The Tech Gap

A Man with Many Hats

I've been running into my friend and fellow columnist Dave Cieslak a lot lately. He was kind enough to join us in Los Angeles for the Innovation Awards ceremony back on June 5th and then I saw a LOT of him at TECH2006 in Austin.

For those of you who don't know Dave, he's one of The CPA Technology Advisors' Dream Team columnists and is truly a man of many, many hats. He'd immediately tell you that his first hat is as family man and husband to his lovely (really!) bride, Michelle. Probably second, although he runs so fast you can't really tell, is as principal in Information Technology Group, Inc. (ITG), a computer consulting firm with headquarters in Simi Valley, CA where he specializes in micro-computer accounting systems, information security, the Windows operating environment, eCommerce, handheld computing, systems development and project management. He's an avid runner (hat 3?), a drummer (do drummers even WEAR hats?), and frequent speaker.

I see David often as our paths cross regularly on the CPE, trade show, and technology conference speakers' circuit. He's very active in the California CPA Society Technology group and sits on the board of ITA. Oh, and in his spare time he Chairs the AICPA's Information Technology Executive Committee, and has served as Chair of TECH2005 and TECH2006. Oh, darn ---- one more thing --- he handled a couple of sessions as featured speakers there, too.

Finally, just when you thought the man might actually sleep occasionally, like the rest of humanity,  he just accepted the position of chair of the Sage Accpac Business Partner Advisory Council (BPAC). BPAC is a select group of Sage Accpac Business Partners that meets twice a year with Sage Accpac executives to provide important feedback and perspective on product features and development, corporate strategy, industry trends, and the competitive landscape. Chosen for the position by his peers, David will serve a one-year tenure.

There's plenty of time to sleep after that. Right, David?

gll

PS --- Private note to David: Your column deadlines are still the same! No extensions just because you went and got yourself another HAT!!!

Superfetch Promises to Speed Vista

There were two excellent Windows Vista programs at the AICPA TECH2006 --- a  3 hour "deep dive" and a shorter (kinder, gentler) "executive overview". I attended the former and stopped by to introduce the speaker, Keith Combs, for the latter. Wow -- do I have a lot to write about over the next few months!!

I was particularly impressed with a Redmond magic trick referred to a "SuperFetch". This technology  actually "learns" what products you use, when, in what order and combination. Once it's learned your usage patterns it begins to "pre-fetch" the needed DLLs into memory based on those patterns so that when you actually DO call the program it will seem to load and execute much, much faster. In Microsoft-speak I just said "SuperFetch is a memory management strategy that intelligently maintains optimal memory content based on historic usage patterns on the Window-based PC. SuperFetch analyzes several weeks of usage patterns in order to allow Windows Vista to make intelligent decisions about what content should be present in system memory at any given time. Using SuperFetch memory management technology also allows Windows Vista to detect and evade troublesome memory usage patterns that would otherwise push higher priority content out of memory."

SuperFetch will be included in all editions of Windows Vista --- which, because you have a practice a run and clients to service, you won't buy until at least this time next year, right? RIGHT!!!

gll

CITP Update

I spend an exciting day in Austin yesterday (Saturday, June 10th) doing strategic planning with the CITP Credential Committee. Members joining me (I chair the committee) were Chris Fraser, Kevin Martin, Bryan Smith, Ilene Eisen, and Jim Bourke. Our committee was joined by Ruth Richter, a consultant from Covergence Coaching who has been our "staff liaison" during the AICPA's move to Durham, Nancy Cohen, veteran AICPA staffer who is making the move to Durham and has assumed responsibility for our committee, Steve Winters, soon-to-be Director of Membership Areas and Credentials, and Ken Askelson, who serves as a Commissioner on the National Accreditation Commission.

We had a lot of good news to share ---- our CITP count is at 817, a 21% increase in under a year. The better news is that the applications are coming in even faster since our agreement with ISACA. And the best news is that we've just released a new TWO PAGE application form. [Hint: It's SO simple that even Dave Bergstein can complete it!!] Here's a link to it. http://infotech.aicpa.org/NR/rdonlyres/0EE21F76-40E2-44E5-81DC-296D7BEB3CCF/0/9593378CITP_LIVEAP.pdf

It's HOT in Austin (nearly 100 degrees today) and we're looking forward to a great time here at TECH2006.

gll

GLL interviews Rick Richardson

Here is an interesting interview of the man generally considered to be the "Mayor Emeritus" of our neighborhood here at the Intersection of Technology & Public Accounting. Give me 14 minutes and I'll guarantee you'll be entertained and I'll bet you learn something, too!

Rick Richardson, CPA.CITP is an accomplished accounting technology expert who has taught accountants all over the U.S. about various emerging technologies and how to incorporate them in their practices. Prior to forming his own consultancy he was with Ernst & Young for 28 years including 12 years as National Director of Technology.

This interview runs 14 minutes.

gll




MP3 File

2006 Innovation Awards Honor Technologies that Advance and Enhance Productivity

The 2006 Tax & Accounting Technology Innovation Awards were announced and presented Monday evening at the California Accounting and Business Show & Conference in Los Angeles, offering recognition to applications, hardware and services that provide a unique benefit to tax and accounting professionals or otherwise enhance the productivity or profitability of these professionals. This year’s winners included a wiki-based tax research utility, a document identification system, an online payroll application, mobile workgroups collaboration, and a new entry into the small business accounting market.

The Innovation Awards are sponsored by The CPA Technology Advisor as a means to recognize innovative developments in technologies that benefit the tax and accounting professions, as well as significant advancements in existing technologies. Award statues were presented to the winners by Gregory L. LaFollette, CPA.CITP, Executive Editor of The CPA Technology Advisor.

“The marketplace for technologies that enhance productivity and client service in the accounting and tax profession is thriving,” LaFollette said. “Each year, we are increasingly impressed with the innovations that vendors develop to help meet the unique challenges we face in our practices, and the Innovation Awards help to further stimulate development by publicly commending those vendors whose products or services represent the most significant technological innovations in these fields.”

The recipients of this year’s Tax and Accounting Technology Innovation Awards are as follows:

GLL Interviews Thomson VP about Virtual Office

As a South Dakota native, and now-returned resident, I have to confess that the significance of the  "first day of hurricane season" has previously been pretty much lost on me. Until today, that is. I am attending the Florida Institute of CPAs Accounting & Business Expo in Orlando and somehow (go figure) this day seems to have some special meaning for Florida residents. Maybe it's the pounding they've taken over the past few years or their still-fresh memories of their neighbors a few states west. In either case, the CPAs here at the show are most definitely interested in products and services that might help the weather the next big one. I had a nice conversation with Teresa Mackintosh, VP of Marketing at Thomson Creative Solutions and we discussed what she's been hearing at their booth --- from both existing customers and those looking for new solutions.

[Interview runs ~6 minutes.]

gll




MP3 File