VSCPA NEWS

Moving up through volunteerism

HENRY DAVIS III, CPA BO GARNER, CPA

In this installment of the LEAD Round, we’re quizzing two VSCPA members — a seasoned CPA and a young professional — about their views on leadership issues affecting the profession and how they would (or do) deal with those issues. This month’s participants are a pair of very involved VSCPA volunteers — HENRY DAVIS III, CPA, of Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, and BO GARNER, CPA, of PBMares in Newport News. With the VSCPA’s new volunteer system launching in October, we decided to talk to them about what volunteering has done for their career.

How has volunteering contributed to your career advancement? What leadership skills have you gained from getting involved?

HD: Volunteering has contributed directly to my career advancement. The biggest contribution it did for me was it expanded my personal and professional network. Volunteering with the VSCPA at both the state and chapter level has given me an opportunity to meet people in the CPA field who at one time or another provided me information on several things such as job openings, organizations I needed to know about and other people I needed to meet and get to know. In addition to expanding my network, another benefit of volunteering was that having volunteer work on my resume helped me be able to stand out. Volunteering is especially beneficial to people who are pursuing jobs in the nonprofit area. Hiring managers in the nonprofit area consider volunteer experience an important criterion in selecting candidates.

The biggest area where I gained leadership skills by volunteering was relationship building. Building my network of valuable long-lasting relationships with people not only in the CPA field but with insurance agents, bankers and lawyers helped me to be successful in both the short and long term. These relationship-building opportunities came about through taking on leadership opportunities at both the state and chapter level, including VSCPA conferences and leadership events, as well as networking opportunities that the VSCPA sponsored. Partnerships often developed once these relationship-building opportunities were established.

BG: Volunteering has not only contributed to my career, but also a more fulfilled life. Giving back in the form of time is something that has been ingrained in my life from a very early age. My parents taught me to be thankful for what I have, to take nothing for granted and to give back to those who are less fortunate and need help the most.

I began volunteering early on in my life, and once I decided on a career in public accounting, I was introduced to the VSCPA. I quickly realized how much of an uphill battle the CPA Exam was and how unique the industry is. I could not imagine how others could succeed without the resources the VSCPA and coworkers provided. One of my first volunteer roles for the VSCPA involved speaking to college students about the profession. It was very rewarding to be able to talk to them about what they could expect, as well as all the reasons why choosing the profession was the right move for me.

My volunteer efforts continued to expand with the VSCPA into various other committees and one-off opportunities. I have also volunteered with other community organizations in Hampton Roads, which has also been very rewarding. This lifestyle has become synonymous with my daily responsibilities at work. Being involved in the nonprofit community my whole life, and being able to partner with many nonprofits at work, has given me a sense of accomplishment and has been a calling for me. It’s rare that a day goes by in which I did not do something to help one of my nonprofit clients or a nonprofit that I serve personally.

I would not be where I am in my career without the leadership skills developed through my involvement with the VSCPA. I’ve become a better listener through my volunteer involvement. All my work with the VSCPA has either involved teams, committees or at least an audience. Being able to work with and adapt to different people, personalities and audiences is an important skill. And my involvement with the VSCPA has helped me refine my time management, organization and delegation skills. With each committee position and volunteer opportunity at the VSCPA, we work together to allocate and delegate tasks to maximize efficiency and effectiveness of the task at hand. n

Visit the VSCPA LEAD website at vscpa.com/ LEAD.

Members win CFO Awards

The Virginia CFO Award winners were (from left) Mike Griffin, Dave Keltner, Julie Hovermale, CPA, Jeff Reed and René Chaze, CPA.

VSCPA members RENÉ CHAZE, CPA, and JULIE HOVERMALE, CPA, were among the winners of the 11th annual Virginia CFO Awards, held by Virginia Business magazine June 23 at the Jefferson Hotel in Richmond.

The VSCPA is a founding sponsor of the awards, which honor Virginia’s top CFOs and those holding equivalent positions in several business categories. Eleven VSCPA members were nominated and six were selected as finalists.

Chaze, chief operating officer at Edelman Financial Services in Fairfax, won in the Large Private Company category. In an unrelated awards program, he was also honored as CFO of the Year by the Washington Business Journal.

