About Us

In 1991, Dr. Paul Larson organized the Whitefish Accounting Conference in Whitefish, Montana, in conjunction with the Montana Society of CPAs. Approximately 50 CPAs attended and were pleased with the combination of quality education and the resort setting. Consequently, in 1992 Dr. Larson decided to expand on the concept and provide conferences at seven resorts in the West. The program was renamed "Western Accounting Conferences."

By 1994, the program grew to include self-study courses and locations outside of the western United States; therefore, the name was changed to Western CPE.

Up until 1999, Western CPE was a University of Montana program administered through its Department of Continuing Education. In January of that year, the program was purchased from the University and is owned by a partnership that includes Paul Larson and Vern Hoven. The University of Montana School of Business Administration continues to sponsor the program.

Western CPE is committed to delivering quality continuing professional education (CPE) to the accounting and financial services community. Celebrating over 19 years of educational leadership, Western CPE empowers financial professionals through a robust catalog of innovative CPE solutions, including exciting resort getaways, powerful Webcasts, flexible self-study courses, crucial tax update seminars, and a comprehensive corporate and group sales program.

Sponsored by the University of Montana
School of Business Administration

The University of Montana
The University of Montana, in Missoula, has an enrollment of 12,000 and offers degrees in a great variety of disciplines. Outside Magazine has rated UM in the top ten schools in the country for its blend of academic quality and outdoor recreation, and its campus is considered one of the most scenic in America. Only four other public U.S. universities have produced more Rhodes Scholars.



The School of Business Administration
The UM School of Business Administration is one of the premier business schools in the Pacific Northwest. With 2000 Business majors, the School is housed in the new Gallagher Business Building, one of the finest academic facilities in the country. Based on alliances with Microsoft and Hewlett Packard, the School boasts state-of-the-art technology in offices, classrooms, study areas, and technology labs. While the approximately 100 faculty and staff of the School and related programs are committed to education, research, and service, education is the top priority. The UM School of Business Administration is known for being a program where students receive a top-notch education from faculty and staff who care. The School's mission statement reads:
 
"The faculty and staff of the School of Business Administration are committed to excellence in innovative experiential learning and professional growth through research and service." Experiential education involves placing students in environments where they get to "try on" the business skills they have learned. Examples of this approach include in-depth internship assignments, consulting projects with local businesses, business plan competitions, advertising team competitions, and a variety of other assignments that require application of business theories in live settings. Evidence of the success of these programs includes a national championship in the Ad Team Competition, a third-place national award in a business plan competition, consistent regional and national awards for outstanding student consulting projects, and a nationally recognized internship program.

The Accounting Department at the University of Montana has a long tradition of excellence. Recruiters from across the country frequent campus to interview graduates, knowing that students are well trained and disciplined. The Department consistently achieves one of the highest pass rates on the CPA Exam nationally.


For more information on The University of Montana and The School of Business Administration, visit their Web page at www.business.umt.edu

Dear Financial Professional: I've always felt that learning should be fun. Not only does the time pass much more quickly, but people learn and retain much more when they are enjoying themselves. However, as I speak to many financial professionals each year, they tell me the CPE they are used to is typically lackluster. We make every effort to ensure that the time you spend in any of our programs is enjoyable and productive. The core of our program is quality instruction written and presented by dynamic speakers. We recruit some of the finest and most engaging authors and presenters in the country and encourage them to make their classes as interactive and upbeat as possible. We make sure that every course provides practical, hands-on tips for dealing with the challenges that financial professionals face in their daily work lives. We're not afraid to "break the mold" in regard to course topics– the CPE industry needs novel courses. In a business world that touts the importance of customer service yet seems to distance itself from people on every front, we are committed to meeting the needs of every customer. At our resort conferences, we greet you by name, try to better get to know you and your guests, and work tirelessly to provide you with the best experience possible. We arrange daily activities, both during and outside of class times, so that attendees and their guests can get to know each other better. Whenever you call our office, you will speak to a "real person" immediately–we don't believe in automated answering systems. If there is a problem of any sort, we seek to find a quick and fair solution to it, and we will never read a policy to a customer and then claim "there's nothing else we can do." We take very seriously the trust you have placed in us to provide innovative, quality CPE. Sincerely, Dr. Paul Larson CEO and Owner