Name: Darwin C. Jones, CPA
Joined: 2011
Chapter: Manhattan/Bronx
Current position: Mergers & Acquisitions Consultant, KPMG LLP
Society highlights: Member of the COAP (Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession) Long Island University Advisory Board
Hobbies/activities: Traveling, mainly to the Caribbean and Europe.
Why I’m a member: “I’m a member for two reasons: to give back to the community and profession through my role in the Foundation for Accounting Education’s Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession program, and to interact with like-minded individuals in the profession.”
Personal quote: “My motto is: It’s not about what you know, and it’s not about who you know, but it’s about who knows you. I encourage people to join the Society and be active in order to allow people to get to know them, people who might be able to provide opportunities in their careers.”
Fun Fact: Worked as a lifeguard during his high school years in his hometown, Rochester, NY.
Name: Steven A. Stanek
, CPA
Joined: 2008
Chapter: Syracuse
Current position: Manager, Daley, LaCombe
and Charette, CPAs, P.C., in Manlius
Society highlights: Syracuse Chapter president-elect and chapter Public Relations
Committee chair
Hobbies/activities: Hunting, fishing,
bike riding, spending time with his wife of 14 years
and his two
daughters,
ages 6 and 9.
Why I’m a member: “The biggest thing for
me is the camaraderie with colleagues. As I move
up in my career,
it’s important
for me to join social groups to get to know people
outside my firm and see how other people in my own
industry do
things. There is a lot of honor in holding the CPA
title, and it’s also nice to get together with like-minded
individuals.”
Personal quote: “There is lot of problem-solving involved
in being a CPA—it’s not just number-crunching like people
sometimes say. I would describe it like putting a puzzle
together. There is so much variety. This profession is
never boring. It’s continually evolving.”
Fun fact: Hails from Colorado.
Name: Lynne M. Fuentes, CPA
Joined: 2004
Chapter: Nassau
Current position: Sole practitioner in Bethpage
Society highlights: Nassau Chapter Newsletter Committee cochair
Hobbies/activities: Socializing with friends, eating out at restaurants, travel,
babysitting for her young
nephew,
Daniel, and her goddaughter, Avery.
Why I’m a member: “It definitely helps you in your career. You can learn
a lot from going to the various
networking
events and especially the smaller CPE sessions
at the individual chapters, because they have a more
intimate
setting. You
can meet people and ask questions of practitioners
who have been in the field for years.”
Personal
quote: “I became an accountant because my father was an
accountant. From watching him,
I learned
that
accounting is the backbone of every business
and that accountants
are always needed. No matter what type of company
or business, they will always need an accountant.”
Fun
fact: First started doing tax returns for her friends in
college.
Name: Candice R. Meth, CPA
Joined: 2010
Chapter: Manhattan/Bronx
Current position: Senior manager, Not-for-Profit
Services Group, EisnerAmper LLP, in New York City
Society
highlights: Statewide Not-for-Profit Organizations Committee
Hobbies/activities: Sports (supports the Yankees, the Giants and the Rangers—“But
don’t even mention the Mets to me!”
she said), running in Central Park.
Why I’m a member: “Through the Society’s nonprofit conferences, I get to
see the power-players in our
industry—and for
me it’s a great way to meet those people and form
relationships with
them and share in their knowledge, because I’d also
like to be one of them one day.”
Personal quote: “I
find what my clients do to be so refreshing. I really enjoy
the experience of working
with them. It’s
always a surprise to find how many wonderful organizations
there are
out there, especially given the fact of how hard
it
is in this economy to run an NFP. It’s amazing,
and it’s
good to know
how many organizations there are out there that
are trying to help.”
Fun fact: Started as an intern at EisnerAmper
and never left.
Name: Maria L. Petrollese, CPA
Joined: 2008
Chapter: Mid Hudson
Current position: Vice president, Info-Byte
in New Windsor
Society highlights: Mid Hudson Chapter Executive
Board; member of the Young CPAs, Cooperation with Banking
and
Sponsorship
committees
Hobbies/activities: Reading, traveling, listening
to all types of music, volunteering in various organizations,
teaching computer
science at NCPA (a Catholic school in Newburgh),
spending quality time with her husband and three children,
ages
6, 2 and 4 months.
Why I’m a member: “Being a member
has allowed me to network with a lot of professionals in
the area,
not
only other
CPAs, but bankers, attorneys and financial advisers.