Hovermale, CFO of the Better Housing Coalition in Richmond, won in the Small Nonprofit Organization category.

The VSCPA’s other finalists were:

>> STEPHANIE BRYAN, CPA, of MDARVA at Stony Point Surgery Center in Richmond (Large Private Company)

>> STEPHEN HUBER, CPA, of Birdsong Peanuts in Suffolk (Large Private Company)

>> BRAD HUNGATE, CPA, of Groome Transportation in Richmond (Large Private Company)

>> DWIGHT SHELTON, JR., CPA, of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg (Large Nonprofit Organization) n

VSCPA news

NEW VOLUNTEER SYSTEM NOW ONLINE

We’ve changed the way you can manage your volunteer responsibilities. Like our MentorMatch program, the new volunteer manager is run through Connect, the VSCPA’s members-only online community.

The new system makes it easier for you to find volunteer opportunities, sorted by activity, expertise needed and time commitment. Short-term opportunities are more prominent and easier to find. And once you’re in our volunteer pool, we’ll be able to notify you when an opportunity that meets your criteria comes open.

Visit connect.vscpa.com/Volunteer to take the new system for a spin, and if you want to, go ahead and sign up to volunteer. We’re currently seeking volunteers for the following opportunities:

• Legislators’ Tax Guide Task Force (closes Sept. 30) • VSCPA Board of Directors • VSCPA Educational Foundation

Board of Directors • VSCPA PAC Board of Trustees • Young Professionals Advisory

Council • VSCPA Accounting & Auditing

Advisory Committee (opens Oct. 1) • VSCPA Peer Review Committee (opens Oct. 1) • VSCPA Professional Ethics

Committee (opens Oct. 1) • VSCPA Tax Advisory Committee (opens Oct. 1)

Visit vscpa.com/VolunteerSchedule to learn when you can sign up for your desired opportunity. n

VSCPA news

Day of Service is almost here!

Sept. 19–23, 2016, is Virginia CPA Week, when the VSCPA

and the Commonwealth recognized CPAs for the vital role they play in the Virginia economy. All week long, we’ll be promoting the profession in the media and to businesses and taxpayers.

Th e best way you can celebrate Virginia CPA Week is by signing up and participating in CPA Day of Service, the annual event that sees CPAs and their coworkers take a day to make a diff erence in the communities where they live and work. Th is year, CPA Day of Service is set for Friday, Sept. 23. Hundreds of CPAs and employees of accounting fi rms across Virginia volunteer each year as part of CPA Day of Service, working at volunteer locations for a variety of organizations and causes and including both indoor and outdoor projects. We’d love to have a record of your participation, so please sign up at vscpa.com/DayofService!

For more info, visit vscpa.com/DayofService or contact VSCPA Member Engagement Manager Laura Cobb, CAE, at lcobb@vscpa.com. n

Your case studies needed for VSCPA Ethics course

Th e VSCPA wants to include real-life ethical dilemmas in the upcoming 2017 Virginia-specifi c Ethics course, and we want your help! Anyone who takes the 2016 course is eligible to submit his or her own case for inclusion in the 2017 course. If your case study is chosen, you will receive a free 2017 Ethics class from the VSCPA in the format of your choosing.

We’re seeking case studies from all practice areas, not just public accounting. Your submissions from industry, government, nonprofi t and other areas will help ensure the 2017 course is relevant to all practice areas.

Visit vscpa.com/CaseStudySubmissions to submit your case study. Include a title, background information, executive summary, a description of the ethical challenges raised and results, including leading questions that will help guide discussion. Remember to remove personal or identifying information. Th anks for helping us make the best Ethics course we can! n

THE LEADERS’ INSTITUTE TURNS 10

We’d like to thank all the sponsors, speakers, panelists and attendees who made the 10th annual Leaders’ Institute such a success. The 2016 edition, held June 17–18 at the University of Richmond, drew 49 of Virginia’s top accounting students.

