Discover Accounting Program at Lipscomb University

The Discover Accounting Program came to Nashville at Lipscomb University on Sept. 21. With more than 100 students in attendance from 10 different schools, it was the biggest event yet!

Jenneen Kaufman, CPA and CFO for the Tennessee Titans
presented on the different career options for accountants.

Dr. Perry Moore, CPA, kicked off the day with a fun icebreaker that got all the students up and moving. It was a great way to begin the day with lots of engagement.

Jenneen Kaufman, CFO for the Tennessee Titans, challenged the students’ preconceived stereotypes of accountants. As a woman in the NFL, she isn't your typical CPA. Working in the male-dominated world of sports, she not only follows the teams plays, but also manages their finances.

Accountants are also one of the most trusted professions out there. Jamie Hart, CPA, an auditor with LBMC, spoke about the importance of ethics in the profession and even had the students role-play as if they were CPAs having to testify in court over a business dispute.

Jamie Hart, CPA with LBMC talked about being an auditor.

"Has anyone ever testified under oath? Imagine putting your CPA license on the line. You’re an expert now with your CPA and believe it or not, juries and judges make decisions on what you say and you do because you’re a forensic CPA."

Students used Kindle Fires to discover what type of accounting best suited their personalities with an online quiz through the AICPA's Start Here Go Places website. With over 68 different job titles, each student was matched up to an accounting career that best suited them.

Knowing whether they were geared for a future in tax or audit, public or private practice, the students then were able to go around the room to talk with a host of different CPAs from different areas of practice. A big thanks to Brittany Boyer, Director of Financial Reporting at Surgery Partners; Kathryn Grant and Kevin Gentry with KraftCPAs PLLC; Jamie Hart with LBMC; and Jennifer Sturgeon, Controller at Frasier, Dean and Howard, PLLC.

Brittany Boyer, Director of Financial Reporting, Surgery Parnters	Kathryn Grant, Supervisor, Assurance Services, KraftCPAs PLLC	Kevin Gentry, Supervisor, Risk  Assurance & Advisory Services, KraftCPAs PLLC
Jennifer Sturgeon, Controller, Frasier, Dean and Howard, PLLC	 Jamie Hart, Auditor, LBMC

Karla Chavez, Lipscomb Recruiter

Karla Chavez, recruiter with Lipscomb University did a great job of explaining what students should focus on now, while still in high school, to help get them accepted to the college of their dreams. She also covered ways to save for college and tips on how to make college more affordable, like taking advantage of the Tennessee Promise program, where students can attend their first two years of college for free at community colleges. Her presentation was followed by a campus tour.

Hannah Simmons & Christopher Avrit, TSCPA Scholarship
Winners Lipscomb Accounting Majors

Lipscomb accounting majors, Christopher Avrit and Hannah Simmons shared their experiences as college students, what drew them to accounting and how they both won scholarships from the TSCPA. The students were full of questions about college life and what classes they should take in order to prepare for the CPA exam.

Leisa Gill, Director of Marketing, LBMC

Social media can be a wonderful tool, when used appropriately. Leisa Gill, Director of Marketing with LBMC, provided students with the do's and don'ts of social media. Many students aren't aware that their social media profiles are often reviewed by recruiters for jobs they are applying for. With a word to the wise, Gill shared some of the greatest social media blunders of all time, along with some great advise on how to build a social media presence that can actually help students achieve their goals.

With nine more events scheduled through Nov. 9, TSCPA is working to bring an interest in accounting to more than 1,000 high school students across Tennessee. Attendance is free for high school students and their teachers, but space is limited.

The upcoming dates and locations are as follows:

Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City: Oct. 2
Christian Brothers University, Memphis: Oct. 10
Lee University, Cleveland: Oct. 20
Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville: Oct. 23
King University, Bristol: Oct. 25
University of Tennessee at Martin: Nov. 7
Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville: Nov.9

If you are interested in becoming involved or becoming a sponsor, please contact Aleshia Garrett at agarrett@tscpa.com, 615/377-3825 or discover more at tscpa.com/discoveraccounting.

These events were made possible by contributions from the following sponsors:

GOLD SPONSORSHIP

SILVER SPONSORSHIPS

Carr Rigs & Ingram

KraftCPAs, PLLC
Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

BRONZE SPONSORSHIPS

CBIZ MHM
Dent K. Burke Associates, P.C.
Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC
HORNE LLP
Pugh CPAs
Regions Bank
Roderfer Moss & Co., PLLC
WSW CPAs

Discover Accounting Program at Carson-Newman University

On the road again, The Discover Accounting Program wound it's ways through the mountains of East Tennessee to Jefferson City for the Oct. 2 event at Carson-Newman University. Students from Morristown Hamblen West High School braved the rainy weather to share in the fun of learning about a future in accounting.

With eight more events scheduled through Nov. 9, TSCPA is working to bring an interest in accounting to more than 1,000 high school students across Tennessee. Attendance is free for high school students and their teachers, but space is limited.

