Off the Ledger

In this episode, Joe sits down with Amy Vetter, CPA, CGMA, RYT-500, CSP. Amy is the CEO of the B³ Method Institute and the keynote speaker for the MICPA's 2025 Elevate Conference. They discuss how firms can build a best-in-class tech stack by thoughtfully selecting, standardizing and training on the right tools.

This month Joe chats with Business Development Market Leader at BDO, Anthony Rosenblum, CPA about his lifelong passion for volunteering, sparked by early experiences in his hometown, and how it has enriched his personal and professional life, helping him build leadership skills, meaningful relationships, and community impact through roles ranging from CPA board work to coaching his kids' sports teams.

On this episode of Off the Ledger, Joe sits down with the Founding Partner of J&F Advisors, Ashley Johnson, CPA, EA, and discusses the importance of financial literacy and her work introducing high school students to accounting, as well as preparing students for CPA careers and the broad opportunities within the accounting profession.

This month, Joe chats with John Eardley, CPA, MST from Crowe LLP about Michigan's flow-through entity tax, its complexities, and recent legislative changes aimed at simplifying compliance for taxpayers and CPAs.

In this episode, Joe sits down with MICPA Senior Vice President, Peggy Jury, CPA, CGMA to talk about the new quality management standards for accounting firms, which include risk assessment, communication documents, and annual monitoring. 

In this special year-end episode, Bob Doyle, president and CEO of MICPA, returns to reflect with Joe on MICPA's 2024 accomplishments, including the importance of cultivating leadership, inspiring future CPAs, and celebrating the accounting profession's impact. Bob also previews some of the exciting plans for 2025 with insights into the Michigan accounting landscape and MICPA's ongoing efforts to support members and the profession.

In this episode, Reed Freiberger, CPA, a supervisor at Gordon Advisors PC, joins Joe to discuss the nuances of tax law, particularly the role of creativity in managing complex issues such as sales tax, property tax, and state tax compliance.

As the dust settles after a historic election, MICPA podcast host Joe Colosi checks in with Becky Bechler, managing partner at Public Affairs Associates in Lansing.Unpack the results and impacts on Michigan's CPAs, their organizations, and clients.

This month Joe talks with Albert D. Spalding, CPA, JD, PhD, Associate Professor Emeritus at Wayne State University to discuss ethical decision-making in accounting. They explore whether ethics are innate or learned through two court cases highlighting moral development and discuss the importance of the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct.

In a continuation from the last episode, Joe is joined one more time by Jeff Rayis, CPA, CTP, MBA who is the former VP of Treasury at Michigan State University and the new CFO at Indiana Wesleyan University. They proceed through the rest of the 30 best practices for building and growing client relationships that Jeff had previously started discussing last month. Will they be able to get through the final 15 in this episode? Yes. Yes, they will.

In this episode, Joe is joined by the former VP of Treasury at Michigan State University and new CFO at Indiana Wesleyan University, Jeff Rayis, CPA, CTP, MBA. They discuss the 30 best practices for building and growing client relationships that Jeff has discovered during his career. Will they be able to get through all 30 of them in just one episode?

This month Joe talks with Charlotte Stallings, president and CEO of Charlotte Stallings Enterprises in Houston, TX. Together they explore the idea of transformation being an inside job, discussing how embracing change and overcoming internal obstacles are crucial for personal and professional growth.

In this episode, Joe is joined by former US Attorney, Barbara McQuade, to explore the pervasive issue of disinformation. They discuss the deliberate spread of misleading information and its impact on society and professions like accounting emphasizing the importance of upholding facts and integrity, offering insights into combating disinformation, and promoting ethical leadership.

This month, MICPA Government Relations Director LasShawn Thomas joins Joe in a discussion on "regulating success" in the accounting profession. Explore legislative updates, licensure nuances and the importance of educating lawmakers, all with a dash of CPA-themed humor. 

This month, Joe discusses the significance of volunteering for CPAs with Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA, founder of Capocore Professional Advisors. Jamie shares his path from the Small Practitioners Task Force to Chair of the Board of Directors for MICPA, highlighting the valuable skills CPAs offer in governance and the rewards of volunteering, such as professional development and networking opportunities.

This month, Joe explores the CPA shortage crisis with special guest Michelle Watterworth, CPA and partner at Plante Moran. Together, they explore the collaborative efforts of the AICPA and the National Association of State Auditors, Controllers, and Treasurers (NASACT). Michelle offers insights into strategies for attracting and retaining CPAs, and provides a sneak peek into an upcoming co-branded paper set to be released later this year.

Explore the world of entrepreneurship with Paul Glantz, CPA, MST, chairman, and co-founder of Emagine Entertainment, Inc. Join the conversation as Paul shares his remarkable journey into the entertainment space and the invaluable role his CPA background has played in navigating challenges and seizing opportunities.

