When Yehuda Tenenbaum, Principal of Y10 Tax Solutions, attended the NAEA Tax Summit through the support of the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation (ACF) scholarship, he was balancing two professional worlds.

Based in Pikesville, Maryland, Yehuda was running his tax firm on the side while working full-time as a Finance Manager for a fintech startup. His firm was growing, but he was still early in his journey as an accounting professional and figuring out what the future of his career could look like.

At work, he was the only accountant on the team, a position that often left him without peers who truly understood the path he was exploring.

“I wanted to be more involved with a community of people doing similar things to what I was doing,” Yehuda shared.

Attending a professional conference had always seemed interesting, but not necessarily practical.

“I never thought it made sense to spend money on a conference,” he said with a laugh. “Boy, was I wrong.”

That changed when he received the opportunity to attend the NAEA Tax Summit through an ACF scholarship.

The Starting Line: Searching for Community

Before attending the conference, Yehuda was still discovering where he fit within the accounting profession.

Running his tax practice while working full-time meant he often navigated decisions and challenges alone.

He wanted to learn from others who had walked the path ahead of him — professionals who had successfully built firms and could offer perspective on what was possible.

What he didn’t realize at the time was just how transformative those conversations would become.

The Turning Point: Seeing What Was Possible

At the NAEA Tax Summit, Yehuda experienced something he hadn’t found before: a room full of people who understood the journey he was on.

“Getting to meet people doing the same things as me was so inspirational,” he said.

For the first time, he had the opportunity to hear firsthand stories from professionals who had built successful tax firms and navigated many of the same challenges he was facing.

One conversation in particular changed the way he thought about his own capabilities.

Yehuda met a firm owner who shared that he completed hundreds of tax returns each season, without any staff.

“I was blown away,” Yehuda recalled. “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

That moment expanded his view of what he might be able to accomplish.

It made him realize something important.

“I was way more capable than I had ever imagined.”

The Power of the In-Between Moments

While the conference sessions provided valuable learning, Yehuda found that some of the most meaningful moments happened outside the formal schedule.

“There’s a real energy being around other people,” he said.

Conversations in hallways, discussions over breakfast, and spontaneous late-night gatherings in the hotel lobby created opportunities for genuine connection.

“It’s the quick chats and the time in between sessions that really make the difference,” he explained. “Those moments are where friendships form.”

For Yehuda, those connections created a powerful sense of belonging within the profession.

After the Conference: The Courage to Take the Leap

The experience gave Yehuda something he hadn’t fully felt before: confidence.

He left the conference with a clearer vision of what he wanted his future to look like.

That clarity soon led to a major decision.

In December 2024, Yehuda stepped away from his full-time job and committed to running Y10 Tax Solutions full-time.

“When I left my job, I wasn’t scared that I didn’t have a job,” he said. “I knew I was pursuing my firm.”

The conference had introduced him to people who had already walked the path he was considering, giving him the courage to take that step.

He also became more involved in the professional community, beginning to volunteer with the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), which helped him expand his network even further.

Building a Growing Firm

Since attending the conference, Yehuda’s career has evolved rapidly.

In his first year running the firm full-time, he nearly doubled his client base.

He has continued attending conferences and industry events, eager to keep learning and building relationships.

He also launched a podcast focused on connecting with professionals in the accounting world, offering listeners an inside look at the experiences and insights of those who have already built successful careers in the field.

More recently, Yehuda reached another milestone.

He hired his first employee and is continuing to grow the firm with ambitious plans for the future.

Why In-Person Learning Matters

For Yehuda, the most powerful part of attending conferences is the depth of connection that happens when people gather in person.

“When we connect face-to-face, there’s something deeper happening than just a conversation,” he said.

In-person learning creates space to be fully present — without distractions, without competing priorities, and with the opportunity to build meaningful relationships.

Those relationships often become the foundation for collaboration, mentorship, and long-term professional growth.

Receiving the scholarship itself was a moment of gratitude.

“It made me feel incredibly lucky,” Yehuda said.

Paying It Forward

Today, Yehuda is passionate about supporting others who are beginning the same journey he once started.

When he attended the NAEA Tax Summit again the following year, he had the opportunity to welcome the next group of scholarship recipients.

“I loved being able to help create that welcoming environment for them,” he said. “Passing on that confidence felt amazing.”

He believes donations to the Accounting Cornerstone Foundation create a ripple effect that extends far beyond a single conference experience.

“It’s not just a dollar you’re donating,” Yehuda said. “You’re creating an everlasting ripple effect that can positively change generations.”

For anyone considering applying for a scholarship, his advice is simple.

“Go for it. You owe it to yourself to create new opportunities.”

If Yehuda had to describe his ACF experience in one sentence, it would be this:

“Being given the opportunity to level up to a completely new game that I didn’t even know existed before.”