In an effort to recognize significant contributions made to the business information profession, Beta Alpha Psi honors worthy individuals. From 1974 through 1999, this was achieved by recognizing them as Accountants of the Year. Beginning with the 2000 awards, these individuals have been honored and recognized as Business Information Professional of the Year. Each local chapter, the Board of Directors and the National Advisory Forum are invited to nominate candidates from the fields of professional services, education and industry or government. Nominees are individuals who have affected a large number of lives, contributed both locally and nationally to the profession, added to knowledge as demonstrated through publications, lectures or presentations, and must be active in the profession at the time of nomination.

For 2001, Beta Alpha Psi is proud to announce the selection of the following persons for the Business Information Professional of the Year Awards:

Jan R. Williams
Education

Jan R. Williams is Ernst & Young Professor and Dean at the University of Tennessee. He received a BS from George Peabody College, an MBA from Baylor University and a Ph.D. from the University of Arkansas. He formerly taught at the University of Georgia and Texas Tech University. He is a CPA in Tennessee and Arkansas. His primary teaching and research interests are corporate financial reporting. He is currently the author or co-author of four books and over 70 articles and other publication on issues of financial reporting and accounting education.

Dr. Williams has been extensively involved in professional accounting activities with the American Accounting Association (AAA), American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), Tennessee Society of CPAs and other organizations. During 1999-2000 he was the president of the AAA and traveled extensively throughout the world speaking on issues related to accounting education and practice. He served on two task forces of the AICPA to redesign the CPA Examination to meet the changing needs of accounting practice for the 21st century.

Gayle Powelson, CPA
Industry

Gayle Powelson is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Buckeye Technologies Inc. (NYSE:BKI), a $750 million manufacturer and marketer of specialty cellulose and absorbent products. Buckeye is headquartered in Memphis, TN, and operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, Canada, Germany, Ireland and Brazil. She joined Buckeye in February 1998 as International Operations Controller, was promoted to Vice President of Finance in April 1999, was named Senior Vice President & CFO in 2000. Gayle has company-wide responsibility for Finance, Accounting, Tax, Information Technology and Purchasing & Logistics.

Gayle began her career with Price Waterhouse in 1981 and then she joined Arthur Andersen in 1985. In 1987, she left public accounting to become Director of Investor Relations with Hunter-Melnor Inc., was promoted to Corporate Controller in 1988 and left in 1990 to join ACI America Holdings Inc. (a subsidiary of BTR plc) as Controller. Gayle was promoted to Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer in 1992 and relocated the company's headquarters from Memphis to Stamford, CT. Gayle also served on the Board of Directors of ACI America from 1992 to 1995 and helped grow the company to $1.4 billion in sales through strategic acquisitions (the largest was Formica) and internal growth. She left ACI in 1995 to relocate back to Memphis as Vice President and Controller of TruGreen-ChemLawn, a subsidiary of ServiceMaster.

Gayle earned a BBA degree in Accounting from the University of Memphis in 1981, where she was active in the Beta Alpha Psi Chapter. She attended graduate school at the Stern School of Business, New York University, from 1993-95, where she completed 17 hours towards an MBA. She completed her MBA in Accounting in 1997 at the University of Memphis, again becoming active in the Beta Alpha Psi Chapter.

She served as National President of the American Society of Women Accountants in 1990-91 and then served on the Beta Alpha Psi National Advisory Forum from 1991-94. Gayle is currently serving on the National Board of Directors & Executive Committee of Financial Executives International (FEI) and is a past Chapter President and Area Director. She is presently Treasurer of the University of Memphis Alumni Association and is a member of the Board of Directors of The Grant Center.

Gordon Budke
Professional Services

Gordon retired from Coopers & Lybrand, LLP (now PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP) in October 1997 after 34 years of service. During his 21 years as a partner, he was the managing partner of the Spokane, WA, office for 16 years and served as a regional member of the Entrepreneurial Advisory Services for five years. For a 10-year period before his retirement, he wrote a bylined bi-monthly column in the Journal of Business that provided support and insight to small businesses. He was contributing author to the book Emerging Business, Managing for Growth. He is a member of the Washington Society of CPAs, the AICPA and the American Arbitration Association.

