Attention:  This year's conference will be held at the Scott Conference Center and there will be limited seating for Virtual attendance.  We will only sell 200 Virtual Tickets so please get them early.  

NOTES FOR VIRTUAL ATTENDEES:

In order to comply with NASBA requirements, we MUST have "at least three instances of interactivity completed by the participant per CPE credit". In order to achieve this, there will be 4 polling questions launched per hour and attendees must answer at least three of these each hour to confirm participation. You will have 2 minutes to respond to each question. We will post in the webinar chat when these polling questions launch. In the event that you are unable to view the polling questions, you may enter it in the chat or email [email protected] when it is posted in the chat

Please take advantage of our member pricing by joining the ACFE Heartland Chapter today before you register! You can join or renew your membership here.

Please register online.  You may pay online or mail a check to Heartland ACFE Chapter, PO Box 460726, Papillion, NE 68046.  Group registrations can be done online by adding multiple tickets to your order.  If you would like to renew your group membership and register that same group for the seminar, please contact [email protected]. We are again offering the buy 5 tickets, get one free discount (full conference only, free ticket of equal or lesser value). Your free ticket should be the lowest priced ticket in your group.

If you are paying by check, your check MUST be received by April 17, 2026.

Tickets for 2026 are either live or virtual.  We ARE offering one day registrations this year in addition to a student ticket! Ticket options are as follows:

*To get the 6th member free ticket, for each 5 full price, full conference member tickets added to your order, add 1 6th member free ticket.

This year's conference is sponsored in part by Forvis Mazars!

Early registration deadline is March 31, 2026! Register by March 31, 2026 and save $50 (full conference only)!!

Final registration deadline is April 30, 2026!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Monday, May 11 - Morning Presentation 7:30 am CST - 11:10 am CST and 12:10 pm CST - 2:30 pm CST

Bret Hood, CFE

After serving 25 years as a Special Agent in the FBI, Michael “Bret” Hood became the director of 21st Century Learning & Consulting, LLC upon his retirement in 2016. Hood is an adjunct professor of corporate governance, ethics and forensic accounting for the University of Virginia, a faculty member for the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and a board member for the School of Accounting at Southern Illinois University.

While working as a leadership and ethics instructor at the FBI National Academy, Hood received two FBI Director Awards for Leadership Development & Leadership Innovation for his work on the FBI’s executive leadership development program.  Since his retirement, he has keynoted and provided leadership, ethics and anti-fraud instruction for Fortune 500 companies, non-profit entities and governmental organizations.  

Hood was awarded the ACFE’s James R. Baker Speaker of the Year award in 2020 and the Florida Institute of CPAs Discussion Leader of the Year in 2021. He has given two Ted Talk’s on ethics and is the author of  “Eat More Ice Cream: A Succinct Leadership Lesson for Each Week of the Year “ as well as “Get Off Your Horse! 52 Succinct Leadership Lessons from U.S. Presidents”.

Title: Understanding the Mindset of a Fraudster

Once a fraud scandal goes public, the what, when, where and how become a matter of public record. But what about the why? What drives these individuals to lie, cheat and swindle? Understanding the path that a fraudster takes from employee to criminal can provide valuable insight to help strengthen your anti-fraud initiatives and make your fraud examinations more successful.

Take a fascinating look inside the mind of a fraudster during this course. Through discussions of human behavior, video interviews with convicted fraudsters and interactive problem-solving, you will gain a deeper understanding of motivations and personality traits common to many fraudsters.

Takeaways:

Participants will earn: 6 CPE

Field of Study: TBD

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: None

Program Level: Overview

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Based

Monday, May 11 - Afternoon Presentation 2:30 pm CST - 4:30 pm CST

*Due to a scheduling conflict, Chris Payne is no longer able to attend. Matt Suozzo will be attending in his place.

Matt Suozzo, CISA, CISM

Matt Suozzo is a Kansas City based Director in Protiviti’s Internal Audit and Financial Advisory practice with more than 23 years of experience in IT consulting and internal audit. Matt works with clients across multiple industries to address technology risk challenges, with expertise spanning information security, IT governance, regulatory compliance, and business continuity and disaster recovery. He has led cybersecurity assessments, co-sourced and outsourced IT audits, and SOX and FDICIA compliance efforts for organizations of varying size and complexity. Matt is known for a practical, strategic approach that helps organizations strengthen control environments, meet regulatory expectations, and improve operational resilience.

Andy Whittle, CPA

Andy Whittle, CPA, is a Kansas City–based Associate Director in Protiviti’s Internal Audit and Financial Advisory practice with over a decade of experience in audit, accounting, and financial process advisory. He specializes in operational audit, financial reporting improvement, and SOX readiness and remediation, with deep experience across manufacturing, warehousing, and back‑office operations. Known for a collaborative, consultative style, Andy frequently works across Finance, IT, and Operations on transformation‑driven initiatives, helping teams align efficiently around shared objectives.

