Emerging Leaders Conference - Upstream Academy

Overview
Agenda
Fall 2011
Winter 2012
Past Conferences

Emerging Leaders Conferences

Unlike the other three options open to Emerging Leaders Academy participants (the BestPractices Conference, the HeadWaters Conference and the Blueprint for Excellence Retreat), Emerging Leaders Conferences are open only to Emerging Leaders Academy members.

The conferences feature a combination of training sessions and facilitated problem-solving sessions led by Sam Allred and Tim Bartz. ELA participants have the opportunity to discuss those issues most pertinent to them, network with other emerging leaders, share innovative ideas and learn best practices and processes for managing their careers.

New participants can register for the conference by choosing this option on their registration form; those participants renewing for Year Two or Year Three, can choose this option on their renewal forms.

Upcoming Conferences

We are excited to announce the dates for the 2012-2013 program year Emerging Leaders Conferences.

Emerging Leaders Conference Fall 2012
September 27-28, 2012 • San Antonio, Texas

Emerging Leaders Conference Winter 2013
January 3-4, 2013 • Scottsdale, Arizona

To register for either of these conferences, please indicate your choice on your Emerging Leaders Academy registration or renewal form.

A conference geared to Emerging Leaders Academy participants.

We hold two Emerging Leaders Conferences each program year. The two conferences have identical agendas and feature more interaction and discussion than either the HeadWaters or BestPractices. We highly encourage first and second year participants to attend one of these conferences, since the agenda topics are geared to issues relevant to them and how they can make the most of their careers. This will also allow them to meet other participants in the program and get some great one-on-one time with the Upstream team.

Agenda for Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 Conferences

Day 1 (Thursday)

7:00 – 8:00	Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 8:15	Welcome
	Sam M. Allred, Founder and Director of Upstream Academy
	Seating Assignment 1

8:15 –10:00	Team Exercise – Developing a High Performance Firm
	Participants will discuss key aspects of high performing firms and how to move their firm toward achieving high performance in the following areas: Financial Performance, Client Management, Business Development, Team Development, Partner Effectiveness and Leadership.

10:00 –10:15	Break

10:15 – 12:00	Team Exercise – Developing a High Performance Firm (continued)

12:00 – 1:00	Lunch

1:00 – 2:30	Team Exercise – Asking the Right Questions
	Seating Assignment 2
	A discussion is more than two monologues. This session will focus on using the best questions to gain information during meetings with: clients, prospective clients, referral sources, competitors, peers and experienced partners.

2:30–2:45	Break

2:45 –3:30	Team Exercise – Asking the Right Questions

330–5:00	Breakout Sessions
	Sam M. Allred or Timothy J. Bartz
	Seating Assignment 3
	Always one of the most popular features of Upstream conferences, our afternoon discussion forums provide an unmatched opportunity to share your firm's greatest challenges and learn how other firm leaders have successfully dealt with the same difficulties. Bring your most vexing issues and a notepad, and be ready to return to the office with great new ideas for solving your firm's challenges!

5:15 – 6:15	Reception


Day 2 (Friday)

7:00 – 8:00	Continental Breakfast

8:00–8:30	Feedback from Day 1
	Seating Assignment 4
	Tim will recap the first day's discussions and ask the participants for their observations and feedback.

8:30–10:00	If You’re Looking for a Great Ride – Get in the Driver’s Seat
	While everyone wants a great career, most individuals in our profession are surprisingly willing to take whatever comes to them. The focus of this session and discussion will be to help participants understand what they need to do to make the very most of their careers.

10:00 – 10:15	*Break*

10:15 – 12:00	Team Exercises – Solving Firm Problems
	Participants will be challenged to brainstorm their best solutions to common firm issues like removing D-Level clients, A/R over 90 growing steadily, an office consistently underperforming, artificial harmony, loss of staff due to a challenging partner, improving the relationships with B-C level clients, etc. Following this session, Sam and Tim will do a wrap-up of the conference.

Washington DC

Discover inspiring museums, powerful monuments and memorials in Washington, DC. A diverse, cosmopolitan world capital, DC invites visitors to explore its charming neighborhoods, sample its hip shops and restaurants and experience its vibrant nightlife. Fascinating, free attractions and festive events make DC a favorite destination for travelers from around the world.


Hotel Information This year’s conference will be held at the Hotel Palomar Washington DC located at 2121 P Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C. Reservations can be made by calling 877-866-3070. You will need to specify the Emerging Leaders Conference to receive the special conference rate of $249 per night. We recommend making your reservations by Friday, August 26. If you have any problems with hotel reservations, please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.

Air Travel Information The hotel is located about 5 miles from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and 27 miles from Washington Dulles International Airport.

