Dallas (July 8, 2003) -- The Texas Society of CPAs, one of the largest CPA memberships in the country, has elected ethics expert Dr. Nita Clyde as its chairman.
TSCPA has 20 local chapters statewide and approximately 27,000 members.
Clyde realizes there are many challenges she must face during her one-year term of office, not the least of which is focusing on what she said are the three core values of the CPA profession: “integrity, objectivity, and competence.” Even so, this is a job Clyde believes she has “been preparing for my entire career” and one in which she will excel.
A former accounting professor and administrator, Clyde is a partner in the CPA consulting firm of Clyde Associates. In addition to providing executive training and litigation support, Clyde also writes and presents ethics courses for Texas CPAs and speaks frequently at conferences and seminars throughout the country.
She feels the greatest challenge facing TSCPAs is the lack of diversity in the membership, which Clyde plans to tackle head on.
“As you may know there is a strong Hispanic and African American presence in Texas and we are trying to make ourselves known to them, making initial efforts to get into other professional minority organizations and do something collectively,” Clyde said. She added that the executive board is “very interested” in this issue and has planned an action meeting for August to map out what can be done.
The organization's board sets policy, manages programs, and oversees activities designed to serve Texas CPAs.
Another issue on Clyde’s plate is improving TSCPA membership involvement. The majority of TSCPA’s sizable membership work in industry, not public accounting firms. As such, Clyde claims they have not been as involved as she would like and it’s up to the TSCPA to change that.
“We haven’t done a good job of getting them in involved in our professional activities and it’s a huge problem because involvement of all members is what makes a strong society,” Clyde said. “I’m trying very hard to figure out ways to get people in industry involved and recognize the importance of being an active member of the profession.”
Clyde previously served as TSCPA treasurer and has been a member of numerous councils, committees, and task forces. She is also a member of the American Red Cross' Board of Governors and a former member of the American Institute of CPAs' board of directors.
-- Seth Fineberg