The Society
also provides a wide variety of benefits, like
discounted prices to CPE courses and chapter events, and
[I’ve]also
received
at no additional charge their publications which
help me stay up-to-date with changes in the profession."
Personal
quote: “Being an accountant and a mom is a challenge
sometimes; I’m very busy but I love
it.”
Fun facts: Grew up in a small town called
Sierra de la Ventana, in Argentina; attended five years
of Medical
School at the
University of La Plata, before moving to the
United States
and becoming an accountant/CPA.
Name: Philip Kanyuk, CPA
Joined: 1994
Chapter: Nassau
Current position: Partner, Holtz Rubenstein
Reminick LLP
Society highlights: Past chair, Nassau Chapter
Litigation Support Committee; secretary, Nassau Chapter
Hobbies/activities: Runs a flag football program and coaches his sons’ baseball
teams. Is also a stonewall
mason.
Why I’m a member: “I found my niche in my
career at a State Society meeting. During a Nassau Chapter
Litigation
Services
meeting back in the 90s, I was approached by someone
looking to hire. He was a past chair of the committee,
an active
member, and was looking for a good, hard worker.
He tapped
me on the
shoulder and asked me if I was interested in working
at his boutique litigation service practice. Even
years later,
opportunities
continue to come to me through my involvement with
the State Society.”
Personal quote: “I got my job
and career through the NYSSCPA, so I couldn’t be a bigger
booster!”
Fun fact: Is an avid skier (double black diamond)
who likes bumps and jumps.
Name: Edward F. Esposito, CPA
Joined: 1986
Chapter: Queens/Brooklyn
Current position: Sole practitioner,
Edward Esposito, CPA/ABV, CFE, with a niche practice
in forensic accounting
and business
valuation
Society highlights: Queens/Brooklyn Chapter
vice president; chair, Business Valuation Conference;
CPA Journal author
Hobbies/activities: Plays in tennis tournaments
and enjoys walking in New York City parks. Has traveled
to over
30 countries.
How I’ve benefited from membership: “Being a member of two committees, Business Valuation
and Litigation
Support,
over the past year, I can definitely say my professional
knowledge and skills have increased tremendously.
This has led to my AICPA certification, Accredited
in Business
Valuation (ABV). Networking through my chapter
has gotten me a few client referrals from fellow
NYSSCPA
members.
Fun fact: Enjoys driving with his son in his red Mustang
convertible.
Name: Kenneth O. Hall, CPA
Joined: 1988
Chapter: Rochester
Current position: Vice president and
controller, Home Properties Inc. (NYSE: HME)
Society highlights: Rochester
Chapter vice president, Rochester Chapter World of
Accounting (anchor member),
founding member
of Rochester High School Relations Task Force
Hobbies/activities: Is a fan of NASCAR, the Oakland Raiders and Charlie Daniels.
Enjoys camping and hiking
with family
and friends.
Why I’m a member: “Membership has
helped me to have a network of people that I can call
up and
ask accounting-related
questions
to, and they can call me as well. So, instead
of Googling something, you can pick up the phone and
say, ‘Jon,
how
do you guys do this?’ It’s great to have a legion
of financial
professionals who can help answer your questions.”
Personal quote: “When you become a CPA, you don’t learn
a skill and ride it out. The field is ever-changing,
and you
are constantly being challenged. It’s never
stagnant.”
Fun fact: Once raced a Porsche 944 Turbo
around Watkins Glen International speedway (at the
invite of fellow
NYSSCPA member and car owner P. Robert Fox)
and put a whole lot of BMWs and Lotuses a
lap down.
Name: Mark Ulrich, CPA
Joined: 2007
Chapter: Queens/Brooklyn
Current position: Director of
Budgets and Compliance and Adjunct Assistant Professor
of Accounting and
Taxation, St.
John’s University
Society highlights: Queens/Brooklyn
Chapter president-elect, COAP St. John’s Advisory Board
chair
Hobbies/activities: Traveling. Has been to Israel,
Japan, India, Jordan, Mexico, England, France,
Argentina, Poland
and the Czech Republic, always for pleasure,
never for business. Also, is a big Yankees fan.
