Portrait
FROM: MAR-APR 2004 ISSUE
New Mandate
Robert Landry, CGA, became the chief operating operator of CGA-P.E.I. on September 6, 2003. The position is part-time and unsalaried; Landry's full-time role is as a deputy public trustee for the province of P.E.I.
Until December 1999, he worked as a senior tax auditor with the P.E.I. Provincial Treasurer and as a financial advisor with Investors Group. "Before that I spent 21 years with the P.E.I. Credit Union System; my last position was as the inspector of Credit Unions, in 1996," says Landry.
"I was designated in June 1987, and I chose to do my CGA because I was employed with the local credit union, wanted a designation, and had a strong interest in accounting," he says. "I have been involved with CGA-P.E.I. since 1988 in various roles, serving as chair of most committees and as president for one year. I have served on the National Board, National Education Committee, and most recently, on the Audit Committee of CGA-Canada," he continues.
"My greatest professional achievement was my appointment to the chief operating operator position," he states. "The confidence my peers have shown by selecting me to represent them on professional matters is the high point of my career as a CGA," he adds.
Landry credits the Atlantic Marketing Initiative for raising the designation's profile on the East Coast. "I believe the CGA program is viewed very positively in P.E.I. This is in large part due to the Atlantic Marketing Initiative, which is enhancing our image in the market, and our presence at trade and career venues," he says.
"By 2005, I'd like to complete an update to operating standards and procedures, and our Web site content," states Landry. "But, the primary goal of CGA-P.E.I. is achieving public practice rights." At the request of the provincial government, CGA-P.E.I. has drafted proposed legislation to facilitate practice rights and the provincial Institute of Chartered Accountants is in the process of drafting legislation to replace the outdated Public Accounting and Auditing Act.
According to Landry, the major challenge faced by CGA-P.E.I. is limited resources. Specific challenges include accessing industry-specific professional development opportunities for CGA-P.E.I.'s just over 100 members, and expanding recruitment activities.
Landry has lived in Charlottetown all his life. Married to Sandra for more than 27 years, the couple has two grown children, Christopher, 26, and Melissa, 23. "Most people are surprised when I tell them I am a grandfather," he responds when asked what people might not know about him.
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30 Years, 3,000 Members
In 2003, CGA Manitoba celebrated its 30-year anniversary. Len Hampson, FCGA, and the executive director of CGA Manitoba, was at the helm for 29 of those years and has a story or two to tell. (He's even met the real Elvis.) "When I started with the Association, we had just over 300 members and students, and there was one other person working part-time," says Hampson. "And now we have 16 employees and more than 3,000 members and students. We have become the largest accounting body in Manitoba," he adds.
CGA Manitoba prides itself on being responsive to the needs of Manitoba business and is closely linked with the business community. Under Hampson's stewardship, CGA Manitoba has also built a strong relationship with the provincial government. The Association has positive relationships with the City of Winnipeg, the local Canada Revenue Agency offices, and the Canadian Credit Institute. "We've leveraged our resources to offer special accounting courses for these organizations and others," he explains.
Hampson believes the designation has very good recognition in Manitoba. "Our image has progressed and grown effectively, but I think the lack of a common brand across the country is the one thing we've lacked. The awareness of CGA is very strong in our province and we need to let that awareness multiply," he states emphatically. "I see myself as a champion of the branding initiative coming out of CGA-Canada, as it is key to building awareness," he says.
Hampson received his designation in 1970 and his FCGA in 1981. Born and raised in Winnipeg, he used to spend up to three months a year traversing the country while working for the Manitoba department of finance. He was with the department for seven years prior to taking on his executive director role with the Association. He also spent a year in industry and several years in public accounting before joining the government.
A rustic cottage at Lake of the Woods is where Hampson achieves a balance between his work with the Association and his personal life. Hampson and his wife of 37 years, Lorraine, built the cottage from the ground up. "A true labour of love, it has no power, must be accessed by water, and it is a perfect place to relax," he says. And a great place for the couple to spend time with their two grown children, two grandchildren, and a very important golden retriever named Blaze.
And no, Hampson didn't meet Elvis in the hallways of the CGA Manitoba building or spot the star from his cottage — he actually had a conversation and shook hands with the legendary icon a few years back at the 1962 Seattle World's Fair.
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