The shape of what's to come
After two standout events in the UK, bringing together 200+ professionals in accounting, Elevate is coming to the US in Nashville on November 5, 2026.
Elevate US is a strategic leadership forum, exclusively for c-suite executives, partners, senior operations and resourcing leaders who are shaping how professional services firms perform, grow, and stay competitive.
When: November 5, 2026
Where: Acme Feed & Seed, 101 Broadway, Nashville, TN 37201
Scroll down to find out more on:
- The agenda
- Our impressive line-up of speakers
- A selection of organizations attending
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Christine Robinson
Christine Robinson is a Resource Management expert, Strategic Advisor, award-winning speaker, best-selling author, and the mother/stepmother of six. Is a Philadelphia Business Journal's 40 Under 40 honoree and a certified Resource Management Professional. The former Managing Director and Head of Resource Management at BakerTilly, Christine has steered national teams, instituted firmwide functions, and established international joint ventures. As Founder of Resource Management In The Wild, and President of the Resource Management Executive Forum, her mission is to empower professionals and organizations to successfully navigate resource allocation.
Allan Koltin
Allan Koltin, CPA, CGMA is CEO of Koltin Consulting Group and one of the most influential voices in the accounting profession. For over 25 years, he’s been named to Accounting Today’s Top 100 Most Influential People list, ranking among the top two in both 2023 and 2024. A trusted advisor to leading firms, Allan specializes in strategy, growth, governance, and M&A. He’s a founding member of The Advisory Board and a frequent contributor to major outlets including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Financial Times.
Fred Massanova
Fred serves as Baker Tilly’s North American Managing Principal and Chief Operating Officer. A member of the firm’s board of directors and senior leadership team, he leads the firm’s operating model, aligning geographic, industry and service line teams to drive performance and execute strategic initiatives. He also oversees growth strategies and corporate development initiatives to drive organic and inorganic growth throughout Baker Tilly’s North America markets.
Kelli Waters
Kelli Waters is Managing Director at RSM US LLP. Kelli leads enterprise resource management with a focus on strategic enablement. With nearly 30 years of experience at RSM and Accenture, she has built and led international teams, driving innovation and collaboration to create best-in-class resource management and workforce planning practices across professional services.
What to expect on the day
Keynote
What's next for accounting firms? Navigating change, growth and opportunity
Allan Koltin, CEO, Koltin Consulting Group, Inc.
The accounting industry has experienced unprecedented transformation. In this session, Allan will be sharing his unique insights on the trends, challenges and opportunities affecting top US accounting firms, and his predictions for 2027 and beyond.
Interview
The COO's blueprint for growth in a changing profession
Fred L. Massanova, North American Managing Principal and Chief Operating Officer
As professional services firms face talent shortages, AI disruption, changing client expectations and continued consolidation, how should firms optimize their operations for growth? In this in-depth interview, COO Fred Massanova, shares the strategic decisions, trade-offs and leadership principles shaping Baker Tilly's next phase of growth.
Session
The growth engine: why workforce strategy must become a c-suite priority
Kelli Waters, Enterprise Resource Management Leader, RSM US
Business growth, profitability and talent strategy are more connected than ever. In this session, Kelli Waters explores how leading firms are evolving their approach to workforce planning, resource management and operational decision-making, helping firms unlock performance, growth and competitive advantage.
Discussion groups
The workforce equation: What does the firm of the future actually look like?
AI is changing how work is delivered. Offshore teams continue to expand. Graduate hiring is under scrutiny. Yet demand for experienced client-facing talent remains high. How should firms balance onshore, offshore, AI and emerging talent? This discussion explores the workforce models leaders are betting on and the risks they're trying to avoid.
Panel session
The AI-powered firm: How professional services operating models are being rewritten
Speaker announcements coming soon
AI is moving beyond productivity gains and into the heart of how professional services firms operate. Join industry leaders as they explore the shift from experimentation to transformation, and discuss how AI is enabling faster decisions, real-time insights, and entirely new approaches to managing growth, talent and profitability.
Session
The new era of professional services
Matt Cockett, CEO & Andrew Bone, Co-Founder - Dayshape
The future belongs to firms that can turn workforce data into decisive action that drives their profitability and growth. We'll explore the rapidly emerging operating model for professional services and how technology is accelerating this shift.
"Though it's certainly a Dayshape event, it was not only Dayshape-related topics. Great to see that Dayshape as well invests in the community."
"All speakers were so engaging, I loved that this was solely focused on Resource Management; there is a real gap in the market for this."
“I appreciated how some of the speakers represented the RM perspective while others brought a strong business viewpoint. It gave me a valuable new lens through which to consider how my team and I operate.”
“Last year was a great event, and this year it felt 'elevated'!”
"Energy and atmosphere, more content and engaging sessions this year."