CPAFOCUS
The Magazine of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs
March/April 2012
Class of 2012
Also Inside This Issue:
Win-Win Relationship
CPA Horizons 2025 Report
www.oscpa.com
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contents
vol. 12 • no. 5
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
CPAFOCUS is also available online at
www.oscpa.com/?893. OSCPA members
can view articles from anywhere they
have Internet access.
4
President's Message
Place the profession’s future
in good hands. Find out
how you can encourage and
mentor the CPAs around you.
6
What's on the Horizon?
Learn what the CPA Horizons
2025 project predicts about
the future of accounting.
Introducing the 2012 Trailblazer Class
10
Ryan
Alden
Kelley
Grace
28
Phelan
Steven
Kyle
Stewart
12
Brad
Box
Daron
Houston
Ronnie
Richards
Holly
Stuart
Dakota
Cole
Brad
Johnson
30
Ross
Roye
Christy
Sughru
Mandy
French
Greg
Jones
Chris
Dmitry
Volfson
Jennifer
Matson
Sarah
Stafford
Julie
Ward
14
16
18
Taylor
Gilpin
20
22
24
26
27
29
32
33
34
35
36
37
Scott
38
CPAFOCUS is the Official Publication of the Oklahoma Society of CPAs
Managing Editor Layout/Design
Trailblazers Coordinator
1900 NW Expy, Ste. 910 • Okla. City, OK 73118-1898
www.oscpa.com
Mission Statement: The Oklahoma Society of
Certified Public Accountants represents Oklahoma
CPAs on a timely, responsive and creative basis, by
promoting the public image and professionalism of
CPAs; by protecting the interests and designation
of CPAs; by providing member services, including
quality education and opportunities for interaction;
and by building and developing leadership skills
among CPAs.
Amy L. Welch, APR
Stephanie Trougakos
Holley Jared
CPAFOCUS Editorial Board Members: Butch Hogan,
CPA, Chair; Lisa M. Anderson, CPA/ABV, CDFA;
John E. Curzon, CPA/ABV, CVA, CM&AA, Tamara
D. Sponburg, CPA; and Jimmy J. Williams, CPA/
PFS.
President Executive Director
Jayna Vaughn, CPA
Daryl J. Hill, CAE
CPAFOCUS (USPS 018-768) is published six times
per year by the Oklahoma Society of CPAs, 1900 NW
Expy, Ste. 910, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-1898.
Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK., and
additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send
address changes to CPAFOCUS, 1900 NW Expy, Ste.
910, Oklahoma City, OK 73118-1898.
Statements of fact and opinion are made by the
authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the
part of the OSCPA board of directors, members or
editorial staff. Advertisements are not an endorsement
by the OSCPA.
Send suggestions, contributions and advertising
inquiries to the editor at the address above or by email
at awelch@oscpa.com.
FOCUS on president’s message
Enjoy a Win-Win Relationship
By Jayna Vaughn, CPA
T
railblazer: One that blazes
a trail to guide others. An
innovative leader in a field;
a pioneer; a pathfinder. Someone
who can find paths through
unexplored territory.
Jayna R. Vaughn, CPA,
is a sole practitioner in
Duncan, Okla. An OSCPA
member since 1982,
Vaughn has chaired
both the Planning
and Peer Review
Committees, and has
served as Board Liaison
to eight committees,
including the OSCPA
Government Relations
and the Governmental
Accounting & Auditing
Committees.
4
CPAFOCUS
Congratulations to our 2012
Trailblazers! Our hats are off to you and the
mark you are making on our profession.
As I look back at some of the trailblazers
in American history, such as Lincoln,
Edison, and Lewis and Clark, I notice they
all shared an innovative spirit that kept
them going against difficult odds; all have
made their mark on history and mankind
by refusing to quit and pushing ahead into
uncharted territory.
We are delighted to recognize and
honor each of our own Trailblazers for their
exceptional accomplishments!
We are blessed in our profession to
be surrounded by young people of such
outstanding character, intelligence and
integrity. I personally believe they are the
best and the brightest. As I have written
before, it is our responsibility to mentor
our young CPAs and help them along the
path of professional life. We can help them
get plugged into professional advocacy and
other activities, make contacts and develop
lasting relationships; we should become the
role models that we have all enjoyed in our
own professional development. There are
many who have worked to blaze the trail
for us, and now it is our turn to follow their
lead. In fact, one way you can start today
is to volunteer to mentor a new CPA in
your area through a program sponsored by
the New CPA Committee at the OSCPA.
All you need to do is contact Amber D.
Jones, CPA, our New CPA Committee
Chairperson, and let her know that you
want to participate in the New
CPA Mentoring Program
(Email adj@lenorman.net).
In recent years at the OSCPA, we have
worked toward developing new programs
to recognize and mentor our young CPAs,
including the New CPA Mentoring
Program, Trailblazers and a leadership
academy that is under construction. Our
focus has been on helping the new CPAs
establish themselves within the profession
and our Society. However, after working
with our younger members in various
OSCPA activities, I have concluded that
the notion of mentoring is reciprocal. Our
young members bring much to the table,
including a spirit of energy and enthusiasm,
advanced education and analytical and
technological skills, just to name a few. In
my firm, I recently hired a new CPA and
find that I am now the one being stretched
to a higher level.
So, please join me in getting to know a
new CPA and enjoy the benefits of a winwin relationship.
It has occurred to me that in many
respects, as CPAs, we are all trailblazers. In
one way or another, we are finding paths
through unexplored territory, whether
related to new tax regulations, emerging
accounting issues or tenuous economic
times. We are blazing trails to guide others;
it’s what we do.
God Bless You,
March/April 2012
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Seizing the Future: What CPA
Horizons 2025 Says about the
Profession, Today and Tomorrow
By AICPA
W
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
hat does the future have in
store for your firm? What about
the accounting and finance
functions at your business? What roles will
CPAs play in the world of tomorrow? These
are the questions the CPA Horizons 2025
project sought to answer.
Through CPA Horizons 2025, a grassroots initiative, conducted in collaboration
with state societies, the AICPA gathered the
insights of thousands of CPAs to examine
the local and global trends that will have an
effect on CPAs on a day-to-day basis and
over the long term. An interactive survey, 16
in-person forums and online discussion and
focus groups enabled nearly 6,000 CPAs to
voice their opinions and generate more than
75,000 comments about the current state
and future of the profession.
