More than 1,000 COCPA members have already discovered what Member Appreciation Day is all about — and this May, it's happening again. The Spring 2026 Member Appreciation Day: CPE on the House takes place May 14–15, 2026, and it's completely free for COCPA Fellow Members.

That's 12+ CPE credit hours, delivered via webcast, from thought-leading Preferred Partners and COCPA community presenters — at no cost to you. Whether you attend one session or all of them, this is one of the most valuable member benefits COCPA offers.

Register here | Learn more about CPE on the House

Day 1 — Thursday, May 14

8:30–9:20 AM MDT | McGuire Sponsel: What Did Tax Season Reveal?

Legislative Updates, Timing Decisions, and Planning Opportunities Under OBBBA for 2026 Speakers: David Seibel & Dave McGuire CPE: 1 Specialized Knowledge

Tax season surfaces more than numbers — it reveals the legislative landscape shaping everything ahead. McGuire Sponsel, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will deliver a technical post-tax season update on key provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), covering bonus depreciation, §168(n) Qualified Production Property, §174 R&D updates, §163(j) interest limitations, energy incentives, international considerations, and property tax timing. Attendees will leave with a sharper understanding of time-sensitive elections and how to turn recent legislation into meaningful advisory conversations with clients.

9:30–10:20 AM MDT | InfinitiHR: Understanding Your HR Options

What HR Platform Works Best for My Clients? Speakers: John Littler & Brian Corrente CPE: 1 Business Management and Organization

Many business owners manage HR reactively rather than strategically. This session from InfinitiHR, a COCPA Preferred Partner, walks through the four primary models for handling HR and provides a practical due diligence framework to help you guide clients toward the right fit. From bundled service options to Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs), you'll come away knowing how to evaluate platforms, compare structures, and help clients build HR strategies that support growth, compliance, and risk management.

10:30–11:20 AM MDT | Integrated Partners: Inherited IRA Planning for CPAs

Navigating SECURE Act Rules, Common Pitfalls, and Client Advisory Strategies Speaker: Richard Austin CPE: 1 Finance

Inherited IRA rules are among the most high-stakes and misunderstood areas in post-mortem tax planning. Integrated Partners, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will provide a practical overview of SECURE Act beneficiary categories, RMD requirements, Income in Respect of a Decedent (IRD), and documentation guidance. Participants will also explore common errors, planning opportunities with trusts, Roth IRAs, and spousal options, and how to improve advisory outcomes for clients navigating these complex rules.

11:30 AM–12:20 PM MDT | Journey Payroll & HR: Payroll Partnerships That Actually Work

Designing Partnerships That Protect Client Relationships Speakers: Kevin Welch, Ashlee Faulkner & Christine Welch CPE: 1 Business Management and Organization

Payroll partnerships can be a major asset — or a significant liability — for CPA firms. Journey Payroll & HR, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will examine why these partnerships so often fail, where communication and responsibility gaps emerge, and how to compare four common payroll partnership models. You'll learn how to define roles, establish clear escalation structures, and build partnerships that reduce risk while strengthening the client relationships at the center of it all.

1:00–1:55 PM MDT | Xero: Pick a Lane. Be More Than a Transaction.

Speaker: Matthew Kabrick CPE: 1 Accounting

In an increasingly commoditized accounting environment, differentiation isn't optional — it's survival. Xero, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will explore how a strong firm identity, a defined niche, and standardized processes powered by technology can create a scalable, modern practice. Attendees will learn how to position their firm beyond compliance work, leverage specialization for growth, and transform standard client engagements into higher-value advisory relationships.

2:00–2:55 PM MDT | Your Part-Time Controller: So, Your Accountant Is Retiring — Now What?

Succession Planning for Lean Finance Teams Speaker: Aimee Pourciau CPE: 1 Business Management and Organization

When a long-tenured accountant or finance team member retires, lean organizations face real disruption without a clear plan. Your Part-Time Controller, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will outline steps to assess your current financial management structure, identify vulnerabilities in roles and responsibilities, and evaluate staffing and outsourcing options. The session also covers how technology can reinforce internal controls during transitions — and how to position your organization for long-term financial stability.

3:00–4:20 PM MDT | TaxDome: Delivering and Filing Form 1040 Returns

Compliance, Authorization, and Secure Client Communication & Demo Speaker: Petar Iliev CPE: 1 Taxes

The final steps of a 1040 return — delivery, authorization, and filing — carry more compliance risk than many firms realize. TaxDome, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will examine common failure points between return completion and filing readiness, with a focus on IRS requirements for taxpayer authorization, documentation, and record retention. Attendees will also get a demo of how technology can support a consistent, secure, and audit-ready delivery process.

Day 2 — Friday, May 15

8:30–9:20 AM MDT | Juno: Practical AI in Tax Preparation

Speaker: David Haase CPE: 1 Computer Software & Applications

AI is already reshaping how tax work gets done, and firms that understand it now will have a meaningful edge. Juno, a COCPA Preferred Partner, will explore practical AI tools that automate data ingestion from W-2s, 1099s, and K-1s, streamline client data collection, and reduce routine communication overhead. The session also covers AI technology types, implementation best practices, and where the profession is headed as AI adoption in tax continues to accelerate.

9:30–10:20 AM MDT | Independent Accountants Alliance: AI in Your Practice

Real-World Uses of Claude Cowork Speaker: Paul Heffner CPE: 1 Information Technology

AI is moving well beyond chatbots, and this session from the COCPA Independent Accountants Alliance shows accountants what that looks like in practice. Attendees will see how AI file-automation tools like Claude Cowork support real-world workflows — three-year pro forma modeling, fixed-fee pricing development, and bank statement PDF-to-CSV conversion. The session will also cover setup considerations, current costs, and emerging browser-control capabilities for QuickBooks Online and other cloud platforms.

10:30–11:20 AM MDT | COCPA Coaching Collaborative: Improving Client and Team Outcomes with Coaching

New for Spring 2026 Member Appreciation Day! Speakers: Kenya Haupt & Douglas Slaybaugh CPE: 1 Personal Development

We're excited to welcome the COCPA Coaching Collaborative as a presenter for the first time at Member Appreciation Day! This session explores coaching as a professional skill — not just a management concept — and how intentional questioning and active listening can meaningfully improve client and team outcomes. Participants will learn practical coaching techniques for both client-facing and internal conversations, along with frameworks like the trust equation and relationship transformation model to build stronger, more credible professional relationships.

It's Free. It's for You. Don't Miss It.

Spring 2026 Member Appreciation Day is one of the clearest expressions of what COCPA membership is about: expert-led education, access to thought leaders and Preferred Partners, and a community investing in your growth — at no cost to you.

• 📅 May 14–15, 2026
• 💻 Webcast (Simulcast Sessions)
• 🎓 12+ CPE Credits
• 💰 Complimentary for COCPA Members

Register now

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