Board Retreat 2024 | Focusing on the Future

September 26, 2024

A KSCPA Ignite Blog by:

Danielle Hologram, CAE, President & CEO, KSCPA

At the Kansas Society of CPAs, we are focused on the future – for the KSCPA and the members we serve. As part of our strategic planning process, the KSCPA Board of Directors meets annually for a day-and-a-half strategic planning retreat. This retreat allows the Board to reflect on our achievements while assessing the sustainability of the KSCPA and ways to deliver member value in the future. This year, we started anew with a new retreat facilitator who helped us get back to basics by defining our member value proposition, looking at our Board attributes and differences through OMS Talent Profiles, and helping us set our three-year strategic plan.

The retreat is an annual highlight for me, helping to remind me why I love my job: our dedicated and passionate KSCPA Board and members! I wanted to share our strategic initiatives and invite you to get involved to help us strengthen and grow the KSCPA for current and future members.

From leadership development to student outreach, these strategic initiatives reflect our commitment to creating an inclusive community that connects, innovates, advocates and learns together. Here's a look at the key focus areas for this year:

CONNECT

Re-evaluate and Strengthen KSCPA's Lead to the Future Leadership Program

Leadership is the cornerstone of our success, and we believe in constantly evolving to meet new challenges. That's why we're re-evaluating and enhancing our Lead to the Future leadership program, ensuring our leaders have the skills to navigate an ever-changing business environment. By investing in our leaders, we're strengthening our organization and setting the stage for future growth.

Objectives:

Evaluate the content and format of the program with a new program beginning in fall 2025
Increase participation through Board outreach with a goal of at least 15 participants
Leverage past graduates of the program to help highlight the results of the program

INNOVATE

Increase Non-Membership and Non-Learning Revenues

Diversifying our revenue streams is vital to long-term sustainability. While membership and learning services remain core to our operations, we're exploring innovative ways to grow our non-membership and non-learning revenues. This initiative aims to ensure we remain financially resilient while continuing to deliver high-value services to our members.

Objectives:

Develop one new revenue stream strategy
Increase awareness of the online job board with member organizations, colleges, and membership as a whole
Explore offering KSCPA merch through an online store

Develop a Social Media Strategy

A robust social media presence is vital for reaching and engaging with current and future members. This strategy will serve as a key communication tool, amplifying our brand and helping us reach a wider audience.

Objectives:

Create a working group to explore a workable social media strategy that invites members to participate in promoting KSCPA programs and initiatives
Invite the Young Professional Advisory group to assist us with our strategy

ADVOCATE

Position Kansas on Par with the Rest of the USA in the CPA Profession

Our goal is to ensure that the CPA profession in Kansas remains competitive and aligned with national trends. By aligning Kansas with national best practices, we aim to continue promoting accounting as a career path and protecting the CPA profession.

Objectives:

Establish a relationship with the new Kansas Board of Accountancy Executive Director when identified
Advocate for policies and regulations that modernize the profession in Kansas in partnership with the KSBOA
Guarantee the KSCPA continues to be seen as a trusted advisor at the Statehouse by growing our PAC balance

Nourish Relationships with the Kansas Department of Revenue

Building strong partnerships is critical to the success of our mission. We are committed to deepening our relationship with the Kansas Department of Revenue to ensure we work proactively with the Department on issues impacting our members.

Objectives:

Set proactive meetings to provide feedback on tax policies and reforms that impact the profession
Create a long-term priority list
Strengthen our Department relationships to ensure continuity during times of transition

LEARN

Design and Implement a High School Outreach Program and Grow INSPIRE Camp Attendance

The pipeline challenges are not going away, and we need to help identify and guide the future of the CPA profession. To that end, we're deepening our high school outreach to introduce students to the world of accounting and finance. By investing in the next generation, we are shaping the profession's future and ensuring that diverse and talented individuals enter the field.

Objectives:

Develop a plan for high school outreach
Create program content
Identify initial high schools to present at
Invite members to participate in outreach presentations
Grow attendance by 25% per year at the INSPIRE Business Camp

Focusing on the Future

These strategic initiatives represent a vital step in driving our organization—and the CPA profession in Kansas—forward. We are excited to embark on these initiatives and invite our members to join us in making them successful. Together, we are not just preparing for the future—we are leading it.