Taking a leadership role-at CalCPA or chapter level-provides career boost.

• Author: English, Damien B.M.
• Position: Step up

It's that time of year again and CalCPA is looking for a few good leaders.

The CalCPA Nominations Committee is accepting nominations for 2012-13 CalCPA officers and council members at large, and the CalCPA Education Foundation is accepting applications for positions on its board of trustees. Further information -- including descriptions of the positions -- and applications are available at www.calcpa.org/Leaders2012.

To give you a more complete picture about what being involved with CalCPA leadership means, we invited a few good leaders to share their insights.

Diaz: My mentor, CalCPA Council member Vee Cristobal, told me that holding a leadership position would help me with my career goals and with life in general. Following her advice, I joined the Financing Clients Committee in 2002. The committee chair, Eddie Glickman, allowed me to showcase my talents by organizing events and closely working with him on one of the first Attorney Banker CPA Networking breakfasts held in Los Angeles. My committee participation, and the success of the event, led to a nomination to run as a chapter board member in 2005-06 year. I was flattered and realized at this time that I enjoyed leading people and making a difference in an organization.

Meza: I joined for networking and career opportunities, as well as a way to expand my knowledge of the profession. The reason why I have continued is because of the friendships I have made and the knowledge I have obtained about the profession.

Lemos: Once I passed the CPA Exam and received my license, I looked back at how difficult of a journey it was and decided that a leadership role was the best way to help strengthen what I worked so hard for.

Weaver: When I got into public accounting in San Francisco I didn't know very many accounting professionals outside of my firm's local office. I began to attend local CalCPA events and met some wonderful mentors and friends. Over the years I have developed professional mentoring relationships with these and other amazing professionals from all around the San Francisco Bay Area.

Dehner: I had a mentor early in my career who taught me the importance of being involved in the profession outside of your firm. Organizations like CalCPA and the AICPA put forth tremendous effort to make sure the profession's best interests are advanced, but they require volunteers for much of the legwork.

so, why should you sign up?

"It is the best experience one can have," says Meza...