Rootworks Empower Conference Rootworks empower agenda

Agenda and session details

A powerful and packed agenda featuring in-depth talks from industry experts, empowering keynotes, engaging panels and peer-to-peer sessions.

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Day-by-day agenda

Monday, May 1

SETUP DAY

12:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Registration Open
Pre-function area

4:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Mastermind Group Private Reception
Adams Terrace

5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Welcome Reception
Adams Terrace

Tuesday, May 2

DAY ONE

6:00 AM - 7:00 AM

Sunrise Yoga with Leah Reid
Colorado Balcony

7:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Registration Open
Pre-function area

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Day 1 Opening Keynote
Darren Root, Colorado A

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Break & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

10:00 AM - 3:50 PM

Breakout Sessions
Colorado B-D

11:50 AM - 1:00 PM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

6:00 PM - 10:00 PM

After-party
Colorado A

Colorado B

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: What you can do now to make 2024 tax season rock

    Speaker: Jill Winter and Tiffany Caponigro

    Now is the best time to examine your recent tax season for improvements. Whether you need to tweak your process or revolutionize your tax strategy, Rootworks coaches Jill Winter and Tiffany Caponigro will provide you with an action plan to make the 2024 tax season your best yet.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: The Million Dollar Firm model

    Speaker: Anna Skowronek, Cindy Buss & James Buss

    The Million Dollar Firm model helps owners cast a clear and tangible vision for creating the firm of their dreams. Discover why this model is essential and walk away with the actionable steps to develop your Million Dollar Firm.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Building a modern payroll practice with ADP RUN

    Speaker: Leah Reid, Ross Desmond and ADP

    When it comes to payroll, you can work more effectively by building your process with RUN, Powered by ADP. Create an action plan—from transitioning clients and conversion techniques to multi-state and remote employee payroll scenarios—for implementing RUN Powered by ADP in your firm.

  • 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM: Practical solutions to combat burnout

    Speaker: John Mitchell and Ashley Lantinga

    Since the pandemic, there’s been an increase in burnout across accounting firms. Join John Mitchell and Rootworks member Ashley Lantinga as they take a candid look at the problem and present proven ideas for reducing burnout in your firm.

  • 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM: Achieve success with Onvio

    Speaker: TR, Amy McCarty and Tyler Clapp

    Whether you’ve been using Onvio for years or are new to the platform, this session will provide you with Thomson Reuters’ direction of Onvio and cover each of its modules. Learn the features that will help your firm succeed, and the steps your firm can take on its journey to modern.

Colorado C

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: The 5 traits of a modern firm

    Speaker: Darren Root and John Mitchell

    There has never been a better time to build a modern firm. Join Darren Root and John Mitchell as they uncover the five traits that have helped Rootworks members build firms that support their lives instead of consuming them.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: The Modern Firm playbook

    Speaker: Tiffany Caponigro and Chris Lewis

    Just as a football playbook can lead to wins on the field, The Modern Firm playbook provides strategies and plays that lead firms to big wins. Join Rootworks coach Tiffany Caponigro as she helps you develop actionable—and proven—strategies that you can implement now to start seeing successes in 2023.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Navigating the AI Revolution: Leveraging Generative AI within your accounting practice

    Speaker: TJ Lewis & Dave Wachtendonk

    This breakout session will cover the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Generative AI and how they can be used in accounting. Participants will learn about the key applications of these technologies and how to integrate AI-powered solutions into their accounting practices. They will also learn how to identify suitable use-cases and address the limitations of AI-powered systems. Additionally, the session will teach participants how to effectively communicate with Generative AI systems to produce desired results. By the end of the session, participants will have a better understanding of how to use Generative AI in their accounting practice.

  • 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM: Top security threats today

    Speaker: Robert Prusa, Mike Way and Lindsay Malcolm

    Is your firm safe from cyberattacks? Learn the top security threats facing firms today, ways to secure your firm from end to end, and how to empower your staff to stay vigilant against cyberthreats.

  • 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM: Managing your firm by the numbers: Top KPIs

    Speaker: Marcus Dillon & Mastermind Panel (Mick Nijer, Erin Whittle)

    What are the top 10 KPIs (key performance indicators) your firm should track? Join Marcus Dillion and a panel of Rootworks Mastermind group members as they walk through how these KPIs have helped improve and guide their firm toward success.

