Community Announcements

We received my thank-yous from Students and Universities for Ohio Regional Council's support in attending this year's Student Leadership Conference.  Here are a few notes from students  . . .

Thank you for your generosity in providing funding for our trip to the Institute of Management Accounts Student Leadership Conference in Anaheim, CA. It was a great opportunity to learn more about my chosen career and fun to spend time with classmates. The most impactful thing I took away from the conference is how “diversified” an accounting career can be. There is always room for improvement and endless possibilities. It was an experience I wish every accounting student could experience. Thank you again!

Olivia F. Nist

I wish to thank both groups (Student Affairs, SSC; IMA Ohio Regional Council) for providing the opportunity to attend the 2024 IMA Student Leadership Conference. Not only was it enjoyable to be able to travel, but the conference itself was highly informative and inspiring. One of the biggest takeaways for me was the idea that no opportunity to grow yourself and your career is a bad one. The path you take to achieve your success may turn out to be very different than the plan you had in your head. Aside from that I learned many practical things, such as what the FMAA and CMA tests are; as well as how accounting makes up the foundation of finance, which is the major I study. Again, thank you for such an amazing experience!

Sincerely,

Derek Burt

The conference provided an incredible opportunity to network with fellow IMA students from across the United States, which also helped me create strong connections. I was deeply impressed by the variety of engaging workshops and speaker sessions, each offering valuable professional insights into the accounting field. It served as a distinctive platform to enhance my knowledge of industry trends, develop new skills, and learn from the experiences of accomplished professionals. I am profoundly grateful and feel truly fortunate to be part of such an incredible community—thank you!               

Anastasia Ciobanu        

I'm so appreciative for getting the opportunity to attend the IMA Student Conference this year.  It provided a chance to learn about some awesome opportunities that lie ahead, and to meet and hear from some high-profile individuals that we otherwise would never get to.  My biggest takeaway was learning about a new accounting certification called the FMAA, which I believe I will be able to complete while still in college and distinguish myself from other graduates entering the workforce!  Once again, I am very grateful for this opportunity and everyone who made it possible!

Jared Ellis

Thank you Ohio members for continuing support of students in our area.  The trips this year to Anaheim were very costly for students and they really appreciated our contribution.

Join us at our next professional development event on January 24, 2025, check out our events page.

Chen is the winner of the drawing for a $100 gift card who stayed for all three sessions at today's Controller's Workshop.   Congratulations!!

Date: Friday, December 6th

Location: Postupak Room, McGowan School of Business (Pizza & Refreshments will be provided)

Time: 2:30

Speaker: Preston Balavage, CPA

Topic: Practical Accounting: Why You Need to Know Your Stuff

There’s academic accounting, then there’s field accounting.  When young professionals enter the workforce, they may feel overwhelmed trying to apply what they learned after four years in college to their newly established career.  Looking at the last decade of practicing public accounting since graduation there are several shortcuts, epiphanies, errors, and omissions I commonly use, see, or make on a consistent basis. This session will help you understand the real world of accounting and how to make yourself a valuable member of your future profession.

Preston Balavage, CPA

Preston is a 2013 King’s graduate with a degree in Accounting. His public accounting career began with a local firm in Kingston, PA where he acted as an auditor, tax, and financial accountant. After several years of experience and obtaining his CPA license, he joined Balavage, McNulty & Co where he currently is partner. He serves as a financial, management, and tax accountant for clients throughout the United States.

When he’s not in the office, you can find him outside hiking, kayaking, rock climbing, or mowing grass. Preston also volunteers with his church serving on several councils and activities.

Dear Members,

Interested Mentees please CLICK HERE to submit your applications before 15 Nov 2024.

Registration link

The Tampa Bay Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) is thrilled to invite you to our upcoming networking event! Mark your calendars for November 14th at 6:30 PM, as we gather at Splitsville in Tampa for an evening filled with fun, connection, and camaraderie.

Kick off the holiday season by reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and enjoying a relaxed and festive atmosphere. We've got you covered with the game and a delightful selection of hors d'oeuvres to keep you fueled for all the networking and fun. This is a fantastic opportunity to help us build a strong professional community in the Tampa Bay area while having a great time. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career, this event is the perfect chance to expand your network, share experiences, and enjoy yourself.

Event Details:
- 📅 Date: November 14, 2023
- 🕡 Time: 6:30 PM
- 📍 Location: Splitsville 615 Channelside Dr Tampa, FL 33602

Come and be part of a vibrant community dedicated to professional growth and development, all while having a blast. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please RSVP!

Let's make this a memorable and fun start to the holiday season together!

