Decosimo will host the 2014 Decosimo Accounting Seminar on Tuesday, May 13, at the Chattanooga Convention Center from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. This year’s seminar will feature an update on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to be presented by keynote speaker Dr. Richard Townsend. The keynote address will take place in the morning, while the seminar will feature afternoon breakout sessions covering business management topics, including the latest in cyber security and information on planning issues in family businesses.
As part of his address on GAAP updates, Dr. Townsend will speak on revenue recognition, discontinued operations, development stage enterprises, going concerns, leases, and the status of actions by the FASB’s Private Company Council. Dr. Townsend is an Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he taught both undergraduate and graduate financial accounting courses from 1969 to 2012. Holding a Ph.D. from The University of Texas at Austin, Dr. Townsend regularly conducts continuing professional education courses on reporting and disclosure for the Tennessee Society of CPAs, Georgia Society of CPAs, corporations and public accounting firms.
The afternoon Cyber Security breakout sessions will feature Sam Bailey of Staffing Technologies detailing how companies and organizations can best secure customer information against cyber threats. In the following session, Decosimo’s Bill Acuff will discuss best practices to recognize, detect and prevent many common fraud schemes.
“Planning Issues in Family Businesses” will be a featured topic in another of the seminar’s afternoon breakout sessions. Decosimo’s Mike Costello, Shannon Farr and Bob Wheat will address the unique challenges found in family businesses when planning for growth, succession and other business management issues. “Tax Planning with Insurance,” presented by Rodney Miller of Highland Brokerage, will complete the list of breakout sessions. Mr. Miller’s presentation will focus on strategies for utilizing insurance instruments to reach tax planning objectives.
Participants in the afternoon breakouts will come together for a final session that will provide perspective on the current business climate. Presented by Tom Decosimo and Mike Costello, who oversee Decosimo Advisory Services, this session will examine the latest conditions affecting businesses in various industries. The presentation will also offer strategic approaches on how to navigate through the challenging times associated with a still-recovering economy.
The registration fee is $99 for the full-day seminar. Attendees may earn up to 8 hours of continuing professional education (CPE). The registration deadline is May 6.