Council Update: AICPA Installs New Chairman

The American Institute of CPAs installed its new chairman, Randy Fletchall, a partner with Ernst & Young, at its Fall Meeting of Council."I'm very honored and very proud to become the next chairman of the AICPA," said Fletchall.Outgoing chair Jimmy Lee Williamson said that he is "certain that [Fletchall] will be successful and will contribute to the profession."Fletchall said that one of his priorities would be recruiting new talent to the profession. "All of us know the importance of winning the battle in the trenches," he added.Williamson also expressed the AICPA's support for the victims of the wildfires raging in Southern California. He heard from Teresa Mason, the new chair of the California Society of CPAs, that some firms in the region had to close down. "We've faced this crisis before," said Williamson. "Our thoughts are with the people of California."AICPA president and CEO Barry Melancon noted that the AICPA has a benevolence fund for members who are in need.The AICPA also awarded its 2007 Gold Medals for Distinguished Service to Kathy Eddy, a former chair of the institute, and to Gary John Previts, a former member of the governing council and board of directors. Eddy is a founding shareholder of McDonough, Eddy, Parsons & Baylous, in Parkersburg, W.Va., and serves on the board of Harsco Corp. Previts, a professor at Case Western University, serves with the Accountability Advisory Council of the Comptroller General of the U.S.