HeadWaters Conference - Upstream Academy

2012 Overview
2011 Agenda
2011 Location
2011 Sponsorship
Past Conferences

HeadWaters 2009 - July 16-17, 2009 at the Chateau at Silver Lake in Park City, Utah.

HeadWaters 2012

We are excited to announce that HeadWaters 2012 will again be held in the Mile High City - Denver, Colorado.

Plans are underway so check back soon for additional details and plan to join us in Denver on July 12-13, 2012.

Conference session

The worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s has left an indelible mark on nearly every public accounting firm in North America, creating new challenges, new opportunities, and a new reality for firm leaders.

Few experts believe that we will return to pre-2007 economic conditions anytime soon—if ever.

For firm growth, the implications of the new reality are huge. Growing our firms now will be different than before. Growth will need to be more purposeful. It will need to be better planned. Aggressively waiting for waves of opportunity to wash over us will no longer work if we’re truly serious about growth.

So how will HeadWaters 2011 help you position your firm for growth?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

7:00 – 8:00	Continental Breakfast

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

8:15 – 9:30	Choosing to Remain Independent: What Will It Take to Stay the Course?
	Sam M. Allred, Founder and Director of Upstream Academy
	Mergers and acquisitions have become routine occurrences in our profession in recent years. But what if you want to buck the trend? What does being a legacy firm mean in such critical areas as succession planning, bench strength, business development, and technology? As a leader, what do you need to do now to help ensure the future independence of your firm? Don't miss this session!

9:30 – 9:45	Break

9:45 – 11:00	Enhancing Partner Performance and Accountability
	Jennifer Wilson, Partner and Co-founder of ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
	Today's firm leaders are challenged more than ever before to ensure that partner performance and accountability are in harmony with the firm's vision and agreed-upon strategies. But how do you do that? What are the key partner performance cornerstones? Which mechanisms and strategies are most effective in measuring performance and ensuring accountability? Find answers during this thought-provoking session.

11:00 – 11:15	Break

11:15 – 12:30	Mergers and Acquisitions as Part of Your Growth Strategy
	Timothy J. Bartz, Chairman of Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.
	Potentially one of the best ways to grow your firm, mergers and acquisitions are also minefields for the poorly prepared. How can you most effectively use these tools to add needed talent, expand your geographical reach, develop new services, or increase horsepower in existing niches? How do mergers and acquisitions fit into your long term plans for growth? Be sure to bring your questions to this session.

12:30 – 1:30	Lunch

1:30 – 2:45	Concurrent Sessions – Select One of Four Sessions

	Growing the Firm: Is Your Infrastructure Ready?
	Timothy J. Bartz, Chairman of Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.
	You can't construct a great building without a sure foundation. When planning their growth strategy, too many firms focus on the marketing and revenue pieces without taking time to ensure the necessary supports are in place to build a vibrant, healthy organization. Come to this session to see if you have all the cornerstones correctly set in your firm.

	Organizing Your People for Growth and Accountability
	K. Tim Larsen, Managing Partner of Squire & Company, PC
	The partner group is committed to growth; now what? How do you help everyone else understand how important growth is to the firm's future, as well as their individual futures? How do you prepare people for the changes that will inevitably occur and hold them accountable for their individual responsibilities in growing the firm? Don't miss this session.

	Rethinking Business Development as a Growth Strategy in the New Economy
	Tracy Crevar Warren, Owner of the The Crevar Group
	Few would dispute the importance of marketing and business development in growing the firm, but what changes are essential to achieve success in the new economy? How does business development fit into your overall growth picture today, and how can you prevent the hidden costs of busyness from jeopardizing your initiatives? You won't want to miss this eye-opening session!

	(First Day Only) Effectively Using Technology to Help the Firm Grow
	Jennifer Wilson, Partner and Co-founder of ConvergenceCoaching, LLC
	As a firm grows, technology can either be one of its greatest allies or most formidable foes. Which will it be for your firm? What do you need to do right now to position your firm to stay in touch with the ever-changing landscape of systems and social media? Where does technology fit in your firm's strategic plan? Join us for this important session!

	(Second Day Only) Firm Growth: Getting Your Partners Committed (and Excited!)
	Sam M. Allred, Founder and Director of Upstream Academy
	Most would agree that it's hard to accomplish anything of significance in the firm without the commitment of the partner group. Why is this particularly true when it comes to growing the firm? What commitments – time, money, effort, etc. – do partners need to be willing to make to effectively position the firm for growth? Join us for this important session.

