2025 CFO SUMMIT

The CFO Summit provides expert knowledge for finance and accounting executives.

About this Event

Welcome to the 2025 CFO SUMMIT! Join us for a day of networking, learning, and collaboration with top financial executives from around our region. This in-person event will take place on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 at the Four Winds Hotel South Bend. Get ready to gain valuable insights, exchange ideas, and build connections that will help elevate your career and business. Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect with industry leaders and take your financial expertise to the next level. See you there!

SESSION INFORMATION

Location: Four Winds Hotel South Bend – Ribbon Town Ballroom

Delivery Method: Group-Live

There will not be a virtual option available

SESSION DESCRIPTION

The CFO Summit provides expert knowledge for finance and accounting executives. Join us for a day to plug in, recharge, and connect with other professionals in your field.

SESSION OBJECTIVES

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Describe and share with your leadership teams current tax issues of relevance to their organizations
• Apply knowledge of economic trends and forecasts to help set strategy
• More effectively navigate emerging risk and compliance requirements in critical employment/human resources areas
• Access effective team-building concepts via an innovative assessment tool for confirming one’s strengths and “working geniuses”
• Appreciate practical use cases and risk issues surrounding the use of artificial intelligence for finance/accounting functions.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

• Chief Financial Officers (CFO)

• Vice Presidents of Finance

• CPAs in Private Industry
• Controllers

CPE INFORMATION

Program Sponsor: Kruggel Lawton CPA

Recommended CPE: 8.1 (3 SK, 1.5 Taxes, 1.2 PHR, 1.2 PD, 1.2 FIN)

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None

Program Level: Overview

Refund Policy: You must cancel your registration within 7 days prior to the event to receive a full refund.

For more information regarding refund, complaint and program cancellation policies, please contact our offices at 574.289.4011 or email a2xfbWFya2V0aW5nIHwga2xjcGFzICEgY29t.

CPE CERTIFICATES

CPE certificates will be based on sign-in at the conference. CPE Certificates will be issued within three weeks from the conference date and will be sent from a2xfbWFya2V0aW5nIHwga2xjcGFzICEgY29t. Please be sure that this email is not blocked by your company firewall.

We ask that all attendees sign-in regardless if you need CPE or not. For safety reasons, it is important that we can account for all our of guests.

In accordance with the standards of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, credits will be granted based on a 50-minute hour. State boards of accountancy, state bars, and other state regulatory bodies have final authority on the acceptance of courses for continuing education credit. Please check with your state board regarding applicability of this course towards your continuing education requirement.

Agenda


🕑: 07:30 AM - 08:05 AM
Registration and Breakfast

Info: Check in at the registration desk located in the Main Lobby of the hotel. Staff will direct you to the meeting space from there.

🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:15 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Host: Barry Hall, CPA, CGMA

Info: Welcome message from Barry Hall, Kruggel Lawton Managing Partner; and Sara Sweers, Emcee.

🕑: 08:15 AM - 09:15 AM
M&A Update and Business Valuation
Host: Eric Higgins, G-Side Capital Advisors

Info: Business Valuation

🕑: 09:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Timely Tax Updates from Kruggel Lawton Tax Professionals
Host: Kate N. Leichty, CPA

Info: During this session, Kruggel Lawton Tax Leaders will share most current and relevant Tax updates that are applicable to you.

🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Morning Break

Info: Morning break will be held in the Foyer.

🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
New and Emerging HR Related Risks
Host: Michael Palmer, Barnes & Thornburg

🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Lunch

Info: Lunch buffet will be served in the Foyer

🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:45 PM
Genius at Work: Unlocking Potential with the Working Genius Model
Host: Diana Rowan, Diana Rowan Consulting, LLC

Info: What if you could unlock your team’s full potential with a simple, proven framework? What if you could enhance productivity, prevent burnout, and transform the way work gets done? Great leaders don’t just oversee tasks—they cultivate environments where people thrive. The 6 Types of Working Genius, Patrick Lencioni’s latest model, offers a powerful yet straightforward approach to understanding the six essential activities of work and how each individual contributes best. Whether you're in a corporate or nonprofit setting, this framework helps leaders reduce frustration, increase efficiency, and build high-performing, engaged teams.


In this session, you’ll hear how the Working Genius model has been impacting Kruggel Lawton, and explore how it can drive real transformation within your own team or organization. Led by a certified Working Genius facilitator, this session brings the framework to life with real-world examples and practical insights, ultimately helping improve team dynamics.

🕑: 01:45 PM - 02:00 PM
Afternoon Break

Info: Afternoon break will be held in the Foyer

🕑: 02:00 PM - 03:15 PM
Economic and Financial Updates
Host: Gus Faucher, Ph.D.

🕑: 03:15 PM - 04:30 PM
AI Panel Discussion
Host: Moderator: Tyler Cahill, BDO Digital Labs

🕑: 04:30 PM - 04:35 PM
Closing and Q&A
Host: Sara Sweers, CPA - Emcee

🕑: 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM
Reception and Networking

Info: Join us after the event for networking, light appetizers, and drinks.

Also check out other Business events in South Bend, Workshops in South Bend, Entertainment events in South Bend.