“Technology and the pace of change has outpaced humans’ ability to adapt” says Tom Hood, Chief Executive of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the Business Learning Institute. Mr. Hood recently discussed how the technological revolution impacts businesses and firms of all sizes worldwide during a presentation at the IFAC Small and Medium Practices Committee meeting in New York. He highlighted five key steps for practices to be future-ready:

  • initiate change;
  • go digital;
  • elevate skills;
  • protect the core; and
  • enjoy the ride.

In a period of rapid change, such as the one we are all living in, those who are aware, predictive, and adaptive will lead the charge for success in the firms of tomorrow, and enjoy the ride.

Tom Hood

CEO, MACPA & Business Learning Institute

Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA, is the CEO of the Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) and the Business Learning Institute. He is considered one of the most influential leaders in the global accounting Profession and was named the Second Most Influential Person in Accounting by Accounting Today for the past eight years. “Hood uniquely combines three vital traits: He sees the future of the profession clearly; he discovers or creates supremely practical ways to move the profession toward that future; and he generates tremendous enthusiasm for the move in everyone he meets.”, quoted in Accounting Today.

In 2012 Tom was named one of LinkedIn’s Top 100 Influencers and now has over 800,000 followers on LinkedIn and Twitter. He was also one of the first five thought leaders inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame by CPA Practice Advisor. His passion is helping CPAs and organizations be future-ready through his work at the MACPA and the Business Learning Institute that provides state of the art learning curriculums, strategy and leadership development for the Top 500 CPA Firms, Fortune 500 corporations, non-profits, and State CPA Societies.

He has been the CEO of MACPA and BLI for twenty-two years and was a CFO of a highway construction company before that. He graduated from Loyola University – Maryland with a degree in Accounting and has a Masters in Finance from Johns Hopkins University.