2:45 – 5:15	Discussion Forums: Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions
	Sam M. Allred, Timothy J. Bartz, Jack Hinsche, K. Tim Larsen and Jennifer Wilson
	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


Friday, July 15, 2011

7:00 – 8:00	Continental Breakfast

8:00 – 9:15	Concurrent Sessions – Select One of Four Sessions from the Previous Day

9:15 – 9:30	Break

9:30 – 10:45	Winning New Business: Landing the Big Fish
	Tracy Crevar Warren, Owner of the The Crevar Group
	Few things will do more to jumpstart your firm's growth than landing some "big ones." But how do you do it? How do you ensure your firm is ready when the major opportunities present themselves? What are the time-tested processes for landing the big fish, as well as the cautions you need to be aware of? Don't miss this informative session!

10:45 – 11:00	*Break*

11:00 – 12:15	Establishing Niches that Can Help Fuel Firm Growth
	Sam M. Allred, Founder and Director of Upstream Academy
	Thriving niches can do a lot to accelerate firm growth. But do you have true niches or just major concentrations of clients – and what's the difference? What do you need to do to develop, establish and nurture true niches in your firm? What part should niches play in your firm's growth plans? Come to this session for answers to these and other vital questions.

12:15 – 12:30	Closing Remarks
	Timothy J. Bartz, Chairman of Anderson ZurMuehlen & Co., P.C.
	Come to this final session, where we'll recap the conference highlights and offer some tips on how to implement the great ideas you've heard at HeadWaters 2011.

Denver Colorado

Urban sophistication meets outdoor adventure in the Mile High City. 300 days of sunshine, a thriving art and cultural scene, diverse neighborhoods, and the Rocky Mountain backdrop combine for the world’s most spectacular playground. Denver offers stunning architecture, award-winning dining and unparalleled views, all within walking distance from its famed 16th Street pedestrian mall. Upscale shopping awaits at Cherry Creek, while Denver’s seven professional sports teams showcase this city’s active spirit.


Hotel Information This year’s conference will be held at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, located at 1550 Court Pl, Denver Colorado. Reservations can be made online here or by calling 1-888-627-8405 You will need to specify the Upstream Academy rate to receive the special conference rate of $159. We recommend making your reservations by June 6, 2011. If you have any problems with hotel reservations, please don’t hesitate to contact us for assistance.

Air Travel Information The hotel is located approximately 25 miles from Denver International Airport.

		Transportation SuperShuttle is the official transportation partner for HeadWaters 2011. Round-trip cost is $32.00 and one-way cost is $17.00. Sedan car service is available for $140.00 round-trip or $70.00 one-way. To receive this rate, call 800-256-3826 and reference the group discount code 5BSWZ. Or visit this website for reservations: www.supershuttle.com If you prefer to rent a car, reservations for airport car rentals can be made in advance through car rental agencies.
Rocky Mountain Park - photo courtesy of Visit Denver

Conference Meal Information Breakfast and lunch will be provided on Thursday and a buffet-style breakfast will be provided Friday. Special Meal Requests If you have special meal requests, please contact Kelsey Ferro at (406) 495-1850 or email at kelseyf@upstreamacademy.com.

Denver Area Activities Explore the Denver Art Museum, the heart of the city’s cultural offerings. Known for its wide range of Native American art, this museum also contains the only major Asian art collection in the Rocky Mountains. (www.denverartmuseum.org) Take an exciting stroll along the 16th Street Pedestrian Mall, Lined with 200 trees and 50,000 flowers, this festive, mile-long pedestrian promenade has 28 outdoor cafes and offers Denver's best people-watching. I.M. Pei designed the gray and pink granite pathway to resemble the pattern of a diamondback rattlesnake. Hop on the bus – they're free and stop on every corner. After dark, horse-drawn carriages clatter up and down the Mall. (www.denver.com/16th-street-mall)

Larimer Square is trendy block of Victorian buildings, home to chic shopping, dance clubs, a comedy club, outdoor cafes and a dozen of Denver's best restaurants. For 40 years in downtown Denver, it's hip to be at the "Square." (www.larimersquare.com)

Denver was founded at Confluence Park as a gold mining camp in 1858. Today, the river park is the heart of Denver's 850-mile bike trail network, and is surrounded by attractions. Gear up for the mountains at the REI Flagship store; ride the Platte River Trolley to the Downtown Aquarium to see stingrays and sharks; eat and drink in the nearby neighborhoods of Riverfront, LoHi and Highlands; or catch some thrills on the Mind Eraser at Elitch Gardens – Denver's downtown theme park.
		Larimer Square - photo courtesy of Visit Denver

