Regional Conference Helps African American Students Develop Careers in Accounting

Raphael Irving

Since its founding in 1969, the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) has played a major role in helping African Americans in the accounting industry, both students, and professionals, build successful careers.  On Economic Perspectives this past Monday, the Western Region President , Raphael Irving, talked about how college students will benefit from participating in the NABA Southwest-Western Region Student Conference which will be held in Houston October 3 – 5.  To listen to the interview click here: 

This year’s conference, as in past years, will offer seminars and workshops designed to enhance your communicative and interpersonal skills and provide tools that will allow for a smoother transition into the professional environment. The conference will also offer the optimum forum to interact with students from other colleges and universities.

Financial Fitness Seminar Targets African American Families in November

The National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Austin Cen-Tex Chapter’s First Annual Financial Fitness Seminar is being held Saturday, November 5, 2011, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Huston-Tillotson University.  The Financial Fitness Seminar will feature a wide variety of free workshops that will provide will help families achieve better results in managing their personal finances and starting a business.

The recent economic downturn has left a number of families struggling to survive, especially in the Black community.  According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black unemployment is 16 percent, nearly twice as high as it was in December of 2008 when the “Great Recession” began.  A recent analysis of government data by the Pew Research Center revealed that median wealth of Black households in 2009 was only $5,677 while that of white households was $113,149.

Roger Davis

Roger Davis, president of NABA’s Austin Cen-Tex chapter  says that sponsoring the seminar  provides opportunities for members to fulfill their civic responsibilities.”It promotes public confidence in our members and their services,” explains Davis. Davis also thanked Charles Schwab for being the title sponsor of the Financial Fitness Seminar.

The Financial Fitness Seminar is in line with NABA’s commitment to improving  financial education in the African American and other communities by providing basic financial tools that allow individuals to establish realistic goals and work towards achieving them.  Experienced professionals will deliver the training workshops which will include:

• Taking Charge of Your Finances
• Budgeting, Checking, and Savings
• Registering for Camps/College/Grants/Scholarships
• Car Buying / Credit
• Home Buying / Credit
• Youth Small Business
• Adult Small Business
• 401K, Pensions, Investments
• Estates, Trusts, Wills
• Tax Update

A number of non-profit organizations will assist with the training including BiG Austin, Economic Growth Business Incubator, Foundation Communities, and Frameworks.

Juanita Stephens

NABA member Juanita Stephens who is teaching the workshop on 401K, Pensions, Investments says a financial planner’s job is not to make you rich, but to keep you from being poor.

“We are living in a time of have’s and have nots.  Which one do you want to be,”  explains Stephens, an investment advisor  for Austin’s Wealth Specialists.

Working with NABA member Regina Shelton, a student at St. Edwards University, the Austin Cen-Tex chapter developed a training track for youth instead of focusing exclusively on adults.

“For our communities to be strong, current adults and future adults must prepare themselves for a ever changing and uncertain economy to our families and businesses to thrive and survive going forward,” says Davis.

For more information and registration contact Hopeton Hay at hopeton@econpers.com.

Founding President of National Association of Black Accountants Keynote Speaker at Scholarship Reception

Frank Ross, founding president of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), will be featured on the April 18 edition of Economic Perspectives at 5:30 p.m. on KAZI 88.7 FM. The 2nd segment of Economic Perspectives will feature Al Switzler, co-author of Change Anything: The New Science of Personal Success.

Frank Ross

Ross  is the keynote speaker for the 6th Annual Scholarship & Awards Reception for the Austin Cen-Tex Chapter of NABA on April 21, 4:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. at the UT Austin AT&T Executive Education & Conference Center, 1900 University Blvd. More information on the Scholarship & Awards Reception is available at nabaaustincentex.org.

When Ross and 8 other accountants founded NABA in December of 1969, there were only 136 African American CPAs out of a total of 100,000.  Ross was the first African American partner at Peat Marwick (known as KPMG today) and also was the the first African American to serve on the board of directors of KPMG US.  After 38 years at KPMG including service as Midatlantic Area Managing Partner for Audit and Risk Advisory Services, he retired in December of 2003.  Since  2004 he has served as the Director of the Center for Accounting Education at the Howard University School of Business.  In addition Ross has been a Visiting Professor of Accounting at Howard University since 1982.

Ross has also written a book about his life as an immigrant and successful CPA , Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too: A Black Accountant’s Success Story.

