January 23-24, 2020 (HOUSTON) - TXCPA’s Midyear Board of Directors and Members Meeting was held Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25 at the Omni Houston Hotel.

The meeting kicked off on Friday afternoon with an engaging Town Hall session where TXCPA Chairman Lei Testa, CPA-Fort Worth, CGMA, invited volunteer leaders from various focus areas within the Society to the stage to help provide an update and answer questions on the five priorities for 2019-2020: Engaging the next generation of CPAs, enhancing state and chapter collaboration, extending our brand to promote the profession, expanding digital learning opportunities, and educating stakeholders on the significance of professional licensing.

Using technology, attendees submitted questions and “voted” for other submitted questions to be addressed.

Following the Town Hall, TXCPA Treasurer Billy Kelley, CPA-Permian Basin, CGMA, and TXCPA CFO Steve Phillips, CPA-Fort Worth, CGMA, shared a financial update for both the Society and the CPE Foundation. They also reported that the Executive Board was recommending no dues increase for 2020-2021 and asking the chapters for their continued partnership to hold CPA dues at their current rate for another year.

TXCPA Immediate Past Chairman Stephen Parker, CPA-Houston, provided a report on the nominations and elections process completed last fall. TXCPA Chairman-elect Jerry Spence, CPA-Corpus Christi, introduced the incoming leadership for 2020-2021, and TXCPA Chairman-elect Nominee Jason Freeman, JD, CPA-Dallas, accepted his nomination to lead the Society in 2021-2022.

Art Agulnek, CPA-Dallas and chairman of the Accounting Education Foundation (AEF), provided a midyear review of the activities completed by the AEF. Susan Adams, CPA-Fort Worth, was honored with a Kenneth W. Hurst Fellow Award for her support of the AEF. Testa shared with the board a proposal for restructuring the administration of TXCPA’s programs focused on student and educator outreach.

Eric Curtis from Curtis Strategy was introduced to the board and explained his role in the current strategic planning process. The day wrapped up with an open forum and answers to additional questions submitted via technology.

At the evening reception, attendees were treated to the “TXCPA Feud,” a fun game show hosted by returning speaker John Garrett, Recovering CPA.

The following day began with CPA-PAC awards and recognition given by CPA-PAC Committee Chairman Jesse Dominguez, CPA-Austin, CGMA. The Austin, Corpus Christi, El Paso, Southeast Texas and Texarkana Chapters were all recognized with awards for their fundraising participation and achievements.

Eric Curtis returned to take the group through an interactive and thought-provoking strategic planning roundtable exercise. AICPA Chairman Bill Reeb, CPA-Austin, CGMA, closed the agenda with an update on AICPA initiatives with a focus on CPA Evolution. Members participated in additional group work to provide input for TXCPA to share with AICPA.

Testa ended the meeting by addressing additional questions that had been submitted and encouraging additional feedback in an open forum.

For another take on the meetings, see what members had to say on our social media wall or search hashtag #TXCPA on your social media channels. You can also see photos from the meeting on TXCPA’s Facebook page.