NEW YORK, NY, March 23, 2012 – The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants (NYSSCPA) will present George Foundotos, CPA, of St. James, with the Distinguished Service Award on May 10 at the Society’s 115th Annual Election Meeting Dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The Distinguished Service Award is given to CPAs who have set themselves apart as Society leaders and provided outstanding service to the NYSSCPA and the profession through dedicated service, contributions to publications, public service and other activities.

 

In his nomination letter, NYSSCPA Suffolk Chapter President Harold Deiters called Foundotos a guiding force for CPAs throughout the state.

 

“It is evident that George has been a true leader, and has demonstrated a true commitment and an honorable record of achievements within this profession,” Deiters wrote.

 

Foundotos is a professor of accounting at Dowling College and is currently the president of the NYSSCPA Political Action Committee. He is a past president of the NYSSCPA (1998-99) and a member of its Executive Committee. He was president (1988-89), president-elect, vice president, secretary and treasurer of the NYSSCPA Suffolk Chapter. He was also vice chair of the Staff Compensation Task Force and the chair of the Deferred Compensation Task Force and Fire District Task Force. He served as president of the Society’s Foundation for Accounting Education (FAE) (1999-2000), is a member of the Higher Education Committee and the FAE Scholarship Awards Committee.

 

“To be acknowledged by your peers … I don’t know how you can describe that,” Foundotos said. “When your peers say ‘thank you,’ it is something special.”

 

Foundotos has been a Society member for more than 40 years, and during that time has given his service to more than 40 committees, including Chapter Operations, Legislation, Professional Ethics and Finance. He chaired the Audit, Chapter Relations, Small Business Outreach, Professional Standards Task Force, Suffolk Chapter Government Relations, and Suffolk Chapter Cooperation with Education committees.

 

In 1992, Foundotos was also the recipient of the Dr. Emanuel Saxe Outstanding CPA Education Award. This award highlights outstanding service and professional development in education. The award is designed to recognize accounting educators for distinguished service and excellence in teaching and for contributing to and promotion of the accounting profession.

 

Foundotos, who lives in St. James, is married with one daughter.

 

An Army veteran, he graduated from Adelphi University in 1967 with a bachelor's degree in business administration and accounting. In 1973, he graduated from the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University with a master’s degree in accounting.

 

 

Representing more than 28,000 CPAs, the NYSSCPA was the first state accounting organization in the nation. Incorporated in 1897, the Society is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to establish and maintain high standards of integrity, honor, and character among certified public accountants.

The New York State Society of CPAs is located at 3 Park Avenue in New York City. To learn more about the Society call 800-633-6320 or visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org.