Getting to Know: Executive Directors Committee

Author: Andy Goldstein, NASBA Electronic Media Specialist and Webmaster
Posted: February 28, 2013

Regarded as a cornerstone of support within the organization, NASBA appoints as many as 30 committees and task forces each year. Through the work of these committees, NASBA volunteers and staff address current and emerging issues affecting Boards of Accountancy across the 55 jurisdictions. Topics range from ethics, education and global regulation in accounting principles to the development of model rules for the member boards’ consideration.

Throughout the year, we will feature each of our committees to highlight their role in carrying out NASBA’s mission,  the duties and functions they perform and  focus on their initiatives for 2013.

We continue our series on NASBA’s committees with a look at the Executive Directors (ED) Committee.

The ED Committee is charged with supporting EDs in their roles with the 55 Boards of Accountancy, providing leadership insight on how the Boards function and implement new ideas across various jurisdictions.

One way the committee encourages collaboration and camaraderie is through NASBA University, a premier training and networking event available exclusively to EDs and board staff. The two-day session is held twice a year at NASBA headquarters and offers valuable information on a variety of NASBA products and services. Additionally, participants are introduced to a variety of tools available to assist state board staff in their various roles.

In addition to NASBA University, another crucial function on the ED Committee’s docket is the annual ED Conference. This year’s Conference will be held March 3-6 in Tucson, AZ. Nicole Kasin, Executive Director of the South Dakota Board of Accountancy and ED Committee Chair, said it is imperative to provide a Conference that brings up current topics, while featuring the best speakers to address such issues.

Nicole Kasin, Executive Directors Committee Chair

“The EDs from each Board of Accountancy have an important role in how their board presents information, as well as how to move their board forward while keeping the public interest as their priority,” said Kasin. “The ED Conference is the perfect arena to provide an open discussion among our counterparts and share best practices and implementation procedures, if necessary.”

Kasin also said she hopes this year’s Conference invigorates a lively discussion, and that the ED Committee is looking forward to working with NASBA staff to build on ideas presented at the Conference to further enhance the effectiveness and advance the common interests of state boards.

According to Patricia Hartman, NASBA’s Director of Client Services, the Committee communicates with EDs on a regular basis to discuss issues, ideas and concepts, leading up to the ED Conference. Issues that are discussed during the Conference are compiled into a comprehensive report and presented to NASBA leadership. This report is instrumental in preparation of the agenda for NASBA’s Regional Meetings, held annually in June.

Hartman, who has served as staff liaison to the ED Committee for four years, said the Committee is essential to the success of NASBA. It facilitates the exchange of ideas and proposals for future guidance to Boards of Accountancy regarding regulatory, compliance and licensing issues.

“The EDs are the backbone of the Boards of Accountancy,” said Hartman. “Regardless of the structure, type or size, the ED is vital to each board. They provide continuity as board members change. They deal with a myriad of issues for which the boards are statutorily responsible, such as the Uniform CPA Examination, peer review, standards and compliance and education requirements.”

Dan Dustin, NASBA’s Vice President of State Board Relations, said he believes the Committee brings an important and unique perspective to NASBA because EDs work on profession-related matters on a daily basis, and have good knowledge of what is happening in their jurisdictions through their interactions with the public, licensees and other key stakeholders.

“The Committee also serves as a resource to newly appointed EDs, and to EDs working on legislative, regulatory or administrative initiatives in their states,” said Dustin.

As a former Executive Secretary of the New York State Board for Public Accountancy, Dustin previously served as chair of the ED Committee and was a member of numerous NASBA committees and task forces. He said serving as a member of the ED Committee was a great learning experience and one that showed the benefit that is derived from working together and sharing collective experiences.

To see a list of participating NASBA volunteers on this committee, please visit the ED Committee page in the Committees section of this website.