TECH 2005: Celebrating 25 Years Of CPA Leadership In Technology

The AICPA Technology Conference celebrated its 25th anniversary this year with a program that paid tribute to the accomplishments of the CPA technology community in the past two and a half decades.

TECH brings together CPAs of all types, including auditors, consultants, and corporate financial managers who recognize that technology exerts a significant influence on business. There were 750 CPAs participating in TECH 2005, held June 27-29 in Las Vegas.

TECH 2005’s guest of honor was Dana “Rick” Richardson, CPA.CITP. Richardson, a recognized leader in shaping the CPA’s role in technology, has served as a key part of TECH every year since its inception in 1980. Several CPA technology luminaries offered their public commendations, including Jim Metzler, CPA.CITP, AICPA Vice President – Small Firm Interests, and Gary Boomer, CPA.CITP, past Chair of the AICPA Information Technology Executive Committee.

Richardson himself offered perspectives on the last quarter century by recounting some of his predictions at prior TECH conferences, including the explosion of e-mail and bundled services, among other developments.

Barry Melancon, AICPA President and CEO, appeared via videotape to toast the conference, congratulate Richardson, and reiterate the Institute’s commitment to the IT specialty practice area. Melancon made note of the launch of the new online IT Center at www.aicpa.org/INFOTECH, which provides resources, guidance for CPA Business Technologists, as well as exclusive content and forums for Information Technology (IT) section members and Certified Information Technology Professional (CITP) credential holders to share their knowledge with their peers.

The AICPA Technology Conference continues to be the only event that addresses the technology issues affecting the CPA profession. This year, the conference had a strong showing of CITPs and IT Section members, along with many special events for CITPs. Andrea Carella, AICPA Director – Specialized Communities and Credentialing, noted that the CITP is on track to meet the 2005 credential target.

“We’ve increased the value benefits and communications to our CITP members, and that, in turn, is helping recruit new members,” said Carella.

To learn more about the IT membership section and the CITP credential, visit www.aicpa.org/INFOTECH. TECH 2006 is scheduled for June 12-14 in Austin, Texas.