florida institute of certified public accountants

WINTER 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS ..................................................................... 2
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPTER’S CHAIR.............................................................................................. 2
2015-2016 CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER FICPA BOARD ........................................................................... 4
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR- USA PAYROLL ................................................................... 5
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR- AMERIPRISE ...................................................................... 6
CPE SCHEDULE.......................................................................................................................................... 7
LITERACY TASK FORCE UPDATE................................................................................................................ 8
TOYS FOR TOTS ........................................................................................................................................ 9
LET'S GET FISCAL 5K ............................................................................................................................... 12
BOWLING & NETWORKING EVENT ........................................................................................................ 15
FINANCIAL STABILITY COALITION ........................................................................................................... 16
26 UNDER 36 INITIATIVE ........................................................................................................................ 17
PRACTITIONERS FORUM MEETING SCHEDULE ...................................................................................... 18
CPAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE SCHEDULE.................................................................................................. 18
ADVERTISE IN THE FICPA NEWSLETTER ................................................................................................. 19
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The FICPA Mission
The FICPA Vision
The Florida Institute of
Certified Public
Accountants is the premier
professional organization
representing Florida's
Certified Public
Accountants.
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.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAPTER’S CHAIR
Dear FICPA Central Florida Chapter Members and Friends,
We have reached past the mid-point of our Board’s fiscal year. During this time, we have accomplished so much.
I want to personally thank all of you for the opportunity to serve as your Chair, helping lead our membership off
into new and exciting directions.
Our biggest accomplishment this year has been the Fiscal 5K event held at the University of Central Florida on
January 17, 2015 (see page 12-14 for event photographs). With the involvement and support of our board and
committee chairs, the event was an inaugural success with over 120 registered runners/walkers and 100
running/walking. We were able to generate $4,000 to bestow upon our selected benefactor, Base Camp
Children’s Cancer Foundation, and will present them with the designated funds at an April event currently being
planned. We are so appreciative of the sponsors and volunteers for all they did in helping with the success of
this event. We are currently working on our next 5K / 10K extension event so that it becomes a notable and
notorious event here in Central Florida. Stay tuned for more details and sponsorship opportunities. We hope we
can count on our existing sponsors and more of you will get involved.
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
I encourage you to become a part of the FICPA at the chapter and statewide level. We are so fortunate to have
such great resources within our organization. Additionally, please consider volunteering on any of the
committees that you consider to suit your skill set or passions.
As always, we thank both USA Payroll and Ameriprise Financial Services for their continual support. Please
engage them at our monthly chapter continuing education meetings as well as consider any referral
opportunities for your clients.
Should you have any questions about our programs or if you have ideas for ways that we could serve our
membership and community, please feel free to contact me.
I wish you all well in your journey through April 15, 2015.
Andrea Riesen, FICPA Central Florida Chapter Chair, 2014-2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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
Special Projects – Dayna Stephens
Accounting Careers – Andrea Riesen
Financial Literacy Taskforce – Tarsha Jacobs
Membership – Scott Wagner
UCF Faculty Liaison – Scott Smith
UCF Student Representative – Bianca Bermudez
Young CPAs – Kirsten Burbridge
Newsletter & Website – Lisa Wells
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR - USA PAYROLL
USA Payroll is proud to be the 2015 - 2016 annual sponsor of the Central Florida Chapter of the FICPA and in
recognition of that, we are introducing our scholarship program.
USA Payroll will donate 10% of all commissionable revenue to the Central Florida Chapter of the FICPA,
designated specifically for college scholarships, for twelve months, for every referral that becomes a USA Payroll
client.
Also, any FICPA member client starting by November 30th will get their year-end payroll reports and
Form W-2s 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
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
A MESSAGE FROM OUR ANNUAL SPONSOR - AMERIPRISE
[email protected]
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
CPE SCHEDULE
Topic
Location
Credits
Date & Time
Update on A&A Issues
Doubletree Hotel
3 hours
March 19, 2015
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Speakers: UCF Students
Ethics
Doubletree Hotel
3 hours
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Speaker: Gary Fracassi, CPA
Update on A&A Issues
May 21, 2015
Doubletree Hotel
3 hours
June 18, 2015
3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Please note: There will not be a class in April 2015.
For the most current information about our CPE schedule, please visit our website www.centrafloridaficpa.com
or contact George Fender at [email protected].
Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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FINANCIAL LITERACY UPDATE
Financial Literacy Task Force Report for February 2015
Upcoming:

Workforce Central Florida – February or March

Blankner Middle School (in partnership with Boone High School) – working on date before Spring break

Waiting on call back from Elevate Orlando to do one or two segments at Evans and Oakridge
Other:

Still hoping to present to the 400+ 9th graders at Evans High. This will be new this year, but it would be
impactful if we can swing it. We need ideas to keep 400 9th graders engaged. Feel free to share ideas. I
have a couple of games, but we are open to your ideas.
Linda Howard
Financial Literacy Chair
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
TOYS FOR TOTS
Thanks to all who participated in the annual Young CPA Toys for Tots drive! The toy drive ran from
November 19th to December 11th and the following firms participated in the drive:

