What do you want to be when you grow up? Accounting Career Opportunities Panel

Transcription

1 What do you want to be when you grow up? Accounting Career Opportunities Panel There is a wide spectrum of potential careers that present themselves to someone with an accounting/finance background. The Winnebagoland Chapter has an active and diverse membership that demonstrates various career opportunities. We ve assembled a panel of speakers that have followed different accounting career paths. From CPAs to CMAs, Small Businesses to Large Public Companies, Consulting to Teaching, we ve got you covered! Bring your questions and prepare to learn about what being an accountant may really mean and maybe start to actually answer the never-ending question what do I really want to be when I grow up? Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Time: 5:00-5:30 Networking/Cocktails 5:30-6:00 Dinner 6:00-7:00 Panel Discussion 7:00-8:00 Networking Event Location: Liberty Hall (800 Eisenhower Drive, Kimberly, WI) Panelists: Curt Esser, CMA, Owner (Esser Consulting LLC) Dale Glen, CPA, Principal (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) Dr. Stephen Makar, CPA, Professor of Accounting (UW Oshkosh) Martha Paalman, Finance Manager (Bemis North America) Patti Denton, CPA, MBA, CFO (Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes, Inc.) Tina Krueger, CPA, Business Consultant (Competitive Strategies, Inc.) Moderator: Sheryl Huhn, Executive Search Consultant (Advanced Professional Services) Register: 8

2 Curt Esser, CMA Owner After several years with Wisconsin Tissue (now SCA Tissue) as a cost accountant, Curt accepted a promotion to help start up a new plant in northern Arizona. As the Administration Coordinator / Controller, he was responsible for either setting up and/ or overseeing the Accounting, Finance, Information Systems (LAN Administrator for Computers, Phones), Inventory Management, Payroll, Purchasing, Human Resources, Safety, and Security areas for the plant. Curt is currently the owner of Esser Consulting, LLC, a Better Business Bureau accredited business (A+ rating). He has over 20 years of computer experience, and enjoys helping people solve their computer problems. He has been interviewed for local television, radio, newspaper and business magazines on computer and Internet security related topics. 9

3 Dale Glen, CPA Principal Dale is a principal in CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. He provides audit, accounting, and consulting services to a variety of clients with an emphasis in the manufacturing and not-for-profit industries. He has over 20 years of experience as a certified public accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of South Florida. Dale worked with a Big 4 accounting firm for 8 years prior to joining CliftonLarsonAllen s Stevens Point office in 2001 and transferring to the Oshkosh office in He is actively involved in the community including serving on the Board of Directors of Excellence in Leadership and Future Neenah as well as being a member of the St. Margaret Mary Parish Finance Council and the Knights of Columbus. 10

4 Dr. Stephen Makar, CPA Professor of Accounting Dr. Makar has been at UW Oshkosh since 1994, due in large part to the university s balanced focus on teaching and research. In general, his research explores the use of accounting information in decision making. Dr. Makar s current research interests concern currency (FX) risk management and hedge accounting information. Dr. Makar currently teaches cost and managerial accounting. Prior to entering academia, he worked at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company in the areas of accounting and finance, and executive training. Dr. Makar earned his doctorate in accounting at Kent State University, and maintains a practicing permit as a C.P.A. in Ohio. 11

5 Martha Paalman Finance Manager Martha Paalman is the Finance Manager at the Bemis North America Oshkosh North plant. She has been with Bemis for over ten years in various divisional and plant accounting roles. As the sole finance member of the North plant leadership team, her main focus is providing management with accurate, timely data and reporting tools to help them make effective business decisions. Martha graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with degrees in Accounting and French. She has been a member of the Winnebagoland IMA since 2004, actively participating on the board since early

6 Patti Denton, CPA, MBA Chief Financial Officer Patti is a financial professional working to make the world a better place with her extensive financial experience in the non-profit industry. Her leadership helps guide GSNWGL s future beyond crunching numbers, developing and implementing financial strategies and goals aligned with the GSNWGL mission. She also provides effective stewardship, control and oversight of GSNWGL s finances. Patti fondly remembers her own Brownie days and as an adult has served the council as a Girl Scout leader and Service-Area Cadet Advisor for several years. The Fox Cities community has benefited from her volunteer engagements with Institute of Management Accountants Board of Directors, FVTC Accounting Advisory Committee, FIRST Robotics NEW Apple Corps team mentor, President of Appleton Noon Optimist Club, Mid-Day Women s Alliance, Lawrence University s New Horizon Band, Appleton Soccer Club coach, Treasurer of Appleton East Arts, and State Secretary of Business Professionals of America. Patti is also a member of the AICPA and WICPA. While her two adult children are spreading their wings, she and her husband reside in Appleton; her daughter, a former Girl Scout, is a computer software engineer and her son, an Eagle Scout, is a chemical engineer on the trail to his Master s Degree. This Optimist Creed line embodies Patti s strengths, to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best. 13

7 Tina Krueger, CPA Business Consultant Experience Tina has been helping business owners and managers improve profitability, process flow, analysis, and reporting since the beginning of Her expertise is in assisting companies gain a competitive advantage through the use of accounting software, training, reporting, and custom database design and integration. She also develops custom tablet programs that send and receive data from headquarters! Tina@comstrategies.com Business Consultant at Competitive Strategies, Inc. Corporate Admin Accounting Intern at Kohler Company. Commercial Team Tax Intern at Baker Tilly. Degrees & Certifications Certified Public Accountant. Certified Sage 100 ERP Consultant. Bachelor of Business Administration - UW-Oshkosh (Dec 2008). Majors in Accounting, HR, and Spanish. Contributions Institute of Management Accountants. Winnebagoland Chapter Board of Directors. Positions held include President, Vice President, Secretary, Newsletter, and Program Booklet. Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. Active member of Pulse. Heart of the Valley Chamber of Commerce. Active member of the NEW Emerging Leaders group. Paper Valley Roller Girls. Member of National Girls Roller Derby team based in Appleton. Kimberly JV Boys Volleyball Coach & Appleton North JV Girls Volleyball Coach. Applicable Skills SQL & Microsoft Access Programming and Design. Sage 100 (MAS 90 and MAS 200) Accounting Software. Sage 50 (Peachtree) Accounting Software. Crystal Reports Advanced Design and Report Writing. Microsoft Excel and Spreadsheet Applications. F9 Financial Report Writer. 14