May 10, 2024

Delivering Value to Match Your Needs

By TXCPA's President and CEO Jodi Ann Ray, CAE

We’re ending another year of serving our amazing community of 28,000 members! Thank you for the trust you place in TXCPA year after year. 

To ensure we are responsive and nimble in the delivery of the services and benefits members value most, TXCPA conducts ongoing member research. Over the past year, when asked to rank the reasons members belong to TXCPA, they prioritize as follows: To protect their license; for education; to stay up to date on professional issues. 

These three core areas are where we consistently focus on delivering value and they are the foundation of our messages as we strive to grow our professional community.

In 2023-2024, TXCPA protected your license with advocacy on issues like supporting a delay in the implementation of Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) requirements and with responses to every professional standards exposure draft that was released. 

We also had a seat at the table over the last year for the national discussions around growing the CPA pipeline and helping members and their organizations manage the talent shortage and ensure the future of the profession. Trends and sentiments from Texas were shared with the National Pipeline Advisory Group for their work identifying possible solutions and opportunities. 

TXCPA’s education options for members continued to thrive in 2023-2024, with more than 15 conferences, free quarterly professional issues and Texas tax update webcasts, the continued offering of the free four-hour on-demand ethics course, the addition of timely content to the TXCPA Passport, and hundreds of technical and non-technical webcasts offered every day. 

As we receive updates on late breaking news, it is our first priority to communicate to members and help you stay up to date on professional issues. We post real-time updates on tx.cpa, as well as on our social media channels. Members receive regular email updates and useful content in Today’s CPA. And Chair Tim Pike visited with many of you personally as he delivered presentations in chapters across the state. 

Be sure to read the cover story in this Today’s CPA issue to learn more about how TXCPA connected, protected and advanced our members and the profes­sion over the past year. We look ahead to 2024-2025 with much anticipation for the great work we know we’ll accomplish with the support and commitment of our members and volunteers. 

Thank you for your membership! 

About the Author: Jodi Ann Ray is TXCPA's President and CEO.

How can TXCPA help you in 2024-2025? Drop me a note at jray@tx.cpa

 

  • Meet TXCPA’s 2025-2026 Chair Billy Kelley

    Billy Kelley, CPA and managing partner at Dutton, Harris & Co, is the 2025-2026 Chair of TXCPA. With a background in public accounting, industry and entrepreneurship, he is passionate about leadership, mentorship and strengthening the CPA pipeline.
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  • What’s Happening Around Texas - July-August 2025

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  • 2025-2026 TXCPA Chapter Officers

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    Large Language Models (LLMs) are transforming accounting and auditing by improving efficiency, uncovering financial trends and analyzing unstructured data, but using them also introduces risks, especially biases from training data and algorithms. Professionals are encouraged to stay educated on AI trends to use LLMs effectively.
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  • Meet the Chair

    In his first message as TXCPA Chair, Billy Kelley discusses his passion for TXCPA and goals for the year. He also reflects on the recent Annual Meeting in Galveston and encourages member engagement.
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  • TXCPA’s Successes and Key Issues from the 89th Texas Legislative Session

    TXCPA had a highly successful 89th Legislative Session, securing two major wins. Senate Bill 262 creates an additional pathway to CPA licensure and Senate Bill 522 modernizes CPA practice mobility. These achievements strengthen the CPA pipeline and protect the public.
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    The SEC has introduced climate-related disclosure rules to improve transparency for investors, sparking both support and criticism. This article highlights how businesses can view Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) not just as a compliance issue but as a value-creating strategy.
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  • Increasing Your Marketing Prowess: How CPAs Can Market with Confidence

    This article discusses common misconceptions that CPAs have about marketing and how even the most successful innovators have marketed their ideas effectively. It offers practical tips for CPAs to market themselves authentically by focusing on excellent client service, continuously improving their skills and committing to execution.
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  • Take Note

    In this edition of Take Note: Accounting Opportunities Month; TXCPA Leadership Nominations; Accountants Confidential Assistance Network (ACAN); CGMA® Designation for Management Accountants; TXCPA’s 2025 CPE Programs; Accounting Excellence Awards Presented
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  • Classifieds

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CHAIR
Mohan Kuruvilla, Ph.D., CPA

PRESIDENT/CEO
Jodi Ann Ray, CAE, CCE, IOM

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Melinda Bentley, CAE

EDITORIAL BOARD CHAIR
Jennifer Johnson, CPA

MANAGER, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
Peggy Foley
pfoley@tx.cpa

MANAGING EDITOR
DeLynn Deakins
ddeakins@tx.cpa

COLUMN EDITOR
Don Carpenter, MSAcc/CPA

DIGITAL MARKETING SPECIALIST
Wayne Hardin, CDMP, PCM®

CLASSIFIEDS
DeLynn Deakins

Texas Society of CPAs
14131 Midway Rd., Suite 850
Addison, TX 75001
972-687-8550
ddeakins@tx.cpa

 

Editorial Board
Derrick Bonyuet-Lee, CPA-Austin;
Aaron Borden, CPA-Dallas;
Don Carpenter, CPA-Central Texas;
Rhonda Fronk, CPA-Houston;
Aaron Harris, CPA-Dallas;
Baria Jaroudi, CPA-Houston;
Elle Kathryn Johnson, CPA-Houston;
Jennifer Johnson, CPA-Dallas;
Lucas LaChance, CPA-Dallas, CIA;
Nicholas Larson, CPA-Fort Worth;
Anne-Marie Lelkes, CPA-Corpus Christi;
Bryan Morgan, Jr, CPA-Austin;
Stephanie Morgan, CPA-East Texas;
Kamala Raghavan, CPA-Houston;
Amber Louise Rourke, CPA-Brazos Valley;
Shilpa Boggram Sathyamurthy, CPA-Houston, CA
Nikki Lee Shoemaker, CPA-East Texas, CGMA;
Natasha Winn, CPA-Houston.

CONTRIBUTORS
Melinda Bentley; Kenneth Besserman; Kristie Estrada; Holly McCauley; Craig Nauta; Kari Owen; John Ross; Lani Shepherd; April Twaddle; Patty Wyatt