James G. Castellano, CPA, became chairman of the AICPA board of directors in October, succeeding Kathy G. Eddy. In his inaugural speech, Castellano encouraged “playing to the profession’s strength” by promoting the value of assurance services, defending the profession’s right to regulate itself, emphasizing student recruitment and enhancing the profession’s public image. He urged regulators, state societies, educators and employers to work together in conveying to students the benefits of an accounting career.

Castellano is managing partner of Rubin, Brown, Gornstein & Co. LLP in St. Louis. He has chaired several AICPA committees, including the management of an accounting practice, future issues and the private companies practice section (PCPS) technical issues committees. He also served on the CPE and PCPS executive committees and the strategic planning committee and was a member of FASB’s small business advisory group.

The AICPA governing council voted 157 to 62 at the fall meeting to support development of the proposed global credential. This cleared the way for a member referendum on the proposal, which needs a two-thirds majority of all votes to succeed. If supporters meet that margin, the AICPA will establish a new entity to grant the credential to suitable candidates. (Completed ballots were due by December 28, 2001.)

Robert Mednick, awards committee chairman, presents the AICPA’s Gold Medal for Distinguished Service—its highest award—to Thomas W. Rimerman, former Institute chairman, at the fall council meeting. Rimerman is the U.S. representative to the International Federation of Accountants.

The world’s largest and most prestigious store of accounting literature got a new home as the AICPA library arrived at the University of Mississippi’s John Davis Williams Library in University, Mississippi. The collection contains 126,000 items.

The AICPA and AOC, a financial services staffing company, inducted three CPAs into the Institute’s Business & Industry Hall of Fame in October. The honorees, Douglas Haag, executive vice president of finance, Premier Aluminum Inc., Kenneth J. Purfey, president, iValueHub Inc. and David L. Solomon, chairman, NuVox Communications, received the award for the business insight, management skills and commitment they provided as leaders of their respective corporations.