Accomplishments and Struggles of NABAs Earliest Professional Members - 2018 Fall-Winter Spectrum Magazine

Celebrating 50 Years: Early Accomplishments and Struggles of NABA’s Lifetime Members By Maya Francis In 1969, nine men set out to establish an association that would change the landscape for black professionals in accounting. At the time, only 136 of the 100,000 certified public accountants were black.  Now, 50 years later, we can see the progress and evidence of change from the 5,000+ black CPAs today. Successes are also seen through the increase in the number of black professionals in major firms and the ascension of more black accountants into the executive ranks. Spectrum interviewed three accountants who joined NABA and became Lifetime Members early in their career about their introduction to the world of accounting, their decision to join NABA, and the changes (and challenges) they’ve observed in accounting and finance in the last 50 years. MEMBERS INTERVIEWED ARE: Barbara Williams, CPA, MBA, William Aikens, CPA, MBA, Carolynn Walton, Vice President Retired Self-employed and Treasurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan SPECTRUM: How did you get introduced SPECTRUM: When and why did you join Regional Vice President and saw the to accounting and why did you decide to NABA and how have you served? rapid growth of chapters throughout the pursue it as a career? WALTON: I joined NABA after graduating country. WALTON: When I was in high school I from University of Michigan, when I AIKENS: In December of 1969, I met the met a CPA who worked for J.L. Hudson, started my employment at Coopers and nine accountants who organized NABA. a major department store in Detroit, Lybrand, now known as PWC. I joined During the summer of 1970, NABA was MI, and he talked about the profession. because I needed to learn how to be incorporated and I was appointed third My girlfriend Donna Wells (also a NABA a professional and to network with vice president. In June of 1971, I ran for member) and I decided that day we other individuals like me. I served as president of NABA, and was elected to would become CPAs. vice president of the Detroit chapter, that position. I was elected again in 1972, WILLIAMS: I was introduced to as well as co-chairperson of a national 1983 and 1984. accounting in high school by taking a convention. I continue to serve as a SPECTRUM: How has NABA helped your bookkeeping class. I asked my teacher speaker for various events. career? what was the highest level to achieve WILLIAMS: I joined NABA as a student WALTON: NABA is a place where I learned in the field. He responded, “Become a member in 1970. I was a working full- and refined a number of skills needed CPA.” Little did I know at the time that time student at Pace College in New in the workplace and to have a network few blacks were in the field. I am grateful York City. I was happy to meet black of peers around you who want you to that the teacher did not discourage me accountants because I was usually the succeed. It is okay to make mistakes in because of that fact. only black or woman in my classes. this friendly setting and have others to AIKEN: I was introduced to the accounting During the early years of NABA I served help guide you. It is also a place to pay it profession while attending high school. on various committees (Awards Dinner, forward with those not as advanced in I found it extremely interesting; therefore First National Convention) and assisted their careers to assist them in developing I pursued it as a career. with the establishment of professional and refining their skills. and student chapters. I was the Eastern 30 SPECTRUM | FALL/WINTER 2018

WILLIAMS: NABA provided a place for Subsequently, I was appointed to SPECTRUM: What advice do you me and others to develop presentation the position of assistant deputy have for NABA members seeking skills, organizational skills and learn commissioner in New York City, audit career advancement and longevity in the value of sharing and giving back. partner at KPMG Peat Marwick, and accounting? Through networking in NABA I received was appointed in 1990 as chief financial WALTON: Be excellent in your craft, an internship with Arthur Young & Co., officer of the Long Island Railroad—the network to understand the work which led to a full-time position upon first African American to be appointed environment and gather supporters of all graduation. The mentorship I received to an officer’s position since the Railroad colors to help you succeed. during the early years encouraged me was formed in 1857. AIKENS: I would urge young NABA not to quit public accounting until I The real challenges began when I tried to members to become very active in the had my CPA. Having the support of Bill get into the public accounting profession, organization, serving on committees that Aiken and Ted Wilson among others was and was denied entry several times, work to strengthen its members, and the key