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Baker, Hyatt, Homrich & Zokvic, P.A.
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Cherry Bekaert LLP
Digital Assurance Certification
Geller Ragans CPAS
Glickstein Laval Carris, P.A.
Grennan Fender
KPMG
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Taylor Lombardi Hall & Wydra, PA
Vestal & Wiler CPAs
The Toys for Tots wrap up event was held from 5:30 to 7:30 on December 11 th at Kasa. At the end
of the night, the Marines picked up over 400 toys collected. Toys collected will be donated to
children in need during the holidays.
Thanks to all for your support and generosity in making this such a successful event! We look
forward to your continued support of this Annual Central Florida FICPA Chapter Event.
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
LET’S GET FISCAL 5K
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
BOWLING & NETWORKING EVENT
and
Present
Bowling & Networking
When:
April 25, 2015, 3-5 PM
Where:
Kings Bowling
8255 International Drive, Suite 120
Orlando, FL 32819
Refreshments: Light Hors D’oeurves will be served
All FICPA professional and student members are invited to attend
Please RSVP to Dena Harrison at [email protected] by April 18, 2015
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
FINANCIAL STABILITY COALITION
Heart of Florida United Way is proud to invite members of the Central Florida Chapter of
the FICPA (including the student members) to partner with us as part of the Financial
Stability Coalition. This initiative promotes the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC and the
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program), which provides free tax preparation to lowincome and moderate-income taxpayers.
In the taxable year 2012, EITC returned over $576 million to the Central Florida Community.
Your participation is essential to the success of the program. Each year, millions of dollars of
EITC refunds go unclaimed because people are unaware that the EITC exists. The IRS
estimates that as many as 25% of eligible families fail to claim the credit they deserve.
Here are FREE ways in which you can participate this year:
1. Have a Heart of Florida United Way representative participate at your next
community event. We can address your community directly, at no cost to your business
or agency, by having a booth or table at upcoming events, fairs etc. Email
[email protected] to request a table.
2. VOLUNTEER! Thousands of low- to-moderate income Central Floridians can access
free tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The
VITA program is always in need of volunteers willing to give their time and talents to help
others.
Please visit our website for more information about our financial stability programs at
www.hfuw.org.
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
26 UNDER 36 INITIATIVE
The FICPA is pleased to announce the honorees of its 26 Under 36 initiative. The goal of the initiative was to
identify and recognize FICPA members younger than 36 who have made notable accomplishments through their
service to our organization, the CPA profession and their communities.
“We celebrate the honorees’ selection as the best and brightest young FICPA members,” said Deborah Curry,
CGMA, FICPA President/CEO. “We applaud their accomplishments and thank them for their service to the
Institute and to the CPA profession.”
Honoree
Firm/Organization
City
Geoffrey Adams
Florida State University Office of the Controller
Tallahassee
Carshena Allison
BCA Watson Rice LLP
Miami
Jeffrey Ardizon
Kaufman, Rossin & Co., PA
Miami
Katherine "Katie" Davis
James Moore & Co. PL
Gainesville
Lydia Desnoyers
Desnoyers CPA, LLC
South Miami
Delia Fernandez
Law, Reed, Crona & Munroe, PA
Tallahassee
Melissa Fleitas
Berkowitz Pollack Brant
Miami
Sarah Funk
Triology International Partners, LLC
Hollywood
Greg Geibel
BKHM CPAs
Winter Park
Alicea "Ali" Gorman
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Miramar Beach
Rich Heitmeyer
Carroll and Company, CPAs
Tallahassee
Katherine Krblich
Charles A. Krblich, PA
Fort Lauderdale
Jessi Levine
CBIZ MHM, LLC
Clearwater
Ana Long
KPMG, LLP
Miami
Rudy Mayoz
Skoda Minotti CPAs, Business & Financial Advisors
Tampa
Hudson Robillard
Hudson Robillard & Company, LLC
North Miami
Hema Rupnarain
Hema Rupnarain, CPA, PA
Ocala
Robyn Sachs
City of Miami
Miami
Brion Sharpe
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Orlando
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
Matt Shell
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company
Fort Myers
Josh Shilts
Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
Jacksonville
Elizabeth Stevens
Holyfield & Thomas, LLC
West Palm Beach
Cheri Swain
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC
Winter Park
Kelsey Thompson
Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company
Fort Myers
Caridad Vasallo
Kabat, Schertzer, De La Torre, Taraboulos & Co.
Miami
Karen Vergara
Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Orlando
PRACTITIONERS FORUM MEETING SCHEDULE
Date
Topic
Speaker
Committee Member
3/17/15
A&A
Lynda Dennis
Marty Prague
5/19/15
Investments
Dennis Michaels
Marty Prague
6/16/15
Retirement
Randy Ellington
Marty Prague
7/21/15
Business Succession
Tim Caldwell/Pension Investors
Greg King
8/18/15
A&A
Charles Keliher
Sharon Agee
** A & A
Note: There will not be a meeting in April 2015.
CPAS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE SCHEDULE
Date & Topic
Speaker
Type of Credit
3/25/15 - “Trends in Corporate Governance”
TBD
TBD
4/29/15 - TBD - An A & A Topic
TBD
TBD
5/27/15 - “A & A Update”
TBD
TBD
6/24/15 - “Governmental Update”
TBD
TBD
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Central Florida FICPA Newsletter – Winter 2015
ADVERTISE IN THE FICPA NEWSLETTER
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members in the Central Florida area.
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Lisa Wells, [email protected].
Newsletter Brought to You By
Lisa Wells
Andrea Riesen