Board
Tampa Bay Chapter of IMA

We are doing an informal get together to thank Sherry Morse for her services in leadership and also as one of the hosts of the FMN.   Sherry cooked a lot of meals for us when we used to get together for FMN.

We are going to meet at Mavericks in Pleasanton on Saturday December 7th and 7pm.   Bring your boots or dancing shoes.

The 2024 Accounting & Finance Professional Development Conference is set to take place at King’s College on November 16^th.

For more information, please e-mail jamessunday@kings.edu

Thank you,

James Sunday, IMA NEPA Chapter President

In this lively session, Prahas Onteddu, VP of Engagement, puts Aditya Shelar, CMA(US), FRM in the hot seat with quick-fire questions about our upcoming event. From one-word answers to deeper insights, Aditya shares his excitement and perspective on what’s in store🌟.

Tune in for an engaging preview and a few surprises along the way. Watch now and let us know your take✨!

Joplin Tri-State Chapter

Join the Joplin Tri-State IMA chapter for two hours of free CPE with speaker Bill Jelen, also know as Mr. Excel! This virtual presentation will cover all that is new in Excel. It will be a fun and engaging event and we would love to have you join us! The event is free for members and non-members alike, so please share with all who may be interested.

Webcast Title: What's New in Excel
Webcast Date: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time

Use the link below to register and for additional session details.

Be sure to connect with us on our NEW LinkedIn page for the latest updates and Chapter News. 

Exciting news from the IMA Hyderabad Chapter! 🎉

We’re thrilled to present our brand-new series, 'Hot Takes', where we sit down with inspiring leaders and trailblazers in management accounting for candid, insightful conversations. 🌟

Get ready to be motivated, learn, and grow with us as we dive into the stories that shape the future! 🎓

As DFW chapter, we have over 946 registered members.  That is a lot of smart accounting people.  As a community we can contribute time, talent and facilitation.  Networking and investing in lifelong learning takes commitment.  Are you ready to serve your IMA community?  Meet me at CityWorks during our October networking event.  I would love your feedback on what talents and contributions you may have personally or in your talent network.  We are looking for great venues to host events and great event coordination to get to know one another. Do you have access to great speakers to present CPE or maybe you have a great operational employer that would love to host a plant tour.  Maybe you have other ideas.  I don't know about you, but I can really get energized in  a room full of inspired passionate people.  If you cannot make our Frisco event, please feel free to email me and we can discuss.  A HUGE THANK YOU in advance to make DFW a great resource for our membership.

Joyce Bailey

joycebaileycma@gmail.com

Empowering the next generation through mentorship means fostering self-confidence, honing strong communication skills, and developing effective strategies for navigating career challenges. The mentorship program aims to expand professional networks and encourage participants to engage in meaningful self-reflection. By improving goal-setting techniques, we equip individuals with the tools they need to achieve their aspirations. We believe that discovering new perspectives is essential for personal and professional growth, allowing mentees to approach obstacles with creativity and resilience. Through collaborative learning and support, we create an environment where everyone can thrive, build lasting relationships, and unlock their ultimate potential. Join us on this transformative journey to cultivate a community of confident leaders ready to make an impact in their fields and beyond by being a mentor or a mentee!

Mentor Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/g6NHk9U8
Mentee Registration Link: https://lnkd.in/gVvJfh6t
Registration Deadline: October 31, 2024

This is exclusive for IMA Members only.

Link to Information on 2024 IMA Student Leadership Conference

Registration Information can be found via the link above.

Our Q3 / 2024 Newsletter has just been released.

Enjoy the read!

The IMA PA Northeast Chapter is now taking applications for three scholarships of $300 each to be used toward expenses for attending the 2024 IMA Student Leadership Conference!

Who is eligible? All current students enrolled in colleges and universities within the PA Northeast Chapter region.

How to apply? Submit your resume, a statement of support from a faculty member, and your answer to the question below to jamessunday@kings.edu with the subject line “IMA Student Scholarship” by October 25^th, 2024.

Question to be answered: How will attending the Student Leadership Conference benefit you?

If you have any questions, please contact Professor James Sunday (Chapter President) at jamessunday@kings.edu.

Good luck!

James Sunday

Chapter President (NEPA)

Time:                          noon to 1 pm
Speakers:                   Larry Martinez - LSSMBB

Abstract:

How to apply six-sigma tools to complex processes in any type of organization to bring structure to problem solving. The data-driven approach helps ensure that the correct root causes are identified and that the implemented improvements outperform the old method. It is especially beneficial when applied to complex problems that may cross job functions or departments.

