June 2000

Sokolski Begins Term as President

By Wayne Whalen

NYSSCPA President P. Gerard Sokolski welcomes the challenges of guiding the oldest and largest state CPA society into the new millennium. Sokolski's goals include developing educational and other services to continue to meet the needs of members--in particular the needs of CPAs in industry, a group that constitutes one-third of the Society's total membership.

"FAE has recently added new topics in every CPE category, including many advisory courses that address services CPAs now offer to meet evolving client and business needs," Sokolski said. "I will work to make sure that we continue to address the changes in the profession, including adding more industry-specific programs and other subjects."

Sokolski realizes not only the importance of meeting the educational needs of Society members but also the urgency of continuing to reach out to the future of the profession: junior high and high school students. He said one way to reach young people is through the Internet.

"Students go online all the time, and the Society's website has a wealth of information to help them learn about the profession and what it means to be a CPA," he said. "All our members can benefit from the array of pertinent business information on nysscpa.org."

Along with the education and recruitment initiatives, Sokolski is committed to seeing the Society remain fiscally sound under his leadership.

Sokolski joined the Society in 1970. As president he oversees the board of directors and Executive Committee and serves on the FAE board of trustees and the Awards and Finance committees. In addition to prior service as a member of these leadership groups, Sokolski has served as vice president for chapter operations; as chair of the Annual Conference Task Force and Audit and Chapter Relations committees; and as a member of the General Committee on Public Relations and the Annual Conference, Awards, and Taxation of Individuals committees. He is an active member of the Rochester Chapter and has held numerous chapter leadership positions, including president. Sokolski is a tax partner with Mengel, Metzger, Barr & Co. LLP in Rochester. He holds the rank of commander in the U.S. Naval Reserve, retired.

Sokolski and his wife Barbara reside in Rochester, where he is active in many local charitable and civic groups. He is a member of the accounting advisory board of St. John Fisher College, a past president and member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester, and a trustee of the Hillside Children's Foundation. He also chairs the Starters/Announcers Committee for the Lady's Professional Golf Association's Wegman's Rochester International, a golf tournament whose proceeds benefit local disabled children's charities.

See for Sokolski's first President's Commentary. *