WINTER 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS - FICPA

WINTER 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ..................................................................... 2

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR ................................................................................................................ 2

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR-ELECT ..................................................................................................... 4

2015-2016 CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER FICPA BOARD ........................................................................... 5

A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR- USA PAYROLL ................................................................... 6

SOLAR BEARS SOCIAL ............................................................................................................................... 7

CPE SCHEDULE .......................................................................................................................................... 8

PRACTITIONERS FORUM MEETING SCHEDULE ........................................................................................ 9

CPAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE SCHEDULE .................................................................................................... 9

LITERACY TASK FORCE UPDATE .............................................................................................................. 10

2015 FICPA STUDENT FIELD DAY ............................................................................................................ 11

ADVERTISE IN THE FICPA NEWSLETTER ................................................................................................. 15

2 Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015

FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR

Dear Members,

Happy New Year! I am looking forward to what this year will bring and hope you are too! Please make sure you

mark your calendar for our upcoming chapter social on Thursday, February 18th. It's a great networking

opportunity with light hors d'oeuvres and cocktails at Harry Buffalo from 5:30 to 6:30pm. Then, we'll watch the

Orlando Solar Bears play Indy Fuel at the Amway Center. Stay tuned and watch your inbox for the upcoming fun!

In November, I had the opportunity to join other

young FICPA professionals from our area and

throughout the state at the Accel YCPA

Leadership Forum and Capitol Day. Justin Thames,

FICPA Director of Governmental Affairs, gave us a

reminder of the governmental process and

introduced us to the FICPA’s lobbyists and several

Senators and Representatives. We learned about

the impact the FICPA is making with recently

The FICPA Vision

The Florida Institute of

Certified Public

Accountants is the premier

professional organization

representing Florida's

Certified Public

Accountants.

The FICPA Mission

We serve the diverse

needs of our members;

enhance their competency

and professionalism;

support professional

standards; promote the

value of our members and

advocate on behalf of the

profession.


passed legislation. One bill, as introduced, required automatic auditor rotation on governmental audits; but does

not anymore due to the FICPA’s efforts. Another recently passed bill now includes CPAs on the list of professions

that judges are able to order compensation for in cases involving certain types of fraud. We were also pleased to

learn that we currently have four CPAs serving us as representatives in the State Legislature.

Challenge yourself this year to make a commitment to enhance your career by involving yourself in your

profession through the FICPA and in your community by casting your vote in the local, state, and federal

elections. To provide any feedback or suggestions to help our Chapter continue to meet its goals and/or improve

your experience, please contact me directly at 407-644-7455, or at [email protected].

Alicia Ruttinger

FICPA Central Florida Chapter Chair, 2015-2016


A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIR-ELECT

For many of us CPA’s, a new year signifies the beginning of a demanding and stressful busy season. However, it is

crucial to remember that our role as trusted advisors is as important as ever. We cannot forget that our

profession contributes immensely to the success of countless businesses and individuals, and that the hours we

spend will contribute to maintaining the accountability and financial health of many different industries.

As always, our members can be rest-assured that our Chapter Board will continue to do its best to provide high

quality events consistent with the current needs of our profession. I am thrilled to share with you that

throughout this year, we will be promoting new initiatives to stay on trend and keep our members engaged. We

highly encourage that you join us by attending our CPE classes, social networking events, and considering

becoming part of the Chapter Board or committees.

In this day and age, I could not be more proud of being a CPA and a member of one of the strongest FICPA

chapters in Florida. I invite that you take advantage of your membership by connecting and sharing your

knowledge and skills with us. I look forward to meeting all of you at our next events!

Wishing you a happy and prosperous 2016!

Karen Vergara

FICPA Central Florida Chair-Elect/Treasurer, 2015-2016


2015-2016 CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER FICPA BOARD

Chair – Alicia Ruttinger

Chair-Elect – Karen Vergara

Secretary - Larry Herring

Treasurer – Karen Vergara

CPE Liaison – George Fender

Past Chair & Nominating Committee – Andrea Riesen

Legislation – Mia Thomas

CPAs in Private Practice – Larry Herring

Practitioner’s Forum – Martin Prague

Accounting Careers – Andrea Riesen

Financial Literacy Taskforce – Tarsha Jacobs

Membership – Scott Wagner

UCF Faculty Liaison – Lynda Dennis

UCF Campus Ambassador & Liaison – Weiting Li & Adam Martinez

Young CPAs – Kirsten Burbridge

Newsletter & Website – Lisa Wells


A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR - USA PAYROLL

Payroll solutions that make sense since 1994

USA Payroll is proud to be the 2015-2016 annual sponsor for the third consecutive year of the Central

Florida Chapter of the FICPA. We are proud to be continuing our scholarship program. With your help,

we can do great things for those who chose to become future CPA’s.

USA Payroll will donate 10% of all commissionable revenue for twelve months for every referral that

becomes a USA Payroll client. All you need to do is let us know the referral is through the FICPA and the

funds will be designated specifically for college scholarships. Also, any FICPA member client starting by

November 30th will get their year-end reporting and W-2’s at no charge. We look forward to another

great year working with the Central Florida FICPA and its members.

