Why Should You Attend the National Practice Management Conference in Baltimore?

I have been a member of the CPAFMA since 1985.  Yea, I know I don’t look that old…ok keep those snide comments to yourself.  And my first conference was that same year in Dallas, which happened to be only the second conference overall (the first was the previous year in Philadelphia).  For a number of years thereafter I missed the conference because of a scheduling conflict with partners’ meetings but I have attended the conference for the last 14 years and I wouldn’t miss it for anything (yes, I got my partners to switch the dates of our June partners’ meeting because they understood that my attendance at the conference added value to our firm).

But why should you attend?  In no particular order:

1)      As the old saying goes: if you are not careful, you may learn something.  Actually, in my experiences, you can’t help but come back to the office with new ideas and answers to some of your questions.

2)      There are excellent national renown speakers lined up for Baltimore.

3)      There are great breakout sessions scheduled, including one by firm size so you get to commiserate about similar firm size problems.

4)      We are expecting over 200 of your colleagues that want to learn from you too.

5)      We have a number of networking events scheduled so you get to interact with your colleagues in a relaxed setting, including dinner at the world acclaimed National Aquarium, which is within walking distance of our hotel.

6)      Is cost a factor?  Maybe…it may end up costing your firm up to $2,000, or maybe more, but from the couple of days in Baltimore and over the course of the next year, if you don’t bring $2,000 of value to your firm, I would be shocked and very disappointed.  I know I usually come back with a sheet of paper with new ideas and cost saving techniques.  And I find out what other firms are doing right and maybe sometimes what didn’t work out right, but that can be a valuable lesson.

7)      Friends.  Over the last 14 years I have met not only some of the most talented CPA firm manager professionals, but some of my closest friends.  Not only do we ask one another about issues we have within our firms but we share personal stories and occasionally struggles.  I have even planned vacations around some of my CPAFMA friends ….or why else would you travel to Nebraska?  Or visit Antelope Canyon (it is beautiful)!

8)      See you in Baltimore June 27-30.  For more information see http://www.cpafma.org/2016_conference/