Get ready for an exclusive year-end conversation tailored just for our MICPA members! Special guest Bob Doyle, MICPA president and CEO, reflects on the defining moments of 2023. From unique member experiences to bolstering the future of accounting, this episode offers an insider's perspective on what shapes our MICPA community, setting the stage for an exciting new year.

This month, our host Joe Colosi is joined by Leon LaBrecque, JD, CPA, CFP®, CFA, consultant, problem solver, thinker, and speaker with Sequoia Financial Group, Troy, to discuss creating a strategic toolbox for nonprofits, covering team alignment, efficient processes, and strategy implementation.

This month's guest Mark Cory, CPA, founder, president, FranNet of Michigan, explores the crucial role CPAs play in guiding clients through through franchise opportunities. Mark walks through the key elements of financial evaluation, investment options, and the strategic vision necessary for successful "business in a box" ownership.

Joe is joined by MICPA member Jeff Rayis, CPA, CTP, MBA, assistant vice president of treasury and financial management at Michigan State University to discuss the university's development of a new paradigm for raising capital using blockchain distributed ledger technology.

Are people born with good character or is it a skill that can be honed? This month, Joe Colosi is joined by Stephanie L. Bowie, CEO, CPA, MBA of B. Empowered Leadership Academy, LLC as she shares her insights from over a decade of teaching leadership and financial management to soldiers as part of the U.S. Army Reserve. Hear Stephanie's take on how good character impacts decisions, leadership, and results.

Join Joe in this episode as he talks with Fernando Juarez, Esq., LL.M., EA, member of Freeman Law, PLLC in Frisco, Texas. Together, they delve into the world of tax compliance for United States employees working abroad amidst the rise of remote work, uncovering the complexities and implications involved.

Are these the habits of your leadership style? Our host, Joe Colosi, connects with Melissa Majors, CEO of Melissa Majors Consulting in Dallas, Texas, fresh off of her keynote presentation at MICPA Elevate to discover the habits of inclusive leadership.

You've heard the acronym. You might even know what it stands for. But what exactly is PAC as it relates to you? This month Joe sits down with Matthew Kidd, CPA, PFS from Blunden & Kidd Accounting & Consulting PC to talk about what exactly PAC does for the CPA profession and its importance.

As we wrap up National Volunteer Month, Joe sits down with Amanda Sayn, CPA, CFF, Manager at ShindelRock and Chair of the MICPA Emerging Leaders Task Force to talk about what she has learned from volunteering, how it has helped her progress in her career, and how YOU can get involved with volunteer groups at the MICPA.

What do sweeping floors, a human library and Jurassic Park have in common? Chair of the MICPA Board of Directors, Michelle Randall, CPA, CGMA, professor of accounting, Schoolcraft College, answers this riddle and shares the top three unexpected skills new CPAs need for success.

As an intern at Plante Moran, Rebecca (Becky) Stoutenger, CPA, asked her clients, “What was your path to becoming a CFO?” Now a controller at FlavorSum, Becky sits down with Joe to talk about her own journey to accounting in industry, including the benefits of starting in public accounting.

Ethics are the foundation of the CPA profession. How do we ensure that we hold ourselves and our firms to the highest ethical standards? Joe meets with Clare Levison, CPA, CGMA, owner, Inspired Responsibility in Blacksburg, Virginia to discuss how our behavior in and outside of work reflects on the profession.

As we get ready to close the books on 2022, we wanted to take some time to look back on where we've been and where we're going. For our last episode of the year, Joe sits down with MICPA President and CEO, Bob Doyle, to reflect on 2022 and look at what 2023 might have in store.

Sure, we all know everything there is to know about cryptocurrency, but do you know the tax implications of cryptocurrency? Joe sits down with Allison Mcleod, LL.M., CPA from Allison Mcleod, LL.M., CPA, PLLC in Denton, Texas and get to the bottom of it to make sure you are in the know.

In this special episode of Off the Ledger, Joe catches up with Rachel Reardon, MICPA VP of Government Relations, who will break down the top 5 things CPAs need to know about the election results.

Forbes reports that about 1.1 billion on-demand gig workers exist worldwide, and that number is expected to grow over the next several years. So, what does that mean to companies and firms? And what does it mean to YOU? Joe sits down with gig economy expert, Ani Srinivasraghavan, Senior Director, Strategy & Partnerships at WorkMarket, an ADP company to learn more.

Everyone has unique experiences and perspectives. How do you use your unique experiences and perspectives to influence change or drive innovation as a thought leader? Alex Drost, CPA, Founder and CEO of Connection Builders, sits down with Joe this month to talk about how you can position yourself as a thought leader, how to set expectations and measure your success.

