From FICPA Communications Staff Reports
The FICPA's eight-member Executive Committee (EC) is comprised of the FICPA President, Stam Stathis, President-elect Scott G. Price and five vice Presidents. The FICPA CEO-Executive Director serves as secretary-treasurer and non-voting EC member. Together, the committee implements the Board of Governors' policies and oversees the Institute's activities.
To help FICPA members get to know the 2011-2012 Executive Committee, President Stathis developed a list of questions and asked each committee member to choose and respond to two. Here is some information about each committee member, along with the responses to their chosen questions.
Scott G. Price
Scott G. Price, FICPA President-Elect, is the managing director of A-lign CPAs, a national provider of regulatory and compliance services. Price, who joined the FICPA in 1998, is serving his seventh term on the Board of Governors and his fourth term on the Executive Committee. He has held chair and vice chair positions on several committees and has served on a number of sections and task forces.
Price was a member of the inaugural class of the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Top 30 business leaders under age 30; the Tampa Bay Business Journal's Top 40 business leaders under age 40; and the CPA Technology Advisor's 40 Under 40 influential CPAs in information technology. He has served several terms on the Hillsborough County and West Central Florida Board for Junior Achievement.
Price lives in Tampa with his children, Brooks and Adriana.
What advice do you have for FICPA members who wish to attain a leadership position at the FICPA? How do they get started?
The FICPA provides numerous opportunities for CPAs to become involved, and there are virtually no barriers. Committees exist with objectives to fulfill every CPA's passion, whether it's professional, academic, or community outreach.
The FICPA solicits volunteers in several ways, including conference exhibitions, mail, email and the FICPA website. At FICPA-sponsored conferences, it's easy to identify volunteer leadership by their name tags. These leaders welcome other members to become involved. I encourage each member to consider leadership opportunities that lead to a direct impact on their profession.
When you're not practicing accounting, what do you enjoy doing?
With my practice focus I travel extensively and spend many nights away from my family. So when I'm not traveling, I'm with my family. We enjoy fishing, traveling and attending our children's sporting events. We're an outdoors family and frequently head to the beach. It's great living and practicing in Florida, a place so many people only hope to visit.
Jeffrey E. Barbacci
Jeffrey E. "Jeff" Barbacci is a shareholder and Director of Audit with Thomas Howell Ferguson in Tallahassee. He has been with the firm for more than 15 years and specializes in not-for-profit and government auditing and consulting.
Barbacci has been involved in FICPA leadership for more than 10 years, and is serving his eighth term on the FICPA Board of Governors. He is a past chair of the State Legislative Policy Committee; was the first chair of the Young CPAs Committee; and helped transition the State & Local Government Committee to its current Section structure. Barbacci also is a regular FICPA speaker on topics such as internal controls; government accounting and auditing; and board responsibilities.
Jeff lives in Tallahassee with his wife, Emily, and their sons, Dominic and Anthony.
What advice do you have for FICPA members who wish to attain a leadership position at the FICPA? How do they get started?
The easiest way to get started is to get involved at the local-chapter level. From there, members will better understand the grassroots of our profession and become familiar with potential leadership opportunities at the state level.
The FICPA also has tremendous need at the committee level, and getting involved is as easy as responding to the annual request for volunteers. I started with the State & Local Government Committee early in my career and I quickly learned that everyone has something to offer, regardless of age or background. I've found that the experienced leaders always have been willing to help guide me in my progression. I strongly believe that participating at any level of the FICPA greatly enhances members' skills as leaders and as professionals.
Why is protecting the CPA franchise a critical issue and what role does the FICPA play in that?
Protecting the franchise means protecting the CPA's image as a trusted advisor with the highest ethical standards. We are the only profession able to provide financial assurance services, and it's important that we maintain the general public's trust and respect or our assurance means nothing. CPAs in private industry and the public sector raise the confidence levels of owners, stakeholders and public officials because of our in-depth understanding of business processes and our ability to produce consistent and reliable information.
The FICPA staff and leadership work diligently through educational, legislative and professional efforts to protect our interests as a profession; to help us readily adapt to a constantly changing environment; and to maintain our accountability as a self-regulated industry.
Bethany Carr
Bethany B. Carr is a manager for Cavanaugh & Co., LLP in Sarasota. She began her career as an auditor for governmental, non-profit and small-business clients but has transitioned to taxation, providing tax services for individuals, corporations, partnerships and trusts.
Carr began her FICPA service in 2004 as a member of the Young CPAs Committee and as a trustee for the FICPA Educational Foundation. She has served on various FICPA committees and on the Women's Leadership Task Force (now the Women's Leadership Committee). In 2008, Carr was
named one of CPA Technology Advisor's 40 Under 40. She is a graduate of Leadership Sarasota County and a member of the Junior League of Sarasota and the Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay.
Carr lives in Parrish with her husband, Nathan, and their son, Austin.
What advice do you have for FICPA members who wish to attain a leadership position at the FICPA? How do they get started?
An excellent way to start is to get involved with a chapter. Our chapters are always looking for new volunteers who are excited to be involved. Another great way to get started is to sign up for a committee or two. I began my FICPA service by signing up for the Young CPAs Committee. After serving there for a couple of years, I ventured on to other committees. It's a good, low-pressure way to meet people and get your hands dirty.
When you're not practicing accounting, what do you enjoy doing?