The upcoming dates and locations are as follows:

Christian Brothers University, Memphis: Oct. 10
Lee University, Cleveland: Oct. 20
Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville: Oct. 23
King University, Bristol: Oct. 25
University of Tennessee at Martin: Nov. 7
Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville: Nov.9

If you are interested in becoming involved or becoming a sponsor, please contact Aleshia Garrett at agarrett@tscpa.com, 615/377-3825 or discover more at tscpa.com/discoveraccounting.

These events were made possible by contributions from the following sponsors:

GOLD SPONSORSHIP

SILVER SPONSORSHIPS

Carr Rigs & Ingram

KraftCPAs, PLLC
Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

BRONZE SPONSORSHIPS

CBIZ MHM
Dent K. Burke Associates, P.C.
Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC
HORNE LLP
Pugh CPAs
Regions Bank
Roderfer Moss & Co., PLLC
WSW CPAs

Discover Accounting Program Shattering Stereotypes for Tennessee High School Students

On Sept. 2, TSCPA launched the first of 10 Discover Accounting Programs to be held across the state this fall. The event was held at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tenn., and drew more than 40 students from area high schools to learn more about a career in accounting.

Dr. Michelle Freeman
Professor of Accountancy at East Tennessee State University

Michelle Freeman, professor of accountancy at ETSU, kicked off the day challenging the students’ preconceived stereotypes of accountants. Freeman taught the students about the different types of accountants and the many career paths available to those pursuing a degree in accounting and passing the CPA exam.

“Because accounting is the language of business, it’s one of the most adaptable business degrees you can obtain. With an accounting degree, you can really go into any type of business and understand exactly how that company works, judge how successful it is and project where it’s future will be based on different options,” Freeman said.

Kevin Peters, CPA
Partner at Blackburn, Childers, & Stegall, PLC

Accountants are also one of the most trusted professions out there. Kevin Peters, CPA, a partner with Blackburn, Childers & Stegall, PLC, shared stories of his experiences as an auditor.

“There have been times when I’ve been doing an audit and discovered someone in the company was stealing. They may be the nicest person in the world but with enough situational pressures and an open opportunity, many people falter,” Peters said. “As an accountant, people don’t think about us having people skills, but it’s one of the skills we use most often. We don’t just work with numbers, we’re working with people.”

Jonathan Bailey, MAcc, CGMA, CPA
Tax Manager at General Shale

Jonathan Bailey, MAcc, CGMA, CPA, Tax Manager with General Shale, and Jamie Ketron, CGMA, CPA, Auditor with Cherry Bekaert, teamed up to talk about the differences in their jobs, what helped them decide to go into accounting and why they love what they do. Travel and working at remote locations was a big part of what fuels their passion for accounting, but they also love working with people and providing help and insight into the often complicated government regulations.

Jamie Ketron, CGMA, CPA
Auditor at Cherry Bekaert

“It was also a very secure career choice that pays very well,” said Ketron. “When you graduate with an accounting degree, there is no lack of job opportunities. And if you get your CPA certification, the options are limitless.”

However, Chad Kisner, CISA, CITP, CPA, a partner with Blackburn, Childers & Steagall, PLC, cautioned students about what they post on social media. “Recruiters will look at your social media profiles,” he warned. “If it’s something you wouldn’t want your parents to see, don’t do it.”

Social media can help or hurt a student’s future career plans, and this is a critical lesson that high school students need to understand sooner rather than later.

Dr. Mark Steadman, ETSU professor of accounting, did a fantastic job of helping the students understand the perils of financial debt as a student and smart ways to avoid it.

Chad Kisner, CISA, CITP, CPA
Partner at Backburn, Childers & Steagall, PLC

The event wrapped up with Ben Daugherty, one of the college recruiters, and Alyssa Reed, an ETSU accounting student, helping the students to better understand how to prepare for college, how to choose the right school and ways to apply for scholarships.

Students attending said they learned more about accounting as a career option and more about going to and applying for college. One student said, “It gave great insight and showed that the stereotypes aren’t the case.”

With nine more events scheduled through Nov. 9, TSCPA is working to bring an interest in accounting to more than 1,000 high school students across Tennessee. Attendance is free for high school students and their teachers, but space is limited.


The upcoming dates and locations are as follows:
Lipscomb University, Nashville: Sept. 21
Carson-Newman University, Jefferson City: Oct. 2
Christian Brothers University, Memphis: Oct. 10
Lee University, Cleveland: Oct. 20
Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville: Oct. 23
King University, Bristol: Oct. 25
University of Tennessee at Martin: Nov. 7
Pellissippi State Community College, Knoxville: Nov.9

If you are interested in becoming involved or becoming a sponsor, please contact Aleshia Garrett at agarrett@tscpa.com, 615/377-3825 or discover more at tscpa.com/discoveraccounting.

These events were made possible by contributions from the following sponsors:

GOLD SPONSORSHIP

SILVER SPONSORSHIPS

Carr Rigs & Ingram

KraftCPAs, PLLC
Mauldin & Jenkins, LLC

BRONZE SPONSORSHIPS

CBIZ MHM
Dent K. Burke Associates, P.C.
Frasier, Dean & Howard, PLLC
HORNE LLP
Pugh CPAs
Regions Bank
Roderfer Moss & Co., PLLC
WSW CPAs