Change Anything

In Change Anything, Switzler and his co-authors contend that outside influences make us susceptible to bad habits, and the best way to change those habits is to change the influences around us. By studying the latest psychological and medical research and more than 5,000 everyday people working to overcome challenges, the authors identified 4 change strategies:

1.       IDENTIFY CRUCIAL MOMENTS: Determine your moments of greatest weakness—when enacting the right behavior will have an enormous effect on results.

2.       CREATE VITAL BEHAVIORS: Research shows if you establish rules in advance, you are more likely to change your behavior when a crucial moment hits.

3.       ENGAGE ALL 6 SOURCES OF INFLUENCE: Create a plan to harness the six influence strategies that determine how we behave.

4.       TURN BAD DAYS INTO GOOD DATA so that you learn from your failures and adjust.

Al Switzler is the former president of two consulting firms and director of training and management development for a large healthcare organization. In 2007, he and his coauthors were named Ernst & Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for their work in founding and leading VitalSmarts, a leader in corporate training and organizational development.

Preparation of Minority Students for Accounting Careers & Financial Literacy Focus of October 4 Economic Perspectives

Teeyia Mercer and Roger Davis of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) will discuss the assistance NABA provides minority high school and college students in preparing for careers in accounting and finance, and financial literacy on the October 4 edition of Economic Perspectives, 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. on KAZI 88.7 FM. Listen live online at kazifm.org.

Teeyia Mercer

Mercer and Davis, whom are president and immediate past president, respectively, of the Austin Cen-Tex chapter of NABA, will also provide information on the NABA Southwestern-Western Region Student Conference which will be held in Austin October 14-16, and the Accounting Career Awareness Program (ACAP), which is held for one week in July each year.

The conference, hosted by the Austin Cen-Tex chapter, will offer college students an opportunity to engage in high-caliber, technical and skills development sessions to help equip them for entering the workforce. There will be 25 technical and skills development sessions including, Characteristics of a Successful CPA, Surviving and Succeeding in Corporate America, and Financial Literacy: Budgeting and Making Smart Choices. The conference will also feature a career expo and a scholarship luncheon where 22 college scholarships will be awarded.

Interview with Frank Ross, Co-Founder of National Association of Black Accountants Available

The Economic Perspectives interview with Frank Ross, one of the 9 founders of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), is now available. Ross was also the first president of NABA when it was founded in 1969.  To download or listen to the interview click: Frank Ross Interview.  To obtain a copy of Frank Ross’ book, Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things Too, click here.

Founding President of National Association of Black Accountants March 8 Guest on Economic Perspectives

Frank Ross, one of the 9 founders of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and its first president was the March 8 guest on Economic Perspectives, 5:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. on KAZI 88.7 FM in Austin, Texas.  To downlaod or listen to the interview click: Frank Ross Interview.

Ross, who is being honored as an African American Economic Trailblazer by Economic Perspectives, will shares his career experiences as a pioneering certified public accountant (CPA).  When Ross and 8 other accountants founded NABA in December of 1969, there were only 136 African American CPAs out of a total of 100,000.

Ross was the first African American partner at Peat Marwick (known as KPMG today) and also was the the first African American to serve on the board of directors of KPMG US.  After 38 years at KPMG including service as Midatlantic Area Managing Partner for Audit and Risk Advisory Services, he retired in December of 2003.  Since  2004 he has served as the Director of the Center for Accounting Education at the Howard University School of Business.  In addition Ross has been a Visiting Professor of Accounting at Howard University since 1982.

Ross has also written a book about his life as an immigrant and successful CPA , Quiet Guys Can Do Great Things, Too: A Black Accountant’s Success Story. The book, which features a foreword written by Time Warner Inc. former Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons, is a classic and triumphant American tale; a parable of how one man’s awe and inspiration at life’s possibilities was not thwarted or halted by the darker realities of racism, segregation and discrimination. All proceeds from the sale of the book are earmarked for scholarships for accounting students.

Starting and Growing a Business in Today’s Economic Environment

How do you grow the sales of your business when consumers are reluctant to open their wallets and corporations, small businesses, and government agencies are often cutting their expenditures?  Learn some of the keys of business success today at the seminar “Starting and Growing a Business in Today’s Economic Environment” on Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., at the Monarch Event Center in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center, 6406 N. I-35, Austin, Texas.  Sponsored by KAZI and the Austin Cen-Tex chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), the seminar will feature presentations by a full-time and part-time entrepreneur on their challenges and successes starting or growing their businesses during the recession.  It will also include an overview by a CPA on setting up an accounting and bookkeeping system.  The cost to attend the seminar, which is part of KAZI SummerFest 2009, is to donate school supplies.  The featured speakers are:

• Marlon Green, owner of MSG Accounting Services
• Tommy Griffin, owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin
• Betty Works, CPA

Hopeton Hay, host of Economic Perspectives, will serve as moderator of the workshop.

