“Redefining Readiness: The Future of Accounting Education”
As the accounting profession evolves, so must the strategies we use to prepare, support, and inspire the next generation of CPAs. The 2025 ASCPA Educators Conference invites you to explore cutting-edge trends in recruiting, alternative CPA pathways, AI integration in the classroom and workplace, and insights from current pass rate data. Together, we’ll unpack the tools and approaches that ensure students aren’t just eligible—but truly ready—for success in a transforming profession. Plus, earn 6.0 CPE!
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Auburn University at Montgomery School of Accountancy
Dr. Brianne Smith is an accounting professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, where she specializes in undergraduate and graduate level accounting information systems courses. In addition to her academic role, she leads an innovative CPA firm and financial advisory practice, integrating cutting-edge technologies to enhance client services. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Smith is dedicated to making financial education accessible and engaging.
Partner, Audit
KPMG LLP
Casey Bartok is an Audit Partner based in Birmingham, Alabama. Casey currently serves as the Office Managing Partner of the Birmingham office, the CFO for audit’s Southeast Business Unit and the insurance practice leader for the Southeast Business Unit. She most recently was the lead audit engagement partner on Protective Life Corporation. Casey began her career 27 years ago as an intern in the Richmond, Virginia office and has served clients in the insurance industry during her career in the Richmond, Hartford and Birmingham offices.
As an audit partner, Casey has provided professional audit services to several large multinational groups in accordance with PCAOB requirements, U.S. GAAP, IFRS, statutory accounting principles, and SEC reporting.
Casey is well-versed in a broad array of insurance products, including various life and variable annuity products, disability insurance and long-term care insurance, mortgage guaranty insurance, travel insurance, and property and casualty products. Client’s served include Aetna, Allianz, Centene, Genworth Financial, MassMutual, Mutual of America, Old Republic and Protective Life. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Commerce with concentrations in Accounting and International Business at the University of Virginia and is a licensed CPA in the State of Alabama and Commonwealth of Virginia.
Associate
Jackson Thornton & Co., P.C.
Amanda Wisdom joined the firm in 2018 after graduating from the University of Alabama with an undergraduate degree in accounting and Auburn University at Montgomery with a masters of accountancy. Amanda worked in the tax line of business before accepting the role of Recruiting Coordinator in 2021 and Recruiting Manager in 2023. Amanda manages campus talent acquisition for all five Jackson Thornton offices and is located in the Auburn office.
Amanda serves on the Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants’ (ASCPA) DEI and Pipeline Initiatives Committee and Student Initiatives Committee. She is also a member of the Auburn High School Business Marketing Advisory Board and Auburn Young Professional Leadership Committee.
Alabama Society of CPAs (Montgomery)
Executive Director
Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy
D. Boyd Busby, CPA, CGMA has served as Executive Director of the Alabama State Board of Public Accountancy since May 2015. He is a licensed CPA in Alabama and holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Troy University. Mr. Busby began his professional career in public accounting working for the firm, Wilson, Price, Barranco, Blankenship & Billinglsey, PC, now Warren Averett, in Montgomery Alabama. He served as Chief Financial Officer of Hodges Warehouse & Logistics for 14 years and was the Managing Member of Hodges Business Services, LLC for 2 years.
Mr. Busby currently serves on the NASBA Executive Director’s Committee and the ALD Task Force. Past committee assignments include the Strategic Planning Committee, Enforcement Committee, ALD Committee, Legislative Committee and CPA Exam Transition Task Force. Mr. Busby serves on the Board of Directors for the Higher Education Partnership, the Better Business Bureau Serving Central and South Alabama, the Alabama Association of Regulatory Boards, the Alabama Educational Leadership Hall of Fame Screening Committee, and he also serves on the Troy University School of Accountancy’s Advisory Council.
Adell is the Senior Manager of Exam Content at AICPA and joined the Association’s Examinations team in 2000. She is responsible for developing and maintaining standard operating procedures, researching, and resolving candidate inquiries, conducting investigations, and recruiting volunteers for the exams team. Adell works with other CPAs on the Exams team who oversee the development of the content for the four sections of the exam and works cross functionally with other internal teams and external stakeholders.
