2019 Fall Educational Conference

Join us on Friday, September 13, 2019 in Rockford, IL (map). 

Earn up to 7 CPE credits:  Earn 6 CPE credits by attending 4 sessions, covering 3 different topics, and there's an optional tour at Woodward, Inc., an area manufacturer, where you can earn an extra CPE hour.

Click on the "Register Now" button below to reserve your spot.  Please register by noon on Tuesday, September 10, 2019.

Hotel Info
The Mid-America Council does not have any rooms reserved with any hotel, but if you wish to stay in Rockford the night before the conference, there are plenty of options nearby, just off I-90/I-39 at Exit 15 (State St/ Bus. Hwy 20).

Session Descriptions

Strategic Planning Gets Stuff Done

And not just any stuff – the right stuff. And it gets done faster. How? Strategic planning guides organizations to identify and prioritize activities. When combined with action plans and quarterly priorities, companies are empowered to focus and get more done in less time.

During this session, participants will learn and experience the steps in Hoshin Kanri, an evidence based approach used by companies like Hewlett-Packard and Proctor and Gamble.

About Karen
Education and training is useless without understanding. With more than two decades of financial and leadership experience, Karen L. Jett, CMA understands the operational and financial challenges small business owners face. With these insights and the vast data from hundreds of clients Karen Jett has access to, through RedKnight, she utilizes her degree in accounting and understanding of leadership to help your organization grow. Being inducted into MCCC’s Alumni Hall of Fame in 2009, Karen Jett is quickly becoming recognized as one of the leading consultants that give business owners the strategic advantage they need to grow.

 
Thinking and Acting Strategically

Strategic thinking is rooted in a clear understanding of ‘who’ the company is, what it does, and how it’s done. You will explore the concept of strategic thinking as illustrated by a Zappo’s case study. Come prepared to get involved and think strategically.

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

1. Explain how the mission, vision, values and operating guidelines define the strategic direction of an organization.
2. Apply the strategic thinking concept to their company.

Pink-Collar Crime:  Sexting Has Many Costs

This presentation comes from a research case study that was published in the December 2018 IMA Educational Case Journal by three accounting professors from Illinois State University.

The term pink-collar crime generally refers to women involved in white-collar crime, but is also a theory introduced during the 1980’s to describe the types of embezzlement crimes committed by people in positions that are typically occupied by females.

This case examines an interesting real-life occurrence of pink-collar crime, which occurred because of sexting incidences. This case highlights the importance of internal controls to prevent and detect embezzlement, the potentially high costs, both financial and personal, to the employee when fraud is detected, and the many pitfalls of using digital media, which includes posting information to social media.​​​​​​​​​​

Tour at Woodward, Inc. - Rock Cut Campus
​​​​​​The Rock Cut Campus is primarily focused on design, development, and production of aircraft engine fuel delivery systems.  Note:  Due to the confidential nature of Woodward's operation and products, all tour attendees must confirm that they are U.S. citizens.

Tour Location (map/directions from NIU)
Woodward, Inc. - Rock Cut Campus
One Woodward Way
Loves Park, IL  61111