First Annual COAP Program in Rochester Only the Beginning

First Annual COAP Program in Rochester Only the Beginning

By Julie H. Valpey, Rochester COAP Board member

On June 28, the Rochester Chapter of the NYSSCPA launched its first annual Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) program. The program, one of seven conducted by various NYSSCPA chapters around the state, is aimed at cultivating an interest in the accounting profession among minority high school students.

Twenty Rochester Chapter members, including members of the Young CPAs and CPA Candidates committees, act as volunteer members of the COAP Rochester Board of Directors.

The board met for the first time in March and spent the subsequent three months recruiting students from Rochester area high schools. The students (16 students from 12 city and surrounding area high schools) who participated in the four-day program got a taste of what it would be like to pursue a career in accounting.

The program included sessions on accounting subjects such as auditing, taxation, financial statement analysis, ethics and accounting opportunities in industry. The program also included practical life-skill sessions on subjects such as financial planning, resume writing, interviewing skills, goal setting, diversity in the workforce and life as a college student.

Many of the 16 students who participated were admittedly nervous and a little intimidated going into the program, not knowing what to expect. But COAP board member Toni Spina, of Eldredge Fox & Porretti LLP (EF&P), quickly broke the ice with the students on the first day, injecting a lot of humor into the first session. It wasn’t long before the students grudgingly admitted that accountants aren’t as boring as their reputation makes them out to be!

COAP board members donated their time and expertise to develop the program and conduct the sessions. Students clearly favored the sessions that required interactive, hands-on participation. These included the tax session, where the students prepared their own mock tax return on EF&P’s computerized tax system, and practice interview sessions, where the students were “interviewed” for a potential job by either a COAP board member or a real “headhunter.” The students also enjoyed spending a day at EF&P, where they toured the offices and interacted with many of the EF&P staff.

The SUNY Brockport campus was an ideal setting, allowing the students to experience a college classroom setting and get a taste of campus life. Bill Dresnack, chair of the Rochester COAP’s advisory board, provided the location. Dresnack is associate professor and chair of Brockport’s Department of Business Administration and Economics, and is a former president of the Rochester Chapter. Dresnack was the major force behind the effort to get the Rochester COAP program off the ground and running.

In addition to time and talent, other contributions made by COAP board members helped make the program a success. Darrell Jolley, Internal Audit Manager for the Rochester City School District, arranged bus transportation to and from Brockport. Toni Spina, Lori Ehmka, Jennifer Gall and Mary Murphy, from EF&P, arranged the field trip to the offices of EF&P. And Michelle Cohen, of Rotenberg & Co., secured a $5,000 donation to the program by her firm. Direct financial support was also provided by SUNY Brockport.

The program ended on July 1 with a commencement ceremony and dinner at Brockport’s Cooper Hall for students, their families and friends, and COAP board members. The program included a graduation ceremony, presided over by Spina. She handed each student a certificate and took a few moments to share with the audience each student’s unique gifts and talents. The pride among the students in their achievements was evident to all.

Asked to give an overall evaluation of the program, one student wrote, “I am considering doing accounting in college. I liked the program, the speakers were engaging and informative. We were treated with respect and like we were someone. I liked that.”
COAP board members were equally as enthusiastic about the program. When asked to evaluate the program, one board member commented, “It’s hard to say who benefited more from the program, the students or us, the volunteers.”

The Rochester COAP Board has planned follow-up visits with the students to help them prepare college applications and to encourage them to “spread the word” at their high school about the COAP program. Many of the students expressed a desire to return for next year’s program, and this year’s alumni have been invited to return as speakers for next year’s program. The COAP Board has already held two July meetings to plan for 2005; we can’t wait to do it again!

Chapter members interested in serving on a COAP committee for the 2005 program are urged to contact Bill Dresnack at 585-395-5532 or wdresnac@brockport.edu as soon as possible. COAP makes a difference; you can too!