NASHVILLE NOTES. Michelle Earhart Nashville Chapter President Inside this edition. Luncheon speaker spotlight. Committee News.

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1 NASHVILLE NOTES January 2015 Volume 38, Number 6 Michelle Earhart Nashville Chapter President Inside this edition Luncheon speaker spotlight Committee News Member News Training Opportunities Upcoming Events 1/28/15 Audio Conference 2/4/15 Audio Conference 3/4/15 Audio Conference 3/25-27/15 SE Regional PDT, Gatlinburg, TN July 12-15, 2015 National PDT, Nashville, TN Happy New Year! My, how time flies! As we get older, one year becomes a smaller percentage of the sum of our years on earth. This might explain why each year appears to be shorter than the previous year s and why it seems time is speeding up. I have also heard the theory that when you are younger you are more likely to be focused on the passage of time instead of tasks and responsibilities. When you look back there seems to be stretches of time punctuated by only a few key events. As you get older, and experiences and milestones have added up, it seems like the time was shorter. The old saying goes, Time flies when you re having fun. January brings us to the halfway mark for the program year, and I think this is an opportune time to look back on what we have accomplished and progress made. Since July, we have added 34 new members, 11 of which are Early Career members. This is a 55% increase in Early Career memberships from the previous year. We may not have reached our membership goal of 400 for this year, yet, but we are close at 379. I am very hopeful that we can sustain this rate of increase, and we can meet that 400 mark! We have provided 10 hours of continuing professional education through luncheons, audio conferences and a fall CPE breakfast. Still to come is the two-day winter seminar this month. We will have four luncheons and four audio conferences through April. The Education Committee will be testing a new concept that leverages technology to offer remote training via the web that will be accessible across the state. We have had 5 luncheons attended by approximately 480 guests and members with 4 guest speakers and 3 speakers as representatives from our community service projects. We are honored to have Bill Miller, AGA National president, for our speaker at next month s luncheon. We have had one social event and will be soon announcing one for the spring. We have donated $2,132.00, 103 lbs. of food, 66 toys and performed 88 hours of service for our community service projects. Soon we will be sponsoring the Channel 8 membership drive, a Habitat for Humanity event, volunteering at the Music City marathon and Nashville Rescue Mission. Please stay tuned for the dates of those projects. At this time, I am excited to say that the Rescue Mission project has reached its maximum capacity of volunteers. All of the above illustrates the value we have placed on time, and it appears to have been time well spent. Michelle

2 Save the Date Luncheon Meeting Dates September 8, 2014 October 14, 2014 November 3, 2014 December 1, 2014 January 5, 2015 February 2, 2015 March 9, 2015 April 6, 2015 May 4, 2015 CEC Meeting Dates August 28, 2014 September 25, 2014 October 30, 2014 November 20, 2014 December 18, 2014 January 29, 2015 February 26, 2015 March 26, 2015 April 30, 2015 Audio Conference Fraud Risk Management November 19, 2014 Audio Conference How Do you Spell Success? E-T-H-I-C-S! December 10, 2014 Winter Seminar January 13 14, 2015, Nashville State Community College Audio Conference Strengthening Grants Management January 28, 2015 Audio Conference Performance Management February 4, 2015 Audio Conference Government Financial Management March 4, 2015 Southeast Regional Professional Development Training (PDT) March 25-27, 2015, Edgewater Hotel Gatlinburg, TN Audio Conference Fraud Prevention April 29, 2015 AGA s National Professional Development Training Event (PDT) July 12 15, 2015 Gaylord Opryland Nashville, TN AGA s annual premier education event offers up to 24 CPE hours and brings together the top officials in federal, state and local government as well as academia and the private sector for three and a half days of intensive training and networking. AGA s PDT has been the go-to event for the government accountability community for over 60 years. Pictured above is the Nashville Chapter booth promoting the 2015 National PDT at this year s event.

