The Buzz

CEO Update, February 24, 2022

March 1st, 2022 marks my first anniversary as CEO of CPB Canada. The past year has been fulfilling and exciting. Over the past 12 months, I have been proud of our team's work to help advance and grow CPB Canada. 

When I think about the last year, we have moved the yardsticks in key areas. Most notably, we continue to shore up the organizational infrastructure by creating, refining, or reforming internal policies, processes, and systems. While this may not sound like a bright member benefit, it speaks directly to our ability to support member value and growth. A robust organization is a competitive advantage and critical to the future of our association and professional community.

More visibly, we have had tangible successes this past year. There are a couple of homeruns, a few doubles, and singles along the way (forgive the baseball reference - it is that time of the year!). These successes include:

• Attracting record-breaking levels of participation at our 2021 IGNITE Annual Conference. Survey feedback showed the conference supplied a great return and the satisfaction levels were excellent. A standard that we hope to top at IGNITE 2022 in Calgary! 
• We partnered with The Davis Media Company Inc. to create the first national magazine specifically for bookkeepers across Canada. Check out the first issue of NUMBERS & SENSE if you have not already done so! 

• The last fiscal year saw near-record growth and attraction of new members. We are eager to continue to capture market share as the association of choice for accounting and bookkeeping professionals across Canada. See our 2020-21 Annual Report for more highlights.
• Our CPB Certification program stays consistent and healthy. More members move through the certification pathway and write their CPB exams each month.
• Finally, we are excited to build a more robust volunteer pipeline and engage members via staff-led advisory groups, committees, and task forces.

These successes only scratch the surface of our potential. Over the coming year, we have a series of strategic initiatives (derived from our Strategic Plan) that will strengthen CPB Canada, excite and engage members, and move us to new heights. Over the coming months, I look forward to sharing more details about our new partnerships, strategic initiatives, and projects with the membership and industry.

Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't summarize the past year by acknowledging that our success is built on the professionalism, competency, and commitment of our (small but mighty) CPB Canada staff team. With long hours and a deep sense of professionalism, they continue to serve this organization and its membership to a remarkably high degree. As someone who has spent the better part of the past decade working in professional associations, and I know a formidable team when I see one – we are fortunate in this regard.

So, a full year into this journey, I want to thank my team for their support and hard work, along with the commitment of our Board of Directors in creating a strong commitment to maintaining a leadership and governance focus.

As 2022 continues to show us, with uncertainty abound, I remain confident that together we will conquer the next year ahead. :)