Withum Sounding Board

Join Withum's Application Modernization and Project Management experts as they discuss a budget line item nobody enjoys defending: outdated COBOL systems.
So, what does it really take to modernize a COBOL environment? Listen in to explore the financial, operational and governance factors organizations should understand before launching a modernization initiative.

For the final installment of Withum's PMO series, our group of experts will cover what is perhaps the most consequential topic of all in project management — the people.

Through real examples and experience, the group will discuss AI's real impact on project management talent, role archetypes, hiring criteria, development programs and more.

Host Cutty Thomas sits down with Bill Hagaman, board member across multiple life sciences companies, Global Chairman at HLB International and CEO emeritus at Withum. Together, they explore the evolving life sciences landscape, what investors and boards really look for in growth-stage companies, and how founders can craft pitches that stand out. Bill shares hard-won lessons from years of boardroom leadership, plus his outlook on the opportunities and challenges set to shape the industry's future.

New York's cannabis market is already at $2.5B in sales and heading toward $6.1B by 2033, but the biggest opportunities for growers may be sitting in the state's tax code. On this episode of What the Hemp, Withum's Ray Owens and Jonathan Tretter unpack the New York State credits and incentives cannabis producers should line up before they ever pick a site: the Brownfield Cleanup Program, Excelsior Jobs incentives, the 20% refundable Investment Tax Credit available to qualified farms, agricultural real estate exemptions, and the Workforce Retention Credit. They also flag the mistakes that trip up operators. If you're building, growing, or investing in New York cannabis, this is the planning conversation to have before you sign a lease.

In this episode of The C-Suite Spotlight, Cutty Thomas hosts Judith Wilks, Founder and Principal Consultant of Steadfast Ventures, to discuss what buyers really look for in today’s market. They explore how strong systems, operational stability, and documented processes drive enterprise value and reduce risk. Judith shares insights on transforming tribal knowledge into scalable assets and how leaders can build organizations that grow beyond individual contributors.

Greg Erman, serial entrepreneur, investor, and life sciences mentor, joins host Cutty Thomas to share a practical playbook for funding life sciences ventures, covering IP, revenue, and margin inflection points, investor expectations, and how founders can navigate dilution, scaling, and uncertainty to survive the “valley of death.”

This episode explores how PMOs can move beyond the waterfall vs. agile debate by adopting hybrid methodologies tailored to each project. Through real examples and practical steps, subject matter experts from Withum's Business and Management Consulting Services Team show how to balance structure and flexibility to navigate change management effectively.

CPA and Tax Supervisor Lindsey Valentine sits down with Withum Senior Tax Manager Raymond Owens to break down the most consequential tax legislation since the TCJA. From a major SALT cap increase to permanent bonus depreciation, restored R&D expensing, and a sweeping crackdown on hemp products, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act touches nearly every corner of the tax code.

Whether you're a cannabis operator, manufacturer, or individual taxpayer, this episode gives you a practical roadmap for what's changing and how to position yourself for success.

Growth doesn’t break finance systems; it reveals where they were already failing. Hosted by Cutty Thomas, this conversation features Alexis Becker, Partner at Withum, sharing real world insights on cash flow visibility, delayed closes, disconnected systems and how CFOs can modernize financial processes to support scalable growth, better decision making and stronger leadership confidence.

In this episode of What the Hemp?, Kyle Wisniewski is joined by Raymond Owens and Ian Taylor to discuss how cannabis rescheduling could impact partnerships, pass-through entities, and tax planning strategies. With 280E potentially going away, many operators are wondering: 

• Should I stay a partnership? 
• Should I convert to a C-Corp or an S-Corp? 
• How will QBI and PTET rules change? 
• What are the risks of restructuring too early? 

Our team of expert cannabis accountants breaks it all down.