Ever thought about getting involved in political advocacy, but wondered if it really made any difference? This month, Michigan State Senator Mallory McMorrow sits down with Joe to assure us how and why advocacy efforts have an impact on the CPA profession and our daily lives.

This month, we're talking about the stuff upon which the American Dream is built – Financial Empowerment and Economic Mobility. Priscilla Perkins, CEO and Gabrielle Thomas, COO from the Accounting Aid Society talk to Joe about why they are passionate about helping others recognize the tools available to them to help achieve that dream.

It's not often that the student becomes the master and then becomes the student again, but in our current CPA environment, this might be all too familiar. Join Joe as he talks with Adam Schubatis, CPA, audit senior manager from KPMG about how new CPAs can learn as they start their new careers, but also what they uniquely bring to the table.

Professional networking and finding a soul mate just don't compare, right? Oh, but they do! Find out how as Joe sits down with MICPA board member Matthew Kidd, CPA, Blunden & Kidd Accounting & Consulting PC, to talk about all things networking, from best practices for newcomers to its future. And who knows, you might just get some good relationship tips, too.

Can you imagine doing your job without a computer? Our guest, MICPA Board Member Jamie Lopiccolo, CPA, CGMA, Capocore Professional Advisors, has been there. Listen in as Joe and Jamie discuss the way technology has evolved and changed the accounting profession, and make some predictions about where it could take the profession in the future.

This month's guest, Alan Young, CPA, MST, and CGMA, Managing Partner of Alan C. Young and Associates tells us, “Entrepreneurs are made by either a dream or necessity.” For Alan, it was a bit of both. Join us as Alan sits down with Joe to share his experience in starting a minority-owned firm, and why this exceptionally diverse firm was as much of an opportunity as it was a necessity.

Remember reading “Choose Your Own Adventure” books when you were a kid? Having the CPA designation is a lot like that – it offers so many options and “adventures” for your career, and the chance at many new beginnings. Join us as Joe sits down with Deborah Habel, CPA and professor at Wayne State University to talk about shoulder pads, serendipitous decisions and the adventures she encountered on her career path.

Cliché? Maybe. True? For sure. Flipping the calendar to a new year offers each of us a fresh start. This month, Joe sits down with MICPA President and CEO, Bob Doyle, to hear his thoughts on resolutions, mindfulness, and appreciating both the good and bad in our lives. If you are looking for inspiration to start 2022 off on the right foot, this episode is a great place to begin!

Have you ever looked at your career and thought, “There must be a better way to do this”? Do you want to take what you've learned and break the mold? This month, Joe sits down with Kaleb Grapp, CPA and Aaron Lerash, CPA, partners of Grapp Lerash, to talk about what sparked their entrepreneurial fire and discuss their journey to pursue their passion and start their own firm.

Is it just me, or does it feel like it's a little harder to get noticed in a virtual or hybrid work environment? This month, Joe talks to Victor Hicks, Owner and Managing Principal of Lumin Financial, about ways to seize and create opportunities for career growth while working virtually.

Do you like a fast-paced work environment or do you prefer taking your time and paying attention to the details? Do you work better solo or as part of a team? What makes you excited to come to work every day? Stacey Schabel, CPA, CIA, SVP & Chief Audit Executive at Jackson Financial, Inc. explains how to find the company or firm that is the right “fit” for you, and what to do if your current work situation doesn't fit. Visit Our Website ► https://micpa.org CONNECT WITH CPAs ► https://connect.micpa.org SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS! ► https://www.youtube.com/user/MichiganCPAs FIND COURSES ► https://micpa.org/cpe/store ADD US ON: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micpa FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCPAs TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MichiganCPAs

Paul Bryant, CPA, Assurance Partner at Plante Moran, joins us to discuss how to overcome challenges early in your career. We've all been the “new kid” at one time. Knowing who to turn to for advice and avoiding the trap of comparing yourself to others can give you a competitive edge and make you feel more at ease in your position. Paul shares best practices to overcoming those and other hurdles you may face as you begin your journey in the accounting profession. Visit Our Website ► https://micpa.org CONNECT WITH CPAs ► https://connect.micpa.org SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS! ► https://www.youtube.com/user/MichiganCPAs FIND COURSES ► https://micpa.org/cpe/store ADD US ON: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micpa FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCPAs TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MichiganCPAs

MICPA Board Member Laurie Horvath, CPA, Partner at Baker Tilly, shares her experience in serving on boards and offers insight on how young professionals can build their resume while helping their community. Visit Our Website ► https://micpa.org CONNECT WITH CPAs ► https://connect.micpa.org SUBSCRIBE FOR NEW VIDEOS! ► https://www.youtube.com/user/MichiganCPAs FIND COURSES ► https://micpa.org/cpe/store ADD US ON: LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/micpa FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MichiganCPAs TWITTER: https://twitter.com/MichiganCPAs