Profession’s Future Gleams Brightly at Second Annual Young CPAs Forum

By Anthony T. Abboud

Young CPAs from Boston to New York City revealed their commitment to the future of the accounting profession by attending the Second Annual Young CPAs Forum on July 25 and 26. The forum enabled young New York State Society of CPAs members to earn continuing professional education (CPE) credits while networking and socializing with one another.

Held at the Sheraton Syracuse University Hotel and Conference Center in Syracuse, the forum’s central location helped to draw many participants from throughout the state. Downtown Syracuse’s Armory Square was a hot spot for those wanting to go out for dinner or drinks.

The forum kicked off the first night with a cocktail party to welcome the young professionals and give them a chance to mingle. The two-day event offered 16 hours of technical and nontechnical CPE sessions. This year’s topics ranged from performing paperless audits to learning how to run an effective meeting. Representing various areas in the accounting profession, the speakers provided a multitude of perspectives.

Many people contributed to the success of the forum, including this year’s co-chairs Lauren L. Kincaid and myself. Committee members who also played a big part included Tracy L. Amidon, Jaimee Benson, Kari M. Dalton, Michele A. Dickey, Deborah J. Emery, Mitchell Franklin, Thomas J. Giufre Jr. and Eileen F. Hamlin. Although the committee looked to last year’s First Annual Young CPAs Forum in Buffalo for guidance and suggestions, the members worked hard to develop new ideas and course topics for this year’s event.

The committee’s hard work paid off. Not only did we receive positive responses from evaluations taken during the forum, we also received encouraging feedback via phone calls and e-mails received after the occasion.

The purpose of the Young CPAs Forum is to encourage young members in the Society to get more involved with their local chapter’s Young CPAs Committee. The continued significance of the accounting profession rests in the hands of young CPAs whose involvement, even as they are getting their feet wet, is crucial to a vibrant future.

But it’s important that young CPAs not only get involved with their local chapter, but also learn to become leaders of the Society. Once their participation is assured, the profession and the Society can more easily turn their attention to young CPAs who are first-year staff and future CPAs who are still in high school and college. These groups of people will continue the growth of the accounting profession.

If only a few attendees leave the forum wanting to join their chapter’s Young CPAs Committee or get more involved with the profession, then the time and hard work spent organizing and holding this event have been rewarded. Speaking on behalf of the Syracuse Chapter’s Young CPAs Committee, we believe this year’s experience was well worth the effort.

I would like to thank the attendees of this year’s forum. For those who were not able to attend, I hope that you will consider going to next year’s forum, in Suffolk. More details on the forum will be available in the coming months.
It is vitally important that the Society and its membership support the young CPAs of New York state. They are the ones who will be responsible for maintaining the great accounting reputation the state has long enjoyed.