Principles of Collaboration: Weigh in to the Buy In (X3-4091473)

Jennifer H. Elder, CSP, CPA, CGMA, CSCA, CMA, CIA, CFF  Westfield, Vermont  Jennifer Elder, CSP, CPA is an executive coach who helps smart professionals transform from technically talented to strategically savvy.  If you want to be more productive, have more of an impact, and maintain your organization’s ethical standards, Jennifer can deliver interactive and engaging training sessions. As a keynote speaker, Jennifer has presented to over 15,000 people in all 50 states and 12 countries.  Her clients include KPMG, RSM, Home Depot, Campari, Experian, HP and Oracle. 

Jennifer started her career in public accounting at a regional firm. She chaired the accounting department at a New Hampshire college and spent 15 years as a CFO in various industries including homebuilding, technology, and insurance. 

Jennifer received her BA from the University of Massachusetts and an MS in Organizational Management from Antioch University New England.  Jennifer is the co-author of “Faster Disaster Recovery” published in 2019 by John Wiley and Sons. She has also been published by the Journal of Accountancy, FM Magazine, the National Association of Home Builders, Triple Pundit, and the Journal of Corporate Accounting and Finance. 

In 2022, Jennifer received the Women Who Count award in education by the Accounting and Financial Women’s Alliance (AFWA). In 2018, Jennifer earned the designation of Certified Speaking Professional (CSP).  Making her one of only 15 people worldwide who hold both the CPA and CSP designations.  CPA Practice Advisor named Jennifer one of the Top 25 Women in Accounting in 2018.  

She served on the board of the New Hampshire Board of Accountancy and the Northeast Regional Council of the IMA, and Jennifer currently chairs the CSP Committee of the National Speakers Association. 

Tom Hood III, CPA, CITP, CGMA EVP Business Engagement & Growth, AICPA-CIMA and Business Learning Institute

Tom recently stepped onto the global stage of the largest association of certified professional accountants in the world, representing over 690,000 CPAs, CGMAs, and students. In 2021 he was named the second most influential person in accounting by Accounting Today Magazine for the tenth year.

Tom is known for his work on the CPA Vision Project, the CPA Horizons 2025 Project, and most recently the Future of Finance 2030. In 1999, he co-founded the Business Learning Institute (BLI) with a purpose of “Empowering human capital in a global VUCA world, so that our organizations and communities thrive”, based on the findings of the CPA Vision and CPA Horizons 2025 research. This led to the T-shaped Professional and a focus on ‘success skills’ for CPAs, CGMAs, and finance and accounting professionals.

LinkedIn recruited Tom as one of their Top 100 Influencers in 2012 and he now has a following of over 730,000. He is a member of Forbes Finance Council and was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame.

Tom is the former CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and former CFO of a highway construction company. He has a Master’s in Finance from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Loyola University of Maryland.