Inland Empire Chapter
A blog for and by a community of professionals
Archive for the ‘President’s Message’ Category
August 26th, 2010
By Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA
September seems an especially appropriate month to review CalCPA’s strategic priorities that support our vision and mission:
- Advocate for members on issues that affect the profession.
- Enhance and promote the visibility of the profession and CalCPA.
- Attract, educate and support CPAs in their professional and personal development.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
July 26th, 2010
By Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA
CalCPA’s Annual Members’ Business and Council meetings were held at the “Happiest Place on Earth” during the last week of June. The chapter was well-represented by Kathy Johnson, Ted Collins, Monica Thompson and me. It is always a joy to reconnect with friends from all over the state! We enjoyed spending time in Disneyland, as well as networking, throughout the two-day meeting.
Some of the highlights included the installation of Conrad Davis as CalCPA chair and an informational update from Jenifer Minke-Firard, senior associate chief accountant with the SEC. We were also addressed by Manuel Ramirez, CPA, chair of the California Board of Accountancy. California CPAs have a strong advocate in Ramirez. With the CBA having more non-CPAs than CPAs, it is very important to have his voice speaking on the important issues facing California CPAs. Most notably, Ramirez was instrumental in getting a 30 percent reduction in licensing fees due to the surplus of CBA funds. The reduction is effective July 1, 2011, for four years.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
June 22nd, 2010
By Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA
This year’s chapter leadership team is an extremely gifted and dedicated group. We recently spent a productive day planning events for the upcoming year. After taking into consideration the results of the chapter survey at the end of last year, we have included new events, different times and days, and updated topics. The following is this year’s schedule. Won’t you take a moment and jot the dates in your calendar?
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
May 25th, 2010
By Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA
Celebrating dads, grads, weddings, the end of school and planning summer vacations … it must be June! Although many of us will take some time to enjoy these summer months, you’ll want to put a few important, upcoming events on your calendar.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
April 29th, 2010
By Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA
Welcome to our 2010–11 fiscal year. As chapter president, it is my great pleasure to say, “Happy spring!” and to let you know about some of our chapter’s exciting and worthwhile upcoming events.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
March 26th, 2010
By Evan Strano, CPA
As my term as chapter president winds down, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who worked so hard and gave so much to make this year a success. This year’s leadership team has been exactly that: a team. When working with our leaders, I always felt the group exuded a sense of the common good and wanted to bring the best to the membership and community. Between the board of directors, officers and CalCPA staff, we worked to create programs and activities to meet the needs of our chapter members.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
February 25th, 2010
By Evan Strano, CPA
I hope those of you with a large tax practice are having a smooth tax season so far. I know that you are focused on getting through client appointments, reviews and the myriad of tasks that accompany tax season. Before you know it will be April 15 and then our golf tournament will be quickly upon us. Remember to save the date of May 17. The tournament will be at Redlands Country Club and will once again benefit our chapter’s scholarship fund. More information will be on its way soon.
Thank you to the contingent of chapter members that represented us at CPA Day at the Capitol Jan. 20. It was a successful day (and a very rainy one, too). We received lots of positive feedback from our legislators and their staffs.
Thanks to everyone who participated: Lynette Atchley, James Counts, Derrick DeBruyne, Kathy Johnson, Alex Lemos, Mayra Meza, Johanna Sweaney Salt, Danielle Witten and program associate Monica Thompson.
Once again, happy tax season to you all and see you in April!
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
January 1st, 2010
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
Welcome to 2010! I hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed holiday season. Did you make any New Year’s resolutions? Perhaps you resolved that you would not wait until the last minute to finish your continuing education and that you would do a better job at getting the required hours throughout the year. If you did (or even if you didn’t) make this resolution: attend the chapter’s Jan. 15 seminar. The topic is Online Accounting and Auditing Research. This seminar is such a great deal: eight hours of CalCPA Education Foundation CPE, A&A credit and the chance to help raise money for our chapter’s scholarship fund. For more information, please see the separate article in this Bulletin.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
November 24th, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
November was an eventful month for CalCPA and the chapter. The month began with the CalCPA Council meeting, which is always a great time to meet with our peers and CalCPA staff to discuss important issues related to CalCPA and our profession.
During the meeting we were privileged to hear from Dr. Esmael Adibi from Chapman University, who led us through his economic forecast. Adibi’s presentation was enlightening, and, dare I say, cautiously hopeful? We also received a legislative update and were pleased to hear—and celebrate—that the governor signed the bills related to accounting issues. This council meeting also had an emphasis on our organization’s young and emerging professionals, many of whom were in attendance, and featured a round table discussion about issues revolving around that part of our membership.
