Mark Hickman, Managing Director of North America at Sage, returns to break down what's driving Sage's fastest-growing region — from the company's AI strategy built around trust, transparency, and human control, to the upcoming Sage Future 2026 conference in San Francisco. The conversation covers what finance leaders are actually saying about AI adoption, what's coming in the keynotes and super sessions, and why Hickman argues that "70% right" might be fine for an essay but will never fly in accounting.

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:41) - Hosts Life Updates
• (02:32) - Welcome Back Mark Hickman
• (03:33) - Sage North America Scale
• (05:22) - Life on the Road
• (09:16) - Sage Future Tease
• (09:31) - AI You Can Trust
• (13:10) - Finance Leader Feedback
• (15:12) - AI First Competitors
• (17:15) - Beyond AI Initiatives
• (20:46) - Adoption Reality Check
• (22:58) - AI Adoption Takes Time
• (23:22) - AI Hype and Rebrands
• (24:00) - Dotcom Comparisons
• (25:40) - Future Event Recap
• (28:12) - Keynotes and Speakers
• (30:37) - Super Sessions Explained
• (33:33) - Enablement Beyond Conference
• (34:15) - Baseball Banter Break
• (35:24) - Surprise Announcements Tease
• (36:20) - Experience and Sage Fest
• (38:20) - Marketplace and Sponsors
• (39:53) - ROI and Community
• (41:08) - Attendee Goals and Networking
• (45:29) - Wrap Up and Dad Jokes

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Doug, Matt, and Emily return from hiatus to unveil a revamped podcast with a new format and a broader focus — bringing in voices from across accounting, finance, and technology, including international perspectives and even some Sage competitors. If you've been wondering what's next for the most official unofficial Sage Intacct podcast in the world, this is your answer.

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

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Doug, Matt, and Emily look ahead to Sage's upcoming Partner Summit in Orlando and discuss what to expect as the company kicks off fiscal year 2026. The conversation covers everything from AI implementation reality versus marketing speak to potential shifts in go-to-market strategy, price sensitivity in uncertain economic times, and why Sage is flooding construction conferences. Matt and Emily each make bold predictions about what might get announced at the closed-door partner event—and they'll be back to see who was right.

Sponsors
Bluebook - https://unsage.promo/bluebook

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (05:49) - Discussion on Future Events and Partner Summits
• (12:12) - Focus on AI and Its Practical Applications
• (17:04) - Details on Sage Future for Partners Event
• (22:02) - Upcoming Events in the Sage Ecosystem
• (23:11) - Sage Intacct and Procore Relationship
• (24:30) - Artificial Intelligence and Copilot
• (28:20) - Economic Instability and Price Sensitivity
• (37:36) - Negotiation Session at Future for Partners
• (39:46) - Wild Predictions for Future for Partners
• (41:55) - Concluding Thoughts and Dad Jokes

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Ximena Maynard, CFO of Legacy Management Group, shares how she consolidated 30 separate QuickBooks files across 11 nursing facilities into a unified Sage Intacct system. She discusses the unique compliance challenges in healthcare finance, from managing resident trust funds to navigating complex Medicaid billing, and tackles the industry's biggest challenge of attracting and retaining quality staff.

Sponsors
Bluebook - https://unsage.promo/bluebook

• (00:00) - Introduction and Casual Banter
• (03:02) - Introducing the Special Guest
• (04:48) - Guest's Background and Career
• (07:31) - Challenges and Solutions in the Nursing Home Industry
• (10:41) - Implementing Sage Intacct
• (15:13) - Current Tech Stack and Integrations
• (22:28) - Compliance and Fraud in the Healthcare Industry
• (25:39) - Building Renovation Challenges
• (26:38) - Managing Multiple Facilities
• (27:34) - Financial Transparency and Reporting
• (27:59) - Floor Spending and Budgeting
• (31:39) - Industry Trends and Scalability
• (42:03) - Staffing and Labor Challenges
• (45:15) - Advice for Healthcare Finance Professionals
• (48:18) - Closing Remarks and Dad Jokes

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Josh Smyser shares how he went from Big Four auditor to running his family's tuckpointing and restoration business after his father's death, growing TNT from $200K to over $6M in revenue. He explains why he chose Sage Intacct at just $3M in revenue, how he learned from a painful Sage 100 implementation to take control of his Intacct setup, and why he prioritizes best-of-breed software like Procore, Intacct, and Salesforce to prepare his company for AI integration.

