Chief Operations Officer’s Report: Hiding in Plain Sight—Second Quarter 2026
Hiding in Plain Sight
Brien K. Jones
Chief Operations Officer and Executive Vice President of Business Development
One of the most important responsibilities of any professional association is to help its members see around corners. Markets change. Courts evolve. Technology reshapes expectations. Clients ask more complex questions. Practitioners who want to remain relevant must continually sharpen not only what they know, but how they apply it.
The timing also matters. Expectations in valuation and forensic practice are shifting. Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer theoretical. It is changing workflows, research, modeling, report preparation, and client expectations, framed in professional standards, ethics, and confidentiality. Courts and attorneys continue to scrutinize expert opinions, methodologies, assumptions, and testimony. Business owners are seeking guidance on value, transitions, disputes, damages, capital needs, shareholder issues, and growth.
This is where we, your professional Association, come in. To thrive in this environment, you need to understand both the technical standards and the practical realities of communicating, defending, and applying your analyses. One of the many ways the Association supports you is hiding in plain sight, through the Business Valuation and Financial Litigation Super Conference held annually.
Accessible in-person live, virtually, and through individual sessions, the conference provides a distinct advantage. It connects technical education with professional judgment. It is a chance for you to benchmark your knowledge against current practice and learn from leaders in the field who are actively involved in influencing the profession. The greatest value of the Super Conference is the globally recognized valuation experts, forensic accounting professionals, healthcare valuation specialists, judges, attorneys, AI, software and technology leaders, and practice development strategists all in one place, over just a few days. This mix matters because you get the opportunity to hear not only from one segment of the profession, but from the full ecosystem of valuation and advisory practice.
There is also an intangible benefit that should not be overlooked: professional community. Conferences create space for conversations that do not happen in webinars or self-study programs. A hallway discussion with another practitioner, a question posed to a speaker, a conversation with an exhibitor, or a connection made over breakfast can impact how you approach an engagement, expand your practice, or solve a difficult client problem. For a profession built on judgment, credibility, and relationships, these interactions matter.
Attending the Super Conference is an investment in your professional relevance, and it is not just theory. Sessions on valuation issues, expert testimony, IRS appraisal concerns, AI’s impact on forensic and valuation services, and litigation developments will offer you insights to strengthen the defensibility of your work.
The practice-oriented sessions will challenge you to think more strategically about how to build, manage, and grow specialized advisory services.
For newer professionals, the Super Conference offers exposure to the issues, terminology, and expectations that define advanced valuation and litigation work.
For experienced practitioners, it offers a chance to test assumptions, stay current, and deepen expertise.
For firm leaders, it provides insight into emerging practice areas, technology adoption, staff development, and client service trends.
For everyone, it is an opportunity to return to work, be better informed, and better prepared.
Secure your spot at the conference today!
