Gold Medal honors for Harris and Ross

Robert R. Harris and Frank K. Ross received the Institute’s 2014 Gold Medal Award for Distinguished Service, the highest award granted by the AICPA, given to CPAs who have made major contributions to the CPA profession.

Harris served on the AICPA board of directors from 1995 to 1998 and 2008 to 2011, serving as its chair in 2009–2010. He also served as chair of the AICPA Certified in Financial Forensics Credential Committee, receiving the first CFF credential awarded by the Institute, and has served on the Work/Life and Women’s Initiatives Executive Committees and the PCPS Executive Committee.

Harris is also an ambassador of the International Integrated Reporting Council and is a member of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) board of directors and chairman of its governance and audit committee. He currently serves as principal of the CPA firm Rehmann in Vero Beach, Fla.

In 1968, Ross was one of nine co-founders and the first national president of the National Association of Black Accountants. He serves on the AICPA National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion and served on the Minority Business Development and Minority Initiatives committees.

In December 2003, Ross retired from KPMG LLP after 38 years of service. He is currently director of the Howard University School of Business Center for Accounting Education and a Visiting Professor of Accounting, teaching auditing and ethics. He also serves on the board of directors of Cohen & Steers Mutual Funds Group and chairs the audit committee.