		Schedule The conference will run from 8am to 5pm on Thursday, September 29, and from 8am to 12noon on Friday, September 30. Upstream will provide a continental breakfast starting at 7am each day, breaks on both days, and lunch on Thursday. Participants are on their own for dinner. Special Meal Requests If you have special meal requests, please contact Kelsey Ferro at (406) 495-1850 or email at kelseyf@upstreamacademy.com. Dress Conference attire is business casual.


Washington DC Area Activities Washington D.C. has a wide variety of entertainment options. If you are planning to extend your trip to include some sightseeing, you may find the following sites of interest:



Located on The National Mall, The Smithsonian Institution—the world's largest museum and research complex—includes 19 museums and galleries and the National Zoological Park. Visit special exhibits like The Great American Hall of Wonders at the American Art Museum or For All The World To See: Visual Culture and the Struggle for Civil Rights at the American History Museum. www.si.edu

		One of the most popular SI museums is the National Air and Space Museum. See famous icons of flight: the original Wright Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, SpaceShip One, the Apollo 11 command module and a touchable lunar rock. The museum is free and features IMAX movies, planetarium shows and flight simulators (fee). http://nasm.si.edu Also under the Smithsonian umbrella is the National Museum of American History, which showcases real national treasures, from the Star-Spangled Banner to the Ruby Slippers. Visitors will see exhibitions for Lincoln's bicentennial, daily programs, hands-on activities and thousands of objects related to the American story. http://americanhistory.si.edu

One of the most recognizable national monuments, the Lincoln Memorial, overlooks the Reflecting Pool, the Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol. Inside, the 19-foot marble statue of the 16th president is flanked by inscriptions of his Second Inaugural Address and the famous Gettysburg Address. www.nps.gov/linc/index.htm DC is also home to the World War II Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean Memorial and the FDR Memorial. There are more than 40 performing arts/theatre venues with 31,000 total seats. DC is also home to 4 major sporting event venues with 167,000 total seats and 8 major professional teams including the Redskins, Wizards, Mystics, Nationals, United and Capitals. Don't plan on just dropping by the White House or Pentagon. Tours of the each are available by advance arrangement through your member of congress or senator and should be requested through your congressperson's office at least a month in advance.
Do stop into Ford’s Theatre, America’s most famous theatre for a history lesson, to take in a show or join a walking tour led by an actor dressed as a Civil War character. Ford’s Theatre’s mission is to celebrate the legacy of Abraham Lincoln and to explore the American experience through theatre and education. (www.fords.org) If you’re looking for a bit of wilderness, visit Rock Creek Park, located about 5 miles north of downtown D.C. Explore the hiking trails, the Nature Center & Planetarium or enjoy a picnic. (www.nps.gov/rocr) A truly unique find in Washington D.C., is the Newseum, a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits including the largest display of the Berlin Wall outside of Germany, the 9/11 Gallery and the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery. (www.newseum.org) Every variety of plant including medicinal, endangered, tropical, primeval and desert await you at the breathtaking United States Botanical Garden. Don’t miss the First Ladies Water Garden designed with inspiration from the Martha Washington colonial era quilt pattern. (www.usbg.gov) The Kennedy Center is America’s living memorial to President Kennedy & since opening in 1971, the Kennedy Center has continued its efforts to fulfill his vision—presenting the greatest performers and performances from across America and around the world, nurturing new works and young artists, and serving the nation as a leader in arts education. Visit the center daily at 6:00pm for a free performance or treat yourself to a performance of Les Misérables. (www.kennedy-center.org)

For more information, visit www.washington.org.

Las Vegs - January 12-13, 2012



Hotel This year’s conference will be held at the Green Valley Ranch Resort located at 2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Las Vegas, NV. Reservations can be made by calling 866-782-9487. You will need to specify Upstream Academy to receive the special conference rate of $129 per night. We recommend making your reservations by Friday, December 9. If you have any problems with hotel reservations, please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.

		Air Travel Information The hotel is located about 9 miles from McCarran International Airport. Schedule The conference will run from 8am to 5pm on Thursday, January 12, and from 8am to 12noon on Friday, January 13. Upstream will provide a continental breakfast starting at 7am each day, breaks on both days, and lunch on Thursday. Participants are on their own for dinner. Special Meal Requests If you have special meal requests, please contact Kelsey Ferro at (406) 495-1850 or email at kelseyf@upstreamacademy.com. Dress Conference attire is business casual.