“The future success of our profession
continues to be aligned to a great extent on
public perceptions of CPAs’ abilities and
roles,” said CPA Paul V. Stahlin, immediate
past AICPA chair, who was deeply involved
in the project. “What we have learned
through the CPA Horizons 2025 process
will help us maintain our relevance and
value well into the future.”
Whether you’re planning for the future
of your firm, your employer’s company
or your own career, the CPA Horizons
2025 report will be an invaluable resource
in helping you chart a course through
uncertain times.
CPA Horizons 2025 was built on the
knowledge gained in the CPA Vision
Project, a similar effort conducted in the
late 1990s. CPA Horizons participants
concluded that the core purpose for CPAs
identified back in the 1990s—CPAs
making sense of a changing and complex
world—remains relevant now and for the
future. The participants also felt that the
core values and competencies identified in
the CPA Vision Project are still valid, but
could use some updating to reflect changing
circumstances. While the CPA Vision
Project also identified some core services,
CPA Horizons 2025 determined that the
knowledge, skill and competencies CPAs
offer have become so varied and diverse that
the concept of core services is no longer
valid.
Ten Key Insights
CPA Horizons 2025 also used the
feedback gathered from project participants
to formulate ten key insights into how
the profession will conduct business, serve
clients and employers, attract and retain
employees and new business and remain
competitive in the marketplace throughout
the next 15 years. CPAs can use these
insights to inform and inspire their own
strategic planning efforts.
1. Technology. This was seen as a major
force for CPAs, affecting the services they
offer, how they offer them and how they do
business. While it allows CPAs to expand
their services and the people and businesses
they can serve, it may also increasingly
replace traditional services.
2. Education. Although this will remain a
cornerstone of the profession, what CPAs
learn and how they learn it will change. To
retain their roles as trusted advisers, CPAs
will have to broaden their understanding
in a variety of areas, including economic,
political and technology trends here and
abroad.
9. Value Proposition. It’s important to
promote CPAs as the trusted advisers who
provide recognized core services but who are
also agile enough to develop new solutions
to complex business problems as they occur.
While CPAs’ integrity, objectivity and
commitment to excellence will not change,
their services may.
3. Worldwide Profession. To seize
the unprecedented opportunities that
globalization offers, the profession must
position the U.S. CPA as the preeminent
designation of the accounting and finance
profession throughout the world.
10. Trusted Attester. The profession must
preserve its unique role as the trusted
attester of financial and other information,
even as the audit and attest functions evolve
to meet changing needs.
4. Pride in the Profession. Because
CPAs remain among the most respected
and trusted financial professionals, it is
important to maintain the high standards
and integrity that reinforce this perception.
Continued advocacy on the profession’s
behalf will be a key element in doing so.
5. Demographic Shifts. The profession can
expand its appeal by recognizing U.S. and
global demographic shifts. This includes
working to attract and retain younger
people, women and minorities while also
tapping into the knowledge and experience
of CPAs in or near retirement.
6. Trusted Adviser. If they are to maintain
and expand their roles as strategic advisers,
CPAs must be prepared to solve complex
and multifaceted business problems that will
go beyond traditional services.
7. Market Permission. As their clients
or companies demand more from them,
CPAs should be positioned to take on new
specializations and adapt to the needs of
clients, employers and business.
8. Marketplace. The profession will have
to adjust to rapidly changing demands
for services that address developments
in the marketplace, economy, businesses
and regulations. An emphasis on lifelong
learning will help prepare CPAs to adapt to
these changes.
A Common Purpose and Commitment
This is just a summary of some of the many
insights and ideas that CPA Horizons
2025 generated. As CPAs wrestle with new
developments, the project’s findings will
help them frame the best next steps. To learn
more, visit www.aicpa.org.
Grant Thornton.
Where professional
journeys begin and
Trailblazers lead
the pack.
Congratulations to the Class of
2012 Trailblazers! We are proud of
Chris Scott for his commitment
to professional excellence and
leadership in the community!
GrantThornton.com
Grant Thornton LLP is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd.
Introducing the 2012 OSCPA Trailblazers…
The Trailblazers program honors the innovation,
professional dedication and community commitment of the
OSCPA's New CPAs, defined as members who are under 40
or have five or fewer years of CPA experience. It recognizes
the OSCPA's top talent among New CPAs. The OSCPA Public
Relations Committee accepts nominations for Trailblazers
during the summer and the fall. Anyone can nominate a
Trailblazer, but only OSCPA members are eligible for the honor.
More than 40 CPAs were nominated for the Trailblazers honor,
and they all deserved to be part of the 2012 Trailblazer class.
The top 20 honorees are selected based on their achievements,
awards, educational background, civic and professional service
and career information, as well as what they felt were their
most significant business and personal achievements.
In the following pages, you’ll meet the new CPAs selected
as future leaders of the OSCPA, a group that represents the
best of what the OSCPA represents: CPAs devoted to the
accounting profession, loyal to their communities and the world
around them and enthusiastic about what the future holds.
8
CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
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Ryan Alden
“All my life I’ve had but one
dream, to achieve my goals.”
– Homer
While Ryan Alden, CPA, feels joining the management team
as an assurance manager at HoganTaylor, LLP in Tulsa is his
greatest professional achievement, he says his greatest professional
joy is the sense of accomplishment he gets from training and
developing others.
In one particular instance, Alden worked with an individual
on the concepts of audit methodology. Alden said after one-onone coaching, this person developed into a high performer within
his peer group and was promoted to a supervisory role where he
continues to excel.
“Having the opportunity to provide useful, direct feedback to
individuals and watching them progress within the firm,” Alden
said, “is the most rewarding part of my job.”
Alden is on the Tulsa Ballet Board of Directors and is an active
member on the Barre Society and Audit Committees. He is also
involved with the Living Arts of Tulsa and Oklahoma Performing
Arts, as well as the American Cancer Society and United Way.
Ryan’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: The Next Iron Chef.
• One thing on my bucket list is: Make a bucket list.
• TV show I always watched as a child: Thundercats.
• Favorite hobby: Cage fighting.
• Favorite app: Big Oven.
• Quirky talent: Juggling – but only three things at a time.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Alden considers being a role model to his children as his
greatest personal achievement. One way he stays involved with his
children is through “Watch D.O.G.S.” (Dads of Great Students),
where he spends the school day monitoring the grounds,
interacting with the children in the lunchrooms and speaking to
each class about his profession.
