Message From the President

Message From the President

By Lauren L. Kincaid, Syracuse Chapter President

As unfortunate as it may seem, summer is coming to an end in upstate New York. Before you know it we’ll all be busy getting ready for yet another “busy season.” Hopefully you can participate in some of the chapter’s upcoming events that will take place in the fall and early winter.

On Sept. 11, the Young CPAs will participate in the Annual ARC Race. If you are interested or have questions on this event, please contact Anthony Abboud at aabboud@fmfecpa.com or 315-472-7045. The Young CPAs Committee has many events planned, which we will keep you posted on as they come up. If you would like to participate in this committee or have any questions about upcoming events, again, please contact Tony.

The annual state officers visitation, ethics CPE and annual student awards dinner has tentatively been scheduled for Oct. 20. Look for a separate mailing to be sent to all members in early October for registration for these events.

The second annual COAP (Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession) took place at Le Moyne College from June 28 through June 30. This year’s event was a huge success, with 25 students participating, more than double the amount who participated last year. During the program, students learned such skills as time management, resume writing, business etiquette and public speaking, as well as the basics of accounting.

During the application screening process the COAP Committee learned that students had very limited knowledge about the accounting profession as a whole. This program gives high school students the opportunity to learn how multifaceted and ever-changing the accounting profession can be.

We need to continue to educate young people about the profession. If anybody is interested in entertaining an internship for a college-level accounting student, please contact me and I will work with our contacts at the local colleges to assist in the process. I would like to thank Kari Dalton, of Fagliarone Group CPAs, and Jaimee Benson, of Testone, Marshall & Discenza, LLP, for their hard work in coordinating the COAP program. If you would like to volunteer to assist with next year’s COAP program, please contact Dalton at kdalton@tfgcpa.com or 315-471-2777. Programs like this depend on active, energetic volunteers to succeed.

On July 14, Robert Kawa, CPA, a member of the Syracuse Chapter’s Executive Board and a professor at Le Moyne College, met with the Oneida-Madison Business Teachers Association. He discussed student recruitment into the accounting profession, the 150-hour education requirement and the changed format of the CPA examination. He discussed how high school business classes and guidance offices could obtain the AICPA video presentation “Takin’ Care of Business,” another method to educate young people about the accounting profession. Thanks to Bob for time well spent on behalf of the Syracuse Chapter and the profession as a whole.

The annual NYSSCPA leadership conference was held at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing from July 11 through July 13. The following Syracuse Chapter representatives attended the conference: Robert Fagliarone and Thomas Riley, of Fagliarone Group, CPAs; Anthony Abboud, Andrew Eassa and Lauren Kincaid, of Firley, Moran, Freer & Eassa PC; Maryanne Winters, of Baasch and Winters, CPA PC; Franco Strangis, of Carrier Corporation; Joseph Schlegel, of Fust Charles Chamber LLP; and Gail Kinsella and David Moynihan, of Testone, Marshall & Discenza, LLP.

The conference is a great opportunity for the 17 NYSSCPA chapters to get together to share ideas on what works and what doesn’t at each chapter. Hopefully everyone came away from the conference with some ideas to offer additional benefits to our members.

Franco Strangis is the Syracuse Chapter’s Members in Industry Committee chair. He is always looking for suggestions to improve the benefits available to our members in industry. If you are interested in helping him with this committee or have suggestions for benefits, please contact him at franco.strangis@carrier.utc.com or 315-432-6877.

Try to relax and enjoy the fall. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me.

Lauren Kincaid can be reached at 315-472-7045 or lkincaid@fmfecpa.com.