Continuing Education For Accounting Professionals
NCAIED is pleased to offer accounting professionals seeking Continuing Education Credits at RES 2026. In collaboration with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), RES 2026 provides a platform for individuals to earn accredited credits while delving into critical topics within the realm of reservation economies.
Please view the Agenda for full course information, credit hours, and field of study.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I earn CPE credits at the RES 2026 Summit?
Yes. Many of the breakout sessions are eligible for CPE credits. Total CPE credits will be based on the final conference agenda, but the full program will be worth a minimum of 20 CPE credits.
How do I request a CPE Certificate to prove I earned credits?
Upon entry to a session, your name badge will be scanned. The QR code on the badge is connected to your registration information. In addition, sign-in sheets will be available at each session that are CPE eligible, that will require attendee name and signature. Within 30 days of the Summit concluding, you will be emailed a certificate of attendance with session details. If you have not received it please check your spam folder and email lauryn@ncaied.org.
How do I keep track of the credits I earn at this conference?
Sessions that have been scanned throughout the Summit, will appear in your attendee portal during the event. These sessions will also be included on the Certificate of Attendance that will be emailed to you within 30 days of the Summit concluding. If you are missing a session from your attendee portal, please visit the registration desk for assistance. Each session is 50 minutes, which is worth one credit.
Do I have to sign in at each session?
Yes, you will be scanned upon entrance into a session. In order to receive credit for all the sessions and instruction time you attend, you must be scanned within 10 minutes of the session start time. You must also indicate if you entered the session late or left early. In accordance with NASBA requirements, a NCAIED/RES staff member will be on-site in each room to monitor attendance.
I forgot to have my badge scanned during one of the sessions; do I still have a chance to complete this task?
Please come to the registration escalation desk and speak to a NCAIED staff member about this.
General program information:
The program level is intermediate, no advanced preparation required, and the delivery method is Group-Live. Program prerequisites are generally a basic understanding of current issues confronting Indian country.
Learning Objectives
Following are the learning objectives related to those CPE-eligible sessions at this conference:
When the Human Resource process is fragmented or outdated, the ripple effects can be felt across every corner of an organization. From delayed onboarding and inconsistent communication to compliance risks and employee dissatisfaction, the consequences of inefficient HR systems are costly and far-reaching. This session dives deep into the real-world impact of disorganized HR operations, exploring how they contribute to problems such as low employee morale and retention, inefficiencies, and legal vulnerabilities.
NACDC Financial Services aims to address the way Native CDFIs meet critical needs in Indian Country through unique lending methods, including consumer, commercial, residential real estate, and agricultural lending structures. NACDC Financial Services builds one-on-one relationships through education, counseling, workshops, and collateralizing loans with unique assets, all of which will be discussed in this session.
Contractors and subcontractors providing services to the federal government, must comply with the Service Contract Act. Consequences for non-compliance include financial penalties and back wages, withholding of contract funds, and debarment from future contracts—each potentially triggering an audit and investigation by the Department of Labor. To help contractors comply and avoid these consequences, this session covers key components of the SCA and practical applications to take back to your company. These include SCA fundamentals, fringe benefit considerations, employee classification, remote workers, collective bargaining, ancillary executive orders (minimum wage, sick leave, non-displacement), contractual obligations and price adjustments.
The landscape of infrastructure financing is rapidly evolving as tribal nations pursue economic development and community resilience.. This session explores the latest tools, trends, and challenges in funding tribal infrastructure projects-from broadband and energy to housing and transportation. Experts will unpack the interplay between federal programs and more traditional financing structures. Attendees will gain insights into innovative financing models, considerations when weighing various options, and strategies for aligning infrastructure investments with long-term economic goals.
This workshop, from Advocates for Human Potential, is intended to increase understanding and preparedness for applying for grants. Participants will learn to read and assess funding solicitations, prepare standard application materials, and draft compelling proposals. Key topics include common grant terminology (NOFA, RFP, LOI), assembling effective writing teams, understanding the grant process timeline, meeting threshold requirements and eligibility criteria, developing organizational summaries, creating budgets and timelines, writing statements of work, and establishing implementation strategies. The presentation emphasizes speaking the funder's language, answering all mandatory questions, complying with formatting requirements, demonstrating sustainability plans, and thorough review before submission.
In this session, the Running Strong team will present the importance of access to micro-capital for entrepreneurs on rural reservations. Pulling from the lessons learned through Running Strong's current micro-finance program (the Microenterprise Development Program), as well as the most current research, the team will make a case for increasing access to micro-finance on rural reservations, cover a number of best practices learned so far, and share resources available for those seeking financing or seeking to offer financing.
Before launching a new business, expanding operations, or investing in a major project, understanding your market is critical to success. This session will walk participants through the key components of a feasibility study and how it can guide smarter, more strategic business decisions. Attendees will learn how to assess market demand, analyze financial viability, evaluate operational needs, and identify potential risks. The session will focus on practical, real-world approaches that business owners and entrepreneurs can apply immediately to their business ideas or projects. This workshop will offer tools to help weigh risks against rewards and move forward with confidence.
Opportunities abound for tribes to diversify their economic development portfolios. Land-based projects are a subset of such opportunities. Successful efforts to develop these projects will often require and benefit from obtaining the right joint venture partner with an objective to effectively marry the Tribe’s resources and the partner’s subject matter expertise. This panel will provide the experience of a tribal governmental entity and its non-Native partners’ efforts to lay the foundation for a successful mixed-use revenue-generating land-based project in the Phoenix market.
