2017 Conference Review—Second Quarter 2017

Big Issues Discussed.  Bigger Initiatives Launched.
2017 Annual Consultants’ Conference in Review

By Brien K. Jones
Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President

The annual conference was held June 7–10, 2017, at the Swissôtel in the heart of downtown Chicago’s Magnificent Mile.  There were over 600 attendees combined between attendance live in-person in Chicago and live online broadcast attendees.  Certification training was also held for NACVA’s global Certified Valuation Analyst® (CVA®) and Master Analyst in Financial Forensics® (MAFF®) designations.
 
If you were unable to attend the conference in Chicago, plan to attend the Best of the Best Live Conference Session Broadcasts where several sessions from the conference agenda will be repeated live online July 26 and 27.
 
Newsworthy developments from the conference include: 

• An update to the Professional Standards and the Business Valuation/Appraisal Standards Comparison Chart were released.  Regulatory ethics continuing professional education (CPE) credit can be earned by attending the Industry Standards Update webinar.  Recent developments within the professional organizations are discussed.  Learn more at www.NACVA.com/ISU.
   
• An International Chapter Agreement was signed launching the Southeast Asia Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (SAACVA).  Headquartered from Singapore, SAACVA will conduct CVA training and certification compliant with NACVA's requirements and policies in the ten countries comprising the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN): Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.  SAACVA joins NACVA's international chapters in Africa, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and Taiwan.  “The profession in business valuation in the ASEAN region is in its emerging stage of development and growth.  The rich resources and the body of knowledge, and the rigorous training and certification provided by NACVA will benefit the valuation profession in the ASEAN region,” states Dr. Lim Lan Yuan, SAACVA President.  In January 2014, NACVA and its international partner, the International Association of Consultants, Valuators, and Analysts™ (IACVA®), terminated their relationship.
   
• The Core Body of Knowledge for Business Valuations updated for international use and the International CVA Proctored Exam were launched at CVA training hosted by NACVA’s international chapter, the European Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (EACVA), in Frankfurt, Germany in June.  With nearly 600 CVAs in Germany and Austria, EACVA successfully launched their first English language and international CVA training for analysts from throughout Europe.
   
• The partnership with Expert Witness Exchange was launched to create a marketplace for lawyers to find and retain expert witnesses.  “Experts can upload details of their careers right to the Expert Witness Exchange platform,” said Expert Witness Exchange CEO Melinda S. Sungenis.  “Our goal is to make it easy for experts to be found by lawyers and easy for lawyers to find experts.”  Through a custom-built interactive platform, the Expert Witness Exchange gives attorneys the power to search for, compare, and engage expert witnesses.  Learn more at www.ExpertWitnessExchange.com.
   
• The partnership with CoreValue® Software was launched, which will provide software and training to assist business consultants, valuation analysts, and other financial consultants build a thriving full-service business consulting practice.  “A generally accepted framework for quantifying operational performance, with a roadmap for improvement, is being used by hundreds of executives and the professionals who advise them to bring transparency and enable business owners to take control of their own futures; and in the process, create a more efficient market for the benefit of all,” said CoreValue President, George Sandmann.  “Built on more than thirty years of ongoing research, benchmarked data from thousands of businesses, and algorithms developed at MIT, CoreValue is the trusted source for operational data and analytics.”  Learn more at www.NACVA.com/CoreValue.
   
• The 2017 Thomas R. Porter Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Mark S. Warshavsky.  Established in 2009, the Thomas R. Porter Lifetime Achievement Award honors the memory of this founding member and of our most esteemed colleagues.  This honor is presented annually to the individual who exemplifies the qualities that Tom displayed passionately throughout his life and within our profession.  The Thomas R. Porter Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed upon the NACVA member who has demonstrated exemplary character, leadership, and professional achievements to NACVA and the industry.  View Mr. Warshavsky’s award acceptance here.
   
• Industry Specialty SuperConferences and new workshops announced for the 2017 CPE season.  Continuing the 26-year legacy of producing the profession’s most respected CPE, NACVA’s training arm, the Consultants’ Training Institute (CTI), announces the 2017 schedule.  Register for any of the programs listed here by July 31, 2017 and receive a free Super Consultants t-shirt!
  • Industry Specialty SuperConferences | www.NACVANation.com
    Financial Litigation and Expert Witness:
    November 14–15, Chicago, IL
    Financial Valuation:
    December 12–13, San Diego, CA
     
  • New: Live online Intermediate Business Valuation Training Center
     
  • Updated: Advanced Valuation: Applications and Models Workshop
     
  • New: Discounts for Lack of Marketability Workshop
     
  • New: Effective Expert Witness Clinic
     
  • New: Behavioral Forensics Academy™
     
  • New: CoreValue Business Consulting Software System Training
    Free webinars July 26 and July 27.
     
  • New: Four Pillars of Healthcare Valuation
     
  • New: Transaction Advisory Services (TAS) Workshop
     
  • New: Advanced Mergers and Acquisitions Workshop
     
  • NEW: Microsoft Excel^® for Financial Advisors
     

• Below are a few session highlights from esteemed conference faculty and Industry Correspondents from NACVA’s monthly Around the Valuation World® webcasts.  Click to view the interviews.
   

