Vicenti Lloyd Stutzman LLP: Business Consultants and CPAs

Press Releases

Press Release, 02/10/05:

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS NOW EIGHT

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, leading Inland Empire / San Gabriel Valley Certified Public Accounting firm, names Gema Ptasinski Partner

Gema Ptasinski has been named Partner at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, a 52-year-old mid-size Certified Public Accounting and business consulting firm headquartered in Glendora and a leading accounting firm serving clients throughout Southern California.

The move brings the total number of Partners at VLS to eight.

"Gema is an outstanding professional, based on her work with our clients, our community and our staff over the past nine years she has been with our firm," said Carl Pon, Co-Managing Partner of VLS. "She is an important part of the continuing success experienced by VLS and the clients we serve. We are very pleased to have her become a Partner in the firm."

Ptasinski, who joined the firm in 1996, was named Senior Manager in 2003 prior to being named Partner this year. She received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of La Verne, graduating Magna Cum Laude with Departmental Honors.

Areas of emphasis include not-for profits, retirement communities, colleges, school districts

Her areas of emphasis at VLS include not-for-profit organizations such as the David and Margaret Home, Inc., in La Verne; foundations; retirement communities including Pilgrim Place in Claremont; and community colleges and school districts including Mt. San Antonio College and the Glendora Unified School District, as well as others. The firm ranks second in the state in educational accounting.

Her particular areas of practice range from audits and business consulting services to year-end closing and accounting related services.

Ptasinski also is active in the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO), where she has been a speaker at conferences. She also is a member of CASBO’s Accounting Research and Development Committee.

And she is a member of the California Association of Homes and Services for the Aging, where she has served as a presenter at education sessions. She also is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.

She has been licensed to practice as a CPA since 1998.

A resident of Glendora for more than 10 years and a native of Sierra Madre, she is married and has one child, a son who currently is attending college locally. Firm offers growth, diversity

"The firm offers tremendous opportunity for professional growth. There is flexibility to create a career path based on an individual’s personal interests,” Ptasinski said. "It is definitely an exciting place to work because of that."

"I respect and admire my colleagues and I feel honored to be named Partner with such a respected organization," she added.

In her private life, she enjoys water skiing and has competed in off-road "Class 16" desert racing.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman was founded by Richard H. Vicenti in 1953. The firm has eight Partners, and Royce A. Stutzman serves as Chairman. VLS has about 60 employees and serves clients throughout Southern California.

Clients of VLS include businesses, individuals, not-for-profit organizations, universities, colleges, school districts and water districts that seek assistance through a variety of management, tax and accounting services in managing change, making better decisions and, in some instances, identifying opportunities for growth, profit or efficiency.

For more information, visit the firm’s headquarters in the Glendora Courtyard office complex at 2210 E. Route 66 (at Amelia Avenue), Glendora, CA 91740, call (626) 857-7300, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.vlsllp.com.

Press Release, 04/27/04:

Speaker Schedule

The head and founder of the fraud investigation team at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman (VLS), a mid-size Certified Public Accounting and business consulting firm headquartered in Glendora, is scheduled to speak to three professional organizations next month on detecting fraud in financial statements.

Linda Saddlemire, a Partner with VLS, will speak on SAS 99, a new statement on standards for the auditor's consideration of fraud in a financial statement. The new standards were adopted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) effective last year, so most audits currently being conducted of 2003 financial statements fall under the new requirements.

It was the first time the AICPA established standards related to the detection of fraud in a financial statement, Saddlemire said.

"The CPA profession today has identified a need to review more closely than ever before the potential for fraud, particularly as it applies to the auditing of financial statements,"" she said. "These issues have become particularly important in the areas of dealing with today's corporate culture, today's broader business environment, and the underlying need to maintain the public trust."

Saddlemire said federal sources estimate that fraud accounts for more than $600 billion in losses annually for U.S. businesses and governmental agencies, or a rate of about six percent a year.

She will appear before the California Society of Certified Public Accountants' School District Conference on May 3 at the Sacramento Hilton in Sacramento and again on May 4 at the Marriott Ontario Airport in Ontario.