Lions and tigers and bears – and so much more, on lovely grounds make the Denver Zoo the fourth most popular zoo in America. Go underwater with polar bears at Northern Shores, or eyeball-to-eyeball with a gorilla in Primate Panorama. Predator Ridge recreates the plains of Africa with a pride of lions, while Tropical Discovery is rainforest teeming with crocodiles and gila monsters. Coming soon: Asian Tropics, a new 10-acre home for the Zoo's elephants and rhinos (www.denverzoo.org)

The Denver Museum of Nature & Science inspires curiosity and excites minds of all ages through scientific discovery and the presentation and preservation of the world's unique treasures. The DMNS is the fourth largest museum in the U.S; a maze filled with treasures of the earth – dinosaurs, dioramas, space exhibits, science experiments, a digital planetarium, IMAX theatre and touring shows (www.dmns.org/about-us)

Carved from towering red rock monuments, the 9,000-seat Red Rocks Amphitheatre is one of the world's most renowned concert venues and has hosted everyone from the Beatles to Bruce Springsteen. Listening to a concert here is on the "bucket list" of every true music fan. When there's no concert, the Visitor Center has a museum and Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, while the surrounding park has hiking trails that weave in, around and over the colorful red rocks. (www.redrocksonline.com)

Red Rocks Concert - photo courtesy of Visit Denver

Denver is one of only two cities to have eight professional sports teams:

Denver Sports Teams

For more information on things to do and see in Denver visit:

Visit Denver: the Official Travel and Visitor Bureau

HeadWaters Conference 2011 Sponsorship (3 available) ‐ $3,000

Benefits of Sponsorship

Complimentary access to conference sessions for up to two representatives (Discussion Forums on first day not included)
Introduction of representatives by Sam Allred at the beginning of the event
Announcements throughout the conference acknowledging sponsorship and requesting
attendees visit the sponsor’s display
Draped display table with chairs outside of General Session room for marketing materials
(no more than two representatives per exhibit)
List of conference attendees
Chance to interact with participants during the conference meals, breaks and reception
Banner and link on Upstream’s website in the conference section
Full page PDF information sheet included on the conference USB drive

Why Participate as a Sponsor?
Sponsorship brings your company high‐profile recognition and exposure to top decision‐makers in CPA firms. Sponsorship is limited to four companies.

Lodging and Logistics
Sponsors are responsible for all travel arrangements and hotel costs. Upstream will provide a draped
display table with chairs. Sponsors requiring electricity, Internet access, etc. at their booth are responsible
for coordination with the hotel and any additional cost.

When your application is received, an Upstream representative will contact you to confirm availability on a first come, first serve basis.

Upstream reserves the right to accept or reject any sponsor application.
Applications for sponsorship with sponsorship fee must be received by June 30, 2011.
To be featured on the Upstream Academy website, please send your company logo along with a brief description of your company and/or services (no more than 50 words) to Georgia at georgiac@upstreamacademy.com.

HeadWaters Leadership Conference 2011

HeadWaters 2011 was a great success! The speakers were on target for tackling today's top issues and helping firm leaders learn how to position their firms for growth, embrace the new reality and take advantage of the opportunites coming their way.

For more information, visit our HeadWaters 2011 page.

Denver
Rocky Mountain National Park - photo courtesy of Visit Denver

Attended the 2011 Conference?
Log in to the participant page to download conference presentation materials. Please note that this is a secure site so you will need to have handy the username and password emailed to you. For assistance, contact Georgia at 406-495-1850.

Sponsors for the HeadWaters Conference 2011


	CCH, a Wolters Kluwer business, is a leading provider of tax and accounting research information, software, and workflow tools for CPAs, financial professionals, and corporations of all sizes. Award-winning products include The ProSystem fx ® Suite and Accounting Research Manager™. For more info: 877-224-8396 or CCHGroup.com	Ernst & Morris is the nation’s oldest and largest firm dedicated to performing cost segregation studies. E&M works with hundreds of CPA firms nationwide, performing over 10,000 studies. Ernst & Morris professionals possess over 100 years of cost segregation experience. E&M studies conform to the “engineering cost approach,” offers superior service and provides technical assistance including audit support.

	NAPLIA specializes in professional liability insurance and risk management services for professional service providers. Our experienced staff in risk management will shop the insurance policy for you and explain the differences with each policy ensuring that you get the best value, risk management services and coverage for your firm. Contact Stephen Vono at stevev@naplia.com

HeadWaters Conference 2011

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