“The joy on my children’s faces when telling their classmates
that ‘my dad is the Watch Dog’ was a highlight of my life,”
Alden confessed. “I am very grateful to work for an outstanding
organization that not only allows, but encourages me to continue
with these types of activities.”
Alden earned his Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration and his Master of Science in Accounting from
Oklahoma State University.
• One word to best describe me: Mustache.
• If I could have any animal, it would be: Giraffe.
• Favorite midnight snack: 30-year malt scotch.
• Worst purchase ever: Half-eaten Chick-O-Stick – it just
made me want the other half.
• Favorite website: theonion.com.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Chick-O-Sticks.
Brad Box
“Carpe Diem.”
Brad Box, CPA, and his wife set a plan in motion six years
ago to fulfill a dream of theirs to live in Santiago, Chile, where
his wife grew up, and work as missionaries. They dreamed of
living there, serving and traveling. In 2008, after four years saving
enough money to make the dream a reality, they moved and
stayed for one year. Box said working at the Christian church
where his wife’s parents had been pastors, was humbling, but also
rich and gratifying.
An audit manager with Stanfield &O’Dell in Tulsa, Box said
he loves being part of a great team that is achieving great results
on a daily basis and is immensely proud to work with his team
members.
“It is such an achievement for me to be associated with such
high-caliber professionals, many of whom are close friends. The
way I see it, we’re aiming to get a lot of the little things right —
this is the foundation for long-term success,” Box said.
Brad’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: An architect or city planner. I like
buildings; the more, the merrier.
• One thing on my bucket list is: Take my family to do an extended
hike through the Patagonia in Argentina and southern Chile.
• You’ll never catch me wearing: Man capris.
• If I could be any superhero, I would be: Is there a superhero that
can time travel? I’d be that one.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Box is a member of the Pearl District Association and
Sustainable Tulsa. In addition, he is a member of Redeemer
Covenant Church and is involved in various groups and
committees.
Box is involved in the Tulsa Chapter and is also a member of
the AICPA. He graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a
bachelor’s in accounting and theology.
• My nickname: My dad has called me “Darbs” forever. It’s Brad
backwards – he, clearly, is dyslexic.
• The worst purchase I ever made: I bought a truck and just
happened to have a bad cold at the time and didn’t realize the
truck smelled like a dead animal. It smelled like that for the two
years I owned it.
• Most embarrassing song on my iPod: A bunch of musicals like
Sound of Music and My Fair Lady.
• Favorite toy as a child: A baseball bat.
Dakota Cole
“Think like a scientist, dream like
a child and work like a farmer.”
Dakota Cole, CPA, is proof that a career as a CPA can lead
you anywhere. The director of Management Reporting for the
Chickasaw Nation in Ada, he is also the owner of Cole Brothers
Cattle.
After high school, Cole decided to follow in his family’s
footsteps and build an elite cow herd with the intention of
becoming a premier breeder in the seed stock sector of the U.S.
beef industry.
“Being a fifth-generation cattleman and an active member in
4-H and FFA growing up, it was only fitting that I try my hand
in agriculture,” he explained. “However, I had no idea what I was
getting myself into.”
After some tough times with his family’s company, he
managed to help turn around the farm and agricultural business,
all while pursuing his CPA certificate.
Though faced with uncommon personal and financial
hardships during his business rescue mission, Cole said he
wouldn’t have it any other way. He said, “It has made me who I
am today, cheesy as that sounds.”
Dakota’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A poor rancher.
• One thing I won’t do is: Attempt law school.
• You’ll never catch me wearing: Cowboy-cut Wranglers.
• I am most afraid of: Heights.
• The kindest thing anyone ever did for me: Gave me another
chance.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
He says his most significant business achievement is getting up
each and every day with the intentions of doing his best regardless
of the situation.
Cole plans to start an agricultural financial service firm that
provides farmers and ranchers with the services they need to
be successful in today’s economy. He intends to combine his
experiences within the industry along with his education to create
a regionally recognized financial institution known for valueadded services.
“I want the people of rural America to have faith in the
accounting profession and develop a long lasting relationship with
someone they trust,” Cole said.
Cole is a member of Citizens Academy – Oklahoma
Community Institute, assists the Tishomingo FFA and volunteers
for the Oklahoma City Regional Food Bank.
Cole received his bachelor’s degree in business and master’s
degree in accounting from East Central University, where he was
a distinguished graduate.
• My first job: Golf course maintenance.
• Favorite toy as a child: Honda 4-Wheeler.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be: Time.
• Favorite hobby: Team roping.
• Favorite board game: Wahoo.
• One word that describes me best: Loyal.
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Mandy
French
“The real struggle is about you:
you, a person who has to learn to
live in the real world, to inhabit
her own skin, to know her own
heart, to stop waiting for life to
begin.” –Caroline Knapp
Mandy French, CPA, an assurance manager with Hogan
Taylor, LLP, knew public accounting might be a struggle in some
ways, but also felt strongly that glass ceilings were meant to be
broken. When she was attending the University of Oklahoma,
where she graduated magna cum laude, she would look around
her classes, count all the women on one hand and know that her
chosen field would likely be male-dominated.
Since joining HoganTaylor’s predecessor firm, Tullius Taylor
Sartain & Sartain, LLP, in 2007, French has been encouraged by
other women in the firm and is gratified to find strong mentors in
their ranks.
“They have taught me that there are no boundaries to my
career based on my gender – I can achieve any goal I set for
myself, as long as I am determined and persistent,” French
explained.
Mandy’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A writer.
• My teen crush: Yikes! Like I’d let you print that in a professional
newsletter.
• One thing on my bucket list: Learn self-defense martial arts.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Reruns of Hogan’s
Heroes with my dad.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
These women were a driving force behind what she
considers her most significant business achievement, when she
was promoted to manager and was able to become a mentor
herself. French said mentoring has given her the opportunity to
encourage the future leaders as she was encouraged, push them as
she was pushed and support them as she was supported.
French’s involvement with the Autism Center of Tulsa came
from her personal experiences with an autistic brother and is
what she considers her most significant community and personal
achievement. She began as a participant in the 5K run, and
later, organized her own team through HoganTaylor, LLP, which
consistently ranked in the top 10 in contributions. In 2010,
French became a member of the organization’s board of directors
and finance committee. Although French has since moved to
HoganTaylor’s Oklahoma City office, she is most proud that her
involvement inspired her coworkers and they have continued her
work with the organization.
