|
|
Honoring
Professional Heritage It is with great pleasure that I pen my first column as the president of the Nassau Chapter. These past few weeks since the installation have been a whirlwind. It was an honor to stand there that evening among some of the chapter’s luminaries. As Master of Ceremonies, former AICPA and NYSSCPA President Robert L. Israeloff gave a stellar example of the leadership this proud profession has experienced. My induction by former Chapter President Bernard Rader illustrated the importance of recognizing one’s professional heritage. After all, it was Israeloff, Trattner’s Bernie Rader who saw something in a skinny kid from East Northport and offered me my first post-graduate accounting job. Now, 23 years later, I carry on their legacies. Both Bob and Bernie’s participation drive home the point that you can’t make an impact where you are going, unless you truly understand where you came from. I am pleased to say that the Nassau Chapter continues to attract some of the profession’s best and brightest, as exemplified by our Officers and Executive Board. Incoming Officers President………………….Michael
J. Garibaldi Incoming Executive Board Members Dan
Castellano Incumbent Executive Board Members Timothy
Andrews These strong leaders are dedicated to the success of the chapter and show tireless energy and devotion in their commitment. This is the ideal team to work with, and I am confident that together we can accomplish great things. There are a number of things I would like to focus on during my presidency, and we will discuss them in future issues. First and foremost, with all the publicity regarding our proud profession, it is imperative that we continue to focus on all the good that CPAs do. And with the public eye focusing on the profession, we need to be proactive when it comes to new legislation being drafted in Albany—proactive not only for the good of the profession, but for the businesses and business communities which we serve. We must ensure that the legislation is practical and manageable so that it does not destroy the very infrastructure that it is designed to protect. The youth are our future, and by reaching out to the high schools and colleges, we can bring future generations into the fold. At the same time, our committees need to expand their programs to include other professionals—lawyers, bankers and financial professionals—to ensure cross-pollination. As the world becomes more complex and issues become intertwined with these different disciplines, we need to expand our horizons and provide educational programs where all of us can participate, thereby working together toward a common goal. We started that the night of the Installation Dinner. There were accountants, lawyers, bankers, insurance people, payroll people, all gathered together for one simple purpose, an installation. It is my sincere hope that we continue to maintain that spirit throughout the rest of the year. |
Print