Las Vegas Area Activities Las Vegas has a wide variety of entertainment options. If you are planning to extend your trip to include some sightseeing, you may find the following sites of interest:

The famous Las Vegas Strip holds many diverting choices - comedy routines, musical performances, dramatic acts like Cirque du Soleil, and unique theatrical shows like The Blue Man Group. Or just wander and take in the spectacle that is Las Vegas. Shop 'til you drop at Fashion Show Mall, filled with an array of boutiques, malls, and shops. One of the nation's largest shopping centers and Las Vegas' premier retail destination you’re sure to find the latest trends and styles.

		Tour the monolithic marvel of engineering, Hoover Dam, only about 45 minutes southeast of Las Vegas. Don’t forget to visit the Observation Deck for panoramic views of Lake Mead & the Colorado River. The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre cultural institution designed to commemorate Las Vegas' dynamic history. The Preserve features museums, galleries, outdoor concerts and events, colorful botanical gardens and an interpretive trail system that meanders through a scenic wetland habitat. www.springspreserve.org/index Explore Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Located about 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip, Red Rock Canyon offers enticements of a different nature including a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and visitor center with exhibit rooms and a book store.

Las Vegas has a multitude of outdoor activities including, golf, hot air balloon rides & a variety of guided tours. Below are a few websites you may want to check out. Hot Air Balloon Rides – Get carried away floating high above the ground for spectacular 360 degree views of the breathtaking Nevada desert. http://www.lvballoonrides.com/home.htm

Golf – Spend the day on the gorgeous greens surrounded by the splendor of the Nevada desert. Fine tune your game at any of the acclaimed golf schools. www.lasvegasgolfcourses.com Guided Outdoor Tours –Spend the day cruising around Red Rock Canyon, Mt. Charleston, the Grand Canyon, Lake Mead or the Valley of Fire in your very own Jeep, helicopter, or ATV. www.actiontours.com
		Grand Canyon Photo Courtesy Las Vegas News Bureau

Emerging Leaders Conference Winter 2011

The Emerging Leaders Conference Winter 2011 was held in Scottsdale, Arizona. Participants had the opportunity to soak up some Arizona sunshine, while participating in an interactive, innovative conference.

Agenda for Emerging Leaders Conference 2009

Emerging Leaders Conference Summer 2010

Participants joined us in Philadelphia this June for the ELC Summer Conference. As with previous ELA Conferences, this year's event featured more discussion than "lecture and receive."



		Sam Allred and Tim Bartz took participants through a series of exercises designed to challenge them to think as consultants for their firms. Participants also had the opportunity to share some unique and innovative ideas from their firms. Mark Welp discussed Ary, Roepcke & Mulchaey's CPR business development program. Michelle Zschech shared details of Seidel, Schroeder's succession plan. Bob Lawrence talked about BDO Canada's business transition plan offering. Sean Gilligan discussed Ashland Partners' 24-hour workflow process. Carl Saba shared Burr Pilger Mayer's unique ideas for their valuation practice.



Late in the afternoon, we got participants' hands and creative juices moving to build a patriotic tribute to their nation. Working as a team proved both a benefit and a liability. At the end, we had some lovely creations to display.





Thank you to everyone who attended. We hope you went back to your firm with enthusiasm and a wealth of ideas and tools to guide your career and your firm.

Emerging Leaders Conference Winter 2010

The second Emerging Leaders Conference was held January 7-8 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Hoping for a tropical getaway, attendees were instead treated to 50 degree weather and rain. Fortunately the lively discussions kept everyone warm despite the weather.




		The conference was highly interactive and as participants moved through the seating arrangements they had the chance to network with participants from other firms. At one point for a fun break and a chance to analyze how we make assumptions about who comprises our team mates, participants built paper towers. Some of the entries were very creative. Participants gave the conference high marks and took home lots of new ideas to implement in their own firms. We hope to see you next year!

Emerging Leaders Conference Winter 2009

ELA members gave the first Emerging Leaders Conference very high marks. Participants took advantage of the opportunity to network with other emerging leaders from accounting firms across the US and Canada in a much more informal atmosphere than your typical conference.

The conference featured presentations by Sam Allred, Tim Bartz and Bob Bunting, interspersed with opportunities for discussion and group work.




After the first day, participants enjoyed the mild San Antonio evening at a reception on the hotel's patio. This was a great opportunity to relax and network with the speakers and other participants.

We hope everyone had a great time and brought back a wealth of ideas!

Next year's conference will have a similar style with new topics and discussion. We look forward to seeing you in St. Petersburg, Florida on January 7-8, 2010.

As with everything Upstream Academy does, your satisfaction with Emerging Leaders Conference and Emerging Leaders Academy is guaranteed. If you are not completely satisfied with the value you receive, we will, at your option, either refund your money or accept that portion of the fees that reflects your level of satisfaction.