Ray of hope

2004-05 MACPA Chair Ed Rommel sees bright days ahead for the profession

By Bill Sheridan
Statement Editor

A new day is dawning for the CPA profession. For Ed Rommel, that means it's time to go to work.

A co-founder and partner with the Salisbury firm Twilley, Rommel & Stephens, P.A., Rommel succeeds Pat Reese as chair of the MACPA's board of directors. The gavel was passed during the association's Annual Meeting on June 25 and he took office at the start of the MACPA's fiscal year on July 1. His one-year term runs through June 30, 2005.

Rommel is taking the MACPA's reins at a time of transition for the profession. The dark days of corporate scandal have passed, but the profession's new reform environment remains unsettled for CPAs in both practice and industry. Enrollment in collegiate accounting programs is edging upward, but staffing remains a top concern for CPA firms. And all CPAs continue to search for ways to further enhance the profession's tarnished image.

But Rommel sees light on the horizon.

"It is said that the sun comes up after the darkest hours of the night," said Rommel, 54. "I believe we are on the verge of a beautiful sunrise."

Pinpointing the top concerns of Maryland CPAs is no easy task, and Rommel knows it.

"Maryland CPAs are a diverse group. To address the issues of concern, you need to analyze each segment of the profession," he said. "In the area of small accounting firms, many would say staffing and succession planning (are the top priorities). For larger firms, I would suspect regulations and compliance are paramount. To those in education, it would be the decrease in funding and the shortage of those pursuing higher education degrees in accounting.

"And for all of us," he added, "there are the ongoing efforts toward restoration of our image as the public's most trusted advisor."

Membership a top priority

To effectively address these concerns, the MACPA needs the support of its members. The more members it has, the more resources the association can devote to the issues.

That's why Rommel is targeting membership as his top priority. In fact, his theme for the coming year — "Because we make a difference" — is Rommel's answer to CPAs who ask why they should join the MACPA.

"There are more than 17,000 CPAs in the state of Maryland. Our membership has consistently been around 10,000 for a number of years," he said. "There is no reason why we can't be the representative body for at least two-thirds of the state's CPAs. For me, this means we need to give CPAs a reason to belong.

"We know that for more than 100 years we have made a substantial impact," he added. "Our challenge is to spread the message and invite all CPAs in the state to be a part of our efforts."

Part of the answer

Rommel heard that call years ago. He has been an active member of the MACPA's Eastern Shore Chapter since 1996 and has served as the chapter's president and on its Executive Committee. Most recently, he has served as the MACPA's secretary / treasurer and president-elect.

Why did he feel compelled to volunteer?

"The answer I would like to give is, 'I wanted to give back to the profession that has been so good to me.' But this is only one of the reasons," he said. "I enjoy people, and the leadership and staff of the MACPA have afforded me the opportunity to work with some of the finest people I have ever met."

Perhaps most importantly, MACPA volunteers lend a hand when the profession needs it most and the profession needs it today more than ever.

But Rommel says volunteer CPAs aren't the only ones with a role to play.

"The profession has been through some very difficult times," he said. "If we continue to discipline ourselves, maintain our adherence to our values and remember that we are a profession, we will have a good future."

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