She will speak again on the same topic before the Inland Affiliate of the American's Women's Society of Certified Public Accountants on May 13 at The Whole Enchilada in Rancho Cucamonga.

Saddlemire, who joined the firm in 1982 and was named Partner in 1989, is a Certified Fraud Examiner and heads up the firm's 10-member fraud prevention and detection team that she created 10 years ago. The team is one of several specialized litigation support services sections at VLS.

As a part of this program, VLS maintains a fraud hotline in which employees of a firm client can call VLS directly if they identify potential fraud or abuse -- potentially saving the client thousands of dollars.

Saddlemire's practice areas include audits, fraud investigation and business and consulting services such as internal control review and cash flow analysis. In addition, she heads up the firm's school district department.

She also spoke on SAS 99 last month at the California Association of School Business Officials annual conference in Sacramento. Four other VLS firm members spoke on related topics ranging from fraud detection and education funding issues to internal controls at the same four-day event.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman was founded by Richard H. Vicenti in 1953. The firm has seven Partners, and Royce Stutzman serves as Chairman. VLS has about 55 employees and serves clients throughout California.

Clients include businesses, individuals, not-for-profit organizations, universities, colleges, school districts and water districts who seek assistance through a variety of management and accounting services in managing change, making better decisions and in some instances, identifying opportunities for growth, profit or efficiency.

VLS is located at 2210 E. Route 66 (at Amelia Avenue in the Glendora Courtyard office complex) in Glendora. For more information, contact the firm's office at (626) 857-7300 or visit the firm's web site at www.VLSLLP.com.

Press Release, 01/23/04:

RELOCATION FROM LA VERNE MARKED FIRM'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, leading Inland Empire / San Gabriel Valley Certified Public Accounting firm, hosts January Joint Mixer of Glendora and La Verne Chambers in new headquarters along Route 66 in Glendora

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, a mid-size Certified Public Accounting and business consulting firm headquartered in its new 24,000-square-foot facility in Glendora along historic Route 66 and celebrating the firm's 50th anniversary year, will host the January Joint Mixer of the Glendora and La Verne Chambers of Commerce on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The mixer gets under way at 5 p.m. Thursday at the VLS offices, 2210 E. Route 66 (at Amelia Avenue in the Glendora Courtyard office complex) in Glendora.

Prior to the firm's relocation last November, VLS -- long a leading accounting firm serving the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley -- had been based in La Verne since its founding in 1953.

"We are delighted to be able to involve both the La Verne and Glendora Chambers," said Carl Pon, Co-Managing Partner of VLS. "While we've really only moved three miles down the road, we're in a different city with a different area code and we look forward to bringing together our old friends from La Verne and surrounding areas with our new friends, members of the Glendora Chamber, and others from our new home of Glendora."

Mary Ann Quay, also Co-Managing Partner of the firm, said the move last year naturally was a time of mixed emotions although she has enjoyed many opportunities over the past two months to meet new people.

"We're taking every opportunity possible to becoming an active participant in the community," she added. "And in the short time we've been in our new home we've already become convinced the location is a good fit. It is just a tremendous area and a wonderful community."

The Chamber admission to the mixer, as is typical with many chambers of commerce, is $5 with reservations or $7 without. For reservations, contact the Glendora Chamber of Commerce (by Tuesday, Jan. 27) at 626-963-4128.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman was founded by Richard H. Vicenti in 1953. The firm has seven Partners, and Royce A. Stutzman serves as Chairman. VLS has about 60 employees and serves clients throughout California.

Clients include businesses, not-for-profit organizations, universities, colleges, school districts, water districts and individuals who seek assistance through a variety of management and accounting services in managing change, making better decisions and, in some instances, identifying opportunities for growth, profit or efficiency.

For more information, contact the firm's new headquarters at (626) 857-7300 or visit the firm's web site at www.vlsllp.com.

Press Release, 11/25/03:

TOTAL NUMBER OF PARTNERS NOW SEVEN

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, leading Inland Empire / San Gabriel Valley Certified Public Accounting firm, names Wade McMullen, Karin Heckman Nelson Partners

Wade N. McMullen and Karin Heckman Nelson have been named Partners at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman, a 50-year-old mid-size Certified Public Accounting and business consulting firm headquartered in Glendora and a leading accounting firm serving the Inland Empire and the San Gabriel Valley.