Nick Aaronson, CIA, CFE

Nick Aaronson, CIA, CFE, is a Kansas City–based Manager in Protiviti’s Internal Audit and Financial Advisory practice with years of experience in internal audit, SOX compliance, and fraud risk management. He specializes in strengthening internal controls, fraud risk assessment, and audit effectiveness, with experience across financial services, healthcare, and consumer industries. Bringing a practical, collaborative approach, Nick has led large‑scale co‑sourced SOX programs, executed fraud risk management audits, and supported investigations across complex, multi‑process environments.

Title: Next-Generation AI for Audit, Fraud, and Risk Professionals

Artificial intelligence continues to evolve rapidly, creating both opportunities and challenges for audit, fraud, and risk professionals. This session provides a practical overview of recent developments in AI, with a focus on how these advances are beginning to influence assurance activities and how professionals gather, interpret, and evaluate information.

Participants will explore how structured prompting can significantly improve the quality and reliability of AI‑assisted outputs. The session will also introduce the concept of AI “agents” and explain how agent‑based approaches differ from traditional single‑prompt interactions, including where organizations are beginning to apply them in audit, investigation, and operational contexts.

Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the broader AI landscape, how to ask better questions of AI systems, and how to responsibly consider emerging agent‑based capabilities within their own professional environments.

Takeaways:

1. Identify some of the key recent relevant advances in artificial intelligence and distinguish between common AI capabilities and limitations.
2. Develop practical skills for designing effective prompts, including an understanding of prompt structure, output constraints, and relevance of context.
3. Differentiate between traditional AI interactions and agent-based approaches, including describing how agents are being applied to multi step analysis, monitoring, and decision support activities.
4. Evaluate potential use cases for AI and AI agents within their own organizations by assessing risks, governance considerations, and appropriate guardrails for responsible use.

Participants will earn: TBD

Field of Study: TBD

Prerequisites: TBD

Advanced Preparation: TBD

Program Level: TBD

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Based

Tuesday. May 12 - Morning Presentation 7:30 am CST - 11:30 am CST

Toby Groves, Ph.D.

Dr. Toby Groves is a research psychologist specializing in critical thinking and high-stakes decisions. He conducts research directly with professionals who make some of the most consequential decisions in government and industry. Drawing from psychology and neuroscience, his work translates advanced findings into practical strategies that improve decision quality and real-world performance.

Title: Fraud Lab: The Science of Investigative Judgment

Fraud investigations are not just about evidence—they are about people. And people, including investigators, are subject to predictable psychological pressures that shape perception, memory,
judgment, and ethics.

This highly interactive, research-driven program explores the psychology of fraud investigations from both sides of the table. Participants will examine how cognitive load influences subject
behavior during interviews, why many behavioral profiling techniques are unreliable, and how common thinking traps distort investigative judgment. Through practical exercises, live demonstrations, and ethical dilemma simulations, attendees will experience firsthand how bias, stress, and pattern-seeking can quietly influence conclusions.

Grounded in behavioral science and real-world investigative experience, this session challenges traditional assumptions about deception detection, skepticism, and ethical reasoning. Rather than
relying on intuition or popular profiling cues, participants will learn how to interpret behavioral signals without overreaching, strengthen objectivity under pressure, and recognize ethical blind spots before they compromise investigative integrity.

This is not theory alone. It is a practical laboratory for improving investigative thinking and strengthening judgment in high-stakes environments.

Major Subjects
• Cognitive Load Detection in Subject Interviews: Understanding the science of mental overload, stress indicators, and behavioral signals during interviews—and how to interpret them responsibly without equating stress with deception.
• Behavioral Profiling Myths: A critical review of commonly cited deception cues and profiling techniques that lack scientific reliability, and how overconfidence in these methods can distort investigations.
• Thinking Traps in Investigations: How pattern hunting, hindsight bias, confirmation bias, and outcome anchoring influence investigative reasoning—and structured strategies to counteract them.
• Interactive Ethical Dilemmas: Exploring how ethical blind spots evolve in both perpetrators and investigators, including rationalization, motivated reasoning, and subtle shifts in standards under pressure.
• Dynamic Skepticism and Evidence Evaluation: Moving beyond static skepticism toward adaptive, evidence-responsive judgment that updates appropriately as new information emerges.

Takeaways:

Participants will earn: 4 CPE TBD

Field of Study: Auditing

Prerequisites: Prior experience in auditing, investigations, compliance, or related fields is helpful.

