A Second Year, A First for the Northeast Chapter
A full year has gone by! I have been enjoying my time as President so much that I am excited to continue for a two-year term.
My mission when I started as Chapter President was to focus efforts on our member retention and increase school outreach. Over the past year, our chapter has seen successful registrations for both returning members and new attendees for our long-standing events such as the Golf Open, Saratoga Day at the Races, and Legislative Breakfast. Saratoga Day at the Races event in 2025 even sold out for the second year in a row! Most recently, our Financial Professionals Golf Open, scheduled for June 8th, sold out all eighteen hole sponsorships for the first time ever – an incredible accomplishment that could not have been done without the perseverance and enthusiasm of Steven Lewis (Chapter President-elect), Chris Sauers (Chapter Treasurer), and Laura Grippin (NextGen Committee Co-Chair), as well as the contributions of our Chapter board members.
We have continued to add new members to our NextGen and Membership Committees, in no small part due to the efforts from our NextGen Committee Chair, Laura Grippin. Thanks to Chapter Treasurer, Chris Sauers, our newly added Monthly Socials have helped greatly to foster a sense of camaraderie and community amongst our long-standing NextGen, while providing an opportunity for new members to introduce themselves.
Our school outreach is in no way lacking. The Northeast Chapter conducted high school visits with 518Elevated for the first time in 2025, and the students enjoyed learning more about accounting. We have also had visits to various local colleges throughout the year and will continue this outreach into 2026-2027.
Huge thank you to past Northeast Chapter Presidents F. Mike Zovistoski, Andy Matthews, and of course Beth van Bladel for continuing to dedicate their time to our Chapter.
One last shout-out to my Executive Committee; I could not ask for a better team, and it is great fun to work with all of you.
I am truly appreciative of everyone else who has supported our chapter this year, and I look forward to the new paths our chapter will explore in the year to come!
Saolam Nguyen
Northeast Chapter President
Northeast Chapter Charts Paths to New Opportunities
By Saolam Nguyen
Northeast Chapter President
When I first joined the Northeast Chapter, the COVID-19 pandemic was well under way. As someone who had recently moved to the Capital Region, I was looking for a way to connect with other professionals in the area. The NextGen Committee seemed like a great place to start. Through my position as NextGen co-chair, I gained experience in public speaking and event planning while having countless other opportunities to expand my network.
My time as a chapter officer allowed me to gain more in-depth knowledge about NYCPA processes and to challenge my leadership abilities. Through organizational programs and student outreach, I have gained valuable skills and fostered relationships that will benefit my professional and personal growth.
I am grateful to the NYCPA for the opportunities and the growth the Society afforded me, and I am excited to see other members of our Northeast Chapter stepping up and taking charge. Our involvement with the NYCPA provides unique opportunities for professionals like myself to make connections outside of our organizations and expand our horizons.