Highlights from the 2007 Fall Members Advisory Forum
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
A highlight of the 2007 Fall Members Advisory Forum took place during the MACPA’s Annual Meeting of Members when Chair Sean Keenan passed the gavel of leadership to 2007-08 Chair Gail Sparks Pitts. She is the first African American female to take the helm of a state CPA society.
Featuring a varied array of speakers, the Forum also provided an in-depth look at important issues facing the profession. Clearly, Michigan’s financial crisis and the newly enacted business tax were among the hottest topics.
Keynote speaker Randy Fletchall, AICPA vice chair, gave a national perspective on the accounting profession. He noted that demand for CPAs is at an all-time high due to baby-boomers getting ready for retirement , and discussed current legislative and regulatory issues, including accountability (peer review and audit quality), and private company financial reporting.
Afternoon speakers included a fascinating presentation from Google executive John Kelly, who talked about why the innovative high-tech firm created an office in Ann Arbor. As chair of MACPA’s Business Tax Restructuring Subcommittee, Sam Hodges disclosed details about the new Michigan Business Tax and talked about technical corrections on the horizon.
Shedding some light on why Michigan lawmakers may be having so much trouble agreeing on a new budget, lobbyist Tom Hoisington said term limits may be partly to blame. Current lawmakers, he believes, do not have the “political roots” and experience to efficiently solve the state’s budget woes.
Other highlights of the day include Jean Boven, director of the state’s Licensing Division, who outlined the State Board’s plans to implement new peer review requirements. She also urged CPAs to renew licenses online for speedy turnaround. In addition, participants enjoyed learning about MACPA initiatives and member activities in an informative presentation from MACPA President and CEO Peggy Dzierzawski.
