October- Follow the Money (October 13, 2026)

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 15:15:00 GMT

FOLLOW THE MONEY

Where Does Your Money Actually Go?

Your business is making money. So… where is it?

You’ve made the sales. Deposits are hitting the account. Bills are getting paid. Payroll is covered. And yet, when you look at your bank balance, you may still find yourself wondering: Where did all that money go?

If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and you won’t want to miss Follow the Money.

This practical, eye-opening AWBO program presented by Karen Reese, Founder of Starlight Bookkeeping, takes the mystery out of cash flow and helps you see what’s really happening with the money moving through your business. No complicated accounting jargon. No finance degree required. Just a simple, visual way to understand where your money comes from, where it goes, where it gets stuck—and where you may be losing opportunities to keep more of it.

You’ll learn how to create a clear Money Map, recognize potential cash-flow problems before they become crises, and use your financial information to make smarter, more confident business decisions.

Because growing revenue is only part of building a financially healthy business. Understanding where the money goes is what puts you back in control.

If you’ve ever looked at your bank balance and thought, “That can’t be right…”—this program is for you.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKER

Karen Reese knows that understanding your numbers shouldn’t require becoming an accountant.

Before launching Starlight Bookkeeping in 2015, Karen’s career took her from financial roles at Purdue University to resort timeshare sales—and even behind the wheel as an over-the-road truck driver. Then, a message she heard at a TEDx event challenged her to stop “hiding out in the corporate world.” Karen did what she does best: she ran the numbers, created a financial exit strategy, and built her own business.

Today, Karen helps small to mid-sized, scaling businesses and nonprofit organizations bring clarity and simplicity to their financials through better bookkeeping systems and processes. A certified QuickBooks Pro, her approach goes beyond simply doing the books. Karen educates her clients along the way, helping business owners understand what their financial statements are actually telling them—and how to use those numbers to make smarter decisions about cash flow, sustainability, and growth.

Karen has facilitated trainings for regional SBDC programs and online audiences and is entering her third year on AWBO’s Executive Board, where she serves as Co-Treasurer.

Warm, analytical, and refreshingly direct, Karen created her Follow the Money framework to make business finances easier to see, understand, and use.

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October- Follow the Money (October 13, 2026)