Los Angeles Chapter
A blog for and by a community of professionals
President's Message
January 20, 2012
By Michael Spindler, CPA
And so it begins! Yes, February is here and the audit and tax busy seasons have begun. And we all know, it gets worse from here on out before it gets better. February only gives way to “March madness.” No, not the NCAA basketball tournament, but the pressures of increased work as filing deadlines loom ever larger and closer. You may notice that our chapter has fewer meetings this time of year as many of our discussion groups and technical committees go dark. We know you’re all too busy. So, courtesy of WebMD, I thought I would share a few tips on how to deal with the stress of the season:
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YEP Corner
January 20, 2012
Connect with other CalCPA young and emerging professionals and join the Los Angeles YEP Committee. All you need to do is update your member profile and you will receive notifications of upcoming YEP events, such as this one:
April 26: LA Young & Emerging Professionals Seventh Annual Bowling Night
Meet with us after work for a night of networking and friendly competition at Jillian’s at Universal CityWalk. This is a team competition, so let us know if you want to bowl with someone you know or if you’re ready to take the plunge and make new friends.
Appetizers, bowling and bowling shoes are included. No-host beverages.
CalCPA, ASCEND, and Beta Alpha Psi Hosts Emerging Professionals Student Summit
More than 70 accounting students from local colleges and universities descended onto the campus of California State University, Los Angeles Jan. 7 to attend the Emerging Professionals Student Summit hosted by CalCPA’s Young and Emerging Professionals Committee, ASCEND and Beta Alpha Psi.
The summit’s primary focus was on providing students with an overview of the CPA profession and job market, as well as the utilization of soft skills, such as interviewing etiquette and dress.
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Chapter News
The chapter’s Taxation Committee needs volunteers for its free income tax service, so sign up today and help low-income families file their taxes.
Dates: Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28
Time: 7–9 p.m.
Location: Eastmont Community Center; 701 S. Hoefner Ave.; Los Angeles
Info: Al Brown, (818) 884-6932 or email.
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We would like to recognize and thank Robert and Judith Hay for their donation to the scholarship fund.
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Member Corinne Pleger (October 1954 –November 2011)
Member Max Balter (August 1940–December 2011)
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Join us as David N. Fogel, Esq., from the IRS/Estate & Gift Tax Policy, provides an update on IRS structure for addressing estate and gift tax matters, as well as developments in setting policy in the nationwide administration of estate and gift matters. Fogel will share helpful tips about how to prepare estate tax returns and work with the IRS. He’ll also provide updates on any new law developments.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 8
Register online.
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FTB Taxpayer Rights Advocate Steve Sims will discuss what the FTB is looking for this upcoming tax season, answer taxpayer and practitioner questions and discuss FTB changes relating to auditing tax returns.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 15
Register online.
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Learn about the pitfalls and triumphs of businesses that have faced off against the Board of Equalization and other state sales/use tax agencies.
Guest speaker Suzanne Beaudelaire, CPA, CMI, will share horror stories and insights about how to keep yourself and your clients from getting blindsided by an unexpected and potentially lethal sting after a sales and use tax misstep.
Date: Wednesday, Feb. 15
Register online.
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We are proud to announce the following members as incoming leaders for 2012–13:
Officers (2012–13)
President: Kristen N. Contreras, Bioness, Inc.
First Vice President: Cory J. Stigile, Hochman Salkin Rettig Toscher & Perez
Vice President: Jillian N. Phan, Meloni Hribal Tratner LLP
Vice President: Marc J. Gedeon, CPA
Vice President: Stephen Redmond, CPA, Moss Adams LLP
Treasurer: Gogi K. Overhoff, CPA, CFE
Secretary: Rochelle N. Nakajima, CPA, JH Cohn LLP
Past President: Michael Spindler, Navigant Consulting
Directors (2012–14)
Robert S. Seltzer CPA/PFS
Beth L. Bayer, Time Warner Cable
Martin D. Seiden, Gish Seiden LLP
Steven Valdes, Frazer LLP
Martin Sniewski, Crowe Horwath LLP
Chandni Jalan, Moss Adams LLP
David Papotta, Kirsch Kohn & Bridge LLP
Ruth Baldauf, Partner Engineering & Science
Scott Donnelly, Piazza Donnelly & Marlette LLP
Norachai Chawareewong, CPA
Marc Pribble, RBZ LLP
Council Representatives
Kristen N. Contreras, Bioness, Inc.
Cory J. Stigile, Hochman Salkin Rettig Toscher & Perez
Gayle M. Whittemore, Whittemore & Associates
Jeff Chen, CPA, Esq., Canyon Capital Advisors, LLC
Gogi K. Overhoff, CPA, CFE
Jillian N. Phan, Meloni, Hribal, Tratner LLP
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CalCPA annually awards more than $300,000 in scholarships to the best and the brightest accounting students in California—could you be next?
The Los Angeles Chapter is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2012-13 academic year. Applicants must be a CalCPA member. Student membership is free: www.calcpa.org/join.
Scholarship applications must be postmarked by Friday, April 6, 2012.
In addition, CalCPA’s Scholarship Resource Guide is a helpful tool for accounting students at all levels.
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CalCPA News
Each year, CalCPA recognizes those members who have gone above and beyond the call of duty by awarding the Public Service and Distinguished Service awards, as well as the Public Service Award for Firms. If you know anyone or any firm fitting the bill, share the news with us.
Review the qualifications and download nomination forms online. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 30.
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From tips on how to best navigate the IRS to staying abreast of the new return preparer regulations to who to contact with questions, the 2012 IRS Filing Season Letter provides a wealth of resources.
Download your copy today and keep it nearby as you go through this busy season.
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