As a member of the OSCPA, French is on the Liaison to
Educational Institutions (LEI) Committee and serves on the
OSCPA’s Financial Literacy Ad Hoc Committee. She is also a
member of the AICPA, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA),
the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and the
ACFE OKC Chapter. Additionally, she was recently selected as
one of 34 CPAs to participate in the 2012 AICPA Leadership
Academy this summer.
• The website I am completely addicted to: Goodreads.com.
• My first job: Target.
• My favorite childhood toy: A Fievel doll, from American Tail.
• My favorite board game: I’m not really a board game kind of girl –
I prefer complicated, 1,000-piece puzzles.
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Wheel of Fortune
Taylor Gilpin
“It is our choices that show what
we truly are, far more than our
abilities.” –Albus Dumbledore
Taylor Gilpin, CPA, left a large accounting firm in October
2010 and joined Conklin, Gilpin & Wertz, PLLC in Tulsa with
significant ideas of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of
the smaller firm’s day-to-day operations.
With the support of the partners at the firm, Gilpin worked
hard and enthusiastically implemented several key improvements,
including converting all the audit clients to paperless. Gilpin says
it was a big change for the partners, but it makes the auditing
experience more efficient — for the client and the audit team.
Gilpin also developed a template for the firm’s proposals when
bidding on new audit engagements. They now have a professional
document that communicates the wide range of experience and
expertise the firm has to offer to new clients. Additionally, he
led a project to redesign the firm’s website, which launched in
September 2011.
Taylor’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A college professor. I taught one section of accounting at OSU and it was a great experience .
• One thing on my bucket list: Go to the Masters.
• My teen crush: Kelly Kapowski.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: The Wonder Years.
18
CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
He says his most significant community achievement is his
service with Redeemer Presbyterian Church, where he serves
as a deacon and treasurer and is a member of the Building
Committee. Gilpin is happy to use his knowledge and experience
as a CPA to further the mission of the church.
“It has helped me see that the value of being a CPA goes far
beyond preparing tax returns and performing audits,” he said. “I
have been able to use my skills to help make the vision we have
for our church’s future become a reality.”
Gilpin received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
Oklahoma State University, where he was named a Top Ten
Senior in the Spears School of Business and an Outstanding
Senior of Oklahoma State University.
• My favorite app: ESPN Scorecenter.
• My first concert: Amy Grant in the 5th grade.
• The most embarrassing song I have on my iPod: The Wicked
soundtrack.
• My favorite toy as a child: The Ghostbuster Fire House.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Starbucks coffee.
Kelley Grace
“To laugh often and much; to win
the respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children...to
leave the world a better place...to
know even one life has breathed
easier because you have lived. This
is to have succeeded.”
–Ralph Waldo Emerson
While Kelley Grace, CPA, feels that becoming a tax partner
at Eide Bailly, LLP in Norman at the age of 31 is a significant
business achievement, she does not see that as her most significant
accomplishment. Grace said that it is her ability to be successful
and continue to advance in her career while also being able to
balance her personal life and her civic commitments.
“My career is a very important aspect of my life, but I feel very
strongly about being able to give back to the community,” she
explained.
Grace is an advisory board member for the Michael F. Price
College of Business at the University of Oklahoma. She is also on
the board for the Cleveland County YMCA, the United Way of
Kelley’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A travel writer who explored the
world.
• One thing I won’t do: Jump out of an airplane.
• One thing on my bucket list: Oktoberfest in Germany. (Hopefully,
this will get checked off in 2012.)
• My favorite app: Yelp.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Norman and a member of Norman NEXT. Grace volunteers for
the United Way Day of Caring, Festival of the Arts, Cleveland
County Christmas Store, Center for Children & Families Inc.
and Food and Shelter for Friends, just to name a few.
As a member of the OSCPA, Grace is on the Accounting
Careers committee and a resource pool volunteer. She has
presented at the OSCPA’s Do it Herself: A Journey to Financial
Freedom conference and served as an Accounting Careers Night
panel member. Grace is also a member of the AICPA.
She was awarded OKC Business Journal’s Forty Under 40
award in 2007 and, in 2009, received the both the Journal Record
Achievers Under 40 award and Cleveland County YMCA Policy
Volunteer of the Year awards.
Grace’s most significant personal accomplishment is the
creation of the Exchange Club of Norman. As a past member of
the Downtown Oklahoma City Exchange Club, she was asked to
help start a club in Norman, where she currently serves as a board
member.
“Although it was a challenging project,” Grace said, “it
has been very rewarding to help bring Americanism and the
prevention of child abuse programs, two of the national causes of
the Exchange Club, to the forefront in Norman.”
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Press Your Luck Big
money, no whammies)
• My first concert: Randy Travis.
• Website I am completely addicted to: Facebook.
• The most embarrassing song on my iPod: Total Eclipse of the
Heart.
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Daron
Houston
“The unexamined life is not worth
living.” –Socrates
Daron Houston, CPA, says the most exciting part of his
workday is teaching concepts that will help his team be more
effective or help them work through a complex problem. A senior
manager with Ernst and Young, LLP, Houston was named one of
the company’s 28 Americas Assurance Practice Top Mentors last
year. He said one of the primary reasons he chose the auditing
profession was his desire to have a job that allowed him to
develop and mentor people in their careers.
Houston was part of Ernst and Young’s International Financial
Reporting Standards (IFRS) implementation network. In 2008,
when the SEC first published its IFRS conversion roadmap, he
had the opportunity to lead a large IFRS project to help a client
identify and prioritize differences between its current accounting
policies and IFRS. He developed a working knowledge of the
differences and has since been a speaker on the topic for the
Oklahoma Accounting Educators Conference and the AICPA Oil
and Gas Conference.
Daron’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A high school football coach.
• TV show I always watched as a child: Dukes of Hazzard.
• Favorite app: Pandora.
• My nickname: Big D.
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Press Your Luck No
Whammies!
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Learning to balance the challenges of a demanding career with
the responsibility of being an involved husband and father of
three young boys – and another on the way – is Houston’s most
significant personal achievement.
“It is possible to give my clients the exceptional service they
deserve and to meaningfully engage in the lives of each of my
boys,” Houston said.
In addition to being a member of the AICPA, Houston is also
a member of Grace Community Church. He is a board member
for both Positive Tomorrows and Mary Martha Outreach. He
volunteers for Junior Achievement and is a head coach for
Upward Basketball.
• My first job was: Flipping burgers.
• Website I am completely addicted to: Don’t tell my wife, but it’s
not Pinterest. It’s ESPN.
