Pulitzer reporter highlights accounting seminar
Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter and author David Cay Johnston spoke to students and guests about the links between civilization and economic gain, Thursday morning at the Partners in Business 32nd Annual Intermountain Accounting Seminar.
Johnston, was awarded the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for his pervasive reporting that uncovered loopholes and injustice in the U.S. tax code. His reporting was instrumental in bringing about tax code reforms, which he said saved American taxpayers a quarter trillion dollars.
Johnston discussed public finance and tax-related issues and emphasized the importance of civilization and government by saying that without civilization there would be no wealth or economic gain. Johnston said it is crucial for people to see how situations and policies actually work, not just how they look on paper.
The 2008 Partners in Business Seminar Series, sponsored by the Jon M. Huntsman School of Business, consists of seven seminars. The accounting seminar had more than 250 people register. Matt Florence, seminar coordinator, said these 250 guests, when added to the number of students who came unregistered, should easily surpass the attendance totals of previous accounting seminars.
“I think this is the best all-around lineup of speakers we’ve ever had,” Florence said, “so I’m happy with the large turnout.”
With a list of past speakers, like former Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan, Chairman and CEO of Bank One Corp. John B. McCoy and President of the San Fransisco Federal Reserve Bank Robert R. Parry, Florence is saying a lot about the hard work everyone involved put in to make the seminar possible.
Some of the nation’s top accounting professionals addressed issues of financial chaos, market freeze, economic stimulus and federal bailout yesterday at the seminar held in the Eccles Conference Center. The experts presented some of the latest information relevant to today’s accounting environment. The topics varied from local and small business to large corporation and government issues.
“One thing I’ve learned from this experience is that these professionals are extremely busy,” Florence said. “All of them have put a lot of hard work into their careers.”
Other speakers included Daniel W. Jones a partner for Deloitte, a world renown financial advisory firm, Kelly K. Matthews, executive vice president and economist for Wells Fargo & Company and Judith H. O’Dell, chairperson for the Private Company Financial Reporting Committee.
“The Partners in Business Seminars are a great opportunity for USU students to hear from top professionals in their field,” Florence said. “Plus, they’re free to students. The other people who attend pay anywhere from $99 to $185 per seminar day.”
Although many of the attending students for Thursday’s seminar were from the accounting department, students from many different majors and departments came to participate and learn from the experts.
Florence, who is a senior set to graduate from the accounting department this spring, said he has been working on this seminar since mid-May. He said he would be relieved when it’s over but that it has been a great experience.
“I’ve made a lot of great contacts with people from the accounting world because of this event,” he said, contacts he said he hopes to use when applying for jobs next year.
–c.h.j@aggiemail.usu.edu