The move brings the total number of Partners at VLS to seven.

"Both of these individuals are professionals, they bring a lot to the table in their dealings with all of the many clients they represent, and they have been on board here at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman since the early 1990s," said Carl Pon, Co-Managing Partner of VLS. "We are delighted to have them become Partners in the firm."

McMullen, who joined the firm in 1992, has served as a Manager for the past five years. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration in 1991 from Cal State University, San Bernardino.

McMullen's areas of emphasis include not-for-profit organizations, universities, colleges and charter schools

His areas of emphasis at VLS include not-for-profit organizations, universities and colleges, as well as charter schools. The firm ranks second in the state in educational accounting.

He also handles corporate and partnership tax returns, and audits of not-for-profit organizations.

A regular speaker at professional conferences and seminars, he has also appeared at the annual conference of the Western Association of College and University Business Officials (WACUBO), of which he is a member.

A resident of Upland, he said he is excited about the opportunity to serve as a Partner in the firm.

"All of the other Partners at VLS are excellent people and great to work with so it doesn't make the decision hard when you have to think about who your Partners will be in business," McMullen said. "My goal is to make sure that I maintain that level of professionalism and make a positive contribution to the firm."

He added that this is an exciting time for a regional, mid-sized firm such as VLS to step in and provide service to the larger companies, universities and colleges that find themselves feeling underserved by many of the larger national CPA firms.

Nelson, who joined the firm in 1995 and has served as a Manager for the past six years, received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1985 from Manchester College in North Manchester, Indiana, and a Master of Business Administration in 1988 from the University of La Verne.

Nelson's areas of emphasis feature school districts, colleges, county offices of education, and fraud prevention and detection services

Her primary area of emphasis is audits of local education agencies including school districts, college districts, colleges, and county offices of education in both Riverside and San Bernardino. In addition to her CPA designation, she is a Certified Fraud Examiner and performs fraud prevention and detection engagements.

She also works regularly in tax planning and compliance for individuals, trusts and estates.

"I'm very pleased to be named a Partner at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman," Nelson said. "I have been here for literally most of my career and the reason I'm here is because of the opportunity to work with great professional colleagues and our clients."

She added that working for a mid-sized firm provides her with many opportunities not possible elsewhere.

"VLS is not too small yet not too large to have a lot of great opportunities," she said. "Even though we are a mid-sized firm by traditional standards, we are still one of the largest accounting firms in the region, enabling us to provide a full-service package to our clients while maintaining all the advantages a smaller organization has to offer."

Nelson went to work for the firm right out of college, although she left briefly for a college-level teaching sabbatical and to serve for two years as Controller for a service center operated by the Church of the Brethren in New Windsor, Maryland.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman was founded by Richard H. Vicenti in 1953. The firm has seven Partners, and Royce A. Stutzman serves as Chairman. VLS has about 60 employees and serves clients throughout California.

Clients include businesses, not-for-profit organizations, universities, colleges, school districts, water districts and individuals who seek assistance through a variety of management and accounting services in managing change, making better decisions and, in some instances, identifying opportunities for growth, profit or efficiency.

For more information, visit the firm's new headquarters in the Glendora Courtyard office complex at 2210 E. Route 66 (at Amelia Avenue), Glendora, CA 91740, call (626) 857-7300, or visit the firm's web site at www.vlsllp.com.

Press Release, 02/11/02:

VLS Has Successful Peer Review

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP (VLS) is pleased to announce the successful completion of an independent peer review of our accounting and auditing practice. This review was undertaken as a condition of membership in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the national professional organization of CPAs.

In 1988, the members of the AICPA overwhelmingly approved a proposal to require members in public practice to participate in a practice-monitoring program. With the adoption of this proposal, the AICPA implemented a peer review program of unprecedented scope in the CPA profession or any other. Our participation in the peer review demonstrates our firm's desire to measure up to the profession's high standards of professionalism and our commitment to maintaining and improving the quality of our practice.