The VSCPA would like to thank founding sponsor BAKER TILLY and the rest of the Leaders’ Institute sponsors:

BECKER BROWN EDWARDS CHERRY BEKAERT COTTON & CO. DELOITTE DIXON HUGHES GOODMAN JOHNSON LAMBERT KEITER KPMG MITCHELL WIGGINS & CO. PBMARES PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS U.S. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE VIRGINIA AUDITOR OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS VSCPA EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION WELLSCOLEMAN n

FIND THE CPE TEST ONLINE

Visit vscpa.com/CPE. Choose “On Demand” from the side fi lters to fi nd the exam and others from previous Disclosures issues. n

VSCPA news

Congratulations to the following members!

Left to right: Zachary Bucklen, CPA, Julie Gustavsson, CPA, Howard Kramer, CPA, Terri McKnight, CPA, Gary Thomson, CPA

NEW HIRES >>

ZACHARY BUCKLEN, CPA, has joined Updegrove, Combs & McDaniel in Leesburg as a staff accountant.

EMMETT PEPE, CPA, has joined GSE Systems in Sykesville, Md., as chief financial officer.

JOSH TAYLOR, CPA, has joined Meadows Urquhart Acree & Cook in Henrico as a tax manager.

PROMOTIONS >>

Alexandria firm KWC has named HOWARD KRAMER, CPA, principal and promoted SAMANTHA BELL, CPA, to supervisor, EMILY JACKSON, CPA, to manager and RACHEL JONES, CPA, to senior.

OLGA PAMFILOVA, CPA, was named a senior accountant at Burdette, Smith & Bish in Fairfax.

LAURA SPROUSE, CPA, has been named partner at Brown Edwards in Roanoke.

APPOINTMENTS & AWARDS >>

JULIE GUSTAVSSON, CPA, of Keiter in Glen Allen, and KYLE VIELE, CPA, of Capital One in Richmond, were honored with the American Institute of CPAs’ (AICPA) Standing Ovation award for the Information Management and Technology Assurance specialty area.

JENNY HERRERA, CPA, of Rubino & Co. in Bethesda, Md., was installed as president of the Greater Washington Society of CPAs for fiscal 2017.

TERRI McKNIGHT, CPA, of Gelman, Rosenberg & Freedman CPAs in Bethesda, Md., was appointed to the Christopher Newport University Board of Visitors by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

GARY THOMSON, CPA, of Dixon Hughes Goodman in Glen Allen, was appointed to the Virginia School Readiness Committee.

FIRM NEWS >>

Tysons firm BAKER TILLY was named a Best Place to Work for 2016 by the Washington Business Journal.

Fairfax firm HOMES, LOWRY, HORN & JOHNSON celebrated its 60th anniversary Aug. 1.

KLAUSNER BENDLER + ASSOCIATES has moved to Arlington from its previous office in Bethesda, Md., and has changed its name to KLAUSNER & CO., PC.

Richmond firm MITCHELL WIGGINS & CO. was honored at ChamberRVA’s ninth Annual Icons and YP Workplace Awards for fostering an environment that attracts, retains and develops young professionals.

Fairfax firm THOMPSON GREENSPON was named as a winner of the Greater Washington 2016 Top Workplaces award by The Washington Post.

PHILANTHROPY >>

Tysons Corner firm BAKER TILLY celebrated its firmwide stewardship day Thursday, July 14. Employees performed hunger-related community service at the Arlington Food Assistance Center, the Capitol Area Food Bank, the D.C. Central Kitchen, Martha’s Table and Miriam’s Kitchen.

Bethesda, Md., firm COUNCILOR, BUCHANAN & MITCHELL (CBM) held its annual Charity Fishing Challenge in conjunction with the 35th Annual Pro-Am Fishing Tournament in Chesapeake, Md. CBM entered two boats in the tournament and donated a total of $2,500 to the Salvation Army World Service Office.

DIXON HUGHES GOODMAN completed its fifth annual Count the Cans campaign, tallying 593,464 pounds of donated food and more than 1,150 service hours to hunger relief organizations nationwide.

Falls Church firm MJW was a sponsor of the Joyce-Gillespie-Harrington Educational & Charitable Foundation’s 36th annual Black and Gold Scholarship Ball. n

VSCPA news

Nominate a distinguished CPA

Do you know a Virginia CPA who deserves to be honored as one of the VSCPA’s best? Don’t let exceptional work go unnoticed. Nominate a worthy colleague for a VSCPA Distinguished CPA Award.