3 February Luncheon Speaker William (Bill) D. Miller, CGFM, CIA William (Bill) D. Miller, CGFM, CIA As National President, Bill is responsible for leading the organization to successful completion of the annual agenda. Bill has focused his term on working with chapters and providing education credits for their professional accreditation. Bill is a lifetime member of AGA and has served at all levels of the organization. He spent 47 years in the audit environment serving as the Audit Director for organizations in Federal, State, and Local Governments. Bill has a B.S. in Business Administration from Southeast Missouri State University and a M.S. in Government from Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. Bill established performance audit organizations in three levels of government serving as regional director for the Kansas City Office of Veterans Affairs Inspector General, performance audit director, State of Missouri State Auditor s Office, and county auditor, Johnson County Kansas. Audits resulted in millions of dollars of savings, returns and crime prevention. Bill started his career with the U.S. Army Audit Agency, moved to U.S. Department of Energy Office of Enforcement as regional director, Kansas City, and finished his federal career with the Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Bill has received numerous awards for his performance and recognition by AGA through several of their high-level awards. Bill has uncovered, documented and engineered criminal investigation against perpetrators against the government. He has served 47 years in the field of auditing as well as AGA. Bill s audits have brought better performance by organizations and restitutions when warranted, all in favor of the taxpayer. Bill has a passion for good government and viewed his audits from the eyes of the taxpayer in a what would you do if you knew perspective. Bill has served in the St. Louis Chapter, Northern Virginia Chapter and Kansas City Chapter. He held many chapter chairs and presidency. He also served as regional vice-president of the Midwest Region, senior vice president Regional Services Section II and national president. Bill received the following AGA National Awards: 1. Frank Greathouse Distinguished Service 2. National President s Award 3. Excellence in Government Leadership 4. National Author s Award 5. Regional Vice President Gold 6. Lifetime Membership Bill is a regular columnist for AGA s Topics Newsletter.

4 Committee News Membership Committee Early Career Committee Community Service What is My Membership Worth? Are you aware of the unique additional benefits of membership in the Nashville Chapter? Whereas members of AGA at large must pay for the monthly CPE webinars, members of the Nashville Chapter receive this opportunity at no cost. The current program of discounts, incentives, and rewards makes involvement very attractive. Remember that by attending meetings, supporting community service, or serving on a chapter committee, members earn points toward a 50% rebate of their national membership fee at the end of the year. Jeff Hughes (Jeff.Hughes@tn.gov) keeps track of these points, and once you earn 30 points and renew your membership by March 31, you receive that rebate from our local chapter at the last meeting in May. Have you considered the benefit to your family of membership in AGA? Your spouse or guest is welcome to join you at the Spring Social at a discounted local event such as a Nashville Sounds game, TPAC performance, or dinner theater. In addition, you, your spouse, child, grandchild can apply for scholarships for higher education. Please go to our website at to read about the recruitment incentive and rewards programs offered today by your local chapter, and many other opportunities for involvement and development. WIN A FREE TRIP The Early Career Committee is going to send an Early Career Member to the AGA Southeast Training Event which will be held on March 25 27, In order to win, a test needs to be completed and sent back to Alicia.reynolds@tn.gov by January 31, The answers to the test questions are located in all of the AGA newsletters for our chapter located in the AGA Nashville Chapter website. The winner will have the cost of the Registration $350, Hotel $249 and expense allowance of $150 paid to attend this conference. The answers are due by January 31, In case of a tie, a drawing will occur to determine the winner. Awards Committee The Awards Committee posted a link on the Chapter website on Monday, January 12, to provide information about this year s scholarship awards. The deadline for submission will be March 20, CGFM Committee LAST CHANCE to reserve your spot for the CGFM Course! Cost- $750 per person Dates- March & March To reserve your spot today drew.sadler@cot.tn.gov End Slavery The Community Service Team s Campaign of 2015 began with End Slavery promotion, assistance given by our team to victims of human trafficking. AGA will assist through the month of January with monetary donations and drop off collection sites have been set up for the survivor supplies. Nashville Rescue Mission Our volunteer night at the Nashville Rescue Mission is quickly approaching. Slots filled up fast and I'm happy to say that we have reached our max and can no longer take anymore volunteers for this event. Fortunately, if you would like to submit a monetary donation to the Mission, you can do so through January 22, 2015, by visiting the Mission's website and following the prompts. Make sure you print off your receipt and it to me so you can get credit for your points. Thank you! For those who are on the volunteer list for January 22nd, I have just a few things Id like you to remember before the big night: 1) Please wear closed toe shoes and work clothes. 2) Please arrive promptly at 4:30pm 3) Your scheduled release will be approximately 7:00pm 4) A smile will make a huge difference in each homeless man you encounter that night. Show 'em your pearly whites!!

