I have been privileged to serve as the Marketing Director at McGowen Hurst, Clark & Smith, P.C. for the past 20 years. OMG – where has the time gone! 
The old adage of time flies when you’re having fun must be true. During my 20 years, I have been fortunate enough to attend 17 CPAmerica Marketing Conferences and Roundtables – missing only three, two for dance recitals and one for a baseball state tournament that no mother could refuse to attend. (I remember sitting on that bleacher on an unusually cold June day, with rain pelting down, my hands wrapped around a cup of hot chocolate wondering what my CPAmerica friends were doing in sunny Orlando?!?) But I digress…..
Needless to say MHC&S has recognized the importance of participating in this conference, and believe it to be an investment not only in me, but in the entire firm. And I agree.
While the format of the conference/roundtable has changed over the years, one thing has not – the excellent information shared by either an outside speaker or a marketing colleague. I have always been impressed as to the quality of speakers secured by CPAmerica for the conference. Like the clients we serve who have changing needs, so do we as marketing directors. And CPAmerica has always been mindful of this.
Going way back to the conference in Milwaukee in 1994, I remember one of the speakers talking about a new concept/development/tool: the World Wide Web – a global information medium allowing users to read and write via computers connected to something called the Internet. While I must admit, at the time, I really didn’t think it was something I would incorporate in my marketing plan, however, I continued to listen and continued to be intrigued. However, I was wrong about not using it– as two short years later we were developing our first website. CPAmerica – always keeping us on the cutting edge!
This is just one example of the excellent programs and speakers that CPAmerica has afforded its members. But I must admit, my favorite part of the CPAmerica Conference/Roundtables has always been the sharing of ideas, tools, materials, etc. by my CPAmerica marketing friends.
Their ideas have helped me keep our firm’s marketing program fresh and innovative, as we reach outward to our community/market and inward to our team members. I can’t remember a single conference that I attended, that I was not able to come back to our firm and immediately implement a winning marketing idea/technique learned at the conference. Definitely a measurement of the conference’s success.
But the benefits of attending the CPAmerica conference/roundtable just don’t stop after the physical days spent away from the firm have ended. Probably the very best part of attending the conferences are the people you meet and the relationships you build. I am proud to say that during my many years of attending the conferences, I have met so many fellow marketers that have rapidly and sustainably become good friends still today.
If I were to offer a suggestion to new CPAmerica marketers, I would encourage you to get involved with the planning and execution of the roundtable. There are many opportunities available and like everything in life – the more you put into something…the more you get out of it….and the CPAmerica Roundtable is no exception.
Guest post by Rose Breuss – Marketing Director with McGowen Hurst, Clark & Smith, P.C.
Posted by cpamericaintl 
