“The currency of real networking is not greed but generosity.”
                                                                                      — Keith Ferrazzi

As the new calendar year is beginning, so our CalCPA year is coming to a close. I really liked this quote since one of the latest holidays celebrated, Christmas, is often referred to as “the season of giving.” While the CalCPA year technically doesn’t close until April 30, I’m not sure how many of you will be interested to read anything more than necessary until or after that point. So, this will be my last blog, but I still plan to see you at events in the coming years!

This year has been all about networking towards building connections and encouraging you to get involved with CalCPA. I have been pleased with the results of this year’s goal! By the time this blog is posted, our chapter will have hosted more than 20 events and discussion forums for our region’s members. We’ve given away $16,500 in scholarship funds to deserving student members in our Chapter. We’ve raised more than $12,000 at events for future scholarships. Despite seasons with various “bugs” and illnesses going around, we’ve averaged more than 35 attendees among the year’s events and eight at discussion forums. We’ve had several individuals reach out with interest to join our Chapter board or to become involved in committees. We will have a full complement of board members and officers starting May 1. These are just some examples of the successes we’ve had this fiscal year!

I can’t take credit for all of these successes by myself! I’ve had an amazing team backing me this year, including:

• Past President Chris Barnes;

• Vice President Andrew Le;

• Secretary/Treasurer Toby Benguerel;

• Directors Shelvina Bains, Maribel Galan, Shannon Hayes, Ned Leiba, Nathan Ortiz, Elicia Padlo Pitau, and Megan Stambaugh;

• Committee Chairs Elicia Padlo Pitau, Ned Leiba, Doug DeBoer, Shannon Hayes, Megan Stambaugh, Kit Lee, Ashley Green, Eileen Pastenieks, Rob Hawks, Chris Barnes, Andrew Le, Lizzi Rownd, Chad Van Houten, and Sintia Younan;

• Program Manager Rachael Fleming; and

• Last but not least, YOU!

Without all of you, we would not have had the buy-in to make my year’s vision happen, the events planned and executed to give an outlet for the vision to happen, or the brilliant ideas that have been suggested to make future years even better. Thank you so, so much for the time, thoughts and presence you have given to this chapter. I am truly humbled by your commitment to CalCPA.

The next time you see a President blog for our chapter in May, our next president, Andrew Le will be at the helm. I’m so excited to see where Andrew takes our Chapter, above and beyond!

Thank you, and Signing off,
Jamee N. Bollinger, CPA
San Joaquin Chapter incoming Past President