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Instructor
Stephen M. Yoss, Jr., CPA, MS, is a certified public accountant, partner and CEO of Devmatics, LLC, a continuing education instructor for financial professionals, a and a licensed pyrotechnician. While his interests and skills are varied, they all share a common thread—his love for and skill in finding technology-based solutions. In 2017, Stephen and Alex White formed Devmatics, LLC, a company focused on helping organizations develop technology strategies to streamline their business operations. He specializes in taking on high-difficulty, mission-critical organizational issues that require technological expertise and an ability to find solutions to problems that no one else can answer. With all of his clients, he emphasizes the need to embrace technology at every opportunity and utilize the latest technological trends and breakthroughs in order to gain a competitive advantage while increasing efficiency and productivity.
Instructor
Randolph P. (Randy) Johnston, MCS, has been a leading authentic and genuine authority in technology for over 40 years. Inducted into the
Accounting Hall of Fame in 2011, he has remained a Top 25 Thought Leader in Accounting from 2011 through 2024. His continued influence in the profession is highlighted by his recognition in the 2024 Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting—his twenty-first consecutive year on that list. In addition, Randy authors a monthly column and hosts a weekly podcast for The CPA Practice Advisor, contributes to the Journal of Accountancy, writes for various accounting and technology publications, and has published numerous books.
He has founded and still owns multiple ventures, including K2 Enterprises in Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group, Inc. (NMGI) in Hutchinson, Kansas. For four decades, NMGI has provided services to CPA firms and has been the largest managed service provider for the CPA profession in North America. Randy’s wife, four children, and seven grandchildren share his passions for theatre, music, travel, golf, skiing, snorkeling, and model trains. His background as a college instructor, management and technology consultant, and advisor to the accounting community informs today’s presentation.
Instructor
Mac McClelland, an attorney and accounting professional, is an associate of K2 Enterprises of Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group of Hutchinson, Kansas.
Mac was formerly the director of the Centre for Financial Studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he lived and worked for seven years from 1990 to 1997. He was also a member of the faculty of the Advanced Business Programme, ranked in the top 100 MBA programs in the world by The Economist, specializing in business strategy and strategic management accounting.
He gained his practical experience in information systems with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and has an established practice in business and technology consulting. Mac has taught hundreds of continuing professional education seminars to accountants and business managers in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Southeast Asia. His presentations are highly rated, and he has won several awards for teaching excellence.
Mac has been published in leading business and practitioner journals, including Tax Ideas, Computers in Accounting, Journal of Accounting Education, Chartered Accountants Journal of New Zealand, and the top-rated Journal of Accounting Research.
Instructor
From open-source solutions to emerging technologies on the frontier of the profession, this conference delivers a broad and forward-looking view of the tools reshaping how accounting professionals work. Participants will explore high-quality free and open-source alternatives to common paid software, gain a strategic view of AI, quantum computing, and cloud ecosystems, apply AI tools to real accounting and finance workflows, and look ahead to the innovations—from synthetic data to self-supervised learning—that will define the next era of the profession. Key takeaways include identifying cost-saving technology alternatives, evaluating emerging tech trends strategically, applying AI tools in practice, and understanding what's coming next.
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Anyone who would like to be more up-to-date on new innovations coming your way.
Stephen M. Yoss, Jr., CPA, MS, is a certified public accountant, partner and CEO of Devmatics, LLC, a continuing education instructor for financial professionals, a and a licensed pyrotechnician. While his interests and skills are varied, they all share a common thread—his love for and skill in finding technology-based solutions. In 2017, Stephen and Alex White formed Devmatics, LLC, a company focused on helping organizations develop technology strategies to streamline their business operations. He specializes in taking on high-difficulty, mission-critical organizational issues that require technological expertise and an ability to find solutions to problems that no one else can answer. With all of his clients, he emphasizes the need to embrace technology at every opportunity and utilize the latest technological trends and breakthroughs in order to gain a competitive advantage while increasing efficiency and productivity.
