Associations
FROM: JAN-FEB 2004 ISSUE
North of 60
John Carter, CD, MBA, CAFM, CGA, and president of CGA Northwest Territories/Nunavut for 2003-04, has two major goals for the coming year. "The first is to continue to build strong relationships with the other professional bodies in the Northwest Territories/Nunavut, such as the Aboriginal Financial Officers Association (AFOA) and the Law Society," he says. "Second, we want to ensure members and students are happy with the level of service we provide. To this end, we've created the relationship committee, chaired by Carl Bird, CGA."
Carter is the assistant comptroller general, Financial Management Board Secretariat, Government of the Northwest Territories. He lives in Yellowknife, which he refers to as "a modern, if small, city north of 60," with his wife of eight years,Susie Otokeak.
A CGA since 1988, Carter began serving on the CGA Ottawa chapter executive in 1988 and was the chair in 1993. He was the chief invigilator for the Ottawa chapter during the late '80s, taught CGA subjects at both the University of Ottawa and Algonquin College, and served on a couple of CGA Ontario committees.
"I became involved as a volunteer because I believe in the designation," he says. "I wanted to put something back into the Association."
Carter currently serves as the chair for the education committee, and is the national education committee representative for CGA Northwest Territories/Nunavut.
He is also vice-president of the Yellowknife Rotary Club; director of northern training for the Air Cadet League of the Northwest Territories/Nunavut/Yukon; director of education and prevention for the Yellowknife Wellness Coalition, and is working with the RCMP to establish a Citizens on Patrol Program in Yellowknife. He teaches night classes in accounting at Aurora Collegetwo semesters a year.
Serving on the executive with Carter are: Lee-Anne Tomkins, CGA, vice-president;Anne Foster; CGA, secretary; Jocelyn Tonge, CGA, treasurer; and past president, Nancy Hanks, CGA.
[ TOP ]
Bigger Numbers
Heather Mechalski, CGA, and president of CGA-Alberta for 2003-04, has plans to rejuvenate the Alberta chapters, improve communication and networking with CGA students, and boost the number of volunteers on committees during her year as president. Another top priority is working with CGA-Canada to achieve the Association's public policy goals.
"I consider the job of president to be both a privilege and a challenge. It is a privilege to help oversee the fastest growing professional accounting designation in Alberta, and it is a continuing challenge to ensure that CGA-Alberta builds on this success,"she states.
A CGA since 1995, Mechalski has been actively involved with the Association for eight years. She was elected to the CGA-Alberta board of governors in 1999, and has served on the Edmonton chapter board as both director and chair; the audit committee; student appeals committee, discipline tribunal; the Alberta Scholarship Trust; and the education advisory committee. She also invigilates exams and participates in various student recruitment activities.
Mechalski was born and raised in Edmonton, where she currently resides with her husband, Tim, and their 11-year-old daughter, Keltie. An active volunteer in the community, Mechalski is the treasurer for the Brander Gardens After School Care Program and serves on the Family Support Committee of Habitat for Humanities.
Mechalski has been employed in the education sector since 1984, and prior to that worked in oil and gas, and banking. She is a part-time instructor in the financial services divisions of both Grant MacEwan College and the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT).
Serving with Mechalski on the CGA-Alberta executive are: James Dunphy, MBA, LLB, FCGA, chair; Martin Herbert, CGA, first vice-president; and Laura Leigh White, FCGA, second vice-president.
[ TOP ]
Alberta Philanthropist
Louise Nesterenko, FCGA, and CGA-Canada's first vice-chair for 2003-04, was recently named the Outstanding Small Business Philanthropist as part of Alberta's 2003 Generosity of Spirit awards. The Hon. Lois Hole,Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, bestowed the honour upon Nesterenko at a reception held in Calgary to recognize the outstanding contributions of six local philanthropists. Nesterenko's company, Alberta Computer Cable, is actively involved in fundraising for the Between Friends Club for youth with disabilities.
[ TOP ]
IFAC Representation
Sylvie Voghel, FCGA, was recently elected to the board of directors of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). IFAC is the global organization for the accountancy profession. It works with its 159 member organizations in 118 countries to protect the public interest by encouraging high quality practices by the world's accountants.
CGA-Canada President and COO Anthony Ariganello reacted positively to the announcement. "This is wonderful news for CGA-Canada," he said, adding, "I know Sylvie will represent us very well and will continue to be a tireless advocate for the CGA designation."
Voghel has a long and active involvement with the Association. She was the president of the Ordre des CGA du Québec in 1995-96, and of CGA-Canada in 1999-2000.
[ TOP ]