What professional issue are you most eager to work on with the board this year and why?

“The profession’s image. There has been a lot of talk about a decline in the number of students going into accounting and sitting for the Exam, the 150-hour requirement and other barriers to the profession, but I think the larger issue is our image. Most students, and many adults, don’t understand what accountants do. There are so many opportunities for someone with a CPA license that often get overlooked by certain stereotypes. I’d like to focus on changing that.”

Carrie B. Minnich, CPA, MAcct
INCPAS Chair-Elect
DWD CPAs & Advisors

“I am really looking forward to our deep dive into the INCPAS membership model and revenue opportunities. The board and staff work diligently to ensure members are receiving exceptional value for their membership. What we have noticed is that value has changed due to many factors, including how we interact and attend events in a post-COVID environment, the changing CPE landscape, and advocacy as a key value driver. Plus, our members may have very differing value drivers given a wide array of considerations (i.e. corporate/private sectors, various CPA firm sizes and regions, age differences, etc.) and you can see that our membership model needs to meet people where they are and for what they need. Something the Society has also focused on is revenue diversification, which is a great way to manage a membership model with alternative revenue streams.”

Kyle A. Simmerman, CPA
INCPAS Vice Chair
BGBC Partners, LLP

“I am most excited to put additional efforts into working with students at the high school level to promote the profession. My high school accounting courses helped me learn about the profession, and it is where I started my journey to become a CPA. Engaging with students at that level can help fill the pipeline of the next generation of CPAs by sharing what it is like, as well as all the opportunities that are available.”

Melanie King, CPA
INCPAS Vice Chair
The Hagerman Group

“The biggest issue our profession is currently facing is the lack of college students graduating who want a career in public accounting. I am eager to work with my fellow board members to continue to study this pipeline issue and propose changes to help remove certain barriers to the profession to attract more people to public accounting. In addition, I look forward to continuing to work with the board on developing strategies to entice high schoolers to choose a major in accounting.”  

Jacob Buehler, CPA
INCPAS Vice Chair
Dauby O’Connor & Zaleski, LLC

“I am looking forward to finding new ways to connect our current and prospective members. I firmly believe our relationships with our peers are vital to strengthening our profession. Being a member of the Genesis group (a network of similar-sized firms across the state that meets several times during the year to share best practices) has been invaluable. It is important to find ways for others to have that opportunity at various stages of their career. We are living during a period of rapidly shifting technologies, service areas, work environments—and the list goes on. Connecting with others to hear their challenges, successes and opinions is essential to continually move our profession forward while maintaining relevancy.”

Lisa D. Tressler, CPA
INCPAS Vice Chair
RBSK Partners PC