January 2019 | Volume XXXVI | No. 1 aicpa fall meeting of council By Patrick Kautzman, AICPA Council Member Since TCJA passed last December, we have heard from a multitude of professionals with varying levels of concern regarding the continued existence of the food and beverage deduction in light of the fate of entertainment expenses. Well, Notice 2018-76, issued October 3, 2018, clarifies that taxpayers generally may continue to deduct 50% of the food and beverage expenses associated with operating their trade or business. Professional Issues Update by Barry Meloncon, President and CEO of AICPA Barry’s professional issues update included his recurring reminders of the rapid pace of innovation and disruption in our world and our industry. • Since the year 2000, 41% of S&P consumer-centric companies have been acquired 2019 or gone out of business and 39% of the 5th to 85th largest firms no longer exist as standalone firms. Conference dates • The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report shows that of the top 10 de- clining jobs by 2022, #2 is Accounting, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Clerks and #7 is Accountants and Auditors. Barry’s response: They are referring to an industry that Management Conference is unwilling to change and adapt! He broke a future ready strategy down into 3 parts: May 22-23 • Technology – Master it before it masters you Fargo Holiday Inn • Trust – Build on CPAs expertise • Talent – Think broader Summer variety pack Technology – CPAs must embrace “Software as a Service” through client accounting June 17-19 services and virtual CFO services, “Big Data and Analytics”, “Artificial Intelligence” through Bismarck Ramkota machine learning and virtual assistance, and “Blockchain”. CPAs must learn the fundamen- tals at a minimum but becoming an expert and applying these technologies to your com- pany or practice is vital to being future ready. Trust – Build on the confidence and public trust that CPAs enjoy in the marketplace. Utilize the technology tools developed for Audit Annual CPA Convention data analytics, RIVIO Clearinghouse, OnPoint Preparation Compilation and Review tool, September 22-24 and the Dynamic Audit Solution tool to help optimize processes and provide insights with Fargo Holiday Inn technology. We need to explore adjacent opportunities such as expansion of SOC reporting, Cybersecurity risk management, and Integrated reporting and sustainability. Management accounting must move from a cost center to a value driver for their organization. Continued on page 9. Mark your Calendar IN THIS ISSUE: • Presidents Message 2 • YP Article 4 • AICPA Council Meeting Cont 9 • In Memory 2 • Member Profiles 5 • Ethics Corner 10 • New Members 2 • Executive Director Column 6 • Classified Ad 10 • Leadership Conference 3 • No longer Licensed CPAs 6 • Legislative message 3 • Tax Commissioner 7 1 ndcpas.org January 2019 NEW members PRESIDENTS Message Summer Aune, Fargo Clarence Sitter, CPA Selorm Boateng, Bismarck Hunter Diegel, Fargo Kyle Dorow, Fargo A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Jace Dukart, Grand Forks to all of you! The holiday season is over and all the Edward Eades, Moorhead hustle and bustle that comes with it has gone. I Jake Ellingson, Moorhead hope you were able to take some time for the most Thomas Fyffe, West Fargo important things in life: faith, family and friends. Eric Gefroh, Grand Forks Now many of you are just beginning the next race Cole Hiltner, Grand Forks through another “busy season” and will be chal- Scott Hogfoss, Fargo lenged with getting lots of things done in a short Ashley Honl, Fargo amount of time. One of my many shortcomings Heather Jefferson, Bismarck (according to my wife) is time management. I always believe I can get lots Kristi Johnson, Lisbon of things done with my time, but it rarely ever happens. Killisha Keller, Killdeer Taylor Keplin, New Town I was reminded of how we use and value our time with the strategic plan- David Krebsbach, Bismarck ning that the Society recently worked through in December. It was two long Abby Lee, Fargo days that involved several of our members with the board that produced Tyrel Mollerud, Grand Forks a lot of great ideas, questions and thoughts. There will be some really Rose Nichols, Bismarck exciting things to come out of that session that will be shared as the details Nathan Nigg, Fargo come together. A huge thank you to all that were involved in that! Andrew Olsonawski, Moorhead Taylor Otto, Grand Forks It is through exercises like strategic planning that I have come to appreciate Paige Qual, Lisbon that when we allow ourselves the proper amount of time to grind through Brady Sirjord, Ulen the tough tasks we often produce the greatest gems in our lives and work. Randall Smith, New England Time is our most valuable resource and John Wooden (the great UCLA Karla