The Kierland Westin Resort is a gorgeous venue and the CCH event team has done a masterful of total branding --- from signage to pens, to cups and napkins --- eveything that could hold one is today sporting the new CCH logo. Nancy Mckinstry, Kevein Robert, and Mike Sabbatis kicked off the First Annual CCH User Conference this morning before over 320 attendees in Scottsdale, AZ. McKinstry, CEO of Wolters Kluwer (CCH's parent company) told the audience of the Wolters Kluwer corporate move from holding company to operational company while Robert emphasized the combination of software and research into a single business unit. While McKinstry's "welcome" remarks were politely received, most practitioners seemed to be far more energized by Robert's keynote. His statement that "75% of the membership of the AICPA 
would retire in the next 15 years" drew an audible gasp in the room. His admonition to attendees was strong --- "Don't pave the cowpath" but rather adapt your business practice to take advantage of new and emerging technologies. His comments also laid out a directional plan for the CCH "platform" to evolve into a knowledge management solution.
More later.
gll