The chapter celebrated CalCPA’s 100th anniversary Nov. 6. CalCPA Chair Andrea Cope was in attendance and spoke to those assembled. Our chapter was also pleased to recognize our 40-year members, as well as present our Public Service and Distinguished Service awards to Paul Sundeen and Richard Teaman, respectively. We enjoyed a great evening, and I would like to offer a personal word of thanks to all those who made the evening such a success.
November featured a successful YEP networking event Nov. 11. Thanks to YEP co-chairs Miel Rey and Alex Lemos for their tireless work in planning and executing programs for our YEPs this year. Our chapter’s A&A event also was a great success. Mark Dauberman came and spoke to us about codification and the new SSARS standards.
Having just celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday and December beginning, I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very pleasant holiday season.
— Evan R. Strano, CPA
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
October 23rd, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
With November comes the beginning of the “holiday season.” In a few weeks it will be Thanksgiving. But before we turn the page from October, I would like to offer a few words of thanks to those who worked so hard to make our October events so successful.
First, a thank you to co-chairs Alex Lemos and Miel Rey for their efforts in putting on our YEP/Student Scholarship Event. We also had a successful MAP/B&I meeting thanks to Johanna Sweaney Salt and Kathy Johnson.
Read the rest of this entry »
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
September 23rd, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
October is here, and that means that cooler weather is upon us—I hope. As a Southern California native growing up in a 1917 bungalow without air conditioning, I remember how wonderful the coming of fall was. Although I also remember a few Halloweens when it was so warm that costumes were shed and carried by weary parents before night’s end. As I got older and entered public accounting, October acquired additional meaning … those last-minute tax filers getting their information in for the Oct. 15 deadline, and then later, as a governmental auditor, audit season was in full swing during the autumn months.
This year October brings several events for our chapter. First, we are hosting the YEP/Student Scholarship event Friday, Oct. 16, at UC Riverside. The student breakout session will include a keynote speaker and a panel discussion followed by the awards ceremony. The young and emerging professional breakout session will feature 2.5 hours of CPE. The evening will include a time for honing a very important skill for both of these groups: networking.
Tuesday, Oct. 27 brings a new event for our chapter that is jointly presented by the Business & Industry and Management of an Accounting Practice committees. The topics for the evening will be employment law and marketing during a crisis.
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the Friday, Nov. 6, Chapter Gala at the Mission Inn in Riverside celebrating CalCPA’s Centennial. We will acknowledge our 40-year members, as well as award our Community Service and Public Service awards. CalCPA Chair Andrea Cope will join us for the festivities.
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
August 28th, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
As we enter September, another program year begins for our chapter. It’s hard to believe that Labor Day is here, which means that summer is nearing its end, students are back in their classes, there is hope for cooler weather in the not-too-distant future and the first of many CalCPA events is here.
This year the chapter is starting our event schedule with a meeting sponsored by the Litigation Committee, which has been working hard to put together what promises to be timely and informative meeting.
October is just around the corner and will feature our monthly event, which is being jointly presented by the Business & Industry and the Management of an Accounting Practice committees. This meeting will feature speakers talking about employment law and marketing during a crisis.
The annual Student Scholarship/YEP event will take place Friday, Oct. 16, at UC Riverside. We will have several interesting speakers.
Don’t forget to mark Friday, Nov. 6, to attend our gala at the Mission Inn in Riverside to celebrate CalCPA’s 100th year. We will acknowledge our 40-year members and award our Community Service and Public Service awards. CalCPA Chair Andrea Cope will join us for the festivities.
Hope you all enjoyed your summer and are all geared up for a terrific autumn. See you soon!
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
July 22nd, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
CalCPA recently held its Annual Members’ Business and Council meetings in San Francisco. The annual meeting is always a great time to get together and discuss the issues facing the profession, as well as see old and new friends and colleagues. However, this year’s meeting was particularly special. CalCPA is celebrating its 100th year serving our state’s CPAs. The two days of meetings were crowned by the centennial gala. It was a wonderful time and left me with a sense of pride and accomplishment for our profession and our state professional association, the largest in the country, with more than 35,000 members.
One of the most informative sessions of the council meeting was the legislative update. There are several bills important to our profession that are moving through the state Legislature. CalCPA has been contacting the appropriate representatives, to inform them about these issues. You can see the status of statutory and legislative issues affecting the profession on the CalCPA website.
At the local level, our chapter will celebrate CalCPA’s 100th year at a gala event in November. At this time we will also acknowledge our 40-year members. Please plan on coming out to this event! More information will follow soon.
