I joined the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (the “Society”) in 2004 when I was fresh out of law school. In November of 2005, I joined the law firm of Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis. I had not been an attorney for very long and had been a certified public accountant only slightly longer, having received my license immediately before I returned to law school in 2001.

Not long after I joined Watkins Ludlam, a partner of the firm named Linda Keng, a former President (now Chairman) of the Society convinced me to become more involved in the MSCPA. Linda recommended I join the Long-Range Planning Committee, and looking back, that has been one of the more rewarding events in my career.

Shortly after joining the Long-Range Planning Committee, I helped the committee work on a new strategic plan and became involved in an outgrowth of that plan named the Young CPA Network (the “Network”), a product of the vision of Jan Lewis, the President of the Society at that time. When I attended the first meeting of the Network led by Jan, I’m not sure any of us could have imagined how successful that group would be or the tremendous impact it would have on our Society over the next two decades. Following that meeting, I was able to work with other good friends in the Society, Ed Jones (another former President) and Wil Crawford (the Society’s first Rising Star and certain to be a future Chairman) in developing the bylaws for the Network and updating the bylaws for our Society in ways that allow each to continue to flourish through our ever-changing world.

To be clear, our world is still changing, possibly faster than it ever has. However, as I end my term as Chairman of this great Society, my story, and the individuals critical to it, give me comfort in knowing that our Society will weather those changes with ease. These relationships formed and deepened by our Society remain critical to me and our profession.

In May, I accompanied my now law partner Linda Keng and friend Jan Lewis, as well as others, to the AICPA Spring Council. During that week, we had productive conversations with our congressional delegation regarding the impacts of tax policy on our profession while also participating in the meeting