He is now the president of Budke Consulting, focusing on startups and fast-growing companies. His efforts include co-founding Biomedex, Inc., a biotech contract manufacturing company specializing in allergenic products; Lite-Check International, LLC, a company providing inspection and safety systems to the transportation industry; and The Pacific Northwest Technology Park, a development that will serve and meet the needs of technology companies growing in and relocating to Spokane. He also serves on the board of directors of Yoke's Washington Foods, Inc., an ESOP-owned retail grocery chain, and is a senior advisor to AltSys, LLC, a distributor of state-of-the-art security systems and Exvere, Inc., a private investment banking firm.

Gordon is a graduate of Eastern Washington University (EWU) and continues to show his gratitude for his education. He serves as one of the longest standing members of the EWU College of Business and Public Administration Advisory Council. In 1998, he was appointed by the Governor to a six-year term on EWU's Board of Trustees and during his second year, served as chair. He also serves as a member of the EWU Foundation Board and Executive Committee. In 1985, he was recognized by the Delta Sigma Chapter of Beta Alpha Psi as its outstanding alumnus, and in 1990 was honored by the College of Business and Public Administration as it outstanding alumnus.

Gordon's commitment to community service is extensive. He serves on the board of Junior Achievement of the Inland Northwest and was previously chair. Junior Achievement has recognized his involvement by awarding him the Bronze and Silver Leadership Awards and the National Gold Leadership Award. He was a member of the founding committee of Momentum and FOCUS 21, community-based economic development efforts spanning a 15-year period and served as the chair of both organizations. During his career, he provided volunteer service to the Spokane Area Economic Development Council, Spokane Regional Chamber, Spokane Arts Commission, Spokane Business Incubation Center, Spokane Jazz Society, Wampum, Washington Society of CPAs, Boy Scouts, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture and elementary school PTGs.

Gordon and his wife Rhoda have been married for 40 years, have three married sons and three grand-children. In their spare time, they enjoy cruises and warm-climate travel.

 

PAST RECIPIENTS
1974 James Don Edwards Education 1975 Paul Garner Education 1976 Norton Bedford Education 1977 Joseph A. Silvoso Education Joseph B. Collison Industry Richard T. Baker Public Accounting 1978 Herbert E. Miller Education Thomas A. Murphy Industry John C. Biegler Public Accounting 1979 K. Fred Skousen Education A. Clarence Sampson, Jr. Government Ray J. Groves Public Accounting 1980 Harold Q. Langenderfer Education Ulysses J. LeGrange Industry Wayne J. Albers Public Accounting 1981 G. Kenneth Nelson Education William F. Spengler Industry James Leisenring Public Accounting	1982 Doyle Z. Williams Education A. L. Monroe Industry M. Paul LeBlanc Public Accounting 1983 Charles T. Zlatkovich Education Kenneth E. Tigges Industry Samuel A. Derieux Public Accounting 1984 Sidney Davidson Education Victor H. Brown Industry Arthur Wyatt Public Accounting 1985 Robert N. Anthony Education Charles Bowsher Government Thomas L. Holton Public Accounting 1986 Larzette G. Hale Education Dennis R. Beresford Public Accounting 1987 Gerhard G. Mueller Education Rhola E. Larson Public Accounting 1988 Robert T. Sprouse Education W. Val Oveson Government Albert Cohen Public Accounting	1989 Stephen Zeff Education Kathryn Forbes Industry Michael Chetkovich Public Accounting 1990 Edward N. Coffman Education Ronald L. Bell Industry Thomas J. Nessinger Public Accounting 1991 John K. Simmons Education Allen J. Krowe Industry Thomas W. Rimerman Public Accounting 1992 Belverd E. Needles, Jr. Education Kathryn J. Whitmire Government/Industry Gerald A. Polansky Public Accounting 1993 Charles T. Horngren Education Charles E. Billingsley Industry Jake Netterville Public Accounting 1994 Quiester Craig Education Gaylen N. Larson Industry Frank K. Ross Public Accounting	1995 Alvin A. Arens Education Rodney H. Brady Industry Sam DePiazza Public Accounting 1996 Andrew D. Bailey, Jr. Education Clark H. Johnson Industry Bernard J. Milano Public Accounting 1997 Jane Burns Education Lynn Markel Industry James Shapiro Public Accounting 1998 J. Marion Posey Education Steve Berlin Industry Sharon L. Allen Public Accounting 1999 W. Steve Albrecht Education R. Wayne Hutchins Industry Larry Katzen Public Accounting 2000 Dr. Edward V. McIntyre Education Bruce Rohde Industry & Government Cheryl A. Wenzinger Public Accounting