Galasso Learning Solutions: Empowering CPAs Through Impactful CPE
Galasso Learning Solutions (GLS) is dedicated to providing up-to-date, engaging professional education for Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) at every stage of their careers. GLS offers a wide array of CPE options, ranging from customized training programs to webinars and on-demand classes, all designed to help CPAs stay compliant and confident in their work.
A Trusted Resource for CPE
GLS has established itself as a trusted resource for impactful CPE by partnering with hundreds of CPA firms, organizations, state societies, and alliances. This extensive network reflects the company's reputation for delivering quality in all its endeavors. GLS is committed to providing the most current CPE on the market, ensuring that accounting professionals receive accurate and relevant information.
Commitment to Quality and Innovation
At the heart of GLS's mission is a commitment to quality and innovation in continuing professional education. The company aims to move beyond traditional, ineffective training methods, such as "death by PowerPoint," to create CPE that is both engaging and effective. GLS recognizes that continuing education should be more than just a formality; it should be a tool for advancing the accounting profession.
Customization and Needs Assessment
GLS begins its work with custom clients by conducting a thorough needs assessment. This process involves understanding the client's specific work environment and identifying areas for improvement based on internal inspections or peer reviews. By tailoring the content to the client's unique needs, GLS ensures that the training is relevant and impactful.
Instructional Design and Adult Learning Theory
The instructional design at GLS is based on proven in-person and virtual training techniques, as well as the latest in adult learning theory. GLS trainers have formal education in instructional design, training delivery, and virtual learning, ensuring that they can effectively engage and educate adult learners.
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Staying Ahead of the Curve
GLS is committed to staying on the cutting edge of proposed and potential future changes to standards. Its instructors participate in various committees within the profession to stay informed about industry developments. This proactive approach ensures that GLS can provide the most up-to-date course content to its clients.
Melisa Galasso: A Driving Force in CPE
Expertise and Experience
Melisa Galasso, CEO of Galasso Learning Solutions, is a distinguished figure in continuing professional education for CPAs. Her career is marked by a dedication to enhancing the quality of education and training for accounting professionals, with a particular focus on government and nonprofit accounting and auditing.
Galasso's journey into auditing began at Georgetown University, where she discovered her passion for accounting. She started her career at a Big Four firm but soon transitioned to roles that aligned more closely with her passion for teaching and training. Her experience includes internal auditing, university teaching, and national office roles. Founding Galasso Learning Solutions allowed her to focus on her passion for education full-time.
Contributions to the Profession
In addition to her work at GLS, Melisa has been actively involved with the AICPA, previously serving on the Technical Issues Committee and graduating from the AICPA Leadership Academy. She currently serves on the Financial Reporting Executive Committee (FinREC). These roles have enabled her to influence standard setting and ensure that the highest standards are maintained in the field of auditing.
Practical Approach to Content Development
Melisa's approach to writing audit content involves incorporating feedback from firms to improve work papers and ensure they address real-world challenges. Her process includes reviewing recent changes, prioritizing updates, and enhancing the clarity and usability of audit tools. This meticulous approach ensures that the content she produces is both relevant and practical, helping auditors navigate the complexities of their work with greater ease and confidence.
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Staying Abreast of Trends and Changes
Staying abreast of the latest trends and changes in auditing is crucial for Melisa. She monitors standards from their inception as exposure drafts to their finalization. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the rationale behind standards to provide meaningful updates and guidance, allowing her to anticipate changes and prepare her audience for new developments.
Emphasis on Risk Assessment
Melisa is particularly passionate about risk assessment, viewing it as a critical component of efficient and effective auditing. She believes that a well-documented risk assessment can significantly enhance audit quality by focusing efforts on the riskiest areas. Melisa is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration with a focus on risk assessment and aims to contribute to the field through her research.
Partnership with Wolters Kluwer
Galasso Learning Solutions has partnered with Wolters Kluwer, a leading provider of software solutions and expertise for tax, accounting, and audit professionals. This partnership reflects a shared commitment to high-quality audits and adherence to standards.
Knowledge-Based Content
Melisa leverages her expertise to create content for Wolters Kluwer that is both practical and comprehensive. Wolters Kluwer’s knowledge-based content is designed to help auditors and firms navigate the complexities of auditing standards with ease. These tools provide a seamless integration of audit practice aids for planning, risk assessment, review, and team collaboration.
Knowledge Coach Software
Knowledge Coach, a software developed by Wolters Kluwer, streamlines the audit process by tailoring each audit to an entity’s unique circumstances. It directly links identified risks with audit steps and ensures that under-or-over auditing is limited. This software facilitates collaboration across audit engagements, improves overall audit quality, and enables auditors to exercise professional judgment while remaining compliant with current AICPA Risk Assessment Standards.
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Advice for Aspiring Auditors
Melisa’s advice to aspiring auditors is rooted in integrity and continuous learning. She emphasizes the importance of understanding the purpose behind audit procedures and encourages auditors to question and improve their practices continually. By doing so, auditors can add significant value to their work and better serve the public interest.
Culture and Team
Vision and Values
Galasso Learning Solutions fosters a culture of continuous learning, where team members are expected to take the wheel of their professional development. Leadership presents educational opportunities to individual teammates based on their curated or personal selections. This approach helps all team members remain clear on where they want to go and tackle daily work with passion and purpose.
Team Structure
Melisa Galasso, as the Founder and CEO, casts the vision for the company's growth, informs high-level strategy, and mentors the team of trainers to provide service that wins client confidence through relationships and results. The full-time trainers stay ahead of industry updates, continuously advance their teaching skills, and relentlessly pursue client satisfaction. The COO collaborates with Melisa on developing business strategies, contributes their genius toward process improvement, and supports the implementation of next-level project management.
Commitment to Work-Life Balance
GLS is committed to protecting the work-life balance of its teammates. The company closes down for two paid Wellness Weeks each year, allowing team members to recharge and pursue personal interests. When it comes to celebrations, GLS goes all out, making time together memorable and raising glasses to accomplishments.
Services and Offerings
Customized Education
Galasso Learning Solutions provides engaging, relevant, and customized education for accounting professionals. All trainers are proficient in adult learning theory and apply it in the classroom. GLS serves traditional CPA firms with strong audit practices, as well as nonprofit and governmental organizations.
On-Demand Courses
GLS offers on-demand courses that enable clients to streamline their LMS and accommodate team members in any time zone. These courses provide flexible, self-paced learning opportunities for firms and individuals that can be accessed any time around the globe.
Webcasts
GLS offers a flexible and convenient webcast platform, where individuals and firms can browse a schedule of over 100 webcasts per month.
Marketing and Outreach
The dedicated CMO manages GLS's marketing channels for maximum engagement and impact. Speaking engagements deliver high conversion rates and opportunities for trainers to present at big-name events and to world-class alliances. Social media posts alert the audience to important updates in the field and ignite lively online conversations. Trainers strengthen their thought leadership through article publications, which provide national exposure for the CPE movement.
Client Satisfaction and Recognition
Net Promoter Score
Galasso Learning Solutions has a perfect Net Promoter Score, reflecting the company's commitment to client satisfaction. Clients are consistently impressed by their experience and the results that follow. Trainers witness the transformation in their students when they reawaken their passion for learning.
Awards and Recognition
GLS has been recognized as a go-to subject matter expert in the media and has been the proud recipient of the Most Powerful Women and Most Influential People In Accounting awards.
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