• Guilty pleasure song I have on my iPod: Blame it on the Rain by
Milli Vanilli.
• Favorite toy as a child: LEGOs.
• Favorite board game: Chutes and Ladders with my boys – even
though they cheat.
OSCPA Annual Members Meeting – June 8, 2012 – Cox Convention Center, Downtown Oklahoma City
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The way to shine?
People who light the way with
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and Sarah Stafford on being
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It’s an accomplishment that
makes all of us shine.
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Ernst & Young
Tulsa
Sarah Stafford
Ernst & Young
Oklahoma City
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People who light the way with
their integrity and professional
excellence — these are the kinds
of people who build our success
at Ernst & Young. We are pleased
to congratulate Daron Houston
and Sarah Stafford on being
named 2012 OSCPA Trailblazers.
It’s an accomplishment that
Daron Houston
Ernst & Young
Tulsa
Sarah Stafford
Ernst & Young
Oklahoma City
Brad
Johnson
For we are taking pains to do what
is right, not only in the eyes of the
Lord but also in the eyes of man.
(2 Corinthians 8:21)
Since joining the Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma in
Oklahoma City in 2009 as a vice president and controller, Brad
Johnson, CPA, has used his advanced skills in Microsoft Excel to
develop several tools the foundation’s staff uses on a regular basis.
He developed a cash management system to document
projected cash requirements and to forecast cash balance. He
also developed an Excel file to track activity in the foundation’s
alternative investments in order to expand their ability to project
cash flow on that specific type of investment. Most recently, he
developed Excel files to assist employees in managing interest rate
risk, liquidity management and asset-liability matching.
Johnson said his most significant community involvement
is through his church, Quail Springs Baptist Church, where
he works with the 7th and 8th grade ministries on Wednesday
nights as a member of the “Crowd Team,” which coordinates
organization for Wednesday night services. He enjoys the
opportunity to provide the kids with a positive role model.
Johnson will serve on the Finance Committee this year and is
looking forward to providing input from the perspective of a
Brad’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: An engineer.
• One thing on my bucket list: Play golf at Pebble Beach.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Saved by the Bell.
• My favorite app: Echofon.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
CPA. This year, he will also serve as a co-leader for the church’s
Relay for Life team.
Of all the church activities Johnson participates in, he says his
favorite is with the Upwards Basketball program. After coaching
for four years, Johnson now officiates and is able to take on more
of an administrative role. He helps set up the gym, directs traffic
and serves the needs of the coaches. He also occasionally provides
the devotional at the games. “The reason I enjoy helping this
organization,” he explained, “is that it is a convergence of the
three things I enjoy most outside of accounting: sports, working
with kids and sharing the gospel of Christ.”
Johnson graduated magna cum laude from Oklahoma Baptist
University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. In addition to
being a member of the AICPA, Johnson serves on
the OSCPA’s Banking and Other Financial Institutions
Committee.
• If I could be a master chef at making anything, it would be:
Cheesecake.
• My favorite midnight snack: Cereal.
• Website I am completely addicted to: Daily Thunder.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be: Wisdom.
We Go To
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Congratulations Brad
The Baptist Foundation of Oklahoma
congratulates Brad Johnson
for being named a
2012 Trailblazer by OSCPA.
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Greg Jones
“It takes 20 years to build a
reputation and five minutes to
ruin it.” –Warren Buffet
Greg Jones, CPA, believes his greatest business achievement
is his promotion to partner at age 31, with Eide Bailly, LLC in
Oklahoma City. He said although being one of the youngest
partners can certainly be a challenge, he definitely feels that it is a
huge honor to be promoted at a relatively early age.
Jones said his most significant personal achievement has been
to balance a challenging career with a successful home life. He
confessed it is difficult to find time to get work done at the office
and still find time to spend with his family.
Steve Corley, CPA, partner-in-charge of Eide Bailly
Oklahoma, said, “Greg Jones is viewed as a leader in our offices
and also our firm. He co-chairs our firm-wide Oil & Gas
Committee and is very active in that industry. Greg recently took
over the responsibility for our Oklahoma tax department and
serves as the head of that department in addition to his client
responsibilities. Greg is clearly well respected by our clients, who
depend on him as well as his fellow partners locally and across the
firm. He is certainly deserving of being included as a Trailblazer.”
Greg’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A golf pro.
• One thing I won’t do: Bungee jump.
• If I could be any superhero, it would be: Wolverine.
• My favorite app: Pandora.
• My first job: I worked in the cart barn at Coffee Creek Golf Course.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Jones received both his Bachelor of Science in Business
Administration and his MBA from Southwestern Oklahoma State
University in Weatherford, Okla.
Jones is the treasurer for the Edmond Public Schools
Foundation. He is also a member of the AICPA and the National
Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA), and
has served on the OSCPA’s New CPA Committee and chaired
the OSCPA’s Business Valuation/Forensic & Litigation Support
Committee.
• If I could have any animal as a pet, I would have: An elephant.
• I am most afraid of: Sharks.
• My favorite midnight snack: Cereal.
• My favorite toy as a child: Voltron action figures.
• If I could be a master chef at making anything, it would be: Barbeque.
Jennifer
Matson
“Most folks are as happy as they
make up their minds to be.”
–Abraham Lincoln
Jennifer Matson, CPA, a senior assurance manager with
HoganTaylor, LLP in Tulsa, comes from a long line of stay-athome moms and always envisioned herself doing just that. The
summer after her sophomore year at the University of Oklahoma,
where she received her bachelor’s degree in accounting, she
worked as a student clerk and decided she liked working, after all.
During her last semester, Matson accepted a position in public
accounting and said she really enjoyed the work and realized
she was good at it. After three years, she moved to Tullius Taylor
Sartain & Sartain as an audit senior to work with…her dad, a
founder of the firm.
“What would it be like working for my dad? I wasn’t sure,
but I thought it might be fun to try,” Matson said. But that
move lead to what Matson says is her most significant business
achievement — becoming a senior manager in what became the
largest local public accounting firm in the state while spending
the last 10 years working for her dad.
Jennifer’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A lawyer.
• If I could be any superhero, I would be: Rogue.
• My nickname: My mother calls me Jiffy.
• If I could have any animal, it would be: A penguin.
• My first job: Working in the gift shop at the Tulsa Zoo.
