AICPA Presents Kess Award to Vern Hoven and Sharon Kreider

The American Institute of CPAs has honored CPAs Vern Hoven and Sharon Kreider with the 2014 Sidney Kess Award for Excellence in Continuing Education.
The award was presented at the AICPA's Conference on Tax Strategies for the High-Income Individual in Las Vegas by conference chair Martin Finn.

Hoven is head of Vern Hoven Tax Seminars in Seattle, Wash. Kreider is owner of Kreider CPA in Sunnyvale, Calif.

The award, created in 2010 in honor of Kess, a nationally renowned tax expert, recognizes CPAs who have made significant and outstanding contributions in tax and financial planning and whose public service exemplifies the CPA profession’s values and ethics.

Hoven combines his real-world experience of a practicing CPA and a licensed real estate broker with his enthusiasm for his subject. He has been named “Tax Instructor of the Year” by numerous state CPA societies. He is a favorite for interviews on radio, television and in newspapers. Additionally, Hoven’s speaking skills earned him the coveted Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association. Hoven has served on many national boards and is the author of several books and articles on taxation for numerous national publications.

Kreider is a CPA and Enrolled Agent who worked for the IRS before establishing her own firm. She has taught continuing education classes for more than 30 years, first for local tax professional organizations, then for the California CPA Foundation and the AICPA. Kreider writes 500 pages of tax update materials each year, used by more than 10,000 CPAs and tax professionals in federal tax update classes. She loves teaching and appreciates the responsibility she has as a compiler and a demystifier of new tax legislation, current IRS rulings and the latest court decisions.

“This year, the Conference Planning Committee selected two individuals who, on their own, are trainers to be admired and, collaboratively, are a force to be reckoned with,” Finn remarked during the award presentation. “Vern and Sharon’s commitment to education and the role it plays in preparing the future leaders of our profession serves as both an inspiration and a model to others.”

Nominations for the Kess Award are solicited by the Tax Strategies for the High-Income Individual Conference Steering Committee and accepted from May 31 – January 31. The committee determines award recipients.

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