CEO's Message

CEO'S MESSAGE SuSan SpeirS, Cpa

There is no going back! COVID-19 has not only been disruptive to every aspect of life, it has also created a big reset. Technology has played a crucial role in keeping our society functional and more transactional during a period of lockdowns and quarantines. These technologies will have a long-lasting impact beyond the pandemic. Below are some lessons we’ve learned while navigating the reality of COVID-19 and weaving the implications into our work, family, environmental and social lives.

Remote work is real and it’s here to stay. We’ve heard from many of you, that working from home is mandatory, at least through the end of the year. We’ve heard that office spaces will be shrinking as employers have discovered that employees can be just as productive, if not more productive, working from home. As a side note, how many of us have purchased stand-up desks?

Health and personal safety are paramount. Have you • We can move fast and come together. This has been noticed that we don’t shake hands anymore? Pandemic a time of courage, collaboration and action. Teams policies are popping up everywhere and being changed have been built in organizations so that businesses can frequently as we move through the different phases continue to operate. of the pandemic. In the beginning, policies conveyed information on what to do in the event of a pandemic; • Leadership matters. As CPAs, we’re all leaders in one now we’re word-smithing preventative measures. Who way or another. This is our time to shine, and shine we knew that you may have to quarantine yourself 14 days are! We have put into place an infrastructure that will after returning from vacation? protect the health and well-being of our staff, clients Caring, listening and empathizing have become a the revenue model and how that model contributes to priority. Because we’re not surrounded by our colleagues workplace safety with continuity while offering sound and peers as we were six months ago, we’ve discovered ethical policies to employees. We maintain balance how important our relationships are with each other. between financial decisions that must be made and the On July 8, we had our Centennial birthday party at our human element that ultimately has consequences. office, pandemic style. UACPA members were happy to socialize, even if only for a short time, as we had time I hope that as you peruse through this issue of The Journal slots to maintain social distancing. I loved the sincerity Entry, you will ponder how you’re faring and how you can of our members as they shared the challenges they were help others. If we’ve learned anything, it’s that the human having during this time and some of the ways they were dynamic is integral in everything we accomplish. n combating loneliness and isolation. and employees. We also continue to strategize about