Next Meeting: 11/13/2024

Thank you to all who attended the mixer. The members of the Hospitality Committee, Jennifer Pinder, Katie Robb, and Daniel Harley built on last year’s success, and made this event extra fun.

It was a joy to have Peter Dolan, IMA’s Chair-Elect address the group. Pete is a member of our chapter. His leadership in IMA is a point of pride.

We recognized our first Director Emeritus, Joseph Hargadon and retiring, long-serving, board member Thomas Coghlan. Both have given great service to the chapter.

Hope you got a chance to attend our September 10th meeting at Giovannis. Free dinner for members and listen to CEO Victor Garcia of the Food Bank talk about his programs. Supporting local families with 6 million meals last year. Supporting 110 organizations

We have Professor Bill Kresse giving an ethics presentation on November 12th.

Vicki Urbanic will present a GAAP discussion on December 5th

Marissa Smoljan will present a tax update on January 16th.

Contact me for more information.

Jim Thomas

websailor47@yahoo.com

We have at least one event per month for you!  It's  packed w/ fun, education, great networking, plant tours, charity events and good food.    What's not to Love?    Check it out!

Due to the dissolving of the MAC Council and some grammatical corrections (hi-lighted in yellow) , we have updated the Winnebagoland Chapter By-Laws.

You may review the current draft here. Please indicate your approval of these changes using the link below.

Please register your vote by end of day on September 23rd.

Welcome to another exciting year with the IMA Portland Chapter! We have an engaging lineup of events planned for the year, ranging from fun social gatherings to valuable CPE events. Whether you're here to network, learn, or simply have a good time, there's something for everyone.  

Upcoming Events:

We’re all about building connections. Join us at our various social and CPE events to unwind and engage with fellow professionals in a relaxed environment. For those looking to advance their careers and stay on top of the latest industry trends, our CPE events will deliver top-notch speakers and valuable learning opportunities. Each CPE event is designed to equip you with practical skills and 2 CPE credits of knowledge that you can apply in your everyday work. Keep an eye on our Events Page for registration to open for the following event dates planned for this year:

• 9/17/24 - CPE Dinner - AI-Powered Finance & Aligning On Workplace Benefits REGISTER NOW
• 10/15/24 - CPE Dinner - OR Payroll Law Updates & Banking In A Recession 
• 12/17/24 - Annual Holiday Social REGISTER HERE
• 2/18/25 - CPE Dinner - Mergers & Acquisitions
• 3/18/25 - CPE Dinner - Policy Updates
• 4/29/25 - Social
• 5/20/25 - CPE Dinner - Economic Update

This Year’s Sponsors:

We are proud to announce our 2024 chapter sponsors: Hub International and Summit Bank! A huge thank you to Paul Quandt from Hub International and Steve Watts from Summit Bank for their continued support. Find them at one of our upcoming events and say “Hi!”. Their contributions enable us to provide high-quality events and resources for our members.

Interested in becoming a sponsor? Sponsorship offers great visibility for your business while supporting our vibrant community of management accountants and finance professionals. To discuss sponsorship opportunities, reach out to ima.pdx@gmail.com or our VP of Sponsorships, David Fischer. 

Meet Your Board:

Our chapter leadership is here to serve you! Meet the 2024 Board and learn about the dedicated professionals working behind the scenes to make this chapter a success.

Get Involved:

Want to take your engagement to the next level? We're always looking for volunteers to help with event planning, speaker recruitment, marketing, membership engagement, and on-the-ground assistance at our local events. It’s a fantastic way to expand your professional network and make a direct impact on the chapter.  

Reach out to any one of our board members or email ima.pdx@gmail.com to talk about how you can get started. 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming events and working together for another incredible year!

Have any questions or want to learn more? Feel free to reach out! 

Q2-24 Newsletter

Get ready for the IMA Michigan Council's Annual Fall Conference - a day full of learning, networking, and fun!

The 2024 conference date is Monday, October 28. This full-day, in-person event will be held at FireKeepers Casino Hotel in Battle Creek and will feature sessions on technology, cybersecurity, tax/accounting and economic updates, and ethics. Earn up to 8 hours of CPE while networking with fellow professionals.

For full details and to register for this event, please visit the Michigan Council's Eventbrite registration page.

We are thrilled to announce our upcoming quarterly event! The Tampa Bay Chapter of IMA, in collaboration with Vaco, invites you to an evening of networking for professionals in the Tampa Bay area at the SkyCenter One. Enjoy the stunning views of planes taking off while you elevate your professional relationships and community connections!  

Light refreshments and drinks will be provided. For parking instructions, please refer to the bottom of this document. 

