Byron Patrick and Jeff Lawson address the managing partners.

1. Clear career paths
2. Mentoring
3. Leadership development and training
4. Emphasizing and supporting CPA licensure
5. Permission and time to get involved in their professional association

They want their managing partners to push them to get involved in the MACPA’s New/Young Professionals Network to learn how to grow and lead in the future. That is the message Byron Patrick of KAWG&F and Jeff Lawson of Stoy, Malone delivered to managing partners at a meeting held in December 2006.

They asked the partners to support them by sponsoring them to attend our Leadership Academy, and by encouraging them to get involved in student recruitment, financial literacy and other volunteer activities.

The bottom line: They want to grow but do not feel they have permission and encouragement to do so.

The managing partners were very interested and asked that they attend future meetings and deliver this message to all partners.

I can tell you these young professionals are great leaders and full of potential. We should know: The chair of our Board of Directors, Tami Bensky of Myers, Stauffer, and one of our newest Board members, Jeff Lawson, both came from our NYPN group. How is that for walking the talk?