CalCPA to Focus on Adding Valuable Services for Students, Emerging Leaders, Says New Chair

NAPA, Calif., June 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- During her inauguration as 2012-13 Chair of the California Society of CPAs, Johanna Sweaney Salt, CPA, emphasized that the more than 40,000-member organization will intensify its outreach and provide useful resources to accounting students, CPA candidates and new licensees to bring them into the CalCPA community.

"These future leaders of the profession need dedicated resources and a strong professional network to nurture their growth," said Salt as she addressed attendees of CalCPA's annual members business meeting.

Salt announced several new programs, including a jointly developed CalCPA/CalCPA Education Foundation enhanced leadership development program for emerging accounting professionals. Also, CalCPA plans to more than double its campus ambassador presence at California universities and colleges to attract students to the accounting profession and support their efforts to build their professional networks early. "We have student ambassadors on 12 campuses across the state, and this fall that number will grow to nearly 30," said Salt.

The new chair gave a sneak peak at CalCPA's soon-to-be-launched CalCPA Connect, an online community that brings members closer together and enhances members' ability to tap resources and collaborate with leaders and fellow members through social media functions.

Salt also indicated CalCPA will continue to encourage California lawmakers to pass legislation conforming California's interstate practice laws to those of the rest of the nation.

A partner in the firm of Gray, Salt & Associates in Claremont, Salt served as president of CalCPA's Inland Empire Chapter in 2010–11.

About CalCPA

Headquartered in San Mateo, Calif., the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPA) (www.calcpa.org) is the nation's largest state accounting organization and the largest CPA association in California. It serves more than 40,000 members in public practice, private industry, education and government. Through CalCPA Institute, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, CalCPA members provide financial literacy programs to high schools and community groups.

SOURCE California Society of CPAs