Sveum, Lisbon basketball coach from the 1960’s and 1970’s) has a great story about this Michelle Syring, Walcott topic in his book Coach Wooden One-on-One. If you ever have chance it is Tyler Tessmann, Moorhead a good read and the story is one that a lot of us CPAs can relate to because Rebecca Thwing, Fargo he correlates time to money. Hint: In the story, each of us get $86,400 each Blake Torbeck, Grand Forks and every day of our lives. Gretchen Wagendorf, West Fargo As we go through 2019 together, I want to say thank you to all of you for being members of our Society and this profession! You make significant impacts with your time and talents in your businesses, your families, and the activities you are involved with. Know that the Society is working hard In memory to advocate for you and using the time of its staff and many great volun- Edward Grunett teers to ensure that you receive the value you deserve in 2019 and beyond. Ed Grunett 2018 AICPA/CPA-SEA passed away on November Leadership conference 3rd. He had been a society President-Elect Dianna Kindseth member since 1969 and attended the AICPA/CPA-SEA served on several committees Leadership Conference. This including CPE, Governmental, annual event brings Executive Di- Nominations, Recruiting rectors and President-Elect from and Taxation. Ed worked for the Societies together to prepare various companies throughout them for their upcoming presi- his career including 20th dency. It updates them on issues Century Fox and Standard pertaining to the profession and Oil. He owned his own firm Pictured left to right Sherre Sattler, Tracey provides the opportunity to share for many years and was most Golden (AICPA Vice Chair), Dianna Kindseth, and discuss ideas with peers. recently with Widmer Roel and Barry Melancon (AICPA President). CPAs in Hazen. 2 ndcpas.org Know any legislators? During the upcoming legislative session the Society will be monitoring the legislative process, watching for issues of interest to the CPA community. We want to have member contacts available to reach out to legislators on key issues. Please scan the list below and mark those legislators you know and/or would be willing to contact. You may not be called on, and if you are, you are always free to decline if you are not comfortable with the issue. Please send your contacts to [email protected]. North Dakota Senate Howard Anderson Turtle Lake 8 Kathy Hogan Fargo 21 Erin Oban Bismarck 35 JoNell A. Bakke Grand Forks 43 David Hogue Minot 38 Dave Oehlke Devils Lake 15 Brad Bekkedahl Williston 1 Ray Holmberg Grand Forks 17 Arne Osland Mayville 20 Randy Burckhard Minot 5 Jordan Kannianen Stanley 4 Dale Patten Watford City 39 David A. Clemens West Fargo 16 Jerry Klein Fessenden 14 Merrill Piepkorn Fargo 44 Dwight Cook Mandan 34 Karen K. Krebsbach Minot 40 Nicole Poolman Bismarck 7 Kyle Davison Fargo 41 Curt Kreun Grand Forks 42 Larry J. Robinson Valley City 24 Dick Dever Bismarck 32 Oley Larsen Minot 3 Jim P. Roers Fargo 46 Jim Dotzenrod Wyndmere 26 Diane Larson Bismarck 30 Kristin Roers Fargo 27 Michael Dwyer Bismarck 47 Gary A. Lee Casselton 22 David S. Rust Tioga 2 Jay Elkin Taylor 36 Judy Lee West Fargo 13 Donald Schaible Mott 31 Robert Erbele Lehr 28 Larry Luick Fairmount 25 Ronald Sorvaag Fargo 45 Robert O. Fors Larimore 19 Richard Marcellais Belcourt 9 Jessica Unruh Beulah 33 John Grabinger Jamestown 12 Tim Mathern Fargo 11 Shawn Vedaa Velva 6 Joan Heckaman New Rockford 23 Scott Meyer 18 Terry M. Wanzek Jamestown 29 Janne Myrdal Edinburg 10 Rich Wardner Dickinson 37 North Dakota House of Representatives Mary Adams Grand Forks 43 Craig Johnson Maxbass 6 Mark S. Owens Grand Forks 17 Bert Anderson Crosby 2 Dennis Johnson Devils Lake 15 Bob Paulson Minot 3 Dick Anderson Willow City 6 Mary Johnson Fargo 45 Gary Paur Gilby 19 Pamela Anderson Fargo 41 Daniel Johnston Kathryn 24 Chet Pollert Carrington 29 Thomas Beadle Fargo 27 Terry B. Jones New Town 4 Todd Porter Mandan 34 Rick Becker Bismarck 7 Tom Kading Fargo 45 Brandy Pyle Casselton 22 Larry Bellew Minot 38 Karen Karls Bismarck 35 David Richter Williston 1 Jake G. Blum Grand Forks 42 Jim Kasper Fargo 46 Shannon Roers Jones Fargo 46 Tracy Boe Mylo 9 George Keiser Bismarck 47 Karen M. Rohr Mandan 31 Glenn Bosch Bismarck 30 Keith Kempenich Bowman 39 Dan Ruby Minot 38 Josh Boschee Fargo 44 Dwight Kiefert Valley City 24 Matthew Ruby Minot 40 Mike Brandenburg Edgeley 28 Lawrence R. Klemin Bismarck 47 Mark Sanford Grand Forks 17 Ruth Buffalo Fargo 27 Ben Koppelman West Fargo 16 Bernie Satrom Jamestown 12 Chuck Damschen Hampden 10 Kim Koppelman West Fargo 13 Mike Schatz New England 36 Jeff Delzer Underwood 8 Gary Kreidt New Salem 33 Austen Schauer West Fargo 13 Bill Devlin Finley 23 Vernon Laning Bismarck 8 Jim Schmidt Huff 31 Gretchen Dobervich Fargo 11 Mike Lefor Dickinson 37 Mary Schneider Fargo 21 Jason Dockter Bismarck 7 Donald W.