MEMBERS IN FoCUS
2014 Spring Leadership Conference
Inaugural Spring Conference attracts more than 400 CPAs
O
n May 22 and 23, more than 400 CPAs exhibited their drive
to excel by attending the 2014 CPABC Spring Leadership
Conference. With its “Do More. Be More” theme, the Conference set out to challenge attendees to accomplish more with their
time, while helping them avoid the pitfalls of unnecessary busyness.
Held at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, the CPABC Spring Leadership
Conference treated delegates to a roster of internationally renowned
speakers, including Diane Francis, the National Post’s editor-at-large;
Jim Carroll, a global futurist and trends and innovation expert; and
David Eaves, an open government activist and negotiation expert.
Attendees also packed the main ballroom to hear Keith Baldrey,
Global BC’s chief political correspondent, discuss the local political
climate with Vancouver Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer.
An innovative feature was introduced during the Conference:
“Pigeonhole,” an application that allows users to pose and vote on
questions. This feature gave delegates the opportunity to hear speakers
answers the questions that mattered most to the audience as a whole.
In addition to its lineup of keynote speakers, the Conference also
boasted an array of dynamic sessions. Popular sessions included:
“How Critical Thinking Influences Strategy Design and Implementation”;
“Master the Art of Thriving: How to Lead and Live Better”; “Speaking
as a Leader: Inspiring Every Interaction”; and “Advanced Googling
for Accountants.”
On hand were CPABC and ICABC CEO Richard Rees, CPA, FCA;
CPABC executive VP of marketing and business development/CMABC
CEO Vinetta Peek, CPA, FCMA, CMA (Hon.); and CPABC executive
VP of certification and operations/CGA-BC CEO Gordon Ruth, CPA,
FCGA; as well as outgoing ICABC president Karen Christiansen,
CPA, FCA; outgoing CMABC chair Tammy Towill, CPA, FCMA; and
CGA-BC chair David Sale, CPA, FCGA. The leaders spoke to members
about the progress made in the pursuit of unification.
The CPABC Spring Leadership Organizing Committee would like
to thank all of the Conference sponsors, including Tacit Management
Consulting, KNV Chartered Accountants, Robert Half, and Optinet
Systems, and the host venue—the Hyatt Regency Vancouver—for their
help in making the inaugural CPABC Spring Leadership Conference
a great success.
Photos by Jay Shaw for Jay Shaw Photography.
For more Conference photos, visit CPABC’s Flickr
page at flickr.com/cpabc/sets.
50 CPABC in Focus • Sept/Oct 2014
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