Daniel Dustin to Take the Reins of NASBA in August

Daniel Dustin will succeed the retiring Ken Bishop as president and CEO of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy on Aug. 1, NASBA announced on Friday.

“Dan’s long history and expertise in accounting regulation makes him uniquely qualified to assume the role as president and CEO of NASBA. I have had the distinct opportunity to collaborate with Dan over the years on key initiatives and programs, including the Uniform Accountancy Act, CPA Evolution, and professional licensure,” NASBA Chair Stephanie Saunders said in a statement. “This is an exciting time for our organization, especially as he will lead NASBA into the future to fulfill the mission of enhancing the effectiveness and advancing the common interests of the 55 U.S. boards of accountancy.”

Dustin currently serves as NASBA’s vice president of state board relations, a role he has held since Jan. 1, 2012. In this role, he works as an advocate for the state boards of accountancy in the U.S., assessing their needs and concerns while exploring new opportunities to provide support and services to NASBA’s member boards as an extension of the association’s mission. He also works with NASBA’s executive leadership team, regional directors, and state board executive directors to identify emerging issues for discussion during NASBA’s annual conferences, including its annual Conference for State Board Executive Directors and Staff, regional conferences, and annual meeting.

Additionally, Dustin is the staff liaison to NASBA’s Ethics, Executive Directors, Peer Review Compliance, Relations with Member Boards, and Uniform Accountancy Act committees.

His participation on the joint NASBA-AICPA CPA Evolution initiative resulted in changes to the CPA licensure model, which recognize the rapidly changing skills and competencies that accounting requires today and will require in the future. Dustin is currently a member of the National Pipeline Advisory Group, established by the AICPA to explore hurdles to earning a CPA license and ways to strengthen the accounting pipeline. He is also working with NASBA’s Professional Licensure Task Force, which is charged with considering new concepts for CPA licensure that may be included in the Uniform Accountancy Act to update the current licensure model.

Prior to joining NASBA, Dustin served as executive secretary of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, an appointment that was made in 1998 by the New York State Board of Regents. As executive secretary, he was responsible for professional licensing, practice, and conduct, including professional discipline of CPAs and public accountants in New York. As a key point person in the regulatory process, he monitored the evolution of professional practice at national and state levels, and developed and drafted proposed legislation and amendments to New York state accountancy rules and regulations.

Dustin earned a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in accounting from Clarkson University and became a licensed CPA in 1988. He is the 2010 recipient of NASBA’s Lorraine P. Sachs Standard of Excellence Award for distinction in accountancy regulation and public protection. Dustin is a former chair of NASBA’s CPA Examination and Administration Committee, Executive Directors Committee, and Accountancy Licensee Database Task Force. He also served as a member of the AICPA’s Peer Review Task Force and Board of Examiners (BOE), including having chaired the BOE’s Operations Committee.

“I was fortunate to meet Dan more than 25 years ago at NASBA’s Executive Directors Conference in California. He was the new executive secretary for the New York Board, and I was the new executive director for the Missouri Board. We have remained good friends since that initial introduction,” Bishop said. “I congratulate Dan Dustin for being selected to lead the association into the future. He has done an outstanding job as vice president of state board relations, and I know he will be successful as NASBA’s president and CEO.”

Bishop has been NASBA president and CEO for the past 12 years. He announced his retirement during NASBA’s 116th Annual Meeting last fall.

NASBA launched its national search for Bishop’s successor last November. The 11-member Selection Advisory Committee, chaired by A. Carlos Barrera, was tasked in vetting all candidates and identifying a slate of qualified finalists to present to the NASBA Board of Directors for final selection and approval.