Shawn Knapp

307 Cranes Roost Blvd.

Suite 1010

Altamonte Springs, Fl. 32701

Ph: 321.282.6158

Fax:321.282.6159

Mobile:407.227.7711

www.usapayroll.com

http://www.usapayroll.com/


SOLAR BEARS SOCIAL

CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER Social and Happy Hour

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Happy Hour at Harry Buffalo’s* 5:30pm-6:30pm

FICPA providing light hors d'oeuvres & 2 cocktails

Orlando Solar Bears vs. Indy Fuel Amway Center

7:00pm Members $10 each, Non-members $20 each

*15% Dinner Discount to members returning with their

armband after the game Request armband at Happy Hour

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiHwaH996fKAhVL5SYKHX59B9wQjRwIBw&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Solar_Bears_(ECHL)&psig=AFQjCNFyimT811Hi_DBCrI8GFHF7Oo7MdQ&ust=1452813967471849


CPE SCHEDULE

Topic Location Date Time Credits

Annual Tax Update Doubletree Hotel 01/21/16 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm 3 hours

Social Bear Social Harry Buffalo’s Amway

02/18/16

5:30 pm - 6:30 pm 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

---

A&A Doubletree Hotel 03/17/16

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm 3 hours

No Meeting in April

Ethics Doubletree Hotel 05/12/16

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 4 hours

For the most current information about our CPE schedule, please visit our website www.centrafloridaficpa.com

or contact George Fender at [email protected].

http://www.centrafloridaficpa.com/


PRACTITIONERS FORUM MEETING SCHEDULE

Date Topic Speaker Committee Member

1/19/16 Social Security/Retirement Benefits Scott Thomas Marty Prague

2/16/16 A&A Lynda Dennis Marty Prague

3/22/16 Self-Directed IRA Tyler Carter Shep Burr

04/2016 No Meeting

5/17/16 Human Resources/Generational Issues Don Rogers Sharon Agee

6/21/16 Investments Dennis Michaels George Fender

7/19/16 Small Business Lending Tim Hendricks Shep Burr

8/16/16 Choice of Entity Gary Forster Richard Ornstein

** A&A

CPAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE SCHEDULE

Date & Topic Speaker Credit

1/27/16 - Individual Tax Update Richard Ornstein TBA

2/24/16 - ACA Update George Royal TBA

3/23/16 - Investment Update Jim Dorman TBA

4/20/16 - TBA TBA TBA

5/25/16 - A&A Update Ed Hofma TBA

6/22/16 - Governmental Accounting Update Tom Reilly TBA

7/27/16 - Property Appraiser of Seminole County TBA TBA

8/24/16 - Social Security Scott Thomas TBA


LITERACY TASK FORCE UPDATE

The objective of the Financial Literacy Committee is to educate students on financial literacy before they

graduate high school. Volunteers from the FICPA partner with teachers in Orange and Seminole County to

conduct sessions that cover budgeting, debt management, investing, protection of assets, and savings.

Our committee began the year with a presentation at Blankner Middle School. Volunteer, John Byrne gave a very

successful presentation to students about buying a car.

The next challenge was to present at Evans High School for four consecutive weeks. Each class had about 25

students. With the help of our volunteers: Linda Howard, John Byrne, Chaynae Price, and Nick Lebredo, we were

able to accommodate this request and present financial literacy modules on budgeting, managing debt, and

savings. The students were very engaged and receptive to this information. We look forward to returning for

more presentations during the year.

The last presentations of the year were given to students in the “Steps to Success” program. This program is

geared towards female juniors and seniors at local high schools. It strives to encourage, expose, and inform these

young ladies to various career opportunities. Linda Howard and I met with these students and focused our

presentation on budgeting and managing debt; two key areas we felt would be the most beneficial to them at

this stage of their lives.

Thank you very much to the volunteers that have given their time and effort to make the first half of our year

such a success. I look forward to continuing this great work throughout the year!

Tarsha R. Jacobs, CPA

Chair, Financial Literacy Committee


2015 FICPA STUDENT FIELD DAY

2015 STUDENT FIELD DAY

The Central Florida Chapter of the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants hosted its annual FICPA

Student Field Day on Wednesday November 11, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Orlando.

The event allowed students from DeVry University, Florida Southern College, Keller Graduate School of Business,

Seminole State College, Stetson University, University of Central Florida, Valencia College and Bethune-Cookman

University the unique opportunity to get an inside look at the companies as well as a real world feel of the

accounting industry. The event once again proved to be a success providing over 100 students the opportunity

to visit the offices of Central Florida accounting firms and one company.

The day began at the Crowne Plaza where breakfast was served to the students and participating companies.

This year we added Speed Mentoring whereby the students partnered with a CPA to ask and answer any

questions they had. The Chapter’s Chair-Elect, Karen Vergara, assisted by expediting three short rounds. We

received positive feedback that this icebreaker was of value and should continue.

The students were paired with their assigned company and were then transported to their morning session

where they spent roughly two hours learning about the company and different aspects of the profession.

Everyone came back to the Crowne for a luncheon where this year we had 2 guest speakers: David Dennis,

Partner of KPMG, and Thomas Blake, Becker Professional Education, who spoke on the value of maintaining a

CPA license and the future changes to the CPA exam, respectively.

Scholarships were also awarded on behalf of the FICPA Educational Foundation to:

Amy Askren

John Hakimi

Nam Pham

Robert Trautman

Andrea Vargas

Tessa Woodcock

After the luncheon, students were paired with a different company, where they were transported to for the

afternoon session.


2015 STUDENT FIELD DAY

This event would not be possible without the generous support of our local firms. We would like to thank the

following participating firms:

Averett Warmus Durkee

Borcheck and Gase

Carr, Riggs and Ingram

Glickstein Laval Carris

KPMG

Moore Stephens Lovelace

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

Prince CPA Group

RSM

Verizon

Vestal & Wiler

In addition, Becker Professional Education has continued to be our annual sponsor and we are thankful for their

participation.

For more information on the event please contact Andrea Riesen at [email protected].




ADVERTISE IN THE FICPA NEWSLETTER

Lisa Wells Andrea Riesen, CPA

Newsletter Brought to You By

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS!

Advertise in the Central Florida FICPA newsletter and reach over

2,000 members in the Central Florida area.

For advertising information, contact

Lisa Wells, [email protected].

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WINTER 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS - FICPA