“I’ve obviously known the personal side of my dad all of my
life, but it has truly been an honor to get to know the professional
side of him also,” she said. “Making a decision to pursue a career
in public accounting and then maintaining that career, being
successfully promoted to senior management, learning to balance
my career with family and children and becoming a key member
of a firm my dad founded over 20 years ago is truly a feeling of
accomplishment.”
Matson is a board member and Finance Committee member
of the Youth Services of Tulsa and a member of the Oklahoma
Independent Petroleum Association. In addition to being a
member of the AICPA, Matson is involved with the Tulsa
Chapter of the OSCPA.
• My personal theme song would be: Beautiful Day by U2.
• My favorite childhood toy: Bunny Boo – A ratty, old stuffed bunny
that went everywhere with me.
• If I could have an endless supply of something, it would be:
Twizzlers..
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
27
Steven
Phelan
“Always act like you know where
you are going. Chances are you
will wind up some place you
would rather be.”
“Learn to serve your profession.” This advice was given to
Steven Phelan, CPA, when he was hired by a former employer
almost a decade ago. He was told he was required to be active in
the profession and in the community. He never thought it would
have such a profound effect on his career.
Phelan began his service with the OSCPA New CPA
Committee. The newly-formed group needed a committee chair
and he felt up to the challenge. After almost five years of service
and a job change, he decided to focus on his passion: technology
consulting. He joined and eventually chaired the technology
Committee for two years. He is currently a member of the
OSCPA Taxation Committee.
His tenure with the OSCPA Technology Committee led
him to several teaching opportunities and, over the past several
years, has led to speaking engagements with most of the OSCPA
chapters and several OSCPA conferences as well as a recurring
spot at the annual OSCPA Tax Institute.
Steven’s Trail Mix
• If I could be a superhero, I would be: Batman — He has the
coolest gadgets.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: The A-Team.
• My nickname: Two Tawl.
• Favorite board game: Cribbage.
• My first job: Ice Cream Sundae Artist at Braum’s.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Additionally, Phelan is a contributing author for a nationally
published magazine, CPA Practice Advisor, reviewing tax and
accounting software. The exposure ultimately landed him a
teaching position with K2 Enterprises, a provider of technologyfocused education to accountants and other professionals across
the country.
“Looking back at my career, and all the ups and downs that
came with it, it is easy for me to see I would not be where I am
today if I hadn’t learned to serve my profession,” Phelan said.
A tax manager with North Bay Associates, Phelan also
owns his own firm. However, he still finds time to serve in his
community — he currently serves on the Board of Directors and
is the treasurer for the Friends of the Mustang Library.
“Due to the organization being a non-profit, fundraising is
a key component and I have had the opportunity to assist in a
number of fundraising events,” Phelan explained. “This, in turn,
has allowed me to meet many people within the community and
has proved very fruitful. I look forward to continuing to serve
with this organization and to be active in other organizations over
the coming years.”
• If I could be a chef at something, it would be: Pastrami
sandwiches.
• My quirky talent: I taught myself how to juggle during finals week
in college.
• My pet peeve: People wo insist on backing into parking spaces
instead of parking forward like normal people.
Ronnie
Richards
Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you. (Luke 6:30)
Ronnie Richards, CPA, a senior audit manager with Peters
& Chandler, PC in Oklahoma City, says his most significant
business achievement occurred when he passed the CPA exam.
“The initials ‘CPA’ have meant so much to me, especially
knowing how difficult it is to pass,” he explained. “Without those
initials, I would not have been able to position myself to become
a future leader in the accounting profession.”
His involvement as a coach for youth baseball and basketball
teams has allows him to make what he feels is his most significant
community achievement: motivating kids.
“It has truly been a blessing to be involved in the lives of these
youth,” Richards said. “If I am able to positively influence just
one … and keep [him or her] on the right track, then all the time
and effort has been worth it.”
He added that his involvement has also afforded him another
benefit: spending time with his son.
Ronnie’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: Still working at Wal-Mart.
• If I could be a superhero, I would be: Superman.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: American Gladiators.
• My favorite app: Words with Friends.
• One word that describes me best: Humble.
“My Dad was not a part of my youth,” Richards explained.
“To be able to watch my son grow up and to be able to be a
positive role model in his life means more to me than anything.
All the time we spend together is precious and something that I
will treasure for the rest of my life.”
Richards is also involved in his church, Northwest Church of
Christ, where he serves as a deacon, corporate board treasurer/
secretary and on the finance committee.
A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Richards is also a
member of the AICPA and he previously served on the OSCPA
Technology Committee.
• A quirky talent I wish I had: Magic tricks.
• My pet peeve: Lazy people.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Knowledge.
• My favorite board game: Sorry!
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
29
Ross Roye
“To look at a thing is very
different from seeing a thing.”
–Oscar Wilde
What started as a summer sales job to make ends meet,
turned into a three-year job and the most significant business
achievement for Ross Roye, CPA. However, it also caused him to
put off obtaining his CPA.
The audit senior with Gray, Blodgett & Company, PLLC in
Norman worked for a friend’s father, who wanted to expand his
business. Roye said assisting in the process of expanding a local
business and observing how implementing basic financial controls
in a small business could allow that expansion to occur helped
him find satisfaction in his work, but it also allowed him to realize
that accounting can help businesses of all sizes grow and become
successful.
“It brought me to a decision to return to the realm of public
accounting and to become a CPA, where I knew I could help
more businesses, large and small,” he explained.
Ross’ Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A logger on the TV show, Ax Men.
• One thing I will not do: My own tax return.
• My favorite app: Flashlight.
• My nickname: Sweet Feet (Intramural football).
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Double Dare.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Roye received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the
University of Oklahoma, where he was part of the Scholar’s
program as a freshman for academic excellence and was on the
Dean’s Honor Roll seven times. He also was a Kappa Sigma
Fraternity Scholarship/Leadership Award Winner and recently
served on its Alumnus Advisor Council.
In addition to being a member of the AICPA, Roye serves as
the secretary/treasurer for the Norman Chapter of the OSCPA
and is currently serving on the OSCPA’s New CPA Committee.
He also volunteers for the Oklahoma Regional Food Bank.
• My quirky talent: I tell bad jokes really, really well.
• If I could have any other quirky talent, it would be: A
contortionist.
• The worst purchase I ever made: I paid 50 cents for a Buffalo
Nickel.
Chris Scott
“The surest way not to fail is to
determine to succeed.”
–Richard Brinsley Sheridan
Passing the CPA Exam on his first attempt within two
windows is what Chris Scott, CPA, considers one of his most
significant business achievements. He believes the CPA credential
will help him succeed no matter what direction his career path
takes.