When: August 22nd at 6 PM

Where:  5411 Skycenter Drive, Suite 675, Tampa, FL 33607  

Please RSVP and we look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP on LinkedIn Here

A special thank you to our partners at Vaco for sponsoring this exciting event! 

Vaco is a comprehensive talent and solutions partner offering direct hire and contract staffing services. We also provide executive search and global managed services, including onshore, nearshore, and offshore options. Our flexible approach allows us to adapt to changes and customize our services to fit your project needs, all while maintaining the strong, relationship-focused service that defines our brand. 

Save the date: 24 August 2024!
Our much awaited CMA Nxt 2024, a day-long conference of CPE sessions, followed by a CMA Convocation is about to be held soon!
Get ready to celebrate your achievement as we prepare to share more details of the sessions with you! 😊

The Denver Centennial chapter earned the Gold Award in the chapter competition for FY 23-24.

Thank you to all the members who contiributed to earning this award.

Sign up for our Fall Sports Social:  Diamondbacks vs. Brewers game on Friday, September 13th.  You must register by Friday August 30th to attend.

Guest speaker before the game:  Blake Oliver  Blake Oliver is a CPA and the founder and CEO of Earmark, an app that offers NASBA-approved CPE and IRS-approved CE credits for listening to your favorite accounting and tax podcasts. Blake also co-hosts The Accounting Podcast, the world's most popular podcast for accountants.

Hartford Chapter professional members who are not receiving full financial support from their employers for attendance costs to the IMA NorthEast Regional Council's Annual Conference in Hampton Beach, NH from Sept 15-17 can email proof of your registration to Hartford@IMAChapter.org.

The Chapter will reimburse you $150.00 of the cost after your attendance at this 3 day event.  That's almost half of the early bird price at $330.       Registration is open.

Join the Mid Atlantic Council at our next Professional Development event!

ℹ️ This is a great opportunity to connect with the local business community, build relationships, and have fun! Enjoy recreational games while networking with like-minded professionals. All finance, accounting, and other professionals are invited.

🏢 Address: 100 4th Street S, St. Petersburg, FL 33701

🎟️ Cost of attendance: $0 - Just pay for your own food and drinks.

Don't miss out on this fantastic networking event! Please RSVP.  See you there! 🤝

Hi everyone, 

Please join us at 2:00 PM on May 22 to ratify the slate of board members for  the upcoming year. The slate is:

President – James Sunday

VP of Engagement - Bora Senyigit

Secretary - Amy Washo

Treasurer - Tara Shawver

Director - Andy Felo

Director - Ashley Stampone

Thanks to everyone for agreeing to serve the membership!

https://susqu.zoom.us/j/91389892680?pwd=elBuNElFYnlTY0hsYzdOdk5jRFpkZz09

Here is our Q1 / 2024 Newsletter 

Enjoy the read!

Thank you to all the people who helped make the IMA Carolinas Council Spring Accounting and Finance Conference a success.  We had over 50 attendees this year up from the past two conferences.  The venue, including the food, was awesome and all our speakers delivered relevant and informative material.  Special thanks to our sponsors, Clearview Group, FORVIS and Gleim.  Also thanks to Byrd Heaton for all her help at the registration desk.  Keep an eye out in the coming months for our next conference event.  

The IMA is a great association and personally being involved and taking a leadership role has helped me grow.  Now is the time to consider getting more involved.  Chapters and the Council are always looking for leaders to be part of the Board and committees.  IMA Global recently completed is call for volunteers. The Chapters must submit their officers by May 22.  Please contact your Chapter president or me if you wish to join a Chapter Board or our Council Board. 

All the best, 

Tony Caspio, CMA

Carolinas Council President and Conference Co-Chair

Please register your vote as to the board of director slate as presented for our upcoming program year.

Voting will be open until 4pm on Friday, May 17th.

Save the Date

Michigan Council's Annual Fall Conference

October 28, 2024

We're excited to announce a new offer from Gleim and IMA that includes everything you need to pass the CMA exam. 

• Gleim CMA Premium review materials
• Ten live 1 hour sessions covering major CMA Part 1 topics
• IMA membership and CMA entrance fee ($595 value)*

Join our live series to help keep 
your studies on track!
 

Stay motivated by joining a group of other candidates and preparing for the CMA exam together. 

Professor Amy Ford will lead you through the major CMA exam Part 1 topics in ten live online sessions designed to set you up for success.

As you work through the material and complete quizzes, you'll be able to submit questions to Amy or post them in the group forum. Amy will review quiz performance and tailor the live sessions to cover difficult topics and maximize your learning. Sessions are recorded and posted to the group within 2 business days.

