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2025 Employee Benefit Plan Virtual Conference

November 20, 2025 | 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM EST

Join us for the 2025 Employee Benefit Plan Virtual Conference on November 20, 2025

Calibre CPA Group’s 2025 Employee Benefit Plan Virtual Conference is your opportunity to stay informed on the latest trends, regulations, and best practices shaping employee benefit plans in the year ahead. This annual event brings together Calibre’s leading experts along with a distinguished guest speaker, all sharing decades of experience in audit, accounting, compliance, and fiduciary responsibility.

We’re pleased to welcome Alex Assaley, AIF®, CPFA®, Managing Director of HUB International’s Retirement and Wealth division based in Bethesda, Maryland, who will present “Retirement Plan Hot Topics & Fiduciary Best Practices for 2025 and Beyond.”

Our experts will provide up-to-date insights on the issues that matter most – ranging from audit and accounting changes to compliance tools, fraud prevention strategies, and new tax considerations for 2025. Drawing on decades of experience working alongside trustees, administrators, and service providers, Calibre’s professionals offer grounded, real-world insight to help organizations strengthen compliance, reduce risk, and prepare for what lies ahead.

Join us for this engaging virtual conference and get your most pressing questions answered during our interactive Q&A immediately following the conference.

“Each year, this conference allows us to engage directly with the people who manage, and support employee benefit plans every day. Our goal is to share insights that not only clarify the changing regulatory landscape but also help our clients apply that knowledge to strengthen their operations and better serve their members.”

– James E. Gomes, Managing Partner | Calibre CPA Group

Eligible for up to 2.5 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits.

Agenda

Welcome and Opening Remarks (12:00 pm - 12:10 pm EST)

Presented by: James E. Gomes, CPA | Managing Partner

James is the firm’s Managing Partner. He has been in public accounting since 1998 and brings years of invaluable experience and leadership within the firm. This position is a natural progression in his career, reflecting his expertise and alignment with the firm’s core values and strategic goals. James oversees the operations and strategic direction of the firm. His focus is also on supporting partners and staff, and ensuring clients receive the highest standard of service.

James  has significant experience with not-for-profit organizations including labor unions, trade and professional associations, charitable organizations, foundations, advocacy groups and employee benefit funds. James serves as the North American Chair of Morison Global, an association the firm is affiliated with. He also serves on Morison’s International Board of Directors.

Audit, Accounting, and Tax Updates (12:10 pm - 12:45 pm EST)

Presented by: Jesse C. Sargent | Principal

Jesse C. Sargent is an Audit principal at Calibre CPA Group and has been in public accounting since 2010. Jesse has significant public accounting experience in the specialized field of tax-exempt organizations including nonprofits, charitable entities, trade and professional associations, labor unions, employee benefit plans, and others.  He is responsible for all aspects of client service and engagement management including engagement budgeting, supervision of staff personnel, preparation of financial statements, tax filings and informational returns including Forms 990, 990-T, LM-2, LM-30, 5500, and others.  He has performed a number of audits in accordance with single audit requirements for organizations receiving Federal awards and has a working knowledge of government grant administrative requirements and cost principles.

In addition to his client responsibilities, Jesse frequently assists with on-boarding of new employees/interns and facilitates continuing training and education programs for staff auditors. He is also a member of the firm’s Audit and Accounting Committee and has been instrumental in development of Calibre’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Important Tools for Managing Compliance (12:45 pm - 1:15 pm EST)

Presented by: Glenn M. Eyrich, CPA | Partner

Glenn M. Eyrich, CPA, is a partner in the audit and accounting department of Calibre CPA Group.  He has been in public accounting since 1990. Glenn specializes in tax-exempt entities including labor organizations and their related multiemployer benefit funds, trade associations, and other not-for-profit entities.  He has managed hundreds of plan engagements with several over $1 billion in assets.  He has directed significant management and consulting engagements which have included operational reviews, performance audits (economy, efficiency and program), and internal control reviews.  Glenn is a member of the firm’s Management and Compensation Committees and also leads the firm’s marketing initiatives.

Glenn presently serves as a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (FASB) Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee and the Advisory Panel for the Journal of Accountancy – the flagship publication of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  He is also a member, frequent speaker, and has held an appointed position on the Professionals Committee of the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans – the nation’s largest member association of employee benefit fund professionals.

Break (1:15 pm - 1:20 pm EST)

Detective Mode Activated: Unmasking Fraud in Employee Benefit Plans (1:20 pm - 1:50 pm EST)

Presented by: Mark A. Batliner, CPA, CFE | Partner

Mark A. Batliner, CPA, CFE is an Audit Partner at Calibre CPA Group and brings over 30 years of experience to the firm’s New York office.

Mark has expertise in reporting and compliance for labor organizations and employee benefits plans, including extensive knowledge of Forms 5500, 990, and LM-2.

Mark is also a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). CFE’s are trained to identify the warning signs and red flags that indicate evidence of fraud and fraud risk. Mark attends the Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference where he receives anti-fraud training and education, strengthening his understanding and awareness of various schemes and the best practices for preventing and detecting fraud.

Mark is a member of the Association of Benefit Administrators and he has also previously served on the Employee Benefits Committee of the Illinois CPA Society.

Guest Speaker: Retirement Plan Hot Topics and Fiduciary Best Practices for 2025 and Beyond (1:50 pm - 2:20 pm EST)

Presented by: Alex Assaley, AIF, CPFA, Managing Director | HUB International Retirement & Wealth Division

Alex Assaley is the Managing Director of HUB International’s Retirement and Wealth division based in Bethesda, Maryland, where he leads a team dedicated to helping employers design smarter retirement programs and empowering employees with financial confidence. With more than two decades of experience in the retirement industry, Alex brings clarity to the often-overwhelming world of personal finance, using empathy, strategy, and a lifelong commitment to service to guide his approach.

Alex is especially focused on the future of financial wellness and how employer-sponsored plans can evolve to support the full spectrum of employee needs. He believes the 401(k) plan is not just a savings tool but a foundational piece of an employee’s long-term well-being and that thoughtful plan design, communication, and education can transform lives.

Question and Answer Session (2:20 pm - 2:30 pm EST)

Registration

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*This program is designed for financial personnel and accounting professionals for up to 2.5 credits of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) :

  • CPE Credit: up to 2.5 credits
  • Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
  • Program Level: Update
  • Advanced Preparation: N/A
  • Prerequisites: N/A

Calibre CPA Group is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding the registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org

Refund Policy and Complaint Resolution: For more information on administrative policies regarding refunds or complaint resolutions, contact Calibre CPA Group at 202.331.9880.