Your leadership team has been busy planning events for you this year. We will start our activities in September with a meeting sponsored by our Litigation Committee. The October meeting is being presented jointly by the Business & Industry and Management of an Accounting Practice committees and should prove to be very informative. In October we also will hold our Student Scholarship/YEP event.
During the year we will host several other opportunities for CPE and networking, in addition to the events that I have mentioned. More detailed information will be available as the event dates draw near. As always, remember to make use of CalCPA’s website and its numerous resources.
— Evan R. Strano, CPA
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
May 19th, 2009
By Evan R. Strano, CPA
It is an honor to address you for the first time as Inland Empire Chapter president in this, CalCPA’s 100th year. Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
I am privileged to have an excellent group of chapter officers: Mark Erickson (past president), Johanna Sweaney Salt (first vice president), Kathy Johnson (second vice president), Lynette Atchley (treasurer) and Andy Anderson (secretary) behind me this year, as well as a great extended leadership team. The members of this team come to this year with many years of experience and honorable service to this chapter and the profession. Thank you to all for your service and dedication.
In the past few years the chapter has launched several new initiatives, including outreach to young and emerging professionals and financial literacy. Last year also saw our first webcasts of chapter events. This year we will continue with these as well as other important programs and services.
This year will also see important legislation in Sacramento that will affect the value of our licenses and our ability to practice across state lines. These initiatives need the support of the entire membership. Each one of us should to take pride in our profession and get involved in continuing the work of CalCPA promoting and protecting what it means to be a CPA in California and around the world.
A highlight for this year will be our chapter’s gala event for CalCPA’s Centennial. Mark your calendars for the evening of Nov. 6 when we will come together and celebrate 100 years of our profession in California. Please consider sponsoring a table (or two) for this evening. It will be an event you won’t want to miss.
Once again, thank you for the opportunity to serve you as your 2009-10 chapter president.
Enjoy your summer. See you in the fall.
— Evan R. Strano, CPA
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
May 1st, 2009
By Mark Erickson, CPA
It is with a deep sense of humility and a grateful heart that I say thank you for allowing me to serve as chapter president this past year. It has been an honor and privilege, as well as personally rewarding. I am pleased at the many accomplishments of our leadership team, and the hard-working staff at CalCPA, over the past year. We had so many that gave so much of their time and talents. Please allow me to re-visit some of these exciting accomplishments.
The year started with our leadership retreat where CalCPA Chair Greg Burke shared his strategic plan and vision with the chapter’s leadership team. He provided us with a framework to better focus our efforts at a chapter level. To continue our emphasis on networking opportunities, we hosted several social events at Dave and Buster’s in Ontario. These were all well attended and offered students and professionals alike the opportunity to develop valuable relationships and have a great time in the process.
Our chapter was the first to webcast a chapter meeting, which we did during our September meeting on peer review. There were several who participated in the webcast and their feedback was very positive. Next was our Young and Emerging Professionals seminar that provided different tracks for students and working professionals. The event attracted more than 170 participants, many of whom said it provided real value. Students were privileged to hear many of the important changes impacting our profession from Don Driftmier, the then-president of the California Board of Accountancy.
Driftmier returned to the chapter, along with Bruce Allen, CalCPA’s director of government relations, to provide a presentation on the “state of the profession” to our local members. The chapter was again innovative by recording this event and posting it as a podcast on our website. We also went on to post our December tax meeting as a podcast.
With the absence of the donated eight-hour CalCPA Education Foundation course this year, the chapter pioneered a new chapter meeting format to provide members with similar benefits. We offered a four-times two-hour event in January where we provided four two-hour courses with cutting-edge content, such as IFRS and XBRL. Again, we received very complimentary feedback. The chapter remained committed to the Young and Emerging Professionals initiative as well. In addition to the seminar mentioned above, we hosted two Young and Emerging Professional roundtables where students and young professionals provided valuable input on to how best to serve this audience going forward. And of course, Johanna Sweaney Salt continued her very successful MAP Interest Group meetings.
This is where I stop to take a breath. There were a variety of other activities and volunteer efforts throughout the year that added value to our local members—too many to mention. The one person who worked the hardest and was responsible for much of the success we realized is Monica Thompson, our chapter’s program associate. A very big thank you goes out to her!
The good news for our chapter members is that the majority of the leadership team responsible for the success of the year just concluding is returning this coming year. I encourage you to consider volunteering in a chapter leadership position. It is a very rewarding experience and the leadership skills developed and the relationships gained are invaluable. Again, thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you this year.
Respectfully,
Mark Erickson, CPA
View Comments | Link/Bookmark/Share
