From the CEO: VSCPA 2030 -- Our first year in review

A year ago, we launched an exciting new strategic framework under the leadership of 2024–2025 VSCPA Chair Christine Williamson, CPA. We notched several successes and advancements, all aimed toward our mission and vision of the future — to empower the CPA profession to thrive. Check out a few of the ways we focused our efforts over the past year below, and where we’re headed in the next several months.

VSCPA 2030 strategy #1: Influence people to become and remain CPAs. We’re still celebrating one of our biggest successes in this area, legislation to create a new pathway for people to become CPAs, which will drive more accountants to CPA licensure and help firms and companies attract new talent. We had a record number of members present to students in our CPAs in the Classroom program, and the Educational Foundation gave away $72,000 in scholarships to deserving students. Additionally, our campaign featuring members to raise awareness among students about the CPA profession garnered more than 250,000 impressions on TikTok!

VSCPA 2030 strategy #2: Foster connections and prepare the CPA of the future. It’s been a banner year for our networking, connection, and volunteer opportunities. We launched the Elevate & Engage series to provide opportunities for young professionals to engage and connect, as well as a Corporate Finance Peer Group. We offered new learning programs like CPA Leadership Essentials and resources like the AI & Emerging Tech Resource Center, new digital Disclosures platform, and VSCPA Retention Guide.

VSCPA 2030 strategy #3: Pursue business model innovation to deliver member value. A Board  task force reviewed our membership model and categories and made recommendations, which we’re implementing now. We have a new dues structure designed with you in mind — streamlined, flexible and loaded with enhanced benefits. Additionally, we continued to foster the Don Farmer Tax Education brand, which directly helps the sustainability of the VSCPA and allows us to continue our programs and advocacy efforts to support members. 

Future forward. As you can see, our leaders and staff hit the ground running. As we begin our next fiscal year, we’re gearing up to continue many of these endeavors and launch new ones. We’re planning a major overhaul of our website to make it easy to use, log in, and register for courses. Now that our legislation is in place, we must advocate to ensure emergency regulations are approved by Jan. 1 for the new licensure pathway. And we’re always planning new ways to offer the education, networking and volunteer opportunities you tell us you need to excel in your careers.

If you have ideas or feedback on our progress, feel free to reach out to me anytime at [email protected].