.0 Credits
Member Price $400.00
Non-Member Price $600.00
Overview
IMPORTANT: This is registration for BOTH Converge days. Click here if you wish to register for only Day 2.
The Arizona Society of CPAs annual conference – Converge, is returning this coming October 29 & 30 to Venue8600 in Scottsdale.
The conference will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions and workshops for attendees to engage with along with the experiential learning, collaboration and atmosphere that you’ve come to know and love. CPAs can also earn up to 12 CPE credits!
Sessions will focus on AI-related topics – tools, practices and policies. Enjoy a half-day on the 29, with a networking opportunity afterward, and a full day of sessions on the 30.
Early-bird pricing ends August 31.
See you there!
Highlights
Designed For
Note: This event is in-person ONLY.
Objectives
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor:
Valley Christian Schools
Gold Sponsors:
Pacific Accounting and Business Services
Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, contact Jodi Corrales at (602) 324-4743 or at jcorrales@ascpa.com.
Disclaimer: By registering for this event, you agree to share your contact information including, but not limited to, email address with the above-listed sponsors. If you wish to opt-out, please email ascpacpe@ascpa.com.
Notice
ASCPALearnX Live Event
Registration cancellation fee applies. Visit our CPE Policies page for information on cancellation fees and more.
Thursday, October 29
Breakout Session
- 2026 Galasso Arizona & AICPA Regulatory Ethics Update
Melisa F. Galasso, CPA (licensed in North Carolina), Galasso Learning Solutions LLC
This course is designed to meet the four-hour ethics CPE requirements mandated by the state law in which the course is offered. We'll start the session with a review of key areas of the Arizona Administrative Rules for CPE and Professional Conduct. Then we'll review the key Arizona Revised Statutes relating to licensing and registration. We'll then transition to the AICPA ethics standards as the Professional Ethics Executive Committee (PEEC) of the AICPA has been very busy issuing new and updating existing ethics rules. This course will provide an overview of ethics rules that are recently issued and soon to be effective. CPAs in both industry and public accounting need to know these to be compliant.
Credits: 4 - Ethics (meets Arizona's R4-1-453(C)(4)
This session is available to registrants only.
- Recover Like a Pro: The Science of Bouncing Back After High-Stakes Seasons
Kaitlin Elizabeth Borncamp, CPA (licensed in Colorado), Feel Great With Kait
Participants will walk away with a clear-eyed understanding of why traditional rest does not restore depleted high performers, the ability to spot the early signs of cumulative depletion in themselves and their teams, and why taking mindful breaks can elevate productivity and reduce errors. They'll learn practical post-deadline recovery protocol they can implement personally and as leaders to protect their best people through the full annual cycle.
Credits: 4 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Insider Threats: The Call is Coming From Inside The House
Craig Stanland, Keynote Speaker & Author, Reinvention Architect Advisors LLC
When it comes to insider threats and fraud, many conversations focus on systems, tools, and technology.
But what about the human side of risk?
In Insider Threats: The Call Is Coming from Inside the House, Craig Stanland brings audiences into the moment he committed fraud against Cisco Systems and the pressure, rationalization, and identity crisis that led there. Through his firsthand experience, Craig explores the human signals organizations often miss before risk becomes reality and what his story can teach us about insider threats, ethics, and decision-making under pressure.
Credits: 1 - Accounting & Auditing
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Free Networking Reception - Day One
Hungry for more? Extend your learning experience at our evening reception immediately following the first day of Converge. Join other CPAs and accounting professionals for refreshments and a relaxed opportunity to network. Attendees receive drink tickets and light bites.
This session is available to registrants only.
Friday, October 30
General Session
- The New Fierce Conversation: Human Judgement, AI and Accountability
Join Susan Scott, Ed Beltran and ASCPA President & CEO Oliver Yandle for a thought-provoking fireside chat exploring human judgment, meaningful communication and accountability in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Credits: 1.5 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- Can AI Be Committing Fraud?
Kenny Kang, CPA (in CA), CGMA, CFE, Kenny Kang CPA
As AI tools become more integrated into financial processes, new risks are emerging. In this session, Kenny Kang explores whether AI can enable, conceal, or even autonomously generate fraudulent activity. Learn how evolving technology intersects with internal controls, compliance, and ethical responsibilities in today’s audit environment.
Credits: 1 - Accounting & Auditing
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- 2026 Accounting and Auditing Update
Melisa F. Galasso, CPA (licensed in North Carolina), Galasso Learning Solutions LLC
Back by popular demand, Melisa Galasso will help attendees stay informed and prepared with this comprehensive annual update on the latest developments in accounting and auditing. Specific details of the session to come soon!
Credits: 1 - Accounting & Auditing
This session is available to registrants only.
- Title Coming Soon!