5 Member and Committee News Welcome New Members! Welcome January Meeting Guests Michael A. Jenkins, Division of Accounts, Sponsored by Mikhel Lindsley Wayne Pierson, Guest of Joy Pierson Chris Kelly, Tennessee Comptroller s Office, Spon sored by Heather Roe April A. Main, State of Tennessee, Sponsored by Mitzi Martin Wayne Pierson, State of Tennessee, Sponsored by Joy Pierson Malinda White, State of Tennessee, Sponsored by Joe Kimery Jacqueline Yokey, State of Tennessee, Sponsored by Joseph Lipman Nashville Humane Association February Project Lead Joyce Bentley will begin the Nashville Humane Association campaign by collecting donations for animal rescue. Channel 8 Membership Drive and Habitat for Humanity In March, David Lannom will lead our AGA team into the Channel 8 Membership Drive. In the month of April he will also lead the Habitat for Humanity Drive where volunteers from our chapter and their family and friends are solicited to assist in building a house. Country Music Marathon Tammy Fruscione will lead our chapter in providing volunteers for the Country Music Marathon in the month of April. Alex Green Community Service Alex Green is in need of volunteers to assist at the school. The school is hosting their next PBS celebration on March 6. Please contact Melvin Jones at Melvin.Jones@tn.gov to volunteer.

6 Highlights from the January Meeting

7 News and Just the Facts Our Current Standing as of December 31, 2014, is as Follows: Chapter Recognition Section Points Maximum Percentage Chapter Leadership, Planning & Participation 2,475 3,000 83% Education & Professional Development 2,700 4,000 68% Certification 1,800 4,000 45% Communications 3,584 3, % Membership 3,550 4,000 89% Accountability 850 2,000 43% Community Service 2,200 2, % Awards 200 1,000 20% TOTALS 17,359 23,000 75% LUNCHEON/CEC MINUTES To read the minutes from the most recent CEC and luncheon meeting, please visit the chapter website at The luncheon minutes will be presented for approval at the next business meeting scheduled for February 2, JOB OPPORTUNITIES From time to time departments forward job opportunities to the Website Committee which are posted for members convenience. If you are interested in new job offerings or know someone who is, go to this link for detailed information: jobs.html. Editor s Corner We truly enjoy reading articles submitted from our membership. Please share your thoughts and ideas or interesting news with us by submitting your article to Karen.B.Hale@cot.tn.gov no later than February 6 for the next edition of our newsletter. If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!

8 AGA Nashville Chapter Leadership Directory Officers President Michelle Earhart, CPA (615) President-Elect Penny Austin, CGFM, CPA, CISA (615) Immediate Past President Rusty Lacy (615) Secretary Janet Stewart (615) Treasurer Sandra Brown (615) One-Year Directors Hellens Cruz-Sanchez, CPA, CFE Program Co-Chair (615) John Dunne Meetings & Attendance Co-Chair (615) Michael Edwards, CGFM (615) Andrew Furlong Finance Co-Chair (615) Kandi Thomas, CGFM (615) Two-Year Directors Rachelle Cabading, CFE Education Co-Chair (615) Charlotte Gentry Membership Co-Chair (615) Cindy Hobbs Program Co-Chair (615) Pamela Marks Community Service Co-Chair (615) Alicia Reynolds, CPA Early Career Chair (615) Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs Nathan Abbott, CISA, CFE Webmaster Co-Chair (615) Gerry Boaz, CGFM, CPA Accountability Outreach Chair (615) Bridget Carver, CFE Membership Co-Chair (615) Karen B. Hale, MAOM, CGFM Communications Chair (615) Jeff Hughes, MBA, CGFM, CFE Awards Chair (931) Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs Angela McElrath-Prosser Community Service Co-Chair (615) William Sadler, CGFM CGFM Chair (615) Scarlet Sneed, CGFM, CPA, CFE Meetings and Attendance Co-Chair (615) Alexander Warns Finance Co-Chair (615) Dan Willis, CGFM, CPA, CISA Webmaster Co-Chair (615) Michael Winston, CGFM Education Co-Chair (615) Chapter Address: AGA Nashville Chapter PO Box Nashville, TN Visit the Nashville Chapter website at