Please, join us in another interesting seminar organized by IMA Riyadh Chapter (Institute of Management Accountants).

Webcast Title: Riyadh Chapter: General Overview of Taxation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Webcast Date: Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:00 PM Arabia Standard Time

Registration:

Dear Members of the Tampa Bay Chapter of IMA,

I hope this message finds you well. It's with great pleasure that I announce the recent election of our new board members for the upcoming year. Time has swiftly flown by since the last election, marking nearly a year of dedicated service from our current board.

In addition to the five outstanding members who were elected last year, I'm thrilled to welcome Robert and Carol to our team. Their expertise and passion will undoubtedly enrich our chapter's initiatives and further bolster our community.

Over the past year, our board has been tirelessly working to revitalize our in-person events and foster vibrant networking opportunities. We've enjoyed memorable meetups at Doc Bs and Top Golf, bringing together Tampa Bay's accounting and finance community in engaging and fruitful discussions.

As we look ahead, we are filled with enthusiasm to continue our efforts in cultivating a thriving professional network and advancing our chapter's mission. Without further ado, I'm delighted to introduce our new board members:

Tatyana Nelson, President. Tatyana serves as CFO for CARR Biosystems. She has over 20 years of finance and operations experience working with leading companies in Tampa Bay Area in manufacturing, logistics, telecommunications, investments, and learning & development sectors. Tatyana holds MBA from the University of Montana and Bachelor’s of Arts in Finance, Management, and Economics from Carroll College. She is actively involved with the community by leading and participating in a number of women’s, leadership, and business organizations.  Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, theater, swimming, and traveling. 

Mariana Rak, VP of Engagement.  Mariana currently works as an accounting supervisor at multinational corporation TD Synnex with $56.6B in annual revenue. She has 10 years of experience in the accounting field. Mariana graduated from California State University San Marcos with a Bachelor's in Accounting. She earned her CMA in 2016 and CPA in 2019. In 2020, Mariana and her family moved to Tampa Bay, and has never regretted this decision. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and seeing new places. Visiting all 50 states is on her bucket list with 28 of them already checked off. On a regular weekend, she likes spending time on the beach with her husband, 4-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son.

Aaliyah Neilan, Director. Aaliyah has supported Finance & Accounting functions in the nonprofit, startup, and pharmaceutical industries for 9+ years. She holds a Master's degree in Accounting from SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Stony Brook University. Aaliyah is also a Certified Management Accountant and a Certified Nonprofit Accountant. She is passionate about community development and aspires to support underserved communities in financial literacy.

Erin Parks, Secretary. Erin was born and raised in the Tampa Bay Area. She is an Alumna of Johns Hopkins University, with a Masters Degree in Maths Education. She is currently an Accounting Manager in the Construction Industry for a General Contractor with primary focus on Commercial Properties. She is passionate about Philanthropy and giving back to her community. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and son, being outdoors, and staying active!

Steve Omli, Treasurer.  Steve serves as the Associate Vice President/CFO of USF Health, a group of four health related colleges at the University of South Florida, including the Morsani College of Medicine, College of Nursing, Taneja College of Pharmacy and the College of Public Health.  Steve also serves as the primary financial advisor for finances related to a clinical practice support organization jointly run by USF Health and Tampa General Hospital.  Prior to this role, Steve served in similar financial roles at the Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the University of Florida College of Medicine, the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Outside of work, Steve enjoys exercise, travel, live music and his four step-children when they are in town.

Carol Connors, Director.  Carol is currently a finance manager at Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Sales & Services.  She has 8+ years of finance and accounting experience in the manufacturing industry.  Carol earned her CMA in 2021 and is a strong advocate for education and professional development.  She volunteers for Junior Achievement, sharing the mission of improving financial literacy.  Outside of work, she enjoys cooking and baking, exercising, and spending time with her family.

Robert Cooper, Director.  Robert currently works as a senior financial analyst at Southwire Company, a global leader in electrical wire and cable manufacturing and distribution.  He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Georgia in 2020 and is currently pursuing his CMA certification.  In his free time, he enjoys golfing, watching UGA football, and exploring the Tampa Bay area with his wife.

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our board members. Their dedication and commitment will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of our chapter.

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation. Together, let's make this upcoming year one of collaboration, innovation, and achievement.

Warm regards,

Tatyana Nelson, CMA, CFM

President, IMA Tampa Bay Chapter

While it seems like winter is holding on for a bit, that won't stop us from golfing - indoors!

Register today for our upcoming networking event: mini golf and happy hour on April 17th.