In an effort to recognize significant contributions made to the accounting profession, each year since 1974, Beta Alpha Psi has honored worthy individuals as Accountants of the Year. Each local chapter, the National Council, and the National Advisory Forum are invited to nominate persons from the fields of public accounting, education, and industry or government. Nominees must have affected a large number of lives, contributed both locally and nationally to the profession, added to accounting knowledge as demonstrated through publications, lectures or presentations, and must be active in the profession at the time of nomination.

For 1998, Beta Alpha Psi is proud to announce the selection of the following persons for the Accountant of the Year Awards:

     EDUCATION

Dr. J. Marion Posey
Dr. J. Marion Posey is currently in his fourteenth year at Pace University, a private university in New York City with an established tradition of strong professional accounting education. In recent years, he has served as faculty advisor for the newly chartered Iota Lambda chapter of Beta Alpha Psi. In addition to other honors and awards related to his work with students, Professor Posey received the Pace University award for teaching excellence. Prior to joining Pace, Professor Posey spent several years in public accounting, first as a partner in a local firm and later as national director of tax recruiting for Touche Ross & Co. In addition to his tenure at Pace, Professor Posey was a member of the faculty of the University of Alabama for eleven years. During this period, he served as chairman of various state society committees and participated in numerous professional activities. In his extensive involvement as a discussion leader for AICPA courses and other professional training formats, Professor Posey draws on experiences from diverse consulting engagements as well as his years of employment in public and industrial accounting. He has published several articles with emphasis on professional accounting education and has participated in the development of courses for the AICPA. He holds B.S.B.A. and MBA degrees from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and in 1968 earned the Ph.D. in accounting from his undergraduate alma mater. Professor Posey need only look to the professional and academic career achievements of his students for confirmation of a dedication rewarded.

     INDUSTRY

Steve Berlin
Steve Berlin retired as Chief Financial Officer of CITGO Petroleum Corporation and joined the faculty of the University of Tulsa in the fall of 1997. Berlin worked for CITGO (and its predecessors) for twenty-four years progressing from junior auditor to Senior Vice President. During his tenure, CITGO grew into a twelve billion dollar refining and marketing company. As measured by market share, CITGO is the second largest marketer of petroleum products in the United States. Steve was instrumental in helping CITGO consummate one of the first ever billion dollar cross border joint ventures and by the time he retired, CITGO had expanded its manufacturing capacity four fold while the industry exhibited a negative growth pattern. More importantly, the company's safety statistics improved to become some of the best in the industry as did CITGO's return on capital and other profitability measures. Steve held all of the various financial officer positions (Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer, Controller, General Auditor and Chief Information Officer) over the years as well as several operating positions, including Chief Executive Officer of the industrial products business. Steve has also been active in civic, industry, and educational programs including terms as a director of Goodwill Industries, the American Petroleum Institute, the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business and the Tulsa Industrial Authority. He also spent a term on Council of the AICPA and is active with the Financial Executives Institute and the Foundation for Applied Research of the Institute of Management Accountants. Berlin has a bachelors degree from Duquesne University and an MBA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was inducted into Beta Alpha Psi. He has received many honors over the years including a Sells award for his performance on the CPA Exam, an achievement award from the American Accounting Association, selection as the Oklahoma Outstanding CPA in Industry by the OSCPA's and twice received finisher medals for the Boston Marathon. Berlin currently teaches at the University of Tulsa where he has been acting associate Dean of the College of Business as well as acting Director of the School of Accounting and Faculty Advisor to the school's Beta Alpha Psi chapter. Steve has been married to his wife Vera for thirty years. They have three daughters and two grandchildren. Most of their spare time is spent visiting with them.

     PUBLIC ACCOUNTING

Sharon L. Allen
Sharon L. Allen is the Office Managing Partner for the Portland and Boise offices of Deloitte & Touche LLP. She has been in public accounting with Deloitte & Touche for over 25 years, specializing in retail, manufacturing, distribution, and healthcare. Sharon was the first woman hired into the audit function of Deloitte & Touche in Boise almost 25 years ago and in 1992, she became the first woman appointed as an Office Managing Partner within Deloitte & Touche. At the National level, Sharon just completed a term as a member of the Board of Directors of Deloitte & Touche. She has also served as a member of the firm’s Client Service Standards Task Force, the Partner Role Level Committee, and the Partner Admissions Committee. Active in various community organizations, Sharon is on the Board of Directors for the Portland Chamber of Commerce and the Association for Portland Progress. She is also active with the University of Idaho as a member of the School of Business Advisory Board and a member of the President Special Advisory Group. Sharon received her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Idaho in 1973.

 

PAST RECIPIENTS
1974 James Don Edwards Education 1975 Paul Garner Education 1976 Norton Bedford Education 1977 Joseph A. Silvoso Education 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 Joseph B. Collison Industry	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