CPAcon 2024: A New Initiative to Address the Accounting Pipeline Crisis

I’m thrilled to share some exciting news with all of you. Big things are coming:

My journey in the entertainment and finance industries has been an incredible adventure—from my early days in Cleveland to helping Dream Con grow into THE premier entertainment & gaming event with over 22k attendees. Coupling that successful experience with my passion for innovation related to accounting, I was driven to create and launch something new for CPAs.

Introducing: CPAcon

My professional life started in Cleveland, where I earned my Master’s in Accounting from Cleveland State University after completing my Bachelor’s Degree at Morehouse College . From there, I dove into the world of public accounting at 德勤 and later, transitioned into high-level consulting with The Siegfried Group , where I had the opportunity to work with major clients in the tech and entertainment space like Snap Inc. and 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion .

My experience in the entertainment industry first led me to Netflix and ITV Studios America before I decided to build my firm: KCK CPA . We are a consulting firm specializing in audit readiness, CFO services, business scaling, profit optimization, accounting, and tax planning with a hyper-focus on the Entertainment and Digital Assets industries. Through KCK CPA I've collaborated with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) to help shape US General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for digital assets.

Accounting is not just about the numbers for me. I've always strived to be "More than an Accountant". My career has been about bringing people together and truly creating something special. Case in point - I've been the Director of Partners and Sponsors at #DreamCon for three years. Over that time, I haven't just balanced their books. We've taken this event from 2,000 attendees to over 22,000, attracting key partnerships with industry giants like YouTube , Nintendo , and Rockstar Games . Along the way, we've expanded the event’s scope to include new programming like a Career Fair, Film Festival, an Indie Gaming Center, and an Industry Networking Mixer, setting Dream Con apart as a leading event in the convention space.

Now, I’m channeling that energy into CPAcon, a convention designed to tackle the key challenges facing our profession, as outlined in the recent National Pipeline Advisory Group (NPAG) strategy report. CPAcon will provide a dynamic space for aspiring and current CPAs to have a space to compete and celebrate their achievements, engage with industry leaders, access cutting-edge resources, and participate in discussions that push our profession forward.

CPAcon isn’t just another industry conference—it's a whole new way to learn and connect. We’re gamifying education, turning what could be dry and tedious into something engaging and fun. Attendees will be able to participate in game show and esports-like programming, interactive workshops, compete in challenges, and earn rewards, all while building meaningful connections with peers and industry leaders. By creating a community experience that's both educational and entertaining, we're ensuring that CPAcon is a place where learning and networking go hand-in-hand.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of this initiative. Through my involvement with professional organizations like CalCPA and NABA INC. , I’ve worked to build a global network of diverse financial professionals who are ready to navigate the complexities of the rapidly evolving entertainment and digital assets industries.

As we prepare to launch CPAcon, I’m excited to offer an event that challenges traditional perceptions of the accounting profession and sets a new standard for professional development. We’re not just talking about accounting; we’re transforming it.

For more information, interview requests, or partnership opportunities, visit www.thecpacon.com or reach out to my team at [email protected].

I can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!