Sponsors
Assembly - https://unsage.promo/assembly

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (00:19) - Introducing Josh Smyser
• (00:37) - Journey with Sage Intacct
• (05:05) - Josh's Background and Family Business
• (20:28) - Challenges and Growth in the Business
• (27:04) - Navigating Market Challenges
• (28:35) - Adapting to Market Changes
• (30:30) - Winning High-Value Projects
• (34:09) - Transition to Intacct
• (36:12) - Implementation Challenges
• (39:00) - Integrating Modern Systems
• (44:24) - Future Growth and AI Integration
• (48:43) - Final Thoughts and Future Plans

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

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Download the Earmark App
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Scott Hollrah, founder of Venn Technology, shares war stories from a decade in the Sage Intacct integration space, including the gaming company employee who quit mid-project due to spreadsheet burnout. The conversation covers when businesses outgrow packaged solutions like the Advanced CRM connector, how automation serves as an employee retention tool, and why AI adoption remains frustratingly slow despite the marketing hype.

• (00:00) - Introduction and Banter
• (01:18) - Guest Introduction: Scott Hollrah from Venn Technology
• (01:49) - Discussing Venn Technologies and Integration
• (02:45) - Footwear and Office Culture
• (05:49) - Sage Intacct Marketplace Overview
• (07:13) - Venn Technologies' Client Base and Services
• (11:56) - Advanced CRM Integration vs. Custom Solutions
• (17:18) - Real-World Integration Challenges
• (22:52) - Common Challenges in Software Implementation
• (23:24) - The Importance of Automation
• (26:05) - A Rewarding Success Story
• (28:58) - The Role of AI in Automation
• (34:20) - Future of Integration and AI
• (36:57) - The Mid-Market and iPaaS
• (40:09) - AI Failures and Critical Thinking
• (46:16) - Dad Jokes and Closing Remarks

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

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Karen Penhallegon returns to break down Sage Intacct's latest release notes, covering the game-changing MineralTree partnership that finally gives users an end-to-end AP solution and the new AI-powered close workspace for early adopters. The team dives into long-awaited customer ideas like enhanced time tracking with overtime rules and customizable entry screens, plus the important requirement for all users to validate their email domains.

• (00:00) - Welcome to the Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (03:37) - Release Notes Overview
• (06:11) - Customer Ideas and Enhancements
• (13:11) - Save Time Features
• (17:10) - Understanding Sage's New Payment Features
• (18:39) - Enhancements in Purchasing and Matching Tolerances
• (21:58) - Optimizing Business with Project and Construction Updates
• (22:40) - Revenue Recognition Improvements
• (24:43) - Sage's Acquisition of File and Its Implications
• (27:25) - Customer Ideas and Future Predictions
• (32:35) - Closing Thoughts and Dad Joke

Connect with the Hosts:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilybmadere
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattlescault
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dlewis715

Get free CPE for listening to this podcast
https://www.earmark.app

Download the Earmark App
Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/earmark-cpe/id1562599728
Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.earmarkcpe.app

This bonus episode pulls back the curtain on how The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast came together and who the hosts really are beyond their professional roles. Doug, Emily, and Matt discuss what's going well and what's been challenging in 2025, reveal some unexpected personal hobbies and interests, and reflect on their mid-year wins and upcoming travel plans. They also offer their best advice for finishing the year strong.

• (00:00) - Welcome to The Unofficial Sage Intacct Podcast
• (01:21) - Getting to Know Each Other
• (08:38) - Professional Updates and Travel Plans
• (11:08) - Origins of the Podcast
• (16:54) - Reflections and Future Outlook
• (21:44) - Challenges in 2025: Breaking Through Glass Ceilings
• (22:50) - Leadership and Imposter Syndrome
• (24:33) - Magic: The Gathering and Early Entrepreneurship
• (30:56) - Finishing 2025 Strong: Goals and Plans
• (38:19) - Advice for a Strong Finish to 2025
• (40:24) - Closing Thoughts and Dad Jokes