OUTLOOK | CHAIR’S LETTER “I encourage you to look at our committee listings; find a committee that interests you and reach out to the chairperson, me or Tammy to learn more; and then attend a meeting.”
Riding into 2021 as a “hill seeker”
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t is my privilege to serve the WICPA as chair of the board of directors for 2021–2022, and I am excited for the opportunities this year will bring! The WICPA staff and I are here for you, our members. We want to hear from you, connect with you and share resources for the good of the profession. When I set my intentions on achieving a goal, I am not one to shy away from the challenges of accomplishing it. I seek out the challenges, but I think of them as opportunities. I am excited to strategize and work hard for our members to succeed, and I look forward to the opportunities the WICPA has in store for this fiscal year. The “Hill Seeker” quote noted on page 10 is one that resonates with me partly because I am an avid cyclist and enjoy the downhills, but it runs much deeper than that. It is easy to stay where I am comfortable — on the flat road of life — but I have realized I have a passion for success in the accounting profession and in helping others. I have accepted that I need to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. If I didn’t climb the hill and take the risk, I would not get stronger or feel the same sense of pride in my accomplishments. When I first joined the WICPA, it took a while before I attended an event in person. It was challenging for me to figure out how to connect and participate in events that I was not fully aware of with people I did not know. I wish I had made the time and found the courage to step out of my comfort zone sooner because involvement is so rewarding. But the important thing is that I finally showed up. If you are like me, I encourage you to look at our committee listings; find a committee that interests you and reach out to the chairperson, me or Tammy to learn more; and then attend a meeting. I have enjoyed my time with the WICPA much more since I increased my participation in events. As a committee member, I value the knowledge sharing that occurs in a room full of CPAs from a variety of industries across the state. It reminds me that I have access to a vast informational resource. I
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found a natural interest in volunteering on the Public Policy Committee and started going to events — representing the WICPA and meeting more professionals who were as passionate about accounting as I was. The years have passed, and now I call many of these professionals my friends. I have gone out into the community to share financial literacy with children of all ages, served as a board member, testified before the Wisconsin State Assembly and Senate for important legislation, and last year joined our new High School Educator Committee. One of my goals over the next year — once pandemic protocols are lifted — is to get back into the schools and help continue efforts to build relationships, promote the profession and fill the pipeline. I challenge each of you to be a hill seeker: Go after that goal you have been thinking about, and reach beyond your comfort zone this year. I hope we can connect, and I look forward to seeing more members in person soon. It’s going to be a great ride this year, and I hope you’ll join me in being a hill seeker! Angela C. Thomas, CPA, is the expenditure and revenue accounting section chief for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Contact her at 608-318-3881 or angela.c.thomas@gmail.com.
On Balance
May | June 2021
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