Green, who has a full-time job while running his business on a part-time basis, says that time mangement is critical to success as an entrepreneur.

“Whether you are starting a full time or part time business it will be imperative that you know how to manage your time effectively on a day to day basis, especially when there is a family involved,” advises Green.

Griffin recently left a position at Applied Materials to launch SpeedPro Imaging North Austin.  He encourages fledgling entrepreneurs to ignore the nay-sayers.

“There will always be nay-sayers and people that don’t understand what you are doing or think that what you are doing is crazy.  Ignore them.  Not everyone is an expert that you should except advice from, but there will be plenty of people out there with free advice to discourage you,” says Griffin.

Works, who has a doctorate in business administration in addition to being a certified public accountant (CPA), advises entrepreneurs to set up a separate bank account for the business to handle income and expenses.  She also says its important to treat employees as partners.

“Employees are valuable assets,” says Works.  For more information and to rsvp to attend the seminar contact Hopeton Hay at hopeton@econpers.com.

About the Speakers

Marlon Green

Marlon Green is an Accountant for a consulting company in downtown Austin, Texas. He is a graduate of Houston Baptist University where he doubled major in Business Administration and Accounting.

Mr. Green has spent the majority of his accounting career in the Oil & Gas industry in Houston, Texas where he was employed by Lyondell Petrochemical Company and Shell Lubricants. In 2009 Marlon Green also started a part time tax preparation business which is called MSG Accounting Services. In addition to the experience that he has obtained in the Accounting field, Mr. Green has been a member of the National Association of Black Accountants where he is currently working with the Community Affairs Committee and the Chair of the Technical Sessions Committee for the 2009 Southwest Western Region Student Conference. Mr. Green has also worked as a liaison for the students at Texas State University.  is the new proud owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin, a small business enterprise that specializes in wide-format printing. 

Tommy Griffin is the new proud owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin, a small business enterprise that specializes in wide-format printing. 

Tommy Griffin

Prior to going into business for himself, Tommy spent nearly 12 years at Applied Materials in both Santa Clara, California and Austin, Texas.  At Applied Materials, Tommy held various roles in Finance including Internal Auditor and Financial Analyst and was promoted multiple times.  His final role was Gross Margin Finance Manager, responsible for reporting gross margin components for the Silicon Business Segment, and Global Process Owner for Installation and Warranty Reserve Accounting.  Prior to joining Applied Materials, Tommy spent three years at public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP in San Jose, California and worked with clients such as Network Equipment Technologies, Granite Rock Construction and The County of Santa Clara.  A native Californian, Tommy was awarded a track scholarship while attending California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, concentration in Accounting.  Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant and married with three school aged children.

Hopeton Hay

Hopeton Hay is the host of Economic Perspectives, a weekly business talk show on KAZI 88.7 FM in Austin, Texas and is founder and editor of the Economic Perspectives Blog. 

He has over 20 years experiences assisting small, minority, and women-owned businesses with access to capital, contracts, and surety bonds.  Currently he manages a technical assistance and training program for minority and women-owned businesses for a major university system.  His past experience includes serving as Project Director of the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Center and Director of Texas Center Operations of the NAACP Community Development Resource Center.  He is a board member of the Austin Cen-Tex chapter of NABA, the Surety Association of South Texas, and the Texas NAACP.

Dr. Betty Works is an Audit Manager for U.S. Army Audit Agency, Acquisition and Logistics Directorate.  She was also the Field Office Manager. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing leadership and management for the audit technical staff and the field office administrative staff.  She works with Agency headquarters to ensure continuity of field office operations.  Dr. Works also coordinates with the Deputy Auditor General for Acquisition and Logistics and the Program Director for Installation Operations to facilitate audit coverage and technical oversight for audits of Army programs–with budgets in excess of $30 million–required to effectively operate installations. 

Dr. Betty Works

Dr. Works began her career with Army Audit Agency in 1987. Her first assignment was with the former Southwest Region located in San Antonio, Texas. Before assuming her current position, she was assigned to the former European Region (Kaiserslautern Field Office) and the New Jersey Field Office.

Dr. Works educational accolades include a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Texas and a Certified Government Financial Manager. She is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants where she holds the position of treasurer. She is also a member of the Texas Society of CPAs.

 Dr. Works is single and resides in Harker Heights, Texas. She has three grown children and a 3 year old grandson.