Advanced Preparation: None

Program Level: Intermediate

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Based

Tuesday. May 12 - Afternoon Presentation 12:30 pm CST - 4:30 pm CST

Kelly Paxton, CFE

Kelly Paxton has more than 20 years of investigative experience. Kelly is a Certified Fraud Examiner, author, and podcast host-founder of Fraudish.

Ms. Paxton started her career in law enforcement as a Special Agent for US Customs Office of Investigations in 1993.  Ms. Paxton was recruited by US Customs for her expertise in finance.  She worked white collar fraud, money laundering and narcotics cases.  She also was responsible for the district’s undercover operations and financial reporting of these operations. Kelly worked as a contract investigator doing over 1000 security background investigations for the Office of Personnel Management and Department of Homeland Security.

Kelly has worked in the public and private sector.  Most recently she worked as an investigator for Nike. Her investigations include embezzlement, conflict of interest, intellectual property, Open Source Intelligence and fraud. Kelly is also the proud owner of pinkcollarcrime.com, a passion of hers about embezzlers in the workplace.  She founded Great Women in Fraud in August, 2020.  Her book, Embezzlement How to Prevent, Detect and Investigate Pink-Collar Crime, was published in December, 2020.

Title: Nobody's Fool: Good people make bad choices and bad people make good choices. 

Using behavioral science, neuroscience, anecdotes and real life examples, learn how easily it is to be deceived and what you can do about it.  

Takeaways:

Participants will earn: TBD

Field of Study: TBD

Prerequisites: TBD

Advanced Preparation: TBD

Program Level: TBD

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Based

Title: Catch Me If You Can: Today's Pink Collar Criminal

Everyone knows the term White Collar Crime. Many people immediately think of Bernie Madoff or Charles Ponzi. But most people can't relate to those crimes. Unfortunately they can recall a story of the local PTA, youth sports club, non-profit, or even a local government agency that has been a victim of a long-term trusted employee who embezzled from them. These embezzlers live amongst us. They are mothers, sisters, grandmas, and wives.

Kelly Paxton is a nationally recognized expert on Pink Collar Crime. What started as a research project, why are so many embezzlers women, has become an extremely relevant and relatable speaking topic. Kelly has investigated hundreds of cases ranging from money laundering to conflict of interest to embezzlement. Her hands-on investigative experience for the government and private sector along with research into criminal behavior and investigating for both the prosecution and defense provides real-life, practical information. You can learn more at: kellypaxton.com or pinkcollarcrime.com. Join renowned Pink Collar Crime expert Kelly Paxton to understand this growing demographic. This topic is Kelly’s most widely requested due to the recent increase in women embezzlers. Kelly will show you what to look for in your business to make sure your most trusted employee is not a Pink Collar Criminal.

Takeaways:

Participants will earn: TBD

Field of Study: TBD

Prerequisites: TBD

Advanced Preparation: TBD

Program Level: TBD

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Based

Heartland ACFE Chapter 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 registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Hotel Information

Residence Inn Omaha

Aksarben Village  

1717 S. 67th St.

Omaha, NE 68106

Book by April 12, 2026 to get the ACFE Heartland Group Rate of $139 per night.

Book your group rate for ACFE Heartland Chapter online by clicking here or calling 1-888-236-2427 and requesting the ACFE Heartland Group Rate.

I understand seating is not guaranteed until payment is received in full. I also understand that in order to receive a refund, I must cancel by no later than May 1, 2026. For more information regarding administrative policies for complaints or refunds, please click here or contact us at: [email protected].

Tickets

$365.00 Live/In Person Member Ticket, Full Conference
$315.00 Earlybird rate before March 31

$525.00 Live/In Person Non-Member Ticket, Full Conference
$475.00 Earlybird rate before March 31

$275.00 Virtual Member Ticket, Full Conference
$225.00 Earlybird rate before March 31

$350.00 Virtual Non-Member Ticket, Full Conference
$300.00 Earlybird rate before March 31

$300.00 Student Ticket, Full Conference, Live/In Person Only
$250.00 Earlybird rate before March 31

$150.00 Student Ticket BOGO 50% Off, Full Conference, Live/In Person Only, lowest cost ticket

$0.00 Live/In Person 6th Member Free (full conference only, lowest cost ticket)

$0.00 Virtual 6th Member Free (full conference only, lowest cost ticket)

$250.00 Live/In Person Member Ticket, 1 Day Attendance

$360.00 Live/In Person Non-Member Ticket, 1 Day Attendance

$195.00 Virtual Member Ticket, 1 Day Attendance

$250.00 Virtual Non-Member Ticket, 1 Day Attendance

$200.00 Student Ticket, 1 Day Attendance, Live/In Person Only

$100.00 Student Ticket BOGO 50% Off, 1 Day Attendance, Live/In Person Only, lowest cost ticket