Prior to joining the Association, Adell worked in public accounting at both mid-sized and small firms and in industry specializing in not-for-profit. Adell held various management positions in not-for-profit organizations. She began her career as an Auditor for the City of New York’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development and Development.
Adell holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in accounting from Pace University and the IFRS certificate. She is a licensed CPA in the state of New York and a Certified Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Adell is a member of the of the Association, the New York State Society of CPAs and the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).
Dr. Scott J. Lane serves as the Director of the School of Accountancy and Associate Professor at Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM), a role he has held since 2016. He earned his Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in Accounting from Texas A&M University, and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Before entering academia, Dr. Lane accumulated significant professional experience as a controller and CPA, working with firms such as Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Kenetech Energy Management, and Shapiro, Weiss & Co.
Dr. Lane’s academic career includes faculty appointments at Quinnipiac University and the University of New Haven, where he taught courses in managerial and cost accounting, accounting information systems, and advanced managerial applications. His research focuses on performance measurement systems, managerial behavior, risk-adjusted performance metrics, and transfer pricing, with publications in respected academic journals. He has also presented nationally and internationally on topics like the Balanced Scorecard and enterprise risk management.
At AUM, Dr. Lane has taken on leadership roles within the university and the broader accounting community. He chairs the Alabama Society of CPAs Educators Committee and has served on multiple governance committees, including the AUM Finance Committee and as an ex-officio member of the Auburn University Board of Trustees. Through his teaching, research, and service, Dr. Lane continues to shape the next generation of accounting professionals while contributing meaningful scholarship to the field.
Rusty Pickering joined Warren Averett, LLC in 2006 as a CPA, practicing in the Audit Department of the Birmingham office. He then worked for a large publicly traded company and returned to Warren Averett as the Director of Recruiting in 2012. He oversees the internal recruiting for all Warren Averett locations and works with external clients, specializing in executive recruiting for accounting/financial positions, information technology and office/administration roles. He is a certified public accountant with more than 15 years of experience in construction, insurance, manufacturing, technology and public accounting, which allows him to be a unique asset to our team with his expertise in public and industry practices.
Professional Affiliations
• Alabama Society of Certified Public Accountants
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Rebecca Shortridge, Ph.D., CPA (inactive) is the Gary W. Rollins Endowed Chair of Accounting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Rebecca serves on the Board of the Accounting Program Leadership Group and was previously the President of the Federation of Schools of Accountancy. In 2021, Rebecca received a Women to Watch Award from the Illinois CPA Society and in 2019 she was recognized with the FSA/Joseph A. Silvoso Faculty Merit Award for her contributions to graduate accounting education.
Rebecca earned her Bachelor’s in Accounting and an MBA at Indiana University. She began her career as an auditor at Ernst & Young and continued to work in public accounting for five years. Rebecca earned her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. She spent five years on the faculty at Ball State University, sixteen years at Northern Illinois University, and joined UTC in 2021. Her research focuses primarily on financial reporting topics and includes publications in the Journal of Business Finance and Accounting, Accounting Horizons, Research in Accounting Regulation, Journal of Business Ethics, and the CPA Journal.
Rebecca primarily teaches financial reporting including principles of accounting, intermediate accounting, and business valuation. She received two Mark Chain/Federation of Schools of Accountancy Awards for Innovation in Graduate Education for her work in the business valuation course.
Alabama Society of CPAs (Montgomery)
Dr. Holland brings over 20 years of strategic planning and hands-on expertise to the table, with a focus on talent development, diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her extensive experience spans both the business world and education sector, where she has made significant impacts in fostering growth and implementing effective programs.
As a visionary leader, Florence has often been the first to step into new roles, showcasing her ability to build from the ground up. Her affiliations include esteemed organizations such as Cobb County Schools, Fulton County Schools, Auburn University, ACCESS Consulting Solutions, The Diversity Movement, RSM, Southwire and the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants, among others.
1041 Longfield Ct, Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama 36117-8056
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