Northshore Chapter

February 2012 Events

Feb 2 • What It Takes to Be a Great Leader
with special guests:
Tom Schedler, LA Secretary of State
Pat Brister, President of St. Tammany Parish
Joe Omner, Regional President of First Bank and Trust

Good leaders are made not born. Great leaders develop through a never ending process of education, training, and experience. Come experience firsthand and “What it takes to be a Great Leader” from local Leaders in our Community. Our speakers come from an extensive, successful history of being Leaders in both industry and government. They have proven what it takes to be a Leader and will help you and your staff become Great Leaders also!

Agenda:
11:15a Registration
11:30a – 1:30p Leadership CPE (includes lunch)

Location:
Dakota’s Restaurant
629 North Highway 190
Covington, LA 70433
(985) 892-3712

Cost: $40 (includes lunch)
CPE: 2 Credits
Category: Specialized Knowledge
Level: Basic

Registration: RSVP by January 31 to LCPA by emailing Norma Berniard or by phone at 504.464.1040 (or toll free 800.288.5272).

Meet the Speakers
J. Thomas “Tom” Schedler was sworn in as Secretary of State on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011. Schedler won the election to fill the unexpired term of Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne as well as the four-year term. Learn more.

In 2000, Pat Brister led the Louisiana Republican Party, the first woman to ever do so. She was elected by a 144-member committee of elected Republicans throughout Louisiana. As Chairman of the Louisiana Republican Party, Pat led the Louisiana delegation at the Republican National Convention. Learn More.

Joe Omner has been in Banking for over thirty years. He was EVP at Parish National Bank, Northshore President for Whitney Bank and now holds the position of Regional President of the Northshore for First Bank and Trust.

March 2012 Events

Mar 6 • Bank Fraud, Credit Fraud, and IT Security: Keeping you and your clients secure
Speakers: Crystal Brown with Capital One Bank, and René Miller from Ener Systems

Everyone knows someone whose identity has been compromised. Protecting yourself and your clients from this happening is so important in today’s electronic world of global networks, social networking, online banking and bill pay, etc. We have industry experts in the Banking and IT fields who will discuss how to protect yourself and your clients before, during, and after a compromise happens.

Agenda:
7:15 am Registration
7:30 – 9:10 am CPE (includes breakfast)

Location:
N’Tini’s
2891 Highway 190
Mandeville, LA 70471
(985) 626-5566

Cost: $40 – please pay at door
CPE: 2 credits
Category: Specialized Knowledge
Level: Basic

Registration: RSVP by March 2 to LCPA by emailing Norma Berniard or by phone at 504.464.1040 (or toll free 800.288.5272).

Thanks to our sponsor:

Meet the Speakers
René Miller is a trusted IT advisor specializing in small business networks. He has been a featured speaker throughout the Greater New Orleans Area. For over 17 years René has been helping companies use technology to streamline business and save them money. He has been with Ener Systems since its inception in 1997.

René currently advises clients on technology and works closely with them to form technology goals that will better their company’s productivity, growth and bottom line. He also manages many of his client’s networks so they can stay focused on what they do best.

Crystal Brown is a Treasury Management advisor for the Greater New Orleans market. She is responsible for marketing and managing treasury services.

Crystal joined Capital One in 2004 and has been in Treasury Management since 2006. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration and management from the University of New Orleans.

LCPA-Junior Achievement Financial Literacy Day Volunteer Opportunity

LCPA-Junior Achievement Financial Literacy Day Volunteer Opportunity

The LCPA and Junior Achievement (JA) are once again partnering to educate and inspire students about work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Students will spend one school day participating in age-appropriate JA activities that help them understand the important connections between education, career, salary and desired lifestyle.

You can be a part of these inspiring and fun events as a JA Day classroom volunteer. All lessons are pre-planned and all materials are provided in advance. A JA staff member will provide training for first-time volunteers and a step-by-step guide will assist you in the classroom. No prior JA or classroom experience is required.

The following JA Day is taking place on February 8, 2012 in the Northshore Chapter:

Mandeville Middle
2525 Soult Street, Mandeville

Learn more at http://www.lcpa.org/JADay2012.pdf.

Ready to volunteer? Sign up online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/JAform2012

President's Message

Dear New Member:

Welcome to our Chapter, the Northshore Chapter of the Louisiana Society of Certified Public Accountants. On behalf of the Board of Directors of our Chapter, I would like to thank you for your membership and your interest in the activities of our Chapter.

Our Chapter is strong, thanks to the dedicated leadership of our prior Presidents, most recently Brian Gallagher, Steven Toups, and Stella Helluin and their Boards. The current Board looks to maintain the momentum that has been established and quicken its pace throughout the year.

The overarching goal of the current Board is to continue to increase participation at Chapter events. The Board of our Chapter is also committed to remaining innovative in its service to you. Thus, we seek to:

• Make it easier for you to both receive information regarding our Chapter’s events and to register for those events.

• Offer Chapter events that are economical, educational, networking friendly and FUN by holding some events that are less formal and more social.

• Offer CPE events throughout the Northshore by holding events in Mandeville/Covington, Hammond and Slidell.

• Offer networking opportunities by hosting networking events between our Chapter members and other Northshore business groups, such as lawyers and bankers.

• Make our events, including our wide array of Chapter CPE offerings, cheaper and more educational by finding interesting speakers and value-added sponsors for our events.

• Continue to support Southeastern Louisiana University and its accounting department through scholarship offerings and holding a Student Night and Volleyball Tournament to expose students to a wide variety of CPAs and career paths.

• Increase participation by younger Northshore CPAs by supporting our Chapter’s newly formed Young CPA Committee led by Lisa Saragusa.

• Reach out to our members who have not previously participated in Chapter events.

• Try new things!

Because our Chapter is no longer sending meeting notices via regular mail, please bookmark www.lcpa.org and check our Northshore Chapter page often for the schedule of upcoming meetings and events for our Chapter. Also, check your email for notices from the Louisiana Society of CPAs. If you are not receiving email notices, please contact LCPA Member Services at (800) 288-5272 or (504) 464-1040 or email Norma Berniard at nberniard@lcpa.org.

This is your Chapter so suggestions and comments are encouraged and always welcome. Please help us serve you better!

I look forward to seeing you at one of our Chapter functions.

Thanks,

Marc Miller, CPA
Northshore Chapter President 2011-2012

Chapter Officers

2011-12 Chapter Officers

President
Marc Miller, CPA • Nolan Power Group

President Elect
Paul Riggs, Jr., CPA • Durnin and James, CPAs

Treasurer
Geralyn Suhor, CPA • Geralyn Z. Suhor, CPA

Secretary
Rick Simpson, CPA • Southeastern Louisiana University

Member at Large
Bryan Ehricht, CPA • Wegmann, Dazet & Company
Stella Helluin, CPA • Nolan Power Group
Lisa DaBello Saragusa, CPA • Entergy
Steven J. Toups, CPA • Novedo Group, LLC
Anna Wong, CPA • Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

Immediate Past President
Brian Gallagher, CPA • Brian Gallagher, CPA, LLC

LCPA Staff Contact Persons

LCPA Staff Contact Persons
Norma Berniard
(504) 904-1156 • E-mail: nberniard@lcpa.org Lisa C. Richardson
(504) 904-1139 • E-mail: lrichardson@lcpa.org