Associations
FROM: JAN-FEB 2005 ISSUE
Fresh Perspective
Lee-Anne Tomkins, CGA, the new president of CGA-NWT/Nunavut says her main goals as president this year are to increase student enrolment through joint projects with other accounting training organizations in the north, and to improve professional development programs for members.
Tomkins was born in Yellowknife and, except for spending two years in Calgary attending SAIT, has lived there all her life. She spent the past five years working at Great Slave Helicopters, but left at the end of October to join BHP Billiton.
"I decided to pursue the CGA designation after completing the Business Administration program at SAIT. I looked at the three Canadian designations, and decided that CGA was best suited to my personality and what I wanted to be doing in the future," she says.
Tomkins received her designation in April 2001, and has been involved with CGA-NWT/Nunavut since September of the same year, when she was approached by the president and asked to join the board of governors.
"They were trying to get 'fresh blood' on the board, and I suppose it didn't get any fresher than me!" says Tomkins, who was flattered to be asked to be treasurer and eagerly wanted to support her Association.
"I also felt that it would be a good way to find out what was happening with the Association, both regionally and nationally," she said, adding that although she hasn't been directly involved with CGA-Canada prior to this year, she is looking forward to meeting her colleagues and contributing in any way she can.
Tomkins and her husband Steve have been married for seven years and, while they don't have any children, they do have two dogs and two cats.
Serving with Tomkins are Bernie Bauhaus, CMA, CGA, vice-president; Kent Ferguson, B.Comm., RPA, CFE, CAFM, FCGA, secretary; Karen Cook, CGA, treasurer; and John Carter, CD, MBA, CAFM, CGA, past president.
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Higher Profile in Manitoba
Michael Geiger-Wolf, FCGA, and CGA-Manitoba's president for 2004-05, says the main goal for CGA-Manitoba this year is to increase brand awareness.
Geiger-Wolf, who has an MBA from Athabasca University, was named an FCGA in 2004. For the past four years, he has worked for Great West Life Assurance providing IT services. Born and raised in Manitoba, he has lived most of his life within Winnipeg city limits. He and his wife Michele have three children: Alexandra, 9, Gabrielle, 6, and Garrett, 3.
His involvement with the Association began when he volunteered to participate on the Technology Advisory Group. He attended the inaugural meeting and, when the chair had to step down due to work commitments a few weeks later, he suddenly found himself chairing the group. He was then asked to join other committees, eventually becoming the public sector representative on the board. "I wanted to get involved because I always felt you should give back to groups or associations that have given to you," he says.
Serving with Geiger-Wolf are Arlene E. Egnell, CGA, first vice-president; Stephen Rosenfield, B.Comm. (Hon), FCGA, second vice-president;Ray Tetrault, B.Comm. (Hon), FCGA, treasurer; Leonard W. Hampson, FCGA, secretary; Douglas G. Collins, C.I.R.P., FCGA, past president; and Greg M. Kuzminski, B.Comm. (Hon), FCGA, national representative.
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Push for Practice Rights Continues
The chair of CGA-Quebec for 2004-05 says he is ready to continue the work of his predecessors toward obtaining full public practice rights for CGAs in Quebec. Alain Laplante, FCGA, first became involved with CGA-Quebec in the spring of 1994, when he attended the general assembly of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue chapter, and was named to the board of directors.
"I felt that it was important for me to get involved in order to increase the visibility of the CGA designation and its recognition among students and the public," says Laplante, who is the chief financial officer for Air Creebec Inc., an air carrier corporation located in the city of Val d'Or, Quebec. Air Creebec provides transportation services for passengers and freight in Quebec and Ontario, and offers charter services mainly in Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. Before joining Creebec, Laplante was the controller for Plastibec Limitée.
Laplante received his CGA designation in 1993, and was named an FCGA in 2002. "For me, it was very important to obtain a professional designation in order to pursue a dynamic career. The CGA program best fit my needs and helped me to achieve my professional goals," he says.
He also served as chair of the Abitibi-Témiscamingue chapter from 1998-2000, and was elected as a board member of CGA-Quebec in 2000. Since 2001, he has been a member of the executive committee.
Laplante was born in Montreal and has lived in Quebec all his life; he and his family moved to Val d'Or 15 years ago. Laplante and his wife Louise Trottier have two children, an 18-year-old daughter, Valérie, who is currently studying accounting, and a son, Pier-Luc, who is 15.
Serving with Laplante on the CGA-Quebec executive are Ginette Fortin, FCGA, vice-chair;Michel P. Laliberté, FCGA, second vice-chair;Pierre Samson, FCGA, elected administrator and treasurer; Robert LaRue, administrator appointed by the Office des professions du Québec; and Luc Provencher, FCGA, past chair.
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In the Know in Alberta
The main goal for CGA Alberta this year is to keep members well-informed, says Martin Herbert, CGA, the new president.
Herbert, who opened his own public practice firm 15 years ago, says one of the main reasons he became involved in CGA Alberta was a desire to meet and network with other CGAs. "My involvement has helped me to be a better CGA and person as a whole," he says of his work with the Association.
Herbert has made numerous contributions to CGA Alberta over the years: he is currently a member of the Public Practice Advisory Committee and the Provincial Audit Committee. He has been an exam invigilator since 1992, and was actively involved in the establishment of Alberta's Regulated Accounting Profession Act.
Herbert was born in Mayo, Yukon, some 400 kilometres north of Whitehorse, but has called Red Deer, Alberta, home for over Y He received his CGA designation in 1992.
Herbert and his wife Pat have three children: Carmen, 23, Shane, 16, and Dallas, 14. Herbert is active in his community, having coached T-ball, soccer, and Level 1 boxing, and spent four years as a Scouts leader in the '90s.
Serving with Herbert on the CGA Alberta executive are Heather Mechalski, FCGA, chair; and Laura Leigh White, FCGA, first vice-president.
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