Hello Channel Counties Chapter! My name is Mike Farrell, and I am honored to serve as your Chapter President for the upcoming year. I hope my broad experience of working for a national firm, local firms and in private industry will help me represent the Chapter. In hopes of meeting a wide spectrum of needs, our Board has planned many events for 2018 – 2019, including CPE events, discussion groups, social activities, golf tournaments, student bowling and an award night.
My vision for the upcoming year includes an outreach to college and high school students in our area. We will be starting a diversity and inclusion high school initiative, hoping to raise awareness of the CPA profession among under-represented and underserved student populations, in order to:
- Connect students with local universities with an accounting program,
- Increase the number of high school students who decide to pursue accounting as a college major and seek CPA licensure, and
- Bring financial literacy education to the class room.
For college students, the Board believes we are building better relationships with our universities by speaking to the accounting clubs and awarding scholarships. I would like to start a mentoring program that our members could support, which encourages, assists and inspires students who desire to be mentored.
I am proud to announce the following incoming Board Members for our Channel Counties Chapter: Kathy Scroggs (Vice President), Melinda Hallinan (Secretary), Diana Lewis (Treasurer), Gail Anikouchine (Director), Jessica Moitoza (Director), Devin Witt (Director), and Chung Cam (Director).
As you may have heard, the Chapter will be going through a major change. Rita William, who has been the heart and soul of our Chapter for 18 years, has moved out of state. Rita, the Chapter cannot thank you enough for all you have done. You will be missed!
With Rita’s departure, we want to introduce our new Program Associate, Cleta Walker. Cleta will be working with both the Channel Counties and Central Coast chapters, and will be a great addition to our team. Welcome aboard!
I am looking forward for the year to come, and I hope to meet each of you at one of our events!