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NASBA CEO-Elect Names Four to Leadership Team

By:
Ruth Singleton
Published Date:
Jul 22, 2024

Daniel J. Dustin, the president- and CEO-elect of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) has chosen four people to serve on his leadership team. They are Kent A. Absec, Brenner (Brie) Allen, William A. Emmer and Sedrik Newber. These changes will take effect on Aug. 1, following the retirement of current NASBA President and CEO Ken L. Bishop.

“Kent, Brie, Bill and Sedrik each bring unique skill sets and a history of working directly with NASBA’s member Boards of Accountancy,” said Dustin in a statement. “NASBA is fortunate to attract these highly skilled individuals to carry out the important work of the organization and strengthen the NASBA culture as we transition into the future.”

Kent A. Absec, of Kellogg, Idaho, will serve as NASBA’s vice president, state board relations. In this role, he will serve as an advocate for state boards of accountancy and look into opportunities to provide support and services to NASBA’s member boards. Absec’s involvement with NASBA includes six years on the Computer Based Testing (CBT) Administration Committee and five terms as a member of the Executive Directors Committee. Absec also served as the executive directors committee chair and liaison to the NASBA Board of Directors for two consecutive years.

Attorney Brenner (Brie) Allen of Lexington, Ky., will serve as chief legal officer of NASBA. In this role, she will oversee all legal matters on behalf of the association. Most recently, Allen served as legal counsel of a U.K.-based consulting firm’s U.S. and global offices. Prior to that, she spent a decade practicing with a Raleigh-based law firm, working with NASBA, the Washington State Board of Accountancy, and Texas State Board of Public Accountancy.

William A. (Bill) Emmer, a CPA from Ramsey, N.J,. will serve as NASBA’s vice president, operations and oversee multiple operations at NASBA including services related to the CPA examination, CPA licensing, the National Candidate Database, the National CPE Registry, other products and services, as well as information Technology (IT). Emmer acted as the enterprise program manager of the CPA exam and was responsible for the day-to-day operations across the NASBA, AICPA and Prometric (NAP) enterprise. Her was instrumental in launching continuous testing of the CPA exam and bringing the exam to several international countries.

Sedrik Newbern, of Nashville, Tenn, will serve as president of the NASBA Center for the Public Trust (CPT) and as chief ethics officer of NASBA. As CPT president, Newbern will manage the nonprofit ethics and leadership organization’s day-to-day operations and growing number of CPT programs. As chief ethics officer, hewill oversee ethics compliance for the organization and will represent NASBA in ethics-related activities within the accounting profession. Newbern’s tenure with NASBA began in 2019, where he served as CPT operations director. In 2021, he transitioned to a consultant for the CPT.

NASBA named Dustin as CEO- and president-elect in April.  Dustin currently serves as NASBA’s vice president, state board relations, a role he has held since Jan, 1, 2012. He is also a member of the NYSSCPA.

Before joining NASBA, Dustin served as executive secretary of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, an appointment that was made in 1998 by the New York State Board of Regents. As executive secretary, he was responsible for professional licensing, practice and conduct, including professional discipline of CPAs and Pas in New York. As a key point person in the regulatory process, he monitored the evolution of professional practice at national and state levels and developed and drafted proposed legislation and amendments to New York State accountancy rules and regulations. 

At the time of his appointment, NASBA Chair Stephanie M. Saunders said, “Dan’s long history and expertise in accounting regulation makes him uniquely qualified to assume the role as president and CEO of NASBA. I have had the distinct opportunity to collaborate with Dan over the years on key initiatives and programs including the Uniform Accountancy Act, CPA Evolution and Professional Licensure. This is an exciting time for our organization, especially as he will lead NASBA into the future to fulfill the mission of enhancing the effectiveness and advancing the common interests of the 55 U.S. Boards of Accountancy.”

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