NASBA Staff Reorganization

State Board Report

October 2007

With NASBA’s staff having grown to approximately 200 members to handle developing and ongoing projects, NASBA President David A. Costello has added three new executive positions to the organization: Alfonzo Alexander has been named Chief Relationship Officer; Ed Barnicott (formerly enterprise project manager for the Computer-Based-Testing Steering Group) has been hired as Chief Technology Officer; and Linda Biek (formerly executive director of the Tennessee State Board of Accountancy) has joined the NASBA staff as Director – Governmental, International and Professional Relationships.

Addressing the NASBA staff directors on September 27, President Costello explained the staff reorganization reflects two steps to enhance the Association’s services: a shift in the information systems area to facilitate building technology for new applications; and focusing NASBA’s many relationship services into one coordinated area.

President Costello said the new executive posts will assist NASBA in achieving its vision: “To be and to be known as the clear and trusted voice of state boards of accountancy by being the leading source of comprehensive and accurate information and services that enhance the efficiency of the regulatory process.”

NASBA staff directors also heard from Larry W. Bridgesmith, Esq., executive director of Lipscomb University’s Institute for Conflict Management, on “Creating a Conflict Competent Collaborative Culture.” He counseled the directors to be prepared to accept conflict and to find the tools to deal with it in a constructive way. Johnson & Johnson had a slogan, “We welcome conflict,” Mr. Bridgesmith reported, because a sense of dissatisfaction is needed to foster improvements. Mr. Bridgesmith will be speaking at the Annual Meeting on dealing with conflict in an international setting.