Our peer review was conducted by Campbell, Benn & Taylor, a CPA firm based in Sacramento, California. The reviewers first determined that we have an adequate quality control system, and then checked to see that professional standards were followed in a representative sample of our accounting and auditing engagements.

After thorough study of our policies and procedures, the reviewers concluded that Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP complies with the stringent quality control standards established by the AICPA. Our firm is committed to periodic peer reviews to foster quality performance. Access our 2004, 2001 and 1998 Peer Reviews.

Bankers, bonding agents, investors, suppliers, legal advisors, and others use the financial statements that we audit, review, or compile. We think those people, our clients, and our own staff deserve independent quality assurance that VLS provides quality services.

Since its founding in 1953, VLS has prided itself on becoming trusted advisors to our diverse mix of clients. We serve commercial businesses, individuals, not-for-profit organizations, school districts, and community colleges throughout Southern California. We provide a full range of audit, accounting, tax, and consulting services and have many specialty areas, which include charter schools, college foundations, construction, distribution, entertainment, estates and trusts, government agencies, Internet/e-commerce, K-12 public school districts, manufacturing, private schools & universities, professional service firms, retail, retirement communities, transportation, water districts, and more.

Press Release, 12/05/01:

Carroll King Tri-Umphs!

Carroll King (from left) and his children, Christen, Chris, and Courtney.

Carroll King participated in the Tri-Umph Classic on Sunday, November 4th, at Bonelli Regional County Park in San Dimas. Despite the rain, Carroll edged his way through the triathlon, competing in all three legs of the race. He swam 400 meters, biked 20 kilometers, and ran 5 kilometers to finish 8th in his age group. Carroll said, "the number one goal was to finish the race and the number two goal was not to finish last." To prepare for the event, Carroll spent two months working with professional trainers who were assigned to different groups. A photo of the King family was featured in the news article, "Seniors Strut Their Stuff In Triathlon". The article was published in the November 5th edition of the San Gabriel Valley Tribune, both in print and online.

AARP sponsors the annual Tri-Umph Classic. This year, 150 athletes participated in the event, including seventeen who were under the age of 50. Most contenders like Carroll took on all three legs of the triathlon, while others formed teams to participate in the event. Upon completion of the course, each participant received a medal. The Tri-Umph Classic is a fun event that encourages everyone to be health-conscious and physically fit. Carroll looks forward to participating in next year's Classic.

Carroll King is the Director of Internal Audits and Fraud Examinations here at VLS. View Carroll's resume.

Cheers to Carroll, a Tri-Umphant Athlete!

Press Release, 11/02/01:

Renée Graves Inducted into Cal Poly Accounting Hall of Fame

VLS Partner Renée Graves is being inducted into the Cal Poly Accounting Hall of Fame on November 14th, 2001. The Hall of Fame Committee is holding the prestigious banquet at the Kellogg Ranch Restaurant on the Cal Poly campus.

"The purpose of the Cal Poly Pomona Accounting Hall of Fame is to honor individuals who have made or are making a significant contribution to the advancement of accounting and/or to the furtherance of the educational goals of the Accounting Department at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

Three groups of individuals are eligible for nomination to the Cal Poly Accounting Hall of Fame:

Accounting alumni - eligible five years after graduation.
Former accounting faculty - eligible one year after having taught eight full-time equivalent years.
Other individuals who have made a significant contribution to the accounting program at Cal Poly Pomona.

Those elected will be introduced and presented with evidence of this award at the annual banquet of the Cal Poly Pomona Accounting Hall of Fame. A permanent display area honoring those elected has been established in the College of Business Administration at Cal Poly Pomona."
Cal Poly Accounting Hall of Fame Committee
----

In 1986, Renée graduated cum laude from California Polytechnic University, Pomona, earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She was greatly influenced by Dr. Don Putnam for Intermediate Accounting and Mr. Ehrenreich for Auditing. These instructors in particular helped build a sound foundation in Renée's accounting career.

Renée has been serving on Cal Poly's Accounting Department Advisory Council for over 5 years and is a former Director of the Accounting Alumni Association. She actively participates in on-campus recruiting events and other activities sponsored by the Cal Poly Society of Accountants. Renée has been a guest speaker to the Professional Accounting class and the Governmental and Not-for-Profit Accounting course. Renée and her colleagues have also spoken before the Cal Poly Society of Accountants. Renée is an honorary member of the Beta Alpha Psi, Iota Chi Chapter.

