Servant Leadership: CalCPA Chair Bob Reynolds Poised to Pay It Forward.

• Author: English, Duden B.M.

I "knew" 2019-20 Cali iPA Chair Bob Reynolds before I met him in person. Reynolds was recommended to me years ago by our former California Tax columnist, CalCPA member and local legend around these parts) Len Williams as someone I could rely on lor California tax coverage after Len retired. I'm not sure the exaet words, but "reliable" and "well-informed" were top of the list, and I wasn't disappointed, for years since then, Reynolds and his office has taken on the California section of the California CPA's annual Tax Season Toolkit feature. As advertised, the content has always been reliable and well-informed.

After meeting the long-time Committee on Taxation member in person, 1 can assure the membership these two adjectives will carry through his lime in office as chair.

Early Years

"I'm a California kid through and through," says Reynolds when talking about growing up. He was born in San Diego, where his father was an ironworker. "We went where the work was, which moved us from San Diego to Fresno. Then there was a big Central Coast job building a nuclear power plant in Diablo Canyon." He spent the majority of his years growing up there, on the Central Coast in a town called Orcutt south of Santa Maria. "I had a great upbringing." he recalls. "A very blue collar upbringing."

The family eventually settled after his Dad switched jobs and became a police detective. That job change is what led Reynolds to his first professional aspiration: to be an FBI agent.

Love by the Numbers

Reynolds was the tirst of his family to attend college, a community college: Alan Hancock College in Santa Maria, where he started working toward his goal of being an FBI agent.

"After I aced another criminal justice exam, my professor stated, 'Bob, il you want be an FBI agent, you need to consider an accounting degree.' My first reaction was, 'Those pencil necked, pocket protector, inhaler type students!?'

"Well, the next semester, I signed up for Accounting 1 A. How hard could it be? Hard enough that I flunked my first test and 1 realized this was not a 'pencil neck' profession. I had never dunked a test before. Sitting in the back of the class with my jock buddies. I knew I needed help.

"First of all, I realized I had to move next to someone in the room who was serious. I readily identified the smartest (and prettiest) person in the class and sat next to her. She was a friend of a friend, from the same town and same high school. I aced the rest of my tests and we became study buddies."

Chair's Message

Hold On. It's Going To Be a Ride.

The demand for CPAs and financial professionals is at an all-time high. Coincidence? Nope. Businesses are searching for knowledgeable, trustworthy advisers with a strong ethical compass. Hey, that's you! Feeling overwhelmed? Well, you're not alone.

Whether you're a student, newly licensed or seasoned veteran, times are changing. Businesses want more than an unqualified opinion or preparation of tax returns; they want a trusted adviser. Accounting is our foundation; diagnosing a business's health, advising what to do, where to invest, and how to maximize growth and profits, while minimizing risk, is our ultimate value.

To meet these needs, this year's strategic priorities are transforming our profession from accountant to Certified Public Adviser and growing and equipping our emerging leaders.

CPAdviser

Whether we need to mindfully adapt or evolve our view of our profession, we need to start now. Boomers are at the crescendo of their careers. Gen Xers are discovering success...