Joe Kovacs, APR, Kovacs Communications
Artificial intelligence is changing more than how professionals work. It is changing how they are discovered, how expertise is evaluated and how trust is built. In this session, Joe Kovacs will explore the evolving relationship between AI, professional visibility and personal branding, with practical insights for accounting and finance professionals looking to strengthen their reputation in an increasingly AI-driven world. Attendees will consider how AI is reshaping search, content and communication, and how they can position their expertise to stand out while maintaining authenticity and credibility.
Credits: 1 - Consulting Services
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- Bring Your Own Device: AI for Beginners
Barry S. Graham, CPA, Wallace, Plese + Dreher
Ready to move beyond hearing about AI and actually start using it? Bring your own devices and follow along in this hands-on introductory session designed to make artificial intelligence approachable and practical. Attendees will explore the fundamentals of generative AI, learn how to communicate effectively with AI tools and work through real-world examples alongside the instructor. You’ll leave with practical techniques, greater confidence and skills you can begin applying immediately in your day-to-day work.
Credits: 1 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
- Bring Your Own Device: Introduction to Agentic AI
John Higgins, CPA, CITP, Higgins Advisory, LLC
Take the next step beyond traditional generative AI and explore how agentic AI can help you get work done. In this hands-on session, John Higgins will introduce the fundamentals of AI agents, how they differ from familiar AI tools and where they can fit into everyday professional workflows. Bring your laptop and follow along with practical demonstrations and exercises designed to help you understand the possibilities of agentic AI and leave with ideas and skills you can begin putting to work right away.
Credits: 1 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- AI in Action: The Four Key Initiatives of Future-Ready Firms
Joy Youell, Winsome Marketing
Most firms are stuck at the “we bought a tool” stage. This session moves partners and firm leaders past pilot fatigue into a real adoption sequence: data readiness (can your systems and data actually support AI, or is that the hidden blocker), use case identification (stop chasing every shiny use case — find the ones with real ROI for your practice), upskilling (adoption fails when only the innovators know how to use the tools), and implementation (turning individual wins into firm-wide, repeatable process). The throughline: AI adoption isn’t a tech project; it’s a change management project with a technical component.
Credits: 1 - Consulting Services
This session is available to registrants only.
- Small Firm, Smart AI: Building a Practical AI Governance Framework
Fady Salama, Ma’atIT
AI governance isn’t just for large firms with dedicated technology teams. Small firms and sole practitioners also need a clear, practical approach to determining how AI can be used, who is responsible and where appropriate guardrails belong. This session, provided by fan favorite speaker Fady Salama, breaks AI governance down into manageable steps, helping attendees assess where they are in their AI journey, establish rules and responsibilities, document processes and build a reliable knowledge base. Attendees will leave with a practical framework for putting AI governance into action without adding unnecessary complexity.
Credits: 1 - Consulting Services
This session is available to registrants only.
General Session
- When AI Moves From Helping to Acting: What CPAs Need to Know About Execution, Evidence and Trust
AI is quickly evolving from a tool that helps professionals research, analyze and draft into technology capable of influencing decisions and executing work. For CPAs, that shift raises an important question: How do we know AI-enabled work happened as intended, and what evidence should exist to prove it?
This session explores what that transition means across tax, audit, advisory, finance and firm operations. Attendees will examine the growing importance of accountability, governance and evidence as AI becomes more embedded in professional workflows, including how organizations can evaluate automated actions, reconstruct what occurred and build confidence in AI-supported work. Whether you’re a sole practitioner, firm leader, finance professional or advisor, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the risks, responsibilities and opportunities emerging as AI moves from assisting with work to acting on our behalf.
Credits: 1 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
Breakout Session
- AI Open Lab: Put It Into Practice
Ready to put what you’ve learned into action? This open, hands-on working session gives attendees dedicated time to experiment with AI, ask questions and get personalized guidance from speakers and experts featured throughout the conference. Bring your device, your questions or even a real-world challenge you’d like to work through, then use the time to explore tools, test ideas and get help along the way. Whether you’re starting from scratch or ready to dig deeper, the AI Open Lab is your opportunity to turn conference takeaways into practical skills you can use when you get back to work.
Credits: 1.5 - Specialized Knowledge
This session is available to registrants only.
- Federal Tax Update for 2026
Edward K. Zollars, CPA, Thomas, Zollars & Lynch, Ltd.
Stay current on the latest federal tax developments with Ed Zollars as he breaks down the changes, guidance and emerging issues tax professionals need to have on their radar. This session will examine recent legislative, regulatory and administrative developments, with a focus on what they mean in practice for CPAs and their clients. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of today's evolving tax landscape and practical insights they can apply in their work.
Credits: 1.5 - Taxation
This session is available to registrants only.
Non-Member Price $600.00
Member Price $400.00