Beyond the Buzzword: Turning Automation into Action
Date: Thursday, September 10, 2026Time: 02:00 PM ET / 01:00 PM CT / 12:00 PM MT / 11:00 AM PT [Prevailing Time]
Presenters: Kathryn Schneider, Director, Forvis Mazars, Ryan Steffen, Chief Financial Officer, Central Valley Ag
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
Learning Objectives:
• Identify routine business processes that are strong candidates for automation
• Evaluate the people, process, data, and technology considerations that influence automation adoption and sustainability
• Understand governance, risk, and control considerations needed to support automation initiatives
• Develop a practical roadmap for launching or expanding automation efforts within their organization while building leadership support and measuring value
Field of Study: Information Technology
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
Automation is no longer reserved for large organizations with dedicated innovation teams. Today's technology platforms make it easier than ever to streamline repetitive processes, reduce manual effort, and free employees to focus on higher-value work.
Join Kathryn Schneider, Director at Forvis Mazars, for an overview of practical automation strategies that cooperatives can implement today. Following the overview, Kathryn will sit down with Ryan Steffen from Central Valley Ag to discuss how automation initiatives have been approached within his organization, lessons learned along the way, and advice for leaders looking to get started. Participants will gain a better understanding of where automation delivers the most value, how to identify the right opportunities, and the governance considerations necessary to successfully scale automation efforts
Presenter and Moderator Bios
Presenter: Kathryn Schneider, Director, Forvis Mazars
Kathryn Schneider is a Director at Forvis Mazars, LLP (forvismazars.us) in Middletown, RI. She leverages her more than 25 years of experience as a technology evangelist to advise companies on rationalizing their existing tech stack, identifying redundancies, and strategically selecting tools that align with business goals. Kathryn helps organizations achieve cost savings, agility, and improved performance.
Presenter: Ryan Steffen, Chief Financial Officer, Central Valley Ag
Ryan Steffen serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Central Valley Ag, leading the cooperative's financial operations, strategic planning, and process improvement initiatives. He works closely with CVA's leadership team to strengthen financial performance and deliver value to our member-owners.
Growing up on a family farm in southwest Minnesota, Ryan brings a strong agricultural background along with more than 15 years of financial leadership experience. He joined CVA in 2017 and was named CFO in 2025 after holding roles at CHS Inc. and Interstate Commodities.
Ryan holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance from Concordia University, St. Paul, and an MBA from the University of St. Thomas. He lives in Seward, Nebraska, with his wife, Katherine, and their two children, Naomi and Barry.
Moderator: Wayne Sine, CPA, MBA, Education Director, National Society of Accountants for Cooperatives
After retiring as Tax Director of a regional supply cooperative on the East Coast, Wayne Sine was asked to serve as Education Director for NSAC. As an active and long-term member of NSAC, Wayne previously served as Chair of NSAC’s Tax Committee, President of the Atlantic Chapter, and was a recipient of NSAC’s Silver Bowl Award. In addition to his work with NSAC, Wayne has also served on the Legal, Tax, and Accounting (LTA) Committee of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Chaired the Tax Committees for both the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and the Virginia Manufacturers Association, served on the Tax Policy Committee of the Virginia Society of CPAs, and served as Region Vice President for Tax Executives Institute.
CostFree for NSAC Members / $65.00 for Non-Members
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.