Budget-conscious organizations often overlook a powerful resource hiding in plain sight: open-source and free technology. This session explores a wide range of high-quality open-source and free apps, services, and platforms that rival their paid counterparts in functionality and usability. From desktop productivity tools like Open Office and Mozilla Thunderbird to enterprise-grade systems for document management, CRM, and website administration, participants will discover practical ways to reduce costs, improve cloud utilization, and simplify workflows. Key takeaways include identifying high-quality free alternatives to common paid software, exploring open-source options for core organizational systems, understanding how open-source tools can reduce implementation time and workflow complexity, and locating resources for finding additional free tools suited to your organization.
Randolph P. (Randy) Johnston, MCS, has been a leading authentic and genuine authority in technology for over 40 years. Inducted into the
Accounting Hall of Fame in 2011, he has remained a Top 25 Thought Leader in Accounting from 2011 through 2024. His continued influence in the profession is highlighted by his recognition in the 2024 Accounting Today Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting—his twenty-first consecutive year on that list. In addition, Randy authors a monthly column and hosts a weekly podcast for The CPA Practice Advisor, contributes to the Journal of Accountancy, writes for various accounting and technology publications, and has published numerous books.
He has founded and still owns multiple ventures, including K2 Enterprises in Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group, Inc. (NMGI) in Hutchinson, Kansas. For four decades, NMGI has provided services to CPA firms and has been the largest managed service provider for the CPA profession in North America. Randy’s wife, four children, and seven grandchildren share his passions for theatre, music, travel, golf, skiing, snorkeling, and model trains. His background as a college instructor, management and technology consultant, and advisor to the accounting community informs today’s presentation.
Staying current with today's technology is no longer optional—it is essential for accounting professionals who want to remain competitive and deliver exceptional client service. This forward-looking session offers a clear, strategic view of the evolving tech landscape, helping practitioners cut through vendor hype and make informed decisions. Attendees will explore the most impactful trends in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, automation, and cloud-based ecosystems, including Microsoft 365 Copilot, generative AI tools, and industry-specific SaaS platforms reshaping the profession. Key takeaways include identifying emerging AI and SaaS trends impacting accounting, evaluating technology solutions with a strategic lens, distinguishing genuine innovation from vendor hype, and developing a high-ROI technology roadmap aligned with firm goals.
Mac McClelland, an attorney and accounting professional, is an associate of K2 Enterprises of Hammond, Louisiana, and Network Management Group of Hutchinson, Kansas.
Mac was formerly the director of the Centre for Financial Studies at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand, where he lived and worked for seven years from 1990 to 1997. He was also a member of the faculty of the Advanced Business Programme, ranked in the top 100 MBA programs in the world by The Economist, specializing in business strategy and strategic management accounting.
He gained his practical experience in information systems with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and has an established practice in business and technology consulting. Mac has taught hundreds of continuing professional education seminars to accountants and business managers in the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, and Southeast Asia. His presentations are highly rated, and he has won several awards for teaching excellence.
Mac has been published in leading business and practitioner journals, including Tax Ideas, Computers in Accounting, Journal of Accounting Education, Chartered Accountants Journal of New Zealand, and the top-rated Journal of Accounting Research.
Moving beyond theory, this hands-on session teaches accounting and finance professionals how to apply AI tools to work smarter, faster, and more accurately. Participants will explore real-world examples of AI driving results in reporting, forecasting, audit analytics, and client service—gaining practical implementation tips while learning how to balance innovation with professional responsibility. The session also addresses how to measure AI return on investment and position teams for success in an increasingly AI-driven environment. Key takeaways include applying AI tools to streamline accounting workflows, evaluating real-world AI use cases in public practice and industry, assessing the impact of AI adoption on efficiency and profitability, and determining appropriate governance and ethical practices for AI use in accounting.
The technologies reshaping our world today—from quantum computing and synthetic data to self-supervised learning and the integration of physical and digital experiences—are moving faster than ever. This forward-looking session updates participants on technologies first highlighted in 2018 that are now widely in use, then looks ahead to the innovations poised to change how we work, play, and experience life in 2026 and beyond. Attendees will gain a clear-eyed view of what is on the horizon and what it means for accounting and finance professionals. Key takeaways include identifying key emerging technologies covered in the session, selecting accurate definitions for key technology terms, and recognizing at least one technology from the 2018 session that is now in widespread use.