Renée and her husband Tag are both Cal Poly alumni. They met while both were members at a business fraternity on campus. Renée and Tag were married on June 21, 1986, the week after Renée's graduation from Cal Poly. Tag earned a Bachelor of Science in Operations Management from the Cal Poly College of Business Administration. Renée and Tag have two beautiful daughters, Jackie and Lauren.

Congratulations to Renée Graves from all of us at Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP!

Press Release, 10/01/01:

E-Government School Audit Report

VLS now offers Local Education Agency (LEA) clients an electronic version of their audit report. For a nominal fee, we provide a signed Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the audit report, along with the bound paper audit report. Their web programmer can post the file to the Business Services' web page for the public to view. E-Government School Audit Reports will help our clients provide the public immediate access to pertinent financial information, thereby alleviating the burden on their staff members. The Internal Revenue Service and many State Governments use Adobe Acrobat PDF files to publish materials on the web and increase responsiveness to the public.

E-mail info@vlsllp.com with your questions or to request more information on E-Government School Audit Reports. Please be sure to type E-GOVERNMENT SCHOOL AUDIT REPORTS in the Subject header.

Press Release, 09/20/01:

Human Resources Consulting Services

Human Resources Consulting Services are a new addition to the services provided by our business consultants. The following outlines the types of HR services available to you:

Policies & Procedures

Employee Handbook
Federal/State Legal Compliance (including Leaves of Absence)

Recruitment

Job Descriptions
Various Search Methods

Compensation

Salary Surveys
Pros/Cons of Various Methods (Pay for Performance, Time-Based, Skill-Based, etc)

Employee Relations

Performance Management (Evaluations, etc)
Problem Resolution
(Effective) Disciplinary Procedures
Terminations

Benefits

Mandated Benefits
Optional Benefits
Benefit Surveys

Training & Development

New Employee Orientations
Career-Planning
Communication Skills
Coaching & Counseling

For more information about our Human Resources Consulting Services, e-mail LAcosta@vlsllp.com.

Press Release, 09/14/01:

NBA California Christian Home Charity Golf Tournament and Auction

VLS is a proud sponsor of NBA California Christian Home's first annual Golf Tournament. The tournament is scheduled to take place on October 11th, 2001 at Coyote Hills Golf Course in Fullerton.

The NBA California Christian Home is a non-profit organization that provides comfort, care, and service to older adults. The retirement community is located in Rosemead and sits on five acres of land. Services in independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing for over 200 older adults are available to residents.

Net proceeds from the Golf Tournament and Auction will support its benevolent supplemental care fund, the Fellowship of John. The John Fund helps residents who are no longer able to pay the full cost of their care. The NBA California Christian Home has been committed to preserving the security and self-esteem of its residents for the 85 years it has been in operation.

Press Release, 09/10/01:

Project SISTER's Day At The Races

VLS is a proud sponsor of Project SISTER's annual fundraising event, "Day At The Races". This year's festivities are on October 6th, 2001 at Santa Anita Park, and include thoroughbred racing, door prizes, a live auction, children's face painting, hourly drawings, and a picnic style lunch. The price of admission is $25.00 for adults and $15.00 for children. All proceeds benefit Project SISTER Sexual Assault Crisis & Prevention programs.

Project SISTER (Sisters In Service To End Rape) was founded in 1972 by a group of women from Claremont who sought to provide help to a growing number of women who had been sexually assaulted in the local community. Prior to that, there were no such services in the area. Today, Project SISTER provides crisis intervention and prevention education services to men, women, and children in the East San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire.

Project SISTER's mission is to reduce the trauma and incidence of sexual assault in the communities they serve by helping survivors return to healthy, productive lives and educating the communities they serve about the nature and causes of sexual violence.

Press Release, 08/08/01:

VLS Tax Seminar

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman hosted a free tax seminar on August 8, 2001 at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel in Pomona. Partner, Mary Ann Quay, and Senior Manager, Tim Evans, addressed the Economic Growth & Tax Reconciliation Act of 2001. The presentation was entitled: The new tax law and what it means to you.

