Award Honors Outstanding CPAs in Government

Susan S. Coffey, CPA, AICPA senior vice president–member quality and state regulation, presented the Outstanding CPA in Government Awards at the Institute’s 24th Annual National Governmental Accounting and Auditing Update Conference in Washington, D.C.

The awards recognize CPAs working in federal, state and local government who have made significant contributions to increased efficiency and effectiveness in their organizations and to the growth of the profession.

Ian Dingwall, winner of the federal-level award, is chief accountant of the Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration, where he helped develop and implement programs and initiatives to ensure that EBSA protects pensions, health plans and other employee benefits. He established a toll-free phone number for the EBSA Help Desk, which has handled about 400,000 inquiries since its establishment in 2000, and helped develop the DOL/IRS EFAST electronic filing system.

He also received the “Hammer” award from former Vice President Al Gore for helping improve governmental efficiency.

Walter Kucharski, winner of the state-level award, is the Virginia auditor of public accounts. He has helped Virginia maintain its AAA rating from Moody’s and recently received the William R. Snodgrass Distinguished Leadership Award from the Association of Government Accountants in recognition of his financial management skills.

Max Stephanie Duplant, the local-level winner, is CFO for Beaumont, Texas, and president-elect of the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas. Since becoming CFO in 2002, she has helped raise the city’s fund balance from 9% of total annual expenditures to 26%, even after weathering Hurricane Rita in 2005.