Chair's corner.

AuthorAlmonte, Ernest A.

Chairman, AICPA Board of Directors

This is my last column as chairman of the AICPA Board of Directors. It has been a very exciting and productive year, and I'm extremely grateful for this opportunity to serve the profession.

Looking back over the last year, I can point to many accomplishments that have made me proud to be a part of our profession, but I'm most proud of an achievement that will have a great impact on the future: the new AICPA Leadership. Creating this academy was one of my chief goals when I took over as chairman, and I'm pleased to say this dream has been realized.

Over the last century, our profession has built a strong foundation that has won us a well-earned reputation for integrity, objectivity and independence. In good times and in bad, CPAs are among the most trusted and respected professionals. Now it's our job to ensure that we retain and enhance that reputation going forward, and the AICPA Leadership Academy is designed to do just that.

The academy was launched officially in July, when a select group of 28 CPAs under age 35 were offered the chance to develop leadership skills that they can use in their organizations, communities and in the profession. They also had the opportunity to forge valuable relationships with other dynamic young CPAs. It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that gave these young people the chance to enhance their considerable talents and allowed the AICPA to groom a new generation of thought leaders to serve on the local, national and international stages.

I was fortunate enough to be one of the presenters at the academy, along with AICPA President and CEO Barry Melancon and Marty Linsky, a Harvard University professor and leadership consultant. Having met the first graduating class, I can...

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