Connection. Culture. Celebration. COLLABORATE! 2025!

McKonly & Asbury is thrilled to announce the return of our flagship leadership conference, COLLABORATE! 2025 – an energizing day of insight, strategy, and networking tailored for executives, business leaders, and changemakers.

Now in its 11th year, COLLABORATE! has become a cornerstone event for those looking to stay ahead in an ever-evolving business landscape. The overarching theme of COLLABORATE! – Connection. Culture. Celebration. – underscores our commitment to building communities of leadership that inspire real transformation.

Featured Sessions & Sponsors

Title Sponsor: McNees

Session: The Winds of Change: A Look at Employment Law Shifts Under a New Administration
This session explores critical employment law developments under Trump 2.0, including anti-discrimination updates, DEI programming shifts, wage & hour issues, and union trends. Employers will gain clarity on current enforcement priorities and proactive steps for compliance.

Conference Sponsors:

Cargas: From Tradition to Transformation: Modernizing Systems in Family-Owned Businesses
Explore how two local, family-owned companies balanced legacy operations with new technologies – improving efficiency, customer engagement, and sustaining long-term success.

Citizens: ESOPs – Benefits and Challenges
Dive into ESOPs as a viable exit strategy, outlining the benefits, execution challenges, and impact on company culture. Real-world examples will highlight how employee ownership can drive engagement and long-term growth.

PNC Bank: Embedded Finance: Where is Your Organization on its Automation Journey?
Build a practical roadmap to financial process automation – this session aims to help organizations demystify key technologies like APIs, connectors, and file transfers.

Conrad Siegel: Rethinking Retirement: Innovative Strategies for the Modern Workforce
Explore real-world retirement plan challenges and solutions – from compliance gaps to automatic features and fiduciary insights. Learn how to align retirement plans with both employee expectations and organizational goals.

EOS: Not Just Wishful Thinking: How to Truly Get Your Processes “Followed By All” with EOS
Learn how to make process consistency a reality using simple, powerful EOS tools. This workshop delivers practical takeaways for transforming your team’s execution and maximizing efficiency.

KBKG: The Future of R&D Tax Credits: Fundamentals & Key Legislative Updates
Understand eligibility, benefit calculation, and compliance for R&D tax credits. Stay up to date with recent legislative changes and learn strategies to maximize your tax savings.

McKonly & Asbury Speakers

As hosts of COLLABORATE! 2025, we’re proud to present a lineup of expert-led sessions by McKonly & Asbury professionals who bring deep insights into key areas affecting your organization’s growth and success.

Session: Navigating Challenging Times in the Nonprofit Sector

In a year of unsettled times for many nonprofit organizations, the ability to pivot, react to the unexpected, and continue to move forward has been put to the test. This interactive panel discussion touches on the following impactful topics:

• Diversifying revenue sources
• Donations: getting personal and creative
• Collaboration with other organizations
• Planning for the worst

Session: Navigating the Future of Tax: What’s Ahead for 2025 and 2026

Join us for an essential session that dives into the upcoming changes in tax policy at both the federal and state levels. We’ll explore the critical components of tax reform set to take effect in 2026, as well as any newly implemented changes in 2025. With the tax landscape shifting rapidly, this session is designed to help you, and your business stay ahead of the curve. Gain practical insights and proactive strategies to ensure you’re well-prepared for what’s coming next.

Session: Beyond the Paycheck: Leveraging Deferred Compensation to Retain Top Talent

As the talent war rages on, strategically designed deferred compensation plans can be decisive weapons for attracting and retaining key employees. However, many middle-market companies underutilize or overlook these opportunities.

In this session, panelists will share strategies behind today’s leading plan designs. You’ll also explore the financial statement implications and learn how to align deferred compensation with your company’s long-term growth and succession planning.

Session: Business Transitions: Perspectives on Planning Before and Thriving After

This informative panel discussion is designed to equip business owners with the insights and strategies needed for successful business transitions. From proactive pre-transition planning to navigating post-transition challenges, our panel of experts will share key legal, financial, and operational considerations. Whether you’re preparing to sell, transfer, or restructure your business, this session will help you approach the process with clarity, confidence, and a long-term vision for success.

Save the Date!

COLLABORATE! 2025 promises to be a powerful day of inspiration, education, and connection on November 6, 2025. Whether you’re leading a team, building a company, or navigating change, this conference is for you.

Where today’s leaders come to build tomorrow’s success.

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