True sovereignty requires financial sovereignty. In this forward-looking session, Native American Bank brings together experts in Tribal finance, policy, and capital markets to discuss what’s next in building a modern financial ecosystem for Indian Country, one that is Native-owned, Native-governed, and future-focused. The panel will explore how Tribes are reimagining finance through Tribal banks, inter-Tribal investment consortia, revolving loan funds, and sovereign wealth initiatives that keep capital circulating in Native communities. Attendees will gain insights into emerging models for Tribal treasury management, investment pooling, and sustainable finance that strengthen sovereignty and economic independence.
This panel will cover the evolving policy landscape shaping Native federal contracting. Panelists will highlight the key challenges Native-owned businesses face, the emerging opportunities, and the innovative ways Native-owned businesses are adapting and positioning themselves in today’s competitive federal marketplace.
As cybersecurity threats evolve, complying with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is essential for government contractors. In this session, Daren Masten—who has navigated the CMMC process firsthand—will share practical insights on the latest NIST 800-171 requirements, audit expectations, and key steps to achieve compliance. With policies and procedures constantly shifting, staying current is critical. This presentation offers a real-time update and actionable guidance to help businesses meet CMMC standards and protect sensitive data while remaining competitive in the federal space.
As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms economies and governance, tribal nations face critical opportunities and challenges in leveraging this technology while protecting sovereignty and Indigenous knowledge. This panel brings together community, industry, and tribal leaders to explore AI's role in Indian Country, emphasizing the urgent need for AI literacy and Indigenous-led innovation. Discussions will address environmental impacts, data sovereignty protections, and tribal governance. Panelists will highlight pathways for developing the next generation of tribal citizens equipped to lead their nations in responsible AI adoption that honors cultural values while driving economic growth and self-determination.
This panel highlights the Tribes at the forefront of Foreign Trade, Economic, and Digital Zone development, redefining how Indigenous nations participate in global markets. Speakers will share success stories in establishing sovereign trade zones, leveraging treaty rights, and building nation-to-nation and tribe-to-tribe partnerships that strengthen sovereignty and create economic independence. Explore how global trade, logistics, and digital innovation are empowering a network of Tribes to become key players in international commerce, from import/export ventures to sustainable resource management and technological innovation rooted in Indigenous values.
This session explores innovative financing methods for energy projects in the evolving federal funding landscape. Attendees will gain insights into leveraging tax credits, federal grants, loans, and alternative funding sources, including private debt, tax equity, off balance sheet vehicles, and state and private funding programs. Panelists will discuss legislative and regulatory updates impacting funding, while providing practical guidance on designing financeable projects and maximizing net operating income. Creative stacking and phased project approaches will be illustrated through case studies. You will leave this panel with actionable strategies for accessing and combining diverse funding opportunities.
In this session, participants will engage in discussions on philanthropy with tribal entities regarding creating effective partnerships with tribal nonprofits. The panel will also include effective philanthropy practices for tribal nonprofits, becoming an advocate for your tribal partner, and effectively addressing tribal community needs through your partnership. Philanthropy strengthens tribal sovereignty in multiple ways, these discussions will identify how tribal philanthropy fosters self-determination and cultural preservation by aligning the tribe's priorities, needs and values in a way that is culturally appropriate.
Employees are a company’s best asset and biggest liability. This session will dive into the biggest legal risks that tribally owned entities face in managing their workforces. Topics include limitations of sovereign immunity; overview of legal considerations that present risk; and mitigation strategies to reduce risk.
Though capital is a foundational block to economic growth, one sector has yet to be fully explored: impact investing. Impact investing has emerged as a global movement to align capital with social, environmental, and community outcomes, but few models are Indigenous-led or centered on tribal sovereignty. 1st Sovereign Capital (1SVC) offers a pioneering example of what it means to invest through an Indigenous lens by circulating values-aligned capital to Native entrepreneurs while advancing self-determination, generational wealth, and sustainable local economies.This panel will explore how sovereignty, culture, and finance intersect to reshape investment structures, due diligence, and impact measurement.
Over the past year, Native-owned contractors have faced a wave of transformative regulatory changes — most notably, the FAR overhaul, which reshapes the very foundation of federal acquisition policies. This panel brings together legal experts, agency representatives, and Native business leaders to unpack what these changes mean in practice.
Attendees will gain an inside look at the implications of the FAR revisions for 8(a) and tribally owned enterprises, shifts in compliance requirements, and evolving opportunities within federal procurement. Panelists will also explore strategies for navigating the new regulatory terrain while maintaining the cultural and economic priorities
Joint ventures can be powerful tools for growth, innovation, and market expansion—but they also come with significant risks and complexities. In this candid and insightful session, we’ll explore both sides of the joint venture equation.You’ll hear real-world examples of successful collaborations that unlocked new value, as well as cautionary tales where misaligned goals, cultural clashes, or governance issues led to breakdowns. The panel will share practical strategies for structuring effective joint ventures, managing partnerships, and knowing when to walk away.
Financial literacy is a cornerstone of strong governance, civic engagement, and empowered citizens. Nearly all Native nations have boards, commissions, and governmental positions where financial knowledge is essential for effective decision-making and accountability. When community members and tribal government employees have tools to understand financial documents and principles, they’re better equipped to provide meaningful engagement, feedback, and oversight. Financial literacy helps shift from having transparency to true accountability. Using case studies from Native nations with successful financial literacy programs, we’ll share key strategies, challenges, and culturally grounded approaches to community financial education.
Please visit www.ncaied.org for the full program agenda, registration information, etc. If you have questions regarding CPE credits, or for more information regarding refund, compliance, and program cancellation policies, please contact Lauryn Ross at Lauryn@ncaied.org.
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