Hubert Klein (right) presented Corporate Divorce Litigation—Understanding its Dynamics and Formulating Solutions.	Darrell D. Dorrell (right) presented Financial Statements—Written Confessions and also taught the Forensic Accounting Academy©.
Jim Alerding (right) presented two sessions Calculation Engagement vs. Valuation Engagement and Working Your Way through the DLOM Minefield.	Jim Harrington (right) presented Matching Fundamental Risk and Return.
Lee Frederiksen (left) presented Secrets of High-Growth Financial Services Firms.	Shannon Shipp (right) presented Key Elements in Calculating Losses in Personal Injury and Wrongful Death.
Howard Zandman (right) presented The Expert’s Role in Financial Litigation—Real-World Guidance for Managing the Engagement.

The Around the Valuation World® monthly webcasts are the next generation method of obtaining the latest updates, news, trends, and activity occurring in the rapidly evolving business valuation and financial forensics profession.  A team of industry experts cover the profession’s leading publications and deliver an online, interactive webcast all you need to know so that at all times, you can be confident that your knowledge is current and accurate as you navigate “Around the Valuation World!”  Subscription includes 12 monthly webcasts and 24 hours of CPE.  Learn more and subscribe at www.NACVA.com/AVW. 

“The atmosphere of a NACVA conference is like no other CPE event.  You must experience it for yourself to fully appreciate it.  NACVA has figured out the right formula for bundling CPE, networking, and mini vacay into a single event perfectly suited for a busy professional.”
—C. Zachary Meyers, CPA, CVA | Scott Depot, WV
 
“The conference definitely exceeded my expectations.  It was my first time to go and I was not sure what to expect.  Recertification was very valuable; calculation vs. valuation engagement class was very good.”
—Chris Hatcher, CPA, CFE, CFF, CVA | Louisville, KY
 
“All the sessions I attended, I was able to walk away with something!  Which is really saying something, but I think, for me, the end of the day question and answer panels helped to shine some light on topics that have plagued our practice for some time and really given us an immediate return on value.”
—Gregory M. Clark, CPA, CVA | Michigan City, IN

“NACVA always puts on a first class conference.  I had not been to one for a few years but was impressed with all aspects, including the content, speakers, facility, and attention to detail.”
—Ron L. Seigneur, MBA, CPA, ABV, ASA, CVA, CFF, CGMA | Lakewood, CO
 
“Quality of attendees and presentations were top shelf.”
—Kathlene Thiel, MBA, CBI, CVA | Latham, NY
 
“I came away feeling like NACVA is doing a great job becoming a top quality education provider.  Overall quality of presentations was good compared to many other conferences.”
—Serena Morones, CPA, ASA, ABV, CFE | Portland, OR
 
“The keynote was interesting, intriguing, and something to factor into our thinking and our conversations with our clients.”
—Fran Coet, CPA, CFF, CVA, CFP, MAFF, CDFA | Westminster, CO
 
“The networking opportunities, speakers, and the exhibitors all combined to make this one of the best conferences ever.”
—Michael Gregory, NSA, MBA, ASA, CVA, MN Supreme Court Qualified Mediator | Roseville, MN

“This year’s conference was the best ever.  The presentations had solid content and were on point with the current issues in the profession.  The ideas could be implemented immediately in practice.”
—Brenda M Orlando, CPA, ABV, CFF | Clarkston, MI
 
“I always look forward to the NACVA Annual conference.  It is the event of the year for me.  I enjoyed the cruise and the baseball game, and being in Chicago.  It is a great town.  The sessions were excellent and very informative.  I always have a problem choosing which session to attend because the subject matter is always great.”
—Carl A. Steffen, CPA, ABV, CFF, CVA, ASA, CBA, ABAR | Salt Lake City, UT
 
“Overall, great conference with many great speakers and good networking.  The facilities were excellent and the amenities were excellent.  Most of the speakers provided relevant insight with a few take-aways for practice.”
—Steven Hutchison, CPA, CVA | Wilmington, DE
 
“It was an excellent conference.  The different tracks and variety of sessions were great—there was always something I was interested in seeing.”
—Elizabeth Garrett, JD, CPA, CVA | Atlanta, GA
 
“The conference exceeded expectations as I intended to pile up CPE and was pleasantly surprised by the four day program.  I enjoyed the theatre, the testimony session, and picked up so many important tips that are valuable in many areas.”
—Dennis M. Siegner, CPA, CVA | Plymouth, MI
 
“Networking with other professionals is almost always the most valuable piece to me.  I think the Association does a great job making the experience as good as possible.”
—Steve Brunner,CPA, CVA, MAFF | Ft. Wright, KY
 
Over the years, I have made CVA friends in other parts of the country and seeing them at the conference and discussing issues is always a valuable takeaway.  The NACVA event has matured over the years and is now up there with the better events in the marketplace.”
—Thomas P. McGuinness, CPA, CVA | Houston, TX
 
“The quality of material covered was excellent, as it always is at NACVA’s conferences.  The presenters were all very knowledgeable, had deep experience, and were willing to answer questions.  The sessions were generally more advanced than what I have seen at other industry conferences.”
—Stephen D. Kirkland, CPA, CFF, CMC, CFC | Columbia, SC

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