Why I’m
a member: “Membership has allowed me to give back to
the community. Being involved
in the
Career
Opportunities in the Accounting Profession
program over the last five
years has allowed me to provide local high
school students with
the tools they need to become involved in the
profession and be successful. The Society enables
me to use
my knowledge and professional network to put
on this wonderful
event
at St. John’s University.”
Personal quote: “We’re
lucky to be in a profession that affords us good opportunity.
I’m able
to do meaningful work in the higher education
industry,
while others
work in public, private and government. The Society has given
me a
wonderful platform for networking and also
a venue through which I help the community
and profession by taking part in the COAP
program.”
Fun fact: Briefly lived in Tel Aviv after
leaving KPMG.
Name: Anthony S. Chan, CPA
Joined: 1989
Chapter: Manhattan/Bronx
Current position: Audit Partner, Friedman LLP
Society highlights: Chair, SEC Practice Committee; chair,
Young CPAs; Accounting and Auditing Oversight
Committee
Hobbies/activities: Loves traveling with his family, golfing and long-distance
running.
Why I’m a member: “The technical requirements of
being a CPA are fairly straightforward, but knowing the
ins
and outs and tricks of the trade is something more
complex, and that can be learned through the experienced
members
you meet at the Society. Their real-life perspective
has
been very helpful.”
Personal quote: “We are in a client-service business and
it is impossible to please everyone. Integrity is the cornerstone
of
our profession and we must be true to ourselves. Learn
from
every challenge
that comes your way and make the most out of
it. Work is only a part of our life; enjoy your family
and
try
to find
the right balance. Be a mentor and inspire those
who could benefit from your valuable experience. Just
remember, every
day is a good day, and it is up to us to make
a difference.”
Fun fact: Enjoys driving sports cars.
Name: Michael R. Durant
Joined: 2011
Chapter: Manhattan/Bronx
Current position: Student
Hobbies/activities: Currently serves as the co-chairman of the advisory
board for the Bronx School of Law and Finance. Volunteers with New York Cares,
participates with the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting
and is an active member of the National Association of Black Accountants.
Why I’m a member: “As a student member, it’s helped keep me up-to-date
and focused with what’s going on, and gives me the chance to communicate directly
with professionals.”
Personal quote: “Being a member has helped with my networking with other groups and within the NYSSCPA. The whole reason I’m having this interview now is because I went to one of the breakfast briefings where I met Joanne [Barry, Executive Director of the NYSSCPA].”
Fun fact: Originally wanted to be a mechanic. Then got exposure to
a professional environment through an internship and hasn’t looked back since.
Name: Deepak K. Doshi, CPA
Joined: 2007
Chapter: Manhattan/Bronx
Current position: Senior Manager, Marks Paneth & Shron LLP
Society highlights: Financial Accounting Standards Committee member since 2009
Hobbies/activities: Reading, mostly nonfiction books about health, finance and philosophy. Investing in the stock market.
Why I’m a member: “Being a member of the Financial Accounting Standards Committee for the past four years has benefited me greatly by allowing me to participate in debate and discussions, particularly through subcommittees where you write exposure drafts.”
Personal quote: “Participating in the NYSSCPA allows you to be a voice
for CPAs in both the world and in New York State, and helps you keep up with
the latest news.”
Fun Fact: Was a top-tier college sprinter in India.
Name: Avril K. George-Robinson, CPA
Joined: 2003
Chapter: Queens/Brooklyn
Current position: Professor, Medgar Evers College of CUNY; Independent
Consultant, Accounting and Tax
Society highlights: Queens/Brooklyn Chapter Executive Board member, 2012; Accounting Careers and Education Committee Chair, 2012
Hobbies/activities: Cooking, home decor, watching old classic movies, listening to music and jogging.
Why I’m a member: “Being a member of the NYSSCPA has afforded me the opportunity to build a network of professional and personal relationships, both in academia and practice. I have been able to tap into that network to brainstorm on best practices and technical accounting and tax issues, create internship and job opportunities for accounting students/future CPAs, and participate in collaborative publication and research. Additionally, being a member has provided me with the opportunity to give back to my community in different ways, such as presenting at small business workshops.”
Personal quote: “The benefits are immeasurable—from discounts on CPE courses to car rentals. Most importantly, you build a network of professionals both within and outside the accounting profession—an invaluable resource.”
Fun fact: Her mac and cheese is famous among her friends, family and fellow church members.
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