Sharing Call definition: In our world, sharing calls typically cover a specific niche area or practice management issue that also happens to be a hot topic among members. The call can be centered on a niche service or a specialized service and usually runs between thirty minutes and one hour.
Some of the top industries served by our CPAmerica International members include:
- Real Estate
- Professional Services
- Construction
- Finance and Insurance
- Healthcare and Social Assistance
- Manufacturing
- Nonprofit
- Agriculture
- Retail and Mining
Why do they work and why should I attend?
Member sharing is an integral part of being in an association–any association. Members in CPAmerica can get access to best practice knowledge from their peers without fear or worry of sharing with a direct competitor.
Our association is fortunate that members enjoy sharing with other members and often cite it as one of the most beneficial aspects of their membership.
Sharing calls are just another form of developing those relationships and learning best practices. Members can get on a call discussing a topic without waiting months to see each other face to face.
If it is a topic that needs further development and resources, the call often evolves into a series of webinars or a more in-depth session at a conference or retreat.
A couple of sharing calls on the horizon for our members are a call hosted by two of our member firms, Terry Delaney of Widmer Roel, PC in Fargo, ND and Cynthia Dopjera of Harper & Pearson Company, PC in Houston, TX. They have agreed to co-facilitate a call to discuss some key topics affecting the banking industry.
We also have a call scheduled on the topic of Outsourced CFO and Controllership Services. The call will be facilitated by Bob Parker, Managing Partner of TPP Certified Public Accountants, LLC in Overland Park, KS. On this call, Bob will discuss what processes his firm uses such as billing, marketing approaches, challenges and successes their firm has encountered.
Whether or not a firm offers these particular services to clients, by participating in the sharing calls, members can learn how to develop the niche in their area.
How can I participate?
If a firm specializes in a particular area and feels that some of their fellow members can benefit by having a call, facilitation is a great way to introduce themselves to other key members with expertise in the niche area and expand upon relationships with peers in the industry.
As a facilitator, a member leads the conversation for thirty minutes to an hour. Facilitators may even prepare a few topics beforehand that they feel comfortable discussing. It is a roundtable style discussion, so other members are encouraged to add comments and ask/answer questions.
Members don’t have to be experts in the field to facilitate a call, just express an interest. An agenda is submitted to the group before the call. It’s as easy as that!
After positive feedback in 2012, our goal at CPAmerica is to more than double the amount of sharing calls hosted last year. Contact us to begin improving through sharing.
Joyce Arthur, Member Services Manager at CPAmerica International. Arthur was previously a Firm Administrator and has worked in the accounting profession for over 20 years. In her role within the Member Services team, she is responsible for the sharing calls, orientations, member communications and is a valuable resource for member firms.
