Incoming chapter Presidents are charged with a Focus. A mission or vision for their one shot at driving and instilling change and improvement for their year at the helm of their respective CalCPA local chapters.

This week at CalCPA's Elevate: Women's Leadership Forum, I was reminded that my "why" is not yours. Likewise, your "why" may not be mine. The beauty of CalCPA is in having the member base to make all of our "why's" heard. To make each and every "why" a movement - an actionable cause. That is what we are all doing, collectively, under this umbrella.

The tasks and the checkboxes: completing the tax return, finishing the audit, closing the books, preparing financial statements, securing bank financing, acting as expert witnesses, landing investors, landing clients, finishing the pro forma, completing the acquisition... These are the things we do, but not why we love what we do.

We are not just checking boxes- we are checking feelings. The feelings of accomplishment and satisfaction we achieve in our work often come from aligning our work with our "why". 

So I ask, what is yours?
Removing systemic barriers.
Technical research and debate.
Community involvement.
Financial literacy.
DE&I in the workplace.
Mentoring our successors.
Coaching students on the opportunities this career path provides.

Every movement hits different for each of us, but this is our collective landing space to pick our passion and drive it home in our community.

This year, I don't charge you with my focus. I charge you with YOURS. Bring it here and we will find exactly where that fits into a broader effort to effect change in our community and our profession. You are bigger than just one person. This is your call to action. This isn't my year - it's yours.

Join us at our Emerging Professionals and Leaders’ Pathway to Partner Panel and get a taste of what is to come for 2024. Our Board Members in attendance will be thrilled to have a sidebar conversation with you about your motivations and efforts for the year, and will help you find exactly where your vision fits within our various committees and volunteer groups. This event will be held at Fuzio Universal Bistro in Modesto on Thursday, May 16 and you can register here.

If you can't make it to this event, please reach out to Rachael or me and we will be happy to connect with you virtually and discuss the various opportunities and motivations of the Chapter. We encompass Mono, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties, and it is my mission to engage and include and connect with all of our members as much as possible, regardless of distance.

I look forward to seeing how much we can accomplish together this year.

Toby