The Tax Rebate - Will You Get It/Can You Keep It?
New Retirement Plan Rules
Estate Tax - Is Your Trust Now Obsolete?

Seminar materials are now available in print. To receive your complimentary handout, e-mail info@vlsllp.com and be sure to type TAX SEMINAR MATERIALS in the Subject header.

Press Release, 08/06/01:

Cerritos College Foundation Golf Classic

VLS was delighted to be a Tee Sponsor of the Cerritos College Foundation Golf Classic. The golf tournament took place on August 6th at the Friendly Hills Country Club in Whittier. The Cerritos College Foundation raised $24,000, which will be applied to scholarships, awards, and learning opportunities for their students.

Press Release, 07/31/01:

Tax, Business, and Financial Tips

Tax, Business, and Financial Tips are now available on our web site as an additional resource for our clients. The icons are located on the Home Page.

Tax Tips are updated weekly.
Business Tips are updated monthly.
Financial Tips are updated monthly.
The old tips are archived and you can look them up anytime.

Press Release, 07/06/01:

Litigation Support Brochure

VLS introduced a new brochure on our litigation support services. The brochure communicates how Certified Valuation Analysts, such as Royce Stutzman and Carl Pon, can bring significant value and strategic importance to a litigation team.

E-mail info@vlsllp.com to request a free brochure or to ask questions about our business litigation services. Please be sure to type LITIGATION SUPPORT in the Subject header.

Press Release, 06/01/01:

Hillcrest Annual Endowment Dinner

The Hillcrest Annual Endowment Dinner was held at the Ben D. Bollinger's Candlelight Pavilion in Claremont on June 1, 2001. The theme of the dinner program was "Friends Helping Friends". VLS was proud to be a Silver Sponsor of the event.

During the dinner program, Hillcrest honored The City of La Verne with this year's Inspiration Award. The Hillcrest Annual Inspiration Award recognizes individuals who (1) provide exceptional care to aging adults in the Inland Communities and (2) are an inspiration to all caregivers of an aging loved one. Mayor Jon Blickenstaff; City Manager Marty Lomeli; Director of Parks and Community Services Bill Aguirre; Superintendent of Parks and Community Services Carla Sullivan; Patrick Gatti; Dan Harden; Tom Harvey; and Robert Rodriguez represented the City of La Verne.

Hillcrest is a retirement community related to the Church of the Brethren. Hillcrest's mission is to provide older persons with services that enable them to live quality lives.

Press Release, 04/01/01:

Banner Sponsorship Program

VLS sponsored the La Verne Chamber of Commerce in the Shop La Verne Banner Program this past April. The Banner Program supports the La Verne Chamber's mission, which is to provide opportunity for business to grow and prosper. The banners waved along Foothill Boulevard. Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman is proud to be a member of the La Verne Chamber of Commerce and part of the La Verne community.

Press Release, 03/21/01:

The President's Forum of Orange County

On March 20, 2001, VLS Chairman Royce Stutzman participated in The President's Forum of Orange County. The event, sponsored by The Entrepreneurship Institute, was held at The Beckman Center at the University of Irvine. The main topic of discussion was "Maximizing the Value of Your Business." Presidents and CEOs of both private and public companies attended the discussion. The panel of speakers addressed issues such as planning, positioning, and building the value of your business, along with planning exit strategies.

The panel of speakers included:

Paul Brower, President/CEO, Capitalist Group, LLC - Moderator

Joe Halder, Partner, The Call Company, Mass Mutual

Royce Stutzman, Chairman, CVA, Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP

Kimberly Valentine, Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Jay Yauch, President, The Business Performance Group

Press Release, 12/01/00:

Renée Graves Appointed to the Board of Directors of the La Verne Chamber of Commerce

Renée Graves joined Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP, a business consulting and accounting firm headquartered in La Verne, in 1986 and made Partner in 1993. Renée heads VLS' Not-for-Profit Division. She plans, directs and supervises audits of community colleges, retirement communities, not-for-profits, auxiliary organizations and local education agencies in Southern California.

