2026 Business & Industry Conference - WEBCAST - 2ND DAY ONLY

Overview

Join us for the 2026 Business & Industry Conference, August 13–14 as part of Ledgers & Legends Week. This year’s program is designed for professionals navigating a business environment defined by rapid change, where technology, markets, and workforce expectations continue to evolve at an unprecedented pace.

Over two days, attendees will gain fresh perspective, practical insights, and forward-looking strategies to help turn uncertainty into opportunity and stay ahead in a shifting landscape. This is a space to step away from the day-to-day, engage with meaningful ideas, and return with renewed clarity and direction.

AGENDA
 
  
Friday, August 14 
 
  
7:30 – 8:00 am Registration  

8:00 – 9:20 am 
Professional Issues Update 
Ron Gitz, CPA, CGMA • Executive Director/CEO - Society of Louisiana CPAs • Metairie, LA 
David Zoller • Society of Louisiana CPAs • Metairie, LA 
 
9:20 – 9:40 am Break 
  
9:40 – 10:55 am   
Headwinds 2026: What Inhibits Carrier Ability to Control Healthcare Costs 
Michael Bertaut, MBA, CHC, PAHM • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana • Baton Rouge, LA 
In 2026 there are a very specific set of inhibitors throwing sand in the gears of slowing down rising healthcare costs.? Some of these have been evolving slowly over time, While others are brand new and their impact is just starting to be understood. In order to provide meaningful employer benefits in this environment, Managers must  
Understand these cost drivers and what they can reasonable achieve in moderating them. 
 
10:55 am – 12:10 pm 
AI-Powered Spreadsheets: The CPA's New Competitive Edge 
Trace Armstrong • Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC • Birmingham, AL 
The spreadsheet isn't going away — it's getting smarter. This session explores how AI is transforming the way CPAs interact with Excel and other tools, from natural language formulas and automated data analysis to AI-assisted modeling and anomaly detection. We'll demonstrate real-world applications tailored to business and industry professionals, address common concerns around accuracy and reliability, and help you evaluate which AI tools deserve a place in your workflow. Whether you're just getting started or looking to go deeper, you'll leave with a clear roadmap for integrating AI into your day-to-day spreadsheet work. 
 
12:10 – 1:10 pm Lunch 
 
1:10 – 2:30 pm 
Today’s Cyber Landscape: Risks, Realities, and the CPA’s Role
Allison Ward, CPA, CISA, CISSP, CISM • CRI Advisors, LLC • Baton Rouge, LA 
Cybersecurity risks continue to evolve, requiring organizations to stay alert as both new threats and long standing vulnerabilities persist. In this session, we’ll examine the current state of the cyber landscape and what it means for today’s organizations. Through practical examples and common risk scenarios, we’ll highlight why these issues matter and where professionals play a role in reducing exposure. Attendees will gain insight into practical steps that can strengthen awareness, improve resilience, and help reduce overall organizational risk. 
 
2:30 – 2:50 pm Break 
 
2:50 – 4:20 pm 
Gazing into the Crystal Ball: looking Ahead to 2027-28 
Loren Scott, PhD • Loren C. Scott & Associates, Inc. • Baton Rouge, LA 
What will be driving employment across different sections of the State in 2027-28?  What role will data centers play, especially in the region above I10?  What will the war's impact be on the oil, LNG, and chemical sectors of the economy?  Has AI begun to have an impact on employment trends? 

The 2026 Business & Industry Conference is part of our 2nd Annual Ledgers and Legends Week, a week dedicated to connection, learning, and celebration across Louisiana’s accounting and finance community at the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans. Join us for one or multiple events during this full week of learning, connection, and celebration across the profession.

• Women's Conference (Wednesday, August 12)
• Ethics for Business & Industry (Wednesday, August 12)
• Ledgers and Legends Ball (Saturday, August 15)
• Ethics for Public Practice (Sunday, August 16)
• Louisiana/Governmental Accounting & Auditing Conference (Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18)
• Forensic, Litigation, and Valuation Services Conference (Monday, August 17 and Tuesday, August 18)

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