The American Institute of CPAs gave John W. Dean, a partner at the accounting firm Heard, McElroy & Vestal, LLP, in Shreveport, La., its Public Service Award at its Spring Meeting of Council.
The annual award recognizes members of the AICPA who have made significant contributions to their communities. Kathy G. Eddy, chair of the awards committee presented the award to Dean, who has done volunteer work for nonprofit organizations such as the Volunteers of America North Louisiana, Grayson Foundation, Holy Angels Residential Facility – a non-profit Christian organization dedicated to serving intellectual and developmentally disabled residents, and Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce.
“Compassionate advocate, tireless volunteer, CPA ─ in all these roles John has improved the lives of people he has come into contact with,” said Eddy. “He’s a credit to the profession, his community and his country.”
Dean’s activities with the VOA for the past 21 years enabled the organization to increase the number of people served from 1,500 to over 10,000, during which time the organization’s budget increased from $1,000,000 to over $15,000,000. He has served as chairman and is currently on several of its committees.
In his acceptance speech Tuesday, Dean reminisced about the volunteer work he did with AICPA president and CEO Barry Melancon when Melancon was leading the Society of Louisiana CPAs. Dean also talked about the problems with the public debt, which he has discussed with local officials. “I think we made a lot of promises we can’t keep, and I think we’re going to have to recognize that, and there’s not a better group to provide counseling than the American Institute of CPAs,” he said.
Dean serves as chairman of the finance committee and is a board member of Christus Schumpert Health System. He is the president of the Grayson Foundation and is on the board of directors of Holy Angels Residential Facility.
He was a vital part of Shreveport’s efforts to be selected from several competing cities to secure a large Libbey Glass distribution center which brought economic viability to the area. Dean assisted in the formation of his community’s Young Professionals Initiative and helped secure the funding for the completion of I-49 to link Arkansas to south Louisiana and led the charge to secure funding for the Cyber Command at Barksdale Air Force Bases.
