Firm Management
California CPA Society Gets New Chairman
Lewis Sharpstone, CPA, will focus on the "P" (for "public") in the professional designation "certified public accountant" during his 2018-19 tenure as chair of the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA.org), the nation's largest state CPA society.
Jun. 22, 2018
Lewis Sharpstone, CPA, will focus on the “P” (for “public”) in the professional designation “certified public accountant” during his 2018-19 tenure as chair of the California Society of CPAs (CalCPA.org), the nation’s largest state CPA society.
During his inauguration at CalCPA’s annual members meeting at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Sharpstone said that the “P” reminds CPAs that they “have a sacred duty to always act in the public interest and protect the public.”
Sharpstone indicated that he will emphasize the “P” in several ways, including
* Collaborating with other professional bodies, such as the California Board of Accountancy and NASBA, to explore how to better protect and serve the public.
* Attracting more young people, especially those who are community- and public-minded, to the profession.
* Revamping CalCPA’s website to help the public better understand how CPAs can help them.
* Celebrating members and firms that donate their time and services to their communities.
In addition, Sharpstone said he will work on enrolling more Big Four members into CalCPA membership. He noted that Deloitte has signed up 100 percent of its California partners and managers with CalCPA. Other large firms also are encouraging their California staffs to join CalCPA.
Furthermore, Sharpstone will build on the efforts of his predecessors to increase diversity and inclusion, expand CalCPA’s professional forums initiative to provide all members with access to knowledge and information developed by committees and sections, and attract more non-licensed financial professionals to CalCPA.
Sharpstone previously served as CalCPA’s first vice chair. He is an assurance partner with BDO United States’ Los Angeles office. He leads the nonprofit practice in BDO’s west region. Over the past 25 years, he has worked with more than 200 nonprofits.
Among those serving with Sharpstone on the CalCPA board of directors are Robert A. Reynolds (first vice chair) of Moss Adams LLP, Jolene N. Fraser (secretary/treasurer) of EisnerAmper LLP, Kathy A. Johnson (past chair) of CPA Forensics Plus, Lynda R. Boman (vice chair) of Boman Accounting Group, Matthew Martin (vice chair) of PDM LLP, Mike A. Ray (vice chair) of California Casualty Management Co., and Eileen M. Pastenieks (CalCPA Education Foundation president) of Pastenieks Bucheli & Falasco LLP.