WICPA Accounting Careers Committee
1-23-15
Meeting minutes
Welcome & introductions
Members present:
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Alka Arora
Bob Gruber
Audra Hoffmann
Neil Keller
Lindsey Kromm
Mary Murray, WICPA staff liaison
Sydney Nelson
Arlene Roche, HS acctg teacher
Barb Schuetz, HS acctg teacher
Kelly Sics, Chair
Todd Rakowski
Boula Xiong
On phone:
 Dorothy Conduah
 Robert Du Charme
 Jon Gaines
 Diana Henke
 Carolyn Stittleburg
Kelly’s words of encouragement – try and attend meetings in person and/or phone. It would be ideal to
be active as we want an effective and active committee. If you can’t make a meeting, please let the
committee chair or Mary know. If for any reason, you need to step down please let the chair or Mary
know.
Update/old/new business:
1. Junior Achievement – Kelly shared her volunteer experience with Junior Achievement this
past October. Accounting Careers Committee, Young Professional Committee and WICPA
Foundation members volunteered with the JA Finance Park program on Oct. 24. It was
discussed and agreed by the group to volunteer again next year, possibly with BizTown (4th6th grade.) Going forward, perhaps the WICPA picks 1 or 2 volunteer days each year
depending on interest.
2. Student visits to CPA offices – Kelly shared an update on the progress of creating a sample
timeline and set of activities for firms/companies. This would assist and eliminate some
work from the CPA’s part on how to plan a student field trip. The items would be posted on
the WICPA website. Three documents were passed around including:
a. Sample email to CPA (sent from HS teacher)
b. Sample business office visit guide for industry accounting
c. Sample business office visit guide for accounting firm
Topics discussed with these documents:
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Should part of the field trip should involve visiting the HR dept?
Who should the HS teacher contact within the firm?
Is there a database of high schools and accounting firms/industries that have participated in a
field trip event in the past?
Do firms/companies want to promote that they host high school field trips?
***Let committee know if there is any more feedback on the documentation
3. HS speaking program – Mary briefly summarized this ongoing program, mostly for new
members
4. Students & Leaders Network (SLN) – Neil shared his experience. How the process works:
CPA is in a room with lots of monitors showing the students in their classrooms. The
webcast starts with the CPA presentation and ends with Q & A from the students. The actual
sessions are about 30 minutes, however the actual taping and process may take a ½ day, per
Neil. Todd has volunteered to speak later this month.
5. Accounting for the Future (e-newsletter) – next issue will be published in February. It was
suggested that Mary add the committee members to the distribution list.
6. WBEA convention – The convention was held on Oct. 17 in Eau Claire. Dr. Aimee
Pernsteiner, CPA spoke on behalf of the University of Eau Claire’s Accounting Department to
share teaching tips, activities, ideas, etc…
7. WICPA HS Educators Accounting Symposium – The November 21, 2014 Symposium had the
highest attendance since 2010. There are three videos from the event that will be made
available to teachers. They are a testimonial featuring teachers and CPAs, the keynote
speaker and a breakout session. The theme was manufacturing accounting. Mary asked the
committee for theme ideas for the fall 2015 symposium. Some ideas mentioned included:
construction, non-for-profit, healthcare, public accounting, entrepreneurial – small business
and e-commerce. It was mentioned that any topic could incorporate technology, as a sub
topic. Asking HS teachers in the future for new theme topics was suggested too. Mary
commented to that inquiry by stating currently teachers that attend symposium are asked
this question on the symposium evaluation.
8. 2015 Accounting Career Awareness Grants –Thirty-five teachers have applied for grants.
The grant selection committee meets on Feb. 9, and will award grants sometime in
February.
9. UW-W Explore Accounting Day – This program has been running for about 5 years. For the
first time the event is being held twice in one school year (fall 2014 and spring 2015).
10. Junior Achievement – The foundation has a 3-year sponsorship with JA BizTown at the Kohl’s
Education Center in Milwaukee. This is very exciting as there will be a lot of name
recognition. Neil mentioned his daughter just participated and really enjoyed it, especially
since she was the town’s mayor. Student CFOs that participate in BizTown receive a
certificate, maze pen, other promotional items with the WICPA name printed on it. View
photos from a celebratory event held Jan. 16.
11. 1st Madison Mix & Mingle Event – Great fun and feedback that the event may increase to
twice per year.
12. 2015 New CPA Welcome Dinner – Date is Thursday, June 11. Watch for promotion of event
and please spread the word and encourage new CPAs (2014) to attend. Encourage firms and
companies to be a sponsor.
13. Member Recognition Banquet - Wednesday, May 8th at the Milwaukee Public Museum, free
for members. Committee members may bring a complimentary guest.
14. Tim Christen, CPA Baker Tilly, first WICPA member that has been elected as a chair for the
AICPA. Neil is on the AICPA counsel; he will share more after his first meeting in May.
15. Reading Makes Cents – this campaign takes place during the month of April, coincides with a
financial literacy promotion from the state called Money Smart Week.
New items:
Jon – would like to extend the offer for his organization to participate in a student field trip.
Jon also mentioned that the annual national Beta Alpha Psi convention is being held in Milwaukee in
August 2015. Mary will look into how the WICPA might be involved with the events. Bob mentioned that
Marquette University will be one of the three schools helping with this event.
Kelly opened the floor for ideas and purposes of future sub-committees. It was suggested to continue
and finalize the project of firm visit documentations. Arlene suggested that the committee help promote
involving CPAs with high school ‘student stores’ to encourage and promote the career. CPAs can get
involved by helping and perhaps informing marketing/DECA advisors how to better utilize their current
accounting students and programs to provide real experiences with internal controls, inventory
management and financial data preparation and analysis. A huge thank you to Chris Cholka from Cousins
Sub for helping Arlene Roche and her students at Slinger High School.
Wrap-up:
Kelly has been the committee chair for 2 years, therefore the committee is looking for a volunteer. It is
not a huge commitment, it does involve working with Mary to help plan the meetings, write meeting
agendas, conduct and hold possible sub-committees. There are usually two meetings/year. The next
meeting is tentatively June 2015.
Meeting adjourned at 1:25pm
Minutes prepared by Arlene Roche