Key Highlights from NASBA’s 118th Annual Meeting

The NASBA community gathered October 26–29 in Chicago, IL, for the 118th Annual Meeting, united by the theme “Together: Strong Foundations, Brighter Futures.” The four-day event brought together NASBA leadership, Board of Accountancy representatives, regulators and industry partners to celebrate accomplishments, exchange ideas and explore opportunities and challenges shaping NASBA, its member boards and the CPA profession.

A key highlight was the State of NASBA Address delivered by President and CEO Daniel Dustin, who emphasized NASBA’s priorities of increasing operational efficiency, deepening staff collaboration and advancing the CPA pipeline through innovative technologies.

The meeting also featured an insightful presentation from Consultant Brendan Tapley, who shared outcomes from NASBA’s yearlong Diagnostic project. With 90 percent of jurisdictions participating, the project produced more than 100 hours of discussion and 368 pages of candid feedback. Tapley identified six priority areas that will inform NASBA’s forthcoming strategic planning process: brand identity, communications and engagement, governance, NASBA’s internal landscape, meetings and deregulation. His presentation highlighted the value of listening to stakeholders to shape a forward-thinking, future-ready organization.

Additional perspective on the profession’s future came from recipients of NASBA’s Accounting Education Research Grants, who presented findings from studies examining the CPA pipeline and the growing influence of artificial intelligence. Momentum continued with a keynote from Derek “DY” Young, whose message centered on purposeful and progressive leadership. His keynote, “Linking Our Foundations to Our Future: The Power of Passion, Patience, and Partnership,” reinforced the meeting’s call to lead boldly and build toward a stronger future.

A significant moment of the meeting was the installation of NASBA’s 2025–2026 Board of Directors, led by Chair Nicola Neilon (NV), whose long-standing dedication to public protection and collaboration will guide NASBA in the year ahead. The NASBA Center for the Public Trust (CPT) also celebrated its 20th anniversary and hosted its annual fundraiser, The Chicago Outfit: Celebrating 20 Years of Being a Difference, which raised more than $61,000—marking the CPT’s most successful fundraiser to date.

Across sessions exploring private equity, legislative trends, the Uniform Accountancy Act and how state boards can guide an AI-enabled profession, one message resonated: by working together, NASBA is well-positioned to continue building strong foundations that lead to brighter futures for all.