Sovos Always On: San Diego

8:45am-9:30am Registration & Breakfast

Complimentary espresso bar and continental breakfast.

9:30am–9:40am Welcome

Steve Sprague, Chief Strategy Officer, Sovos

9:40am-10:20am Keynote

Kevin Permenter, Research Director, IDC

In a time of rapid change for the office of the CFO, IDC’s keynote session will explore how today’s CFOs are evolving into Chief Data Officers, embracing new data responsibilities to drive strategic decision-making. From elevating data quality and achieving seamless real-time visualizations to integrating powerful analytics, this session empowers attendees to harness AI, drive tax transformation, and navigate global compliance trends.

10:30am-11:30am Advancing Along the Compliance Maturity Curve

This panel session introduces a five-stage maturity model, guiding businesses on how to transform from disconnected data and manual processes to centralized reporting and fully aligned, compliant systems. Featuring a discussion with Empower to help put these phases into real-world context, attendees will leave this session with actionable strategies to overcome common pain points such as siloed data and inaccurate filings, while gaining practical insights on how to ensure year-round data accuracy that can withstand scrutiny.

• Steve Sprague, Chief Strategy Officer, Sovos

• Kelly Conner, Director Product Marketing, Sovos

• Erik van der Hoeven, VP Product Management, Sovos

• Serena Alfonso, Director, Special Product Solutions, Tax, Empower Financial Services

11:30am-11:45am Email and Networking Break

Complimentary beverages available.

11:45am-12:30pm Legally Digital: How technology embedded mandates are shaping tax compliance

Atila Borba Vaccaro Pidoni Mota, Indirect Tax Technology Senior Manager at KPMG US

The rise of legally required technology in tax compliance is transforming the way businesses operate. This session will explore the legal, operational, and technological aspects of this shift, discussing the challenges and opportunities presented by tax authorities around the world from e-invoicing, to pre-filled tax returns and real time e-audits.

12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch

Complimentary lunch catered by the San Diego Wine & Culinary Center.

1:30pm-2:00pm The Gallery: Are you complying?

Pick the most relevant Ask Me Anything table for your focus area.

Tax Reporting Modernization: Dive into the evolution of IRS and state tax system modernization and learn how recent changes will impact reporting in 2025 and beyond. After a short presentation of the current landscape, Tax Litigator, Philipp Behrendt and Sovos Director of Product Marketing lead an AMA session to give attendees the necessary insights to go forward with confidence.

Strategic Operations: Explore how global tax trends like e-invoicing and real-time reporting are reshaping compliance worldwide and gain actionable insights for developing scalable operational strategies. Erik van der Hoeven, VP of Product Management at Sovos, kicks off with a brief presentation on the global compliance landscape before being joined by Steve Sprague, Chief Strategy Officer at Sovos, for an interactive discussion where attendees can share best practices, challenges, and strategies.

2:10pm-2:40pm Three Beer Scramble

Enjoy a local craft beer tasting with your Gallery group before the final sessions of the day.

2:45pm-3:30pm The Gallery: Current topics

Join the most relevant conversation for your functional priorities.

AI in the Back Office: This session explores how AI can optimize back-office operations with practical strategies to streamline workflows, reduce errors, and drive efficiency. Led by AWS and Tou Yang, Associate Director of IT Operations at The Watkins Company, this conversation combines expert insights and peer discussions to help attendees uncover actionable approaches for applying AI in their own organizations and achieving measurable impact.

1099-DA Reporting Requirements: Philipp Behrendt, Tax Litigator Associate, will provide a brief overview of the new 1099-DA requirements for digital asset reporting, covering the broker reporting landscape, implementation timelines, and safe harbor provisions. Following the presentation, Philipp will lead an Ask Me Anything roundtable, giving attendees the opportunity to dive deeper into the complexities of the regulations and share strategies for navigating this evolving compliance area.

3:30pm-4:00pm Fireside Chat: What Does Golf Have to do With Anything?

Denny McCarthy, PGA Golf Professional and Steve Sprague, Chief Strategy Officer, Sovos

PGA Pro Denny McCarthy sits down with Sovos Chief Strategy Officer to discuss the importance of precision in golf and in leading high-performing teams.

4:00pm–6:00pm 19th Hole & Networking Happy Hour

Enjoy craft beer and wine tastings with passed hors d’oeuvres. Network with your fellow attendees, try your hand at putting and attempt to guess the $100 bottle from a blind tasting.