Our two-day annual leadership conference for CPAs includes top firm leaders and consultants to help develop dynamic and successful firm leaders. Join us each July!
Widely regarded as one of the best firm management conferences, HeadWaters is held each July and draws partners and others in leadership positions from firms across the United States and Canada.
During the HeadWaters Leadership Conference, industry experts will provide guidance to help your firm understand and improve your firm’s strategic planning and implementation.
HeadWaters is attended by managing partners, shareholders, firm administrators, and current and future leaders.
We’re confident that the HeadWaters Leadership Conference will be of immeasurable value to you. Like everything we do at Upstream Academy, this program is unconditionally guaranteed to your full satisfaction. If you’re not completely satisfied, we will, at your option, either waive your fee or accept that portion of the fee that reflects your level of satisfaction.
Full breakfast
Jeremy will open the conference, make introductions and explain logistics.
John Sensiba, Managing Partner at Sensiba LLP
Before reimagining a future, you first need to understand history. How did our profession’s current policies, beliefs, and status quo develop? And how many of the things we claim our profession can’t live without are things we’ve thrived without? Join John for a thought-provoking look at our profession’s future through the lens of our profession’s beginnings.
Angela Oakley, Manager of Learning & Development & Roo Righter Mulligen, Senior Manager and Talent Advisor, Clark Nuber PS
Firm leaders face unique challenges in managing team mental health and engagement. By building a culture of care, you can enhance productivity and ensure that your teams feel valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their best. Roo and Angela will share actionable insights and strategies to foster mental well-being, engagement, and motivation. Create engaged teams and motivated employees by implementing effective mental health initiatives and building a culture of care.
CPAs serve a vital role in accounting firms. But over-reliance on CPAs can limit creativity, scalability, capacity, and problem-solving. Our panel discussion will explore innovative alternatives, including outsourcing, offshoring, leveraging consultants, and more strategic use of administrative professionals. Learn from our expert panel how diversifying talent in your firm could expand capacity, boost profitability, reduce costs, and position your firm for future growth.
Angela Oakley, Manager of Learning & Development & Roo Righter Mulligen, Senior Manager and Talent Advisor, Clark Nuber PS
Firm leaders face unique challenges in managing team mental health and engagement. By building a culture of care, you can enhance productivity and ensure that your teams feel valued, supported, and inspired to achieve their best. Roo and Angela will share actionable insights and strategies to foster mental well-being, engagement, and motivation. Create engaged teams and motivated employees by implementing effective mental health initiatives and building a culture of care.
Jason Blumer, CEO of Blumer CPAs and CEO of the Thriveal Network
Allowing teams to self-manage capacity often results in inefficiencies, missed deadlines, unbalanced workloads, and burnout. Join Jason for a frank discussion about the need for strategic workload management, and the psychology and perception of a professional’s capacity. He’ll explore tools and strategies for optimizing resource allocation, setting realistic workloads, and empowering leadership to make informed capacity decisions that boost productivity and morale – optimizing team performance while maintaining employee well-being.
Sarah Krom, Managing Partner at SKC & Co. CPAs, LLC
Firms often attempt to shoehorn new non-accounting service lines into the firm structure – with limited success. What if there was a better way? Sarah’s firm created a new technology company rather than adding an analytics service line. Learn the benefits of thinking outside the box (and the firm) to allow professionals the freedom to thrive rather than being wedged into a model which is not designed for their service.
Kyle Turriff, Senior Technology Consultant at RLB LLP
Firms generally see technology as a cost center, not a revenue driver. Join us as Kyle explores practical ways to monetize tech investments – automation, data analytics, digital services, tech-driven service offerings – improving the client experience through digital solutions and turning IT investments into competitive advantages. Learn from a real-world firm how innovative tools and automation can generate revenue.
Marty Brown, President and CEO of PYA
Firms often underutilize interns, missing opportunities for fresh ideas, mutual growth, and a strong relationship that builds lasting firm loyalty. Let’s discuss how to create impactful intern programs that cultivate talent and drive firm growth. Marty will discuss onboarding strategies, mentorship, meaningful project assignments, and pathways for turning interns into future leaders – ensuring long-term value for your firm.
Heath Alloway, Director at Upstream Academy
When a firm member leaves for a new opportunity, the grass is often less green than anticipated. Lost connections with former employees can mean missed opportunities for employee returns – and the loss of a potential firm advocate and referral source. Let’s explore strategies to stay connected with past talent, create rehire opportunities, and foster firm advocates to extend your firm’s reach and influence.
Courtney DeRonde, CEO at Forge Financial & Management Consulting
Courtney’s firm eliminated timesheets and never looked back. Could your firm make the jump? She’ll offer alternatives to traditional billing methods, focusing on value-based pricing and project management tools, and explore the advantages and drawbacks of a firm without timesheets. Decide for yourself whether eliminating timesheets will result in lost productivity or could improve morale and foster a more flexible, efficient, and liberated work environment.
Always one of the most popular features of Upstream conferences, our afternoon discussion forums provide an unmatched opportunity to share your firm’s greatest challenges and learn how other firm leaders have successfully dealt with the same difficulties.
Full breakfast
Many firm leaders express a desire to become a legacy firm – right up until they suddenly take another path. What happens to change their minds? And is remaining independent a viable option for your firm? Our panel will explore strategic alternatives (private equity, M&A, alliance models, etc.) and these options’ risks and rewards, helping you determine the best path to stay competitive in our rapidly changing industry.
Jana Cinnamon, Partner & Chief Operating Officer at Abdo, LLP
Accountants are known for solving problems, getting things done on time, and reporting accurately. Could they also be renowned for being hospitable and creating extraordinary experiences? Join Jana for tips and best practices on creating meaningful experiences, connections, and wow moments with your clients that go beyond client service. This session will challenge you to level up your efforts for your best clients.
Jeremy Clopton, Director at Upstream Academy
When do persistence, resolve, and a never-say-never attitude become a liability? Clinging to outdated processes and failing strategies drains resources, stifles innovation, and saps morale. So, how can you identify when it’s time to pivot, abandon ineffective initiatives, or embrace new directions? Jeremy will discuss how strategic quitting can free up resources, unlock innovation, and send your firm in new, more strategic directions.
Jeremy Clopton, Managing Director at Upstream Academy
