Accounting CPE Conference

Morning Session — 7 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.

• 7 a.m. – 8 a.m. — Registration and Continental Breakfast
• 8 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. —  Welcome and Introductions: Bob Kollar, Associate Professor of Practice, Accounting — Duquesne University
• 8:10 a.m. – 9 a.m. — From Disruption to Disruptor: Rethinking Supply Chain Resilience: Robert Olszak, Vice President, Manufacturing & Logistics & Supply Chain Practice Lead and Jessica Harris, Vice President, Procurement & Supply Chain — RGP
• 9 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. —  Financial Planning and Wealth Management Through the Generations: Samantha Spitzer Sheetz, Wealth Consultant, and Nick Urban, Strategist Wealth Planning — Waldron Private Wealth 
• 9:50 a.m. – 10:10 a.m. — Morning Break
• 10:10 a.m. – 11 a.m. — 2025 Tax Update – The Big Beautiful Bill and Other Tax Changes: Andrew Louk, Tax Principal,  and Brandon Cartmill, Tax Manager — BDO
• 11 a.m.  – 11:50 a.m.  — Panel Discussion: AI and Other Ethical Issues Facing Accountants and Auditors
  • Moderator: Dr. David Wasileski, Professor, Duquesne University
  • Panelists:  Melissa Anderson, Executive Vice President, Chief Auditor and Compliance Officer – Highmark; Sharon Villaverde, Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer – US Steel; and Arber Ukmata, Managing Director – EY

Lunch — 12 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. 

Afternoon Session — 12:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• 12:45 p.m. – 1:35 p.m. — Keynote Speaker — Annual Economic Outlook: Gus Faucher, Chief Economist — PNC 

• 1:35 p.m. – 2:25 p.m. — Current State of the Accounting Profession: Jen Cryder, CPA—Chief Executive Officer —PICPA

• 2:25 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Afternoon Break

• 2:45 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. — Accounting Standards and Projects Update: Susan Cosper, Board member — FASB

• 3:35 p.m. – 4:25 p.m. —  Can You Secure it All?  How Protecting a University from Cyberattacks Can Educate Others: Tom Dugas, Vice President and Chief Information Officer — Duquesne University 

• 4:25 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Closing Comments and Evaluations: Bob Kollar, Associate Professor of Practice, Accounting — Duquesne University

Duquesne University's Accounting CPE Conference is hosted annually in November by the Accounting faculty of the Palumbo-Donahue School of Business. Launched in 2012, it has become a premier educational event for accountants and auditors in the Pittsburgh region. Attendance ranges from 250 to 300 people.

The goal of the Conference is to provide high-quality Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours while raising scholarship funds for graduate students enrolled in the Master of Accountancy (MAcc) Program. Since its founding, the Conference has raised more than $220,000 for student scholarships. 

The Association for the Advancement of Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) has recognized the Conference as an outstanding example of the School's outreach activities. 

Surveys of prior attendees indicate that they value the high-quality content of the educational materials presented and the networking opportunities provided by the Conference. 

The Conference has hosted leading business and industry professionals as speakers, including Gus Faucher, Chief Economist of PNC Bank; Sue Cosper, board member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); and Mark Olson, first chairperson of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB). 

Other speakers include:

• Chief Financial Officers
• Controllers
• Audit Directors of public, private, and non-profit organizations
• Partners and Practice Leaders from Big 4, national, and regional public accounting firms
• Representatives from the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ)