Protect your Profits: Build a Tariff Roadmap

Date: Thursday, July 31, 2025
Time: 02:00 PM ET / 01:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenters: Mike Smith, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA), Jennifer Clement, Client Relationship Leader, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)
Moderator: Rebecca Thoune, CPA, Signing Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)
Learning Objectives:
1. Review three key new developments in trade policy.
2. Summarize short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to reduce tariff exposure.
3. Identify three foundational components of a tariff roadmap and understand how to build one.
Field of Study: Economics
Program Level: Basic
CPE Credit: 1 Credit Hour
Delivery Method: Group Internet-based
Prerequisite(s): No advanced preparation or prerequisites are required for this course.

Course Description

Higher input costs and slowing demand are intensifying concerns about the economic impact of tariffs—particularly for cooperatives balancing cost pressures with member value. In today’s unpredictable trade environment, volatility in tariff rates makes it difficult to plan ahead, but there are actionable techniques to reduce tariff exposure and mitigate risk.

This session will walk cooperative accounting and tax professionals through a step-by-step process to assess tariff-related vulnerabilities and develop a customized roadmap for action. You’ll explore three key strategic “buckets” that address everything from low-hanging cost savings to long-term structural planning, including:

  • Bucket 1: Uncovering immediate opportunities to reduce tariff costs through invoice analysis, tax strategies, accounting treatments, and more.
  • Bucket 2: Implementing short-term adjustments—like pricing models, inventory strategies, and cross-border warehousing—to protect margins.
  • Bucket 3: Reimagining your global footprint with scenario modeling for board-level decisions aimed at long-term profitability.

By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with practical tools to shift your organization from defense to offense in managing tariff exposure.

Presenter and Moderator Bios

Presenter: Mike Smith, Principal, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)

With more than 25 years of tax experience in public accounting, Mike provides international and M&A tax consulting services to private industry clients. He helps with inbound and outbound tax structuring, transfer pricing documentation, and attribute optimization tax strategies. Mike is licensed to represent clients before the Internal Revenue Service as an enrolled agent.

Presenter: Jennifer Clement, Client Relationship Leader, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)

Jennifer Clement is an executive sales and marketing leader specializing in value creation for the C-suite.  In her current role at CLA, Jennifer collaborates on strategy with executives of global manufacturing and distribution companies to accelerate results.  Previously Jennifer served as a Global Business Acceleration Leader for Complete Manufacturing and Distribution (CMD).  During her time with CMD, Jennifer lived and worked in Asia from 2015-2019.  Prior to CMD, she spent 10 years in senior care technology.  Jennifer started her career at Johnson Controls (JCI) and spent nine years in global leadership roles; followed by five years at Rockwell Automation (ROK) leading c-suite strategy and marketing operations. 

Moderator: Rebecca Thoune, CPA, Signing Director, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA)

Rebecca Thoune has an extensive background providing tax planning and compliance for privately held companies, serving primarily cooperatives and the agribusiness industry. She works with clients on federal and state strategic tax planning, equity planning and management, maximizing cooperative and patron benefits, business structure consulting, and provides representation before the IRS and other state taxing authorities. Rebecca has 23+ years of tax experience in public accounting and has held various tax leadership roles throughout her career. Rebecca has spoken to various local and national organizations on technical tax topics such as the principles of cooperative taxation, tax planning and reform, equity management, COVID relief including PPP loans & forgiveness, and various state tax matters. Rebecca serves as the cooperative national tax director for CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.

Cost
Free for NSAC Members / $56.00 for Non-Members

  Online Registration

Delivery System

  • All programs are delivered using the Zoom platform.
  • Confirmations will include log-in instructions.
  • Participants are able to participate using any device with an Internet connect (if the device does not have speakers, the participant can also dial-in) or they can participate with audio only by dialing in.
  • All registrants will receive a link to the CLN’s recording by email within 48 business hours of event’s conclusion.
  • There will be assistance available to help with technical and connectivity issues up to 10 minutes prior to the start of the presentation.

Registration

All registration is done on-line and each guest must provide their name and email address to participate. All NSAC members may register for free. Non-members may register for a nominal fee.

Refund Policy

NSAC will not issue refunds for CLNs. If a registrant is unable to participate in the CLN and provides notification to info@nsacoop.org 48 hours prior to the session, a credit will be provided for a future CLN. Alert the NSAC staff member monitoring the CLN if technical difficulties are encountered and technical support will be provided to eliminate problems with future CLNs.

Additional Information

Live participation is required for CPE credit and polling questions must be answered to document your active participation. All registrants will receive an email following the session with links to the slides and/or handouts, and a link to the CLN recording (unless otherwise stated). If you are unable to participate in the live session, you can still watch the recorded session, but you will not be eligible for CPE credits. Those eligible for credits will receive their certificate by email with 7 business days.

For more information regarding NSAC CLNs or administrative policies such as complaint and refund, contact the NSAC Headquarters, 7946 Clyo Road, Suite A, Centerville, OH 45459, 937-222-6707, or info@nsacoop.org.

What is NSAC's Cooperative Learning Network?
The NSAC Cooperative Learning Network is a live, interactive webinar, and you can attend from any location with internet and/or telephone access. NSAC members can attend an unlimited number of CLNs at no charge!

Each Cooperative Learning Network will have one or more speakers who are recognized experts on the topic. CLNs typically include a Q&A session where participants can ask questions live or by chat. No advance preparation or prerequisites are required, unless otherwise stated in the course information. Attendees are able to download copies of the slides and/or handouts and are provided a link to view the recording (unless the description states the session will not be recorded). These tools help continue your learning experience after the session.

CPE Credits
The National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives (NSAC) is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor (#103068) 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 addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Delivery Method: Group-Internet Based.

Why NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks?

Fast.
No wasted time. Get right to the heart of the matter in a course designed to easily fit into your busy schedule.

Convenient.
No travel. No time out of the office. Listen and follow along from the comfort and convenience of your desk, device or conference room.

Easy.
A device with an Internet connection is all you need. If your device does not have sound capabilities, the ability to dial in from a telephone is available.

Ideal for multiple attendees.
Use a speakerphone and projector/monitor and invite as many people as you want to participate - at no extra cost to you.

Affordable.
NSAC Cooperative Learning Networks are free for members and available to non members at a fraction of the cost of travel and attendance fees for other high-priced conferences or seminars.