Aprio Alliance

Developing future leaders looks different for everyone, depending on where they are in their career and how they learn. Last week, our 2026 Leadership Essentials & Applied Practice (LEAP) and Enterprise Development & Growth Experience (EDGE) program cohorts gathered in Kansas City, MO, for their first in-person sessions. 🤝 Through LEAP, participants gain deeper insights into their leadership styles through a DiSC assessment, strengthening their executive presence, and building the skills needed to lead and coach others effectively. 🔗 The EDGE program enables participants to think differently about client relationships — exploring how to move from doers to trusted advisors, navigate complex client conversations, and create greater impact for their clients and firms. We're excited to watch our program cohorts continue to develop their leadership and business acumen. With programs like LEAP and EDGE, the Aprio Alliance is helping firms invest in their future by developing strong leaders, strengthening client relationships, and equipping professionals with the skills needed to drive long-term success. Learn more:https://lnkd.in/efFNUGJn

Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLC CPA Managing Partner Roy E. Prestwood, CPA came to the Aprio Alliance for a talent development solution - a strategy for attracting and retaining the right talent. Through the Aprio Alliance, his team gained access to more than 2,150 courses supporting ongoing skill development across audit, tax, client accounting services (CAS), leadership, and professional development for every career stage. Heard, McElroy & Vestal was looking to support their team members' professional growth through meaningful development and opportunities to meet and track their compliance requirements. And the Aprio Alliance stepped in with solutions. Beyond learning content, the Aprio Alliance offers talent and leadership development in addition to programming for all levels, designed to support growth from emerging leaders to firm executives. Visit our website and submit a request form to connect with our team. https://lnkd.in/efFNUGJn

Last week, our Marketing and Tax Leadership Suite cohorts gathered in Aprio's Atlanta office for two days of peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. Attendees stepped away from their day-to-day responsibilities to connect, pressure-test ideas, discuss challenges they're navigating, and look at opportunities in marketing and tax from a new lens. Conversations spanned leadership and growth, talent development, technology and AI transformation, practice management, firm strategy, and the future of the profession. We're excited to see these conversations continue throughout the year as they take their learnings back to their firms. Leadership Suites, including our Marketing and Tax cohorts, are among the many resources available for professionals, both as Aprio Alliance members and non-members. The cohorts cycle throughout the year and offer a unique networking and connection point with our community. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/efFNUGJn

Many Client Accounting Services (CAS) leaders are asking the same questions: How do I create capacity? Where does AI fit in? How do I scale to offer clients more?   The firms scaling today are making faster, better-informed decisions, and they rarely do it alone.   In a recent conversation, Aprio Alliance Director Kevin Poppen, CPA, shared that the answers start with clarity, and with stepping back to look forward. The firms that scale CAS tend to share four things: 🤝 A clear ideal client 📈 A place for CAS in their firm strategy ⚙️ A willingness to experiment with AI 🧠 An advisory mindset   That is what Aprio Alliance gives CAS leaders: peer insights and shared experience for the decisions that matter most. Discover Aprio Alliance insights below.

How is AI changing accounting, advisory, and the way we interact with our clients? In a recent conversation with Crain's Chicago Business, Aprio Midwest Regional Leader & Audit Partner Alan Langelli, CPA shared that as AI reshapes the workplace, leaders have an opportunity to help teams focus on what technology can't replace: judgment, relationships, and accountability. https://lnkd.in/eSnPdQdp #AccountForAnything

Welcome back to the Aprio Alliance, Dean Dorton! The accounting profession is changing faster than ever. No firm has all the answers, but the best firms are willing to learn from one another. Headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky, For more than a century, Dean Dorton has built its reputation helping clients solve complex business challenges while continuing to evolve alongside their needs. That commitment to growth, innovation, and collaboration makes them a natural fit for our community. Please join us in welcoming the Dean Dorton team and Jason Miller to the Aprio Alliance in the comments!

We are excited to welcome OnPay to the Aprio Alliance Solutions Center! OnPay is apayroll, HR, and benefits solution built to simplify how you support your clients. Run payroll in just a few clicks—or automate it entirely—while tax filings and integrations are handled seamlessly behind the scenes. Firms can also access tools for HR, time tracking, and employee benefits, all backed by U.S.-based support when you need it. Members – learn more on the portal!

Last week, Erica Costanzo, Talent Development Leader & Aprio Alliance Director and Michael Maksymiw, CPA CGMA MSA, Aprio Aliance Director , presented at the HeadWaters Leadership Conference on how trust, empathy, and psychological safety help teams thrive. Their session, Humanity in Leadership: Cheat Code for the Future, explored how human-first leadership creates the conditions for stronger teams, healthier firm cultures, and higher performance. As firms continue to invest in their people, conversations like these remind us that leadership remains a powerful driver of success.

Registration for the Aprio Alliance Forum is now open! 👏 Join us October 26–29 in Frisco, Texas, for the Aprio Alliance's premier event — bringing together more than 500 professionals from over 80 Aprio Alliance member firms, Aprio Global™ firms, the Aprio team, sponsors, and industry leaders. This year's theme explores "The Intentional Firm" and what it takes to build a firm that grows smarter and stronger to lead the profession into the next decade and beyond. Through keynote presentations, more than 30 breakout sessions, endless networking opportunities, and peer discussions, attendees will gain practical insights, valuable connections, and fresh perspectives to help shape the transformation of their firms. Check your inbox for the registration link.

Join David J. Friedman, CultureWise Founder, award-winning CEO, entrepreneur, and bestselling author, on Wednesday, July 29 for a practical conversation on building the behaviors and habits that drive sustainable growth. In "Building a Growth Culture: The Behaviors That Separate High Performing Firms," David will explore the leadership habits, team behaviors, and operating systems that help firms strengthen client relationships, create accountability, and support long-term success. Whether you're focused on growth, culture, or leadership development, you'll leave with practical ideas to bring back to your firm.