Photo: These students took the first step toward finding their future career in accounting by participating in the Discover Accounting program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in June. Society Chairman Ryan Burger, far right, encouraged participants to explore a meaningful career as a CPA.
Spring is the season of new beginnings. With warmer weather, blooming flowers, and graduation parties, it’s a time of hope, growth, and inspiration. Spring is also an important time at your Society, as April starts our new fiscal year.
Looking back, we truly have achieved some awesome things this past year. Despite the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, your Society adapted and stepped up to meet a wide variety of challenges head on—publishing a new and improved website, pushing relevant content and updates to members, holding virtual CPE courses and meetings, and promoting legislation and regulatory solutions to benefit the profession.
John F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”
In other words, although we may have successfully navigated the muddy waters created by the pandemic, we must not “miss the future.”
Renew Your Membership Today!
As you consider the future, we hope you continue to look to the Society as your go-to resource for education, information, and advocacy. Please reinvest in yourself and your profession by renewing your membership to the Society in 2021—and encourage your co-workers and peers to do the same. Paying your dues is easier than ever at https://www.nescpa.org/my-cpa/dues.
As we look to the future, we also must encourage young people to join the profession. With a shrinking talent pool and hundreds of thousands of students who put off college due to the pandemic, we must find new and interesting ways to communicate the importance and greatness of the CPA profession. Today’s youth are our future.
As you consider the future, we hope you continue to look to the Society as your go-to resource for education, information, and advocacy. Please reinvest in yourself and your profession by renewing your membership to the Society in 2021—and encourage your co-workers and peers to do the same.
Students Discover Accounting
I was inspired by Society Chairman Ryan Burger’s recent presentation to a number of rising high school seniors and recent grads who participated in the Discover Accounting program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Business. Ryan talked to students about the wide range of opportunities available in the profession within every industry. He explained that while the path to CPA requires time and effort, the rewards are well worth the work.
In addition to his role as Society chairman, Ryan is chairman of the Society’s Accounting Careers Committee. The 17 members of this committee will be walking the halls of local schools this fall once students are back in the classroom. Whether you’re a committee member or not, all it takes is a call to your local school to schedule a presentation. Just think of the positive impact on the profession if every member made at least two or three presentations to local students every year! Please contact the Society if you would like supplemental materials to assist with your presentations.
Apply for Leadership Academy Class III
Along with building the profession, your Society is working to build leaders within the profession. Applications are now being accepted for Class III of the NESCPA Leadership Academy. Led by Jeremy Wortman of HRD Initiatives, the Academy is a one-year leadership development program designed to build authentic, emotionally intelligent leaders who understand how to create high-performing teams, manage conflict, and inspire others to deliver results. For details and to register for this highly engaging experience worth 32 hours of CPE credit including four hours of ethics, go to https://www.nescpa.org/cpe/leadership.
In-Person CPE Resumes in September
I hope to see many of you face-to-face this fall as we resume in-person programming on Sept. 1. Also, mark your calendars for the Society’s Fall Conference & Annual Meeting, which is scheduled for Oct. 28-29 at the Embassy Suites Conference Center in La Vista.
Please continue to reach out to the Society with your questions and concerns. We value each and every member and will always give our best to serve and represent you!
Joni Sundquist is president and executive director of the Nebraska Society of CPAs. You may contact her at (402) 476-8482 or joni@nescpa.org.
