2026 Business Leadership Summit
About this Event
Welcome to the first annual Business Leadership Summit! Join us for a half-day of networking, learning, and collaboration with top financial executives from around our region. This in-person event will take place on Thursday, October 22, 2026 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, MI. 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: Radisson Plaza Hotel
Delivery Method: Group-Live
There will not be a virtual option available
SESSION DESCRIPTION
The Business Leadership Summit provides expert knowledge for finance and accounting executives. Join us 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
- Identify the factors that influence successful execution and identify practical strategies to align leadership, culture, and communication with desired business outcomes.
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: 4 (1 BMO, 1 ECON, 1 SK, 1 Tax)
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]. 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
🕑: 07:15 AM - 08:00 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 - 08:10 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Host: Sara Sweers, CPA
Info: Welcome message from Sara Sweers, Emcee.
🕑: 08:10 AM - 09:10 AM
TBD
🕑: 09:15 AM - 10:15 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.
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Morning Break
Info: Morning break will be held in the Foyer.
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:20 AM
TBD
🕑: 11:20 AM - 12:20 PM
Every Business Plan Succeeds or Fails Twice: Once on Paper, then in Execution
Host: Jennifer Lentner, Founder, Soundtrack Consulting
Info: Most organizations devote tremendous discipline to defining the business strategy. Far fewer devote the same discipline to planning how the organization will execute it. Whether you're integrating an acquisition, driving operational improvement, responding to changing market conditions, or executing another strategic initiative, success depends on how quickly people understand what's changing, why it matters, what's expected of them, and how they can contribute. In this session, we'll explore how leadership, culture, and communication work together as a strategic business lever that helps organizations accelerate execution. You'll leave with a new way to think about organizational performance and practical approaches you can immediately apply to help your team gain traction, sustain momentum, and protect the value of strategic initiatives.
🕑: 12:20 PM - 12:30 PM
Closing and Q&A
Host: Sara Sweers, CPA - Emcee
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 100.00