to overcoming the obstacles black because African Americans were being community at large. Those who wish to professionals faced. denied entry into the public accounting reach the “pinnacle” must be willing to AIKENS: Being involved in NABA (and) professions. Other challenges occurred make sacrifices in order to achieve. They traveling to various cities in 1971 and each time I was appointed to senior must recognize that “life ain’t no crystal thereafter helping to build NABA into management positions in “corporate stair,” and that we are on this planet to a truly national organization (and) America” and government, because I was help make the lives of others better. They helped me extensively during my career. the first to gain entry. A “Jackie Robinson must have a team spirit, and embrace the By fighting to open doors to public experience” many times. fact that all of us are smarter than any accounting for young men and women SPECTRUM: What are the current one of us. of color across the nation who were opportunities for Blacks in accounting? SPECTRUM: How are you fulfilling interested in joining the public accounting How did those opportunities change NABA's motto: Lifting As We Climb? profession, senior management doors when you became a lifetime NABA WALTON: Mentoring people in their opened for me. member? careers and speaking at events to share SPECTRUM: What are your proudest WALTON: A number of companies are my journey. career accomplishments? Have there more accepting of blacks and women in WILLIAMS: Through my involvement been challenges? the workplace today than when I first with the Accounting Career Awareness WALTON: The first accomplishment was started. It is still a challenge to make it up Program, (ACAP), I found myself obtaining my CPA license. The second the corporate ladder but it is doable with mentoring a young man and seeing that is being vice president and treasurer the right coaching and performance. person grow from a high school student, for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan WILLIAMS: In 1971, the Big 8 CPA firms to college student, to CPA and now he, for 15 years. with a great track record were aggressively recruiting African Erick Bell, is the executive director of of success. The third is developing and Americans. Most likely, if I would have ACAP (SF). Seeing those who are now having the ability to have the company finished undergraduate college in 1968 volunteering with NABA and the bright accept my successor (and) a young man versus 1971 I would not have been hired. young black professional accountants of color, Waymond Harris (and) to the [It was a] blessing [given I had to] work coming up is a testimony to our motto position of vice president, Investments as my way through and graduate later. I am “Lifting as We Climb.” Those of us who I retire at the end of this year going out not sure how the current opportunities have had successful careers know that on my own terms. are now for blacks in accounting due we did not make it by ourselves. NABA WILLIAMS: There always are challenges. to the current political climate. It took gave us the type of support that was not After leaving public accounting every government involvement for many of us offered in the firms or college campuses. position I held in private and academia to be granted an opportunity. AIKENS: I designed the NABA logo in I held more credentials or experience AIKENS: Blacks in accounting are now 1971 and have served as the national than the white male I replaced. I have serving in senior management positions president of NABA. The idea was that had a white student refuse to be taught in Corporate America, and in major when we are climbing the mountain of by a black professor. However, NABA accounting firms. When I joined the success, and reach a plateau, we must gave me a support network and lifelong public accounting profession in 1967, drop a line down and pull up another. If friendships. many offices in that profession would we are diligent in doing that, when we AIKENS: My proudest career not hire African American accountants. reach the pinnacle where the winds are accomplishment occurred when I passed That was particularly the situation in fierce, there will be others there to drop the CPA exam in the 1960s. Other exciting most major cities in the southern part of us lines and help us secure our position. moments occurred when the New York the United States. Firms were only able Throughout my career I have been State Board of Regents appointed me as to bring African American recruits into dropping lines, pulling up hundreds. Their a member of the New York State Board cities such as New York, Philadelphia, achievements have been gratifying to for Public Accountancy in 1974. I was the Washington DC, Los Angeles, San me. ▲ first African American to receive such an Francisco, etc. appointment in the state of New York, and was the second to be so honored in the United States. FALL/WINTER 2018 | SPECTRUM 31