Service to Others

Incoming Chairman

I am both honored and excited to have the opportunity to serve as the 2020-21 Chairman of the ICCIFP. Over the past 12 years as a Certified Construction Industry Financial Professional (CCIFP), I have been committed to many efforts including the Board of Trustees and as the Chairman of the Test Administration and Accreditation Committees.

The ICCIFP is dedicated to the highest standard and best practices within our profession. That’s a standard we help to promote and recognize through the CCIFP credential. We must continue to expand and strengthen the credential so that our certificate holders and future candidates continue to realize the value of certification, which makes the relationship between the ICCIFP and CFMA critical. I am committed to the continued support of this relationship and realizing the mutual benefits.

We have a dynamic group of officers and trustees for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Our efforts will include additional item writing workshops to expand our exam item bank, the release of a new exam that includes the new revenue recognition standards, updates to our policy and procedure manuals to ensure volunteer success, and executing and updating our strategic plan. There will also be a continued focus on marketing efforts to increase the number of candidates and certificate holders.

There are many committed volunteers in this organization who have helped me develop my leadership skills and realize the value of giving back. While I can’t name them all here, I will say that Herb Brownett and Melissa Rutledge, two very distinguished past ICCIFP Chairmen, taught me a great deal. They have paved the way for the continued growth and development of the ICCIFP, and I can’t thank them enough. I also want to thank ICCIFP Executive Director Veronica Whitehead for her dedication to the Institute as well as for her support and friendship.

I would also like to recognize the current and past outstanding officers and trustees. This past year proved to be a very exciting one that included item writing workshops, strategic planning, the five-year ANSI accreditation renewal, a new job task analysis, and a new look at our management system. Herb and Melissa also dedicated a great deal of time to the continued focus on the strength of the relationship between the ICCIFP and CFMA.

Volunteering throughout the ICCIFP has helped me develop as a leader, but more importantly, it has expanded my network of industry specialists and amazing friends. The ICCIFP was built on the strength of selfless volunteers, which continues to this day. There are so many great opportunities to get involved, from serving on one of our many committees to participating in exam workshops to becoming a member of our Board of Trustees.

If you are interested in volunteering or have questions about opportunities to contribute, please feel free to reach out to myself, Veronica, or any of the officers or trustees. I look forward to the coming year and encourage you to reach out at any time with your ideas.

Copyright © 2020 by the Construction Financial Management Association (CFMA). All rights reserved. This article first appeared in March/April 2020 CFMA Building Profits magazine.

About the Author

Gretchen Kelly, CFO, CPA, CCIFP

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