A senior associate with Grant Thornton, LLP in Oklahoma
City, Scott is proud of his work with one of his office’s biggest oil
and gas clients. When he replaced a manager who left the firm,
Scott knew the task would be both challenging and rewarding.
He continued to maintain the relationship and was honored that
the feedback from his formal performance review from the client
was so positive that it was used during the firm’s annual meeting
as an example of the quality of service that their office delivers to
their clients.
Chris’ Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A ski instructor.
• One thing on my bucket list: Attend the Super Bowl.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Price is Right.
• My favorite hobby: Attending OSU football games.
• I am most afraid of: Tornados and snakes, equally.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Scott said his time with his young daughter has reinforced
his desire to help educate and encourage children in need and
considers this his most significant community achievement.
In the past year, he volunteered as a classroom instructor for
Junior Achievement at Overholser Elementary, was a tutor and
mentor at Kaiser Elementary for the United Way and was a camp
volunteer for the Wes Welker Foundation.
“While each of these organizations has a separate goal, they
share a common focus of enhancing the lives of children whose
families would likely not have the means to do so without this
assistance.”
Scott received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
Oklahoma State University. He serves on the OSCPA’s New CPA
Committee and is a member of the AICPA.
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Survivor.
• If I could have any animal, it would be: A miniature rhinoceros.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Cheez-Its.
• My first job: A cashier at Target.
Sarah
Stafford
“Make life matter.”
An audit manager for Ernst and Young, LLP in Oklahoma
City, Sarah Stafford, CPA, also serves as the director of recruiting.
She believes public accounting is one of the best places to
launch a career out of college and she enjoys being able to share
her career experiences with college students through campus
recruiting.
Stafford said her most significant community achievement is
being named Treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Boys and
Girls Club of Oklahoma.
“This leadership role has provided me with the opportunity to
use my accounting background to benefit an amazing charitable
organization that enables all young people, especially those that
need it most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring,
and responsible citizens,” she explained. “I am grateful that Ernst
& Young encourages my involvement … and affords me the
opportunities to serve others. While a career in public accounting
can be stressful at times, volunteering at the club puts things
into perspective for me and allows me to use my background to
do what is truly important—provide positive experiences and
promising futures for four hundred kids each day.”
Sarah’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A full-time volunteer.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Saved by the Bell.
• My favorite hobby: Yoga.
• I am most afraid of: Papercuts.
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: The Price is Right.
Stafford has also been involved with the United Way as a
Community Investment Volunteer for the past six years. She
serves on the OSU School of Accounting Advisory Board and is
on the Ernst & Young Community Engagement Committee.
Stafford graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s
and master’s degree in accounting from Oklahoma State
University. She received the OSCPA Outstanding Accounting
Student – Gold Award and the Federation of Schools of
Accountancy Student Achievement Award. She is also a
member of the AICPA.
• My first concert: The Rolling Stones.
• My favorite midnight snack: Taco Bueno.
• The one movie I can watch over and over: Coming to America.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Popchips.
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
33
Kyle
Stewart
“You’ll never be sorry for doing
the right thing.”
Kyle Stewart, CPA, an assurance services senior manager
for Cole & Reed, PC, in Oklahoma City, has been involved in
recruiting, interviewing, mentoring and training since joining
the firm in 2005. He believes his most significant business
achievement is supervising Excel and technology training.
“One of the best ways to ensure my success in public
accounting is to help facilitate the development and growth of
other employees,” Stewart said. “The best way to ensure their
success is to provide them with all the available tools, such as
training in technology, which in turn aids in excellent client
service. As we, and all businesses, move to a more paperless
environment, the electronic tools and their analysis tools become
all that more important.”
Work/life balance, Stewart said, is his most significant personal
achievement. He puts his family first and carves out time for
them, regardless of what his workload is.
“I believe that keeping my family as my top priority has
enabled me to be an even better employee,” Stewart said.
Kyle’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A coach.
• You’ll never catch me wearing: Socks and sandals.
• If I could be any superhero, I would be: Ironman; You get to wear
a cool costume and you could fly.
• My favorite app: Super Stick Golf.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
Civic involvement is also important to Stewart. He is a
member of the Downtown Oklahoma City Lion’s Club where
he serves on the website committee. He also volunteers for
the Upwards Basketball and Soccer programs as a coach and
referee, and for Warm Christmas, a program that provides winter
necessities to underprivileged children, Additionally, Stewart
volunteers in the children’s art tent for the Oklahoma City
Festival of the Arts and at Northridge Elementary School for the
Watch D.O.G.S (Dads of Great Students) program. He and his
wife are charter members of Church of the Journey, where he also
serves as treasurer and as a children’s ministry volunteer.
Stewart is a member of the AICPA, Oklahoma Surety
Association and the Insurance Accounting & Systems Association
(IASA). Additionally, he is a member of the Association of
Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP), where he recently completed
an article for their 2012 Operations Manual. He graduated
summa cum laude with a degree in accounting from the
University of Central Oklahoma.
• If I could be on any game show, it would be: Wheel of Fortune.
• My first concert: Creed.
• My pet peeve: My wife telling me what her pet peeves are.
• My favorite childhood toy: LEGOs.
• If I could have an endless supply of anything, it would be:
Coca-Cola
Holly
Stuart
“The location of paradise has far
more to do with a person than the
place.” –Nathaniel Bronner, Jr.
She previously served on the OSCPA’s New CPA Committee
and is the current OSCPA Ada Chapter president. Stuart is also a
member of the Oklahoma Bankers Association. She received her
accounting degree from East Central University in Ada and is a
graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Colorado.
Holly Stuart, CPA, is a vice president/accounting officer for
Vision Bank in Ada, Okla. The certified internal auditor said her
most significant business achievement was obtaining her CPA –
especially because, according to Stuart, taking tests is very difficult
for her.
Stuart said her most significant personal achievements are
“marrying the man of my dreams and taking care of my two
wonderful boys.” Regarding her husband, she said “he is a man
of God that guides our household through the ups and downs.”
She continued, “My husband and children push me to new limits
every day that I never thought I could achieve.”
Stuart is a volunteer for the House of Hope, a member
of Young Professionals of Ada and is a board member of Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Ada. She is also a member of Trinity
Baptist Church where she serves as a greeter, nursery worker and a
preschool aide.
