Michigan CPA Association Receives Top Honors for Accountancy Reform Efforts and Accounting Career Program
TROY, Mich., October 2, 2006 – The Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) presented the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants (MACPA) with two top honors, a Diamond Award and a Gold Honorable Mention, at its 5th annual Diamond Awards Banquet on Sept. 21, 2006, at The Inn at St. Johns in Plymouth.
The MSAE Diamond Awards recognize and celebrate innovation, achievement and excellence within the association industry. Nearly 60 entries competed for top honors in nine categories for the Diamond Awards.
The MACPA received a Diamond Award – Government Relations category (over $2.5 million budget) – for its involvement in the successful passage of the most substantial accountancy law reform in more than a decade. The collapse of corporate giants Enron and WorldCom precipitated sweeping changes in accounting and corporate governance laws at federal and state levels. The MACPA endorsed the changes and worked with state regulators to draft and promote the legislation.
Key aspects of the legislation include:
• Whistleblower protection to CPAs
• Mandatory enrollment in a practice monitoring program for CPA firms who provide specific auditing and compilation services
• Increased enforcement of unlicensed activity or “copycat CPAs”.
Government Relations Diamond Award nominees were judged on achievement of program objectives, efficiency of program organization and management, effectiveness of incorporation of policy position development, cost effectiveness and the degree to which results are achieved from internal and/or outsourced efforts.
The MACPA received a Gold Honorable Mention – Meetings & Expositions category (over $2.5 million budget) – for excellence in marketing an association meeting, convention and/or exposition. The MACPA was honored for the development and implementation of its High School Leaders Conference, which is a program that educates high school students about career opportunities in accounting.
In the 2005/2006 school year, the MACPA held seven High School Leaders Conference events at five locations to expose promising high school students to the accounting profession. The program’s response has fueled remarkable growth since this program’s inception in 2003, when the MACPA held a single program for 90 students.
“Attracting students into the profession is a high priority for MACPA, and it drives many of our special project endeavors,” said MACPA President & CEO Peggy Dzierzawski, CAE. “Expanding the conference’s reach to more students from a broader geographical base, and increasing minority student participation, we’ve attracted 677 students and 90 teachers to the seven conferences. Our post-program evaluations show that an astounding 96 percent of attendees will consider a career in accounting because of this conference.”
Honorees in the Meetings & Expositions category were judged on clearly defined achievement of objectives, effectiveness of marketing strategies, attendance and revenue goals and results and overall success of the event.
MSAE has a membership of more than 1,000 association professionals and suppliers involved in the management of 400 international, national, state, regional and local associations. It provides executives with the opportunity to exchange ideas, opinions, and experiences through discussion, study, and networking.
The Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants is a diversified, professional, member-driven organization serving more than 16,000 CPAs and affiliated professionals throughout Michigan. Visit MACPA’s web site at www.michcpa.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Donna Caleel, MACPA 248.267.3700
