40 Under 40 Honoree: Michael G. Echelbarger, CPA – 39

Education – BS Business Administration
Family – Wife Tina; children Greg 14, Anne Marie 12
Hobbies & Interests – Water Skiing, Triathlons, Running,
Biking, Swimming, Golf, Tae Kwon Do First Don Black Belt, Snowmobiling, Boating,
Boy Scouts of America leader.
Professional Affiliations – Information Technology Alliance;
International Consulting Network; Int’l Assoc. of Microsoft Certified
Partners, W. Michigan Treasurer; Microsoft Dynamics SL – Partner Advisory
Board.

What peers, clients and friends say about David:
Dave is one of the new leaders who will steward the continued evolution of technology
in accounting. He has been appointed to the Upstream Academy Board in 2000,
named to Microsoft’s U.S. Partner Advisory Council in 2004, and has served
on Microsoft Dynamics SL – Partner Advisory Board since 2000. Dave is
excited not only about the benefits technology can bring to an organization
financially, but also the potential to impact the quality of life of the employees.
Life balance is a key to success in Dave’s eyes, and using technology
can help to make that possible. He is an exemplary community member volunteering
countless hours as well as a progressive technology thinker.

What technology or business process does David see affecting the tax
and accounting profession in the next five years?
“We are seeing the effects of a global economy. Geography will not limit
who we serve. We are going to see more and more electronic transmission and
storage of data. With real-time data and reporting, you will see additional
information being published. And I see customer portals being a differentiator
for CPA firms. It is critical to review the services we provide and the value
to our customers. With tax preparation being done throughout the world, we must
be able to differentiate our services. Providing deep vertical services to our
customers will continue to be a differentiator to provide valuable services
to our customers.”