Renée also oversees the division's consulting services, which involve interim CFOs, indirect cost calculations, reviewing TSAs, year-end closings and internal control reviews and analyses. VLS' Fraud Prevention & Detection team relies on her expertise when investigating and reporting on internal fraud cases concerning not-for-profit organizations. She also conducts a series of accounting workshops throughout the year and partakes in speaking engagements, addressing organizations such as the California Association of School Business Officials (CASBO).

Renée graduated cum laude from California Polytechnic University, Pomona earning a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She currently serves on Cal Poly's Accounting Advisory Council and is former Director of the Accounting Alumni Association. In addition to being a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Renée is a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM). She's on the State Government Accounting Committee of the California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CSCPA) and belongs to the Association of Government Accountants (AGA).

Renée enjoys spending time with her husband and two children. Her favorite outdoor activities include snow skiing and golf and she also likes cross-stitching and sewing. E-mail rgraves@vlsllp.com for more information on our Not-for-Profit Services.

Press Release, 08/01/00:

Bonnie Russell-Hunt Joins VLS

VLS is proud to announce the addition of Bonnie Russell-Hunt, Director of Special Education Consulting. Bonnie has worked for fifteen years as the Director of Pupil Personnel Services for a unified school district, directing special education programs. She has worked at the university level for more than eighteen years. Expansion of current VLS services includes:

Special Education Consultation
Working with current programs and expanding educational opportunities for all students is an achievable goal that can have a positive impact on the school. Program evaluation and interim administrative support is also available.

Staff Development for Special Education Teachers and Paraprofessionals
As new teachers enter the field of special education, there is a need for training on the laws, IEP development, implementation, and monitoring. For veteran teachers, there is a need to update their information base. The paraprofessional is often the main contact with a student. All service providers need to be familiar with the IEP content and implement consistent instructional interventions so that the student will profit from special education services and support.

Staff Development for Regular Education Administrators
The regular education principal, assistant principal or administrative designee is generally the person who chairs the IEP meeting. These individuals often have little experience with the rules and regulations governing special education. There is an "Agenda" for IEP development that will document the proceedings of the meeting and assist the district to remain in compliance while meeting the identified needs of the student.

Technical Assistance
Many students have unique needs and require interventions that may not be part of the teacher's typical repertoire. Many students with special needs are in the regular classroom with and without assistance. There may be a need for a behavior plan, which can be reasonably expected to improve student behavior. How does the teacher meet the needs of each student in the classroom and retain a positive outlook?

Staff Development for the Regular Education Teacher
Most students in special education programs spend all or most of the day in the regular classroom. The teacher is expected to make modifications and accommodations to ensure the success of the special needs learner. What is the responsibility of the regular education teacher in terms of implementing the IEP?

Expanding Services with Existing Resources
There are existing resources in place at each school site that could enhance learning for all students. Administrators can expand their pool or resources by rethinking of current programs and service delivery options.

Complaint Investigation
Anyone can file a complaint. There may be no relevance to the accusation. It is still the responsibility of the district to fully investigate the charges and respond to the proper authority. VLS staff can assist the district with this time consuming process.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP and the entire LEA workgroup are pleased that Bonnie Russell-Hunt is a part of our organization. E-mail BHunt@vlsllp.com for more information on our Special Education Consulting Services.

Press Release, 01/01/00:

Carroll King joins VLS

VLS is proud to announce the addition of Carroll H. King, Director of Internal Audit and Fraud Examination, to the School Business Services Division of LEA. Carroll brings 27 years of professional experience to the firm. He developed his accounting and auditing expertise over a 21-year course at Southern California Edison Company and also spent 4 years with a CPA firm providing internal audit and fraud services.

Carroll is both a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). He holds his Bachelor of Science in Accounting as well as his Masters of Business Administration from Cal Poly Pomona. Carroll is on the Board of Directors at the L.A. Chapter Institute of Internal Auditors and he is a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Vicenti, Lloyd & Stutzman LLP and the entire LEA workgroup are delighted Carroll King is a part of our organization. E-mail CKing@vlsllp.com for more information on our Internal Control Reviews and Fraud Prevention and Detection Services.