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Dear Academy Membership: As I ease into the hot summer months after spending several days on the east coast, I’m now taking the opportunity to reflect on all the Academy events that occurred in DC during our June annual meeting. To those who could not make it, you were very much missed. I’m hopeful to spend time with you in Austin in December 2025, at a local chapter event during the next 12 months or in Missoula in June 2026 at the Annual Meeting. The speakers at the 2025 Annual Meeting were of the highest caliber. The other Academy events held were rewarding and informative; the networking activities, including the dine-arounds, engaging and comfortable. It was simply like spending time with old friends and colleagues. Although I am new to the Annual Meeting scene, I can’t recall a better event than the meeting in Washington. When my application was accepted by the Academy over 30 years ago, I had no idea I would get involved in Academy leadership. Initially, the extent of my involvement was limited in that I attended six or seven events over the course of the last 10 years. Several years ago, I was asked to help with the Academy’s Northern California’s chapter. I organized a few events in Northern California – several in San Francisco and another in Oakland’s Jack London’s Square. In addition, I had attended a two-day Academy event in January 2020 in Culver City, CA, led by Michele Friend, a former Academy president and current partner with Offit Kurman. Soon after the Culver City event, I was honored by the Academy’s leadership to consider a position on the board. Since my involvement in the Executive Committee of the Academy, I’ve learned so much from all of you. My appreciation to all of the seasoned members of the Academy for continuing the tradition of ensuring the dual-rights of licensed CPAs and attorneys since it was formed in 1964. The effort, time, and money spent by past and current members so that I can practice and hold myself out as both a CPA and attorney is humbling and for which I am truly forever grateful. The newest members that I’ve met the last several years is encouraging knowing that the Academy will continue long after my term ends or my involvement in Academy leadership. The breadth of member’s skills and practice diversity from tax compliance, estate, valuation, practice management, litigation, tax audit, controversy, wealth management, and several others is a testament to who we are as an organization and membership. While we are humble practitioners, the quality of the membership and the skills we worked so hard to obtain shows in the success of our seasoned and newer members. My goals, with the support of the Academy’s Executive Committee, for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are:
To those members who were not at the Washington meeting, I was overwhelmed by being selected as the 2025–2026 president. Although no one can predict what the future holds, I never thought that I would be selected by the Academy’s membership as its next president. As president, I will devote substantial time and effort to further the opportunities to the membership started by Christina Doherty, Dan Rosefelt, Deron Harrington, Michele Friend, and the other leaders in the Academy. To get things started, I will prepare a monthly one-to-two-page email that notes “Happenings” within the organization. The “Happenings” will include past and future events of various activities and will include a member spotlight. To the extent that you want to add anything to “Happenings,” please email me at [email protected] or call me at 916-849-5700. I am hopeful with your support I will continue to raise the reputation of the Academy and each member thereof. Warm regards, |
