What can CPAs and business leaders learn from one of the most entertaining organizations in the world? In this episode, we sit down with Tim Naddy, CFO of the Savannah Bananas, to explore how purpose, culture, and leadership drive performance in high-pressure environments.

Behind the dancing players and sold-out stadiums is a clear philosophy. The Bananas do not just play baseball. They create joy. Tim shares how a strong sense of purpose helps teams manage intense schedules, constant travel, and burnout, and why culture must be treated as infrastructure, not a perk. He explains how empathy, flexibility, and engaged leadership keep people energized and performing at their best.

You can hear more from Tim live as the keynote speaker at MACPA’s 2026 Converge event on April 30 at the BWI Hilton.

Resources:

1. Dr. Tim Naddy LinkedIn profile
2. Savannah Bananas website
3. 2026 Converge event page & registration

A major shift is coming to the accounting profession. In December 2025, a new suite of quality management standards will take effect, replacing the long-standing quality control framework firms have used for decades. This change goes beyond new policies; it reflects a broader mindset focused on continual improvement, risk awareness, and firmwide accountability.

To help us understand what is coming, we sit down with Mike Manspeaker, past chair of the MACPA board and a member of the AICPA Auditing Standards Board. With deep experience in peer review, audit evidence, risk response, and technology, Mike offers an insider’s perspective on why these standards matter and how firms can prepare.

Mike explains that the new standards are not burdens but tools that help practitioners deliver high-quality work and manage growing risks. We discuss the transition challenges firms may face and the opportunities to build a stronger culture of communication, leadership, and shared responsibility for quality.

Resources:

• AICPA Quality Management Standards
• AICPA Quality Management Implementation Guide Resources
• Coastal Peer Review
• MACPA Quality Management Resources
• AICPA Peer Review Program

What happens when you are ready to step away from the business you have built? In this episode of Future-Proof, we sit down with Erin Daiber, founder of Well Balanced Accountants, to explore why effective succession planning starts long before retirement.

Erin shares practical guidance on developing future leaders, creating a culture that supports growth, and avoiding common pitfalls like confusing technical skill with leadership potential. She also breaks down what to do if you realize you do not yet have a clear successor and touches on the rising influence of private equity in firm transitions.

This conversation is a timely reminder that succession planning is not an end-of-career task. It is an ongoing strategy that helps you strengthen your firm today while preparing it for tomorrow.

Resources:

• Aon, MACPA Preferred Provider
• Well Balanced Accountants with Erin Daiber
• Erin Daiber LinkedIn Profile