Holly’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A full-time volunteer for a not-for profit organization.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Saved by the Bell.
• My favorite hobby: Sewing.
• My favorite app: Pinterest.
• I was named after: My grandmother. She was born on Christmas .
• My first concert: New Kids on the Block.
• The one movie I can watch over and over: Sweet Home Alabama.
• The website I am completely addicted to: I’m not addicted, but I
visit Facebook at least three times a week.
• My favorite toy as a child: Glow Worm.
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
35
Christy
Sughru
“Treat others the way you want to
be treated.”
Christy Sughru, CPA, a tax senior with Peters & Chandler,
PC in Oklahoma City, is not only extensively involved with the
OSCPA, but with the community as well. A director-at-large on
the OSCPA Board of Directors, she is a member of the Taxation
Committee and the New CPA orientation task group, and has
previously chaired the New CPA Committee
Sughru is a member of the Oklahoma Center for Not for
Profits, where she said she has gained experience and a better
understanding of how philanthropic entities interplay and impact
our society. She is amazed and encouraged by the hard working
and selfless individuals involved, and hopes to retain and advance
in this accounting niche.
“It is such organizations that remind me to count my blessings
and do what I can to give back to the community and, hopefully,
others,” Sughru said.
She said her most significant community achievement is
participating in the Oklahoma Lakes Sweep, an annual cleanup event held at metro-located lakes to pick up trash and debris
surrounding the shoreline and watershed areas. She believes
respecting and maintaining the environment is a responsibility we
should all share in and she is looking forward to her entire family
participating in this tradition in the upcoming years.
Christy’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A travel agent.
• My teen crush: Bono.
• You will never catch me wearing: Hair bows.
• My nickname: Bisty.
• Favorite toy as a child: Roller skates.
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March/April 2012
Sughru is a member of the Oklahoma Women’s Coalition, the
Oklahoma Regional Foodbank and the Oklahoma ZooFund for
Kids.
Proud of her involvement with Junior Achievement, Sughru
taught “Careers with a Purpose” in the Oklahoma City Public
Schools in 2011. “I have always wanted to give back and share in
the academic world. As professionals, I believe we all owe it to the
next generation to be a positive and encouraging influence.”
Graduating with honors, Sughru received a bachelor’s in
zoology from the University of Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in
accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma.
She is also a member of the AICPA.
• I am most afraid of: Open-heart surgery.
• A quirky talent I wish I had: Analyzing handwriting.
• My first concert: Run DMC.
• The worst purchase I ever made: Leather jeans.
• TV show I watched religiously as a child: Happy Days
Dmitry
Volfson
“Celebrate what you’ve
accomplished, but raise the bar
a little higher each time you
succeed.” –Mia Hamm
At HoganTaylor, LLP in Tulsa, Dmitry Volfson, CPA, has
participated in two noteworthy projects this past year. He led
a team in the creation of an external collaboration site and he
oversaw the design of an Excel Macro to generate reports, all
while maintaining a full client load as an assurance senior.
He also helped friends, who started their own company,
with several accounting issues, including assisting with the
initial workflow of major accounting transactions, designing
their accounting ledgers and providing guidance on accrual
accounting.
Volfson believes it is imperative for individuals to bond
together within the community and provide assistance in
whatever capacity that they are able. In 2011, he was elected to
the board of directors for Tulsa CARES, an organization that
provides financial and emotional assistance to individuals in the
community directly impacted by AIDS or HIV. He also joined
the organization’s finance committee, where he assists in
the review of all monthly financial statements and works on the
annual report and any other accounting changes that may impact
the organization.
Along with his wife, Volfson is a member of LifeChurch.
TV and participates in various volunteer activities, including
preparing food for families in need around the holidays and
donating money to various causes undertaken by the church.
Volfson received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from
Iowa State University, as well as spent a semester abroad at
Regents College in London, England. He is also a member of
the AICPA.
Dmitry’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A pilot.
• One thing I won’t do: Ride a motorcycle.
• My favorite app: iMapMyRUN.
• My nickname: Siberian Express.
• If I could be any super hero, I would be: Batman.
• The kindest thing someone has done for me: My wife surprised
me with a flying lesson on a Cessna.
• My first job: Detasseling corn in Iowa.
• My favorite childhood toy: Remote control airplane.
• My favorite board game: Risk.
March/April 2012
CPAFOCUS
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Julie Ward
Walk worthy of God, who hath
called you unto His kingdom and
glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)
The majority of community and civic activities for Julie Ward,
CPA, revolve around religious organizations. So it comes as no
surprise that the senior tax accountant with Mark E Gunkel,
CPA, PC in Stillwater said her “personal relationship with Jesus
Christ is the most significant aspect” of her life.
“Because of my love for and commitment to God, I feel
that my involvement in outreach to the people of Stillwater,
Oklahoma, has been one of my most significant community and
personal achievements,” Ward said.
Ward is extensively involved in the Stillwater Bible Baptist
Church where she is in the choir, works in the nursery and is a
cook team leader. In 2010, along with a friend, Ward began a
ministry to international students, reaching out to befriend them
and help them understand American culture and beliefs. “Most
international students want to learn as much as they can while
they are in America and I believe the impact I have on them by
investing in their lives will reach even more people as they return
to their respective countries,” Ward explained.
The 2006 recipient of the Tulsa Exceptional Accounting
Student Award, given by Financial Executives of Tulsa (FEI),
Ward was chosen as the top accounting student by the professors
of OSU-Tulsa and received a scholarship for that year. Ward
received her bachelor’s degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude,
and her master’s degree from Oklahoma State University.
Ward says her rapid efficiency in accounting and her ability to
add satisfied and loyal customers to the firm is one of her most
significant business achievements. She believes that giving clients
a reason to be satisfied with her superiors and be loyal to the firm
is one of the greatest things she can do for her employer.
A member of the Young Professionals of Stillwater, Ward also
serves as the secretary/treasurer for the North Central Chapter of
the OSCPA.
Julie’s Trail Mix
• If I weren’t a CPA, I would be: A tax lawyer.
• One thing I won’t do: Touch a mouse trap with a dead mouse
in it.
• My nickname: Jul-T, Lady J and Oogie.
• My quirky talent: I break into song at random with lyrics that fit
the comments or topics of the conversation.
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CPAFOCUS
March/April 2012
• My favorite midnight snack: Chocolate pizza.
• My first job: Seamstress making skydiving suits.
• If I could have an endless supply of something, it would be:
Wisdom.
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