Leaders' Edge

January / February 2005

Leaders' Edge

Michigan CPA Ambassadors Sweeping the State

MACPA's Ambassadors: Jonathon D. Anibal
Edward J. Dupke
Dennis M. Echelbarger
Stephen H. Epstein
Richard B. Hanna
John H. Higgins
Raymond E. Howard
Peggy Haw Jury
Kathie L. Kinske
Mary Kline-Cueter
Walter S. Koziol
Leslie A. Murphy
Doug P. Roosa
Stuart M. Sakwa
Wayne B. Titus III
Judith R. Trepeck
Kristine S. Volk
Karen L. Witsie

Designed to engage and mobilize CPAs as highly trained and influential spokespeople for the profession, Michigan’s CPA ambassadors are sweeping the state to highlight the contributions, expertise and integrity of the CPA within local communities.

In June 2004, 18 Michigan ambassadors were trained to promote the profession’s depth of financial knowledge, underscore the AICPA’s and MACPA’s effectiveness as advocates for the public interest and refocus the spotlight on the profession. Following the training, the ambassadors put learning into practice by taking on spokesperson opportunities or media interviews.

Armed with support tools, Michigan’s ambassadors are conveying messages centered on financial literacy, student recruitment, corporate governance and small business.

They are speaking in classrooms at the high school and college level, appearing on television interviews, such as Chuck Stokes’ Spotlight on the News on WXYZ Detroit and Comcast Newsmakers segments airing on CNN Headline News, and participating on radio programming throughout the state.

Since the program launch in June, nine Michigan ambassadors have completed two speaking or media engagements on behalf of the profession.

Financial Literacy Links

MACPA Financial Literacy Initiatives
This MACPA webpage provides an overview and links for a variety of MACPA efforts, including the MACPA Accounting Blitz, VAST and Hospice of Michigan programs and CPA Ambassadors.

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy – CPA Website
To make sure CPAs are prepared to be successful volunteers in their communities, this website features a host of resources for CPAs including PowerPoint presentations, financial planning information, downloadable brochures, a marketing toolkit and more.

360 Degrees of Financial Literacy – Consumer Website
AICPA consumer website allows visitors to immediately pinpoint the financial information they need because it is organized by common life stages that trigger financial issues: childhood, college, career, military and reserves, couples and marriage, parenthood, home ownership, entrepreneurs, life crisis, sandwich generation and retirement.

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