Bringing Leaders Together: Highlights from NASBA’s March Conferences

This March, Board of Accountancy executive directors, legal counsel and board staff gathered alongside NASBA leaders and State CPA Society executives in Austin, TX, for the 44th Annual Conference for Executive Directors and Board Staff and 31st Annual Conference for Board of Accountancy Legal Counsel.

Over the week-long conferences, participants discussed regulatory updates, legislative developments, and emerging issues impacting Boards of Accountancy. NASBA leadership and staff helped guide these conversations, offering insights grounded in both expertise and real-world experience.

NASBA Chair Nicola Neilon and President and CEO Daniel Dustin provided organizational updates. Sessions also addressed ADA testing accommodations, led by Senior Manager Adam Herjeczki and Deputy Chief Legal Officer Elizabeth Wolfe, and CPE Task Force updates from Director of Compliance Services Amy Tongate. Jessica Luttrull and Stephen Platau (FL) presented an overview of the PEEC Exposure Draft.

Discussion of NASBA’s Accountancy Licensee Database (ALD), moderated by ALD Manager Clint Blasengame, focused on Vision 2030 goals and encouraged dialogue among executive directors on collaboration and shared systems. NASBA Chief Operating Officer Bill Emmer and Michael Decker of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) shared updates on developments related to the CPA Exam.

Legal Counsel attendees explored key topics ranging from ethics in practice to interpreting financial statements through a legal lens shared by Robert Prentice and Mark Bradshaw, professors from the University of Texas at Austin. Participants also received updates from the Department of Labor and earned up to 17 hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) through sessions led by respected voices in regulatory law.

In total, the conferences welcomed 161 in-person participants, including executive directors, board staff, legal counsel, and representatives from State CPA Societies, as well as the AICPA. An additional 26 attendees joined virtually, expanding the conversation beyond the room.

By the week’s end, participants emphasized the value of the gatherings in strengthening relationships, exchanging ideas, and advancing the profession collectively.