february2021 - 23

AICPA NEWS
AICPA Accepting Applications for
Minority Accounting Scholarships
The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) is now accepting applications for the Private Companies Practice Section (PCPS) George
Willie Ethnically Diverse Student Scholarship and Internship
program. The George Willie program provides a scholarship
and internship to ten ethnic minority accounting students who
intend to pursue their CPA licensure. The AICPA doubled the
number of scholarships and internships available in 2021. The
program provides ten students up to $10,000 each with their
final academic year tuition, while ten PCPS member firms each
sponsor a student for an internship during the 2022 busy season
(January to April). Full eligibility requirements, selection criteria
and application are available online.
The participating member firms are:
■ Abdo, Eick & Meyers, Edina/Minneapolis and Mankato, MN
■ Anders CPA, St. Louis, MO
■ Bowman & Company, Voorhees Township, NJ
■ Dean Dorton, Lexington and Louisville, KY
■ Gumbiner Savett Inc., Santa Monica, CA
■ King & Oliason, Seattle, WA
■ Krost CPAs, Pasadena and Woodland Hills, CA
■ Moss Adams, All office locations.
■ O'Connor & Drew P.C., Braintree, MA
■ SobelCo, Livingston and Woodcliff Lake, NJ ■

Individual CPAs Now Eligible
to Apply for .CPA Website
Domains

Licensed CPAs can now apply on an individual basis for their
preferred branding under the new restricted Internet domain for
the accounting profession, .cpa. Until now, only licensed CPA
firms and approved organizations, such as state CPA societies,
were eligible.

For example, if available, a licensed CPA could obtain the
domain name, www.JohnWSmith.cpa (this link is not real and
may or may not be available- it is only for example purposes.)
Top-level domains are the handful of letters at the end
of an email or website address, such as .com or .org. Using
a .cpa domain allows practitioners to strengthen their brand
identity in online communications and provides better
security and resistance to Internet fraud, such as phishing
and spoofing. And because the domain is only available to
licensed CPAs and licensed CPA firms, it promotes greater
trust with clients and the general public. ■

TOM HOOD, CPA, JOINS ASSN
OF INTERNATIONAL CERTIFIED
PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS AS VP
Tom Hood, CPA, CITP, CGMA, former
executive director and CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs (MACPA), has
joined the Association of International
Certified Professional Accountants
as executive vice president, business
growth and engagement. He will report
to Barry Melancon, CPA, CGMA, the
Association's CEO.
Hood has been visible on a national
level through speaking engagements
and other forms of outreach. He expects
to continue that visibility. " Absolutely!
That's want they wanted me to make
sure I did! " said Hood. He will use his
extensive connections, influence, experience, and passion for the accounting
and finance profession to engage with
businesses, their leaders, and their
global networks. He plans to convert
those insights into actions that support
the profession and work across the
Association to grow its understanding
of their challenges and opportunities.
When asked what is the most exciting part about going to the Association,
Hood said, " Coming through COVID, we
did some amazing things as a profession; it made us even stronger. To have
a bigger stage with Barry [Melancon] and
his team to continue our efforts to make
the profession even more future-ready
- that was the big appeal. "
In addition to Hood's appointment,
the Association has acquired the
Business Learning Institute (BLI) from
MACPA. The acquisition of BLI's many

FEBRUARY 2021 ■

learning programs will enhance the
Association's offerings to corporate
employers in upskilling and reskilling
their employees so they continue
to meet ever-changing marketplace
demands. Together, the Association
and BLI will accelerate the introduc-

tion of new, innovative content for
accounting and finance professionals
globally. Founded in 1999 by MACPA,
BLI is a highly respected source for
human intelligence skill development
and a strategic learning partner and
talent management consultancy for
businesses and CPA firms worldwide.
Hood will continue to provide leadership
in supporting BLI's clients, products, and
services throughout BLI's integration
with the Association. ■

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february2021

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