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 Navigator of the Profession – Dennis Echelbarger, CPA
A Past Chair of the MACPA Board of Directors, Dennis is currently on the board of the Association’s Political Action Committee, which advocates on behalf of the accounting profession. Q. What made you decide to go into the accounting profession? In college I took an economics survey course as an elective and the professor suggested I try an accounting course—which I did and liked. I also had an adjunct professor in my senior year who asked if I wanted to work at his firm during tax season, which I did and then was hired full time after graduation. Q. What makes your job great? The satisfaction of helping all kinds of people and businesses become successful, and being able to help struggling individuals and businesses work through their problems. Also, I enjoy the fact that every day is a challenge and that I learn something new each day. Q. What made you want to get involved in government relations, and what do you hope to accomplish in working with legislators? I came to understand the need for our professional organization to be active in the political arena in order to be effective for our members. I hope to help bring insight and objective advice to the legislators who usually do not have expertise in the areas we do. I also (maybe naively) think I can help make a difference and be part of making needed changes at the governmental level. Q. What was it like to watch your son enter the accounting profession? It was with great pride when I watched my son follow an accounting program and then apply to our firm for an internship and then a full-time position. He was able to establish an IT consulting practice (after working on the traditional side of the practice) that became a vital part of our firm. I felt even more pride when the ownership group elected him to be Managing Officer in January 2009, after I expressed the desire to focus all my time on customer matters. Q. What interests or activities are you involved in outside of work? I have a place “up north” that is my solitude. I also love to hunt, fish, read and attend sporting events, cultural activities and Broadway theatre. Q. What advice would you have for those considering entering the CPA profession? Try it - but give it your best efforts. The profession is challenging but rewarding; you will have an opportunity to know and help many people who will make a difference in your life. Q. What do CPAs need now to be successful in the future? Being a CPA is much more than being good at numbers. It involves being able to understand the psychology of those involved and the situation itself. The knowledge to “know what you do not know” and to find the resource for the best answer to the situation is critical. Top
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| PO Box 5068 Troy, MI 48007-5068 Phone: 248.267.3700 Fax: 248.267.3737 E-mail: macpa@michcpa.org | |