I enjoy spending time with my husband and son Austin, who is three. My son is my Tax Day baby, born on April 15! After sitting at a desk all day, I love to get outside. We enjoy going to parks, the beach, camping – anything to get outdoors. I also enjoy reading. There's nothing better than sitting at the beach with a good book.
My newest adventure is running. I've completed two half-marathons and I'm training for a third. I've found running to be my stress reliever. It keeps me sane and is a little chunk of personal time in a busy schedule of work, family and a variety of community activities.
Joey Epstein
As a director for RSM McGladrey, Joey Epstein provides accounting, tax and consulting advice to law firms and other professional-service organizations, as well as other closely-held entities. His other primary responsibility is business development for the firm in South Florida. He has handled income- and sales-tax audits and has assisted clients with exit strategies. He is certified in Florida sales and use tax and holds a Health and Life, including Variable Annuity Insurance License from the State of Florida.
Epstein, an AICPA member, serves on the Florida CPA/PAC Board of Trustees and is serving his fourth term on the FICPA Board of Governors. He has served on the FICPA State Legislative Policy Committee for 20 years and is current chair of the committee. Epstein serves on the Audit Committee of the North Broward Hospital District; as treasurer and a Board member of ChildNet; as vice chair of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society of South Florida; and as treasurer of Broward Days. He also holds volunteer positions with many other philanthropic organizations.
How has the accounting profession changed for you in the last five years?
Being a CPA just isn't what it used to be! In today's environment, everyone wants us to be the police. The SEC and every regulatory agency want us to take responsibility for finding and reporting all financial-statement issues and problems (not to minimize our responsibility). If problems surface, fingers are always pointed at us. The IRS wants us to be the police and our requirements, as well as potential penalties, are scary. Client advocacy in the "gray area" has become much more difficult. Although we want to be our clients' business advisors and still are, the rules have dramatically changed.
As we move closer to a separate set of standards for SMEs and private companies, what's your perspective on the significance of Big GAAP versus Little GAAP and the impact such changes could have on the accounting profession?
Although the double standards seem unwieldy, it's a long time coming. The evolution of our standards has been geared toward large public companies and issues that have arisen in that arena. Yet this is such a small percentage of total businesses in the United States. Public and private companies have completely opposite motivations. Public companies want to capitalize expenses and increase earnings, while private companies want to expense and pay less tax. The education process for financial-statement users is the next hurdle in the process, but it will be well worth it.
Kenneth J. Strauss
Kenneth J. Strauss is director of taxation and personal financial strategies for Berkowitz Dick Pollack & Brant CPAs & Consultants, LLP in Fort Lauderdale. He is a member of the AICPA and a former president of the Financial Planning Association. He is serving his 11th term on the FICPA Board of Governors.
Strauss is past chair of the FICPA's Financial Literacy Committee and serves on the FICPA Educational Foundation's Board of Trustees. He also serves on a number of committees, including Finance & Office Advisory and Relations with the Florida Bar.
What advice do you have for FICPA members who wish to attain a leadership position at the FICPA? How do they get started?
Ask a current leader how to become more involved. I started out by volunteering on the Board of my local chapter, and then worked my way up the ladder to president. When the FICPA president visited, I asked what I could do to help the organization and ended up on a committee. I served on task forces and was a regional vice president.
We need good volunteers, so choose what you like and give 100 percent. You'll be recognized and get more responsibility. There are so many ways to get started. Sign up for a committee or a section, and be active. Ask questions and give your opinion. You'll be surprised at how many will listen.
When you're not practicing accounting, what do you enjoy doing?
Family has always been important in my life. My wife, Mindy, and I have been married for 35 years and have two daughters. They're 22 and 25 years old, and they live in New York City. Mindy and I love to make the trek to see them often.
I'm a big sports fan and baseball is my favorite. I've been a Florida Marlins season-ticket holder from the beginning (1993). I enjoy traveling with the team around the country.
For exercise, riding my bicycle helps relieve the daily stress in life!
James F. "Jim" Thielen
Jim Thielen is the owner of Thielen + Tax and Business Consulting in Tallahassee. Since 1999, Thielen has served several terms on the FICPA Executive Committee and Board of Governors. He served as president of the Tallahassee Chapter from 1998 to 1999 and as regional vice president for two terms ending in 2001.
In February 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Thielen to the Florida Board of Accountancy (BOA), on which he served until May 2007. He served as BOA vice chair in 2006 and as chair in 2007. Thielen has served on several FICPA committees and sections. Currently, he is a member of the Committee on Finance & Office Advisory and is serving his fourth term on the FICPA Board of Governors.
Thielen and his wife, Beth, live in Tallahassee with their sons, James and Patrick.
Why is protecting the CPA franchise a critical issue and what role does the FICPA play in that?
Our CPA licenses or CPA firms are what set us apart from other advisors, accountants and business consultants. Regardless of the area of concentration, the CPA franchise is always at risk because of various influences.
The FICPA Governmental Affairs Team tracks numerous bills during session and regulatory threats throughout the country during the year. Our legislative team, political action committees (PACs) and volunteer leadership have played a very active role in protecting the CPA franchise. FICPA members' responsibility is to be involved in these processes as Key Person Contacts and through financial support to the area PACs (see the related article on page 22).
How would you like to see the FICPA develop and grow during the next year, and in future years?
I envision an FICPA that undergoes a re-engineering toward the delivery of continuing education, and that meets members' needs by possibly negotiating and offering group health insurance to firms throughout Florida. We should continue our Immediate Past President Mike Pender's goal of reminding members that the FICPA is their Institute, and that they have a responsibility to "Own It."