TOP 5 MEMBERS UNDER 35: Nominate a young CPA member (35 or younger as of April 30, 2017) who has shown excellence in one or more of the following: professional achievement, VSCPA or local VSCPA chapter accomplishment, community contribution or dedication to the CPA profession.

OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR: Nominate a VSCPA member who has provided outstanding service to the profession through participation in VSCPA activities, civic engagement and charitable activities that further a positive image of accounting and the CPA profession.

Nominations are due by Friday, Dec. 2. Nominate online at vscpa.com/ Awards or email VSCPA Member Engagement Manager Laura Cobb at lcobb@vscpa.com. n

THE VSCPA MOURNS THE LOSS OF...

JOSEPH LATELLA, CPA, of Springfield. A U.S. Army veteran and a former Washington Metro police officer, he graduated from American University and the FBI National Academy in Quantico.

ROBERT WARREN, CPA, of Virginia Beach. He was a graduate of the University of Virginia and a partner with Warren & Bandy. He was a founding member of the Oceanfront Jaycees, belonged to the Lynnhaven Rotary Club and served as treasurer of the Virginia Beach Sertoma Club. n

APPLY NOW FOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

Are you a young professional looking to take the next step in your accounting career? The VSCPA’s fourth annual Leadership Academy will help you build on your innate talents and let your leadership abilities shine through.

The 2015 Leadership Academy is set for Nov. 14–16. Applications are due Friday, Sept. 9. Visit vscpa.com/ LeadershipAcademy to apply! n

VSCPA news

THE VSCPA’S NEWEST CPAs

MATTHEW ASSENAT DANIEL BERLIN DANIEL COLONNA MICHAEL DOOBIN NADIA FAROOQI REBECCA FLOREK THOMAS GILLESPIE JAMES GREEN AUSTIN HALE ANDREW HILL RYAN HOLLOWAY STEPHEN HUFFMAN THOMAS JAMISON JACQUELINE JONES MUNKULI KATAMPI BRADLEY KILKOWSKI JOAN KIMM SAMUEL KLAUSNER KATSIARYNA KRASUTSKAYA RICHA KUMRA KYSHA LEBRON NICHOLE LEVESQUE JUNFENG LI FANGYUAN LIAO MARYNA LINDSEY JARED LIPSCOMBE MATTHEW LOVE PENGFEI LUN NICHOLAS MATHIS KRISTI MCCAIN STEVEN MICHAELIS LAUREN MIETKIEWICZ OLGA PAMFILOVA DANIEL PARRA EARL RICHARDS TARA SPRUILL-JONES MARY STEWART JESSICA STEWART JOHN VAN DRUNEN EVAN WRINKLE

List from June and July. Compiled July 27, 2016. n

Members appointed to VBOA

Left to right: Jim Holland, CPA, Stephanie Saunders, CPA, Laurie Warwick, CPA.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe made his appointments to fill out the Virginia Board of Accountancy (VBOA), with VSCPA members STEPHANIE SAUNDERS, CPA, and LAURIE WARWICK, CPA, claiming spots.

Saunders, a partner with Saunders & Saunders in Virginia Beach, was appointed to a second term on the VBOA. She served as the 2015–2016 chair of the VBOA, but will return to an atlarge position on the board. JIM HOLLAND, CPA, a sole proprietor from Chesterfield and an accounting professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, will serve as chair in 2016–2017.

Warwick, executive director at Ernst & Young in Ashburn, was appointed to the board for the first time. Matt Bosher, a partner at the Hunton & Williams law firm in Richmond and the public representative on the board, was appointed to a second term. n

Staff news

Left to right: Jane Hayes, David Bass, Julia Henderson, Kathy Suddarth

Membership Services Coordinator JANE HAYES celebrates her 13th anniversary with the VSCPA on Sept. 22. Public Relations & Communications Director DAVID BASS marks his fourth anniversary with the VSCPA on Oct. 2.

Membership Marketing Manager JULIA HENDERSON celebrates three years on Oct. 29. Education Coordinator KATHY SUDDARTH celebrates her second anniversary with the VSCPA on Sept. 22. n