Colorado D

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: Moving your firm to the cloud

    Speaker: Robert Prusa, Risha Mitchell and Sean Hanthorn

    Firms are using more apps than ever before which means managing a secure environment for you and your staff has never been more important. From end-to-end protection and a single-pane-of-glass environment to app delivery and team collaboration, learn how Cloud Premier keeps your firm—and your data—secure.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: Gaining efficiencies with your tax process

    Speaker: Amy McCarty and Susan Lange

    Time is our most precious commodity, but it’s limited in availability. Discover ways to work smarter—not harder—when it comes to the solutions used within your firm’s tax process. Feel free to share the efficiency tips and tricks you’ve learned along the way.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Outsourcing 101

    Speaker: Marcus Dillon - SurePrep & Rootworks Members Panel

    Is outsourcing (e.g., onshore, offshore or AI bots) right for your firm? Join Marcus Dillion and an expert vendor panel as they talk through the basics of outsourcing, and whether the time is right for short-staffed firms to partake.

  • 2:00 PM - 2:50 PM: The art of practice management

    Speaker: Anna Skowronek and Christine Nietzke

    Get set up for success by determining your firm’s ideal practice management solution. Join Rootworks coaches Anna Skowronek and Christine Nietzke as they discuss various workflows (i.e., practice vs. project vs. basic) based on your firm’s needs, along with best practices for implementation.

  • 3:00 PM - 3:50 PM: The power of CRM

    Speaker: Jill Winter, Andy Root and Justin Newhall

    A CRM (customer relationship management) system is a powerful tool that helps firms manage client relationships and interactions. Learn how to evaluate whether a CRM meets your needs, what features can benefit your firm and how to adopt—and implement—the right system for your firm.

Wednesday, May 3

DAY TWO

6:00 AM – 7:00 AM

Sunrise Yoga with Leah Reid
Colorado Balcony

7:30 AM – 4:00 PM

Registration Open
Pre-function area

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Breakfast & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

Day 2 Opening Keynote
Jina Etienne, Colorado A

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM

Break & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

10:00 AM - 1:50 PM

Breakout Sessions
Colorado B-D

11:50 AM - 1:00 PM

Lunch & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

1:50 PM - 2:20 PM

Break & Exhibit Hall
Pre-function area

2:20 PM - 3:00 PM

Closing Keynote
Colorado A

Colorado B

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: Better business outcomes through Smart Client Management

    Speaker: Darren Root

    Smart Client Management enables firms to curate their ideal client roster, maximize recurring revenue and create a sustainable work environment—delivering a year-round revenue stream, happier employees and more satisfied clients. Join Darren Root as he shares how to implement Smart Client Management and how it can provide better business outcomes in your firm.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: Using SurePrep for more than 1040s

    Speaker: Tyler Clapp and [SurePrep rep]

    Many firms are familiar with using SurePrep to automate the preparation of 1040s, but the platform can do much more than that. Join Rootworks coach Tyler Clapp as he discusses leveraging SurePrep for business entities and monthly workpapers, and how to streamline processes in your modern firm.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Working Session: Create an action plan

    Speaker: Rootworks coaches

    Use this working session to organize your thoughts around the information and ideas gained at this conference and create an action plan for your firm—with measurable goals and objectives—to finish 2023 on a high note.

Colorado C

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: Building a DEI action plan

    Speaker: Lindsay Malcolm and Jina Etienne

    Creating a firm that prioritizes DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) is everyone’s responsibility. Explore how DEI initiatives increase innovation and creativity, enhance your views of work and life, and develop an irresistible culture where everyone feels safe to thrive.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: Loving your job: 5 common habits to get you there

    Speaker: John Mitchell

    Your job and your life should complement each other, not compete with one another. Join John Mitchell as he uncovers the five habits of people who love their jobs based on research and conversations with real-life Rootworks members.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Working Session: Create an action plan

    Speaker: Rootworks coaches

    Use this working session to organize your thoughts around the information and ideas gained at this conference and create an action plan for your firm—with measurable goals and objectives—to finish 2023 on a high note.

Colorado D

  • 10:00 AM - 10:50 AM: Securely managing a modern team

    Speaker: Roman Kepczyk and Ross Desmond

    Securely managing your hardware, software and passwords has never been more critical in today’s modern firm. Learn the best practices for managing security awareness across your firm and how to ensure you’re keeping your firm, your data and your clients’ data safe.

  • 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM: The modern firm advisory model

    Speaker: Christine Nietzke and Paul Mueller

    What would it look like if your firm had an advisory model? Christine Nietzke discusses what adding advisory services can do for your firm, why it benefits your firm and your clients, and how to gather information to deliver meaningful services to create year-round revenue.

  • 1:00 PM - 1:50 PM: Working Session: Create an action plan

    Speaker: Rootworks coaches

    Use this working session to organize your thoughts around the information and ideas gained at this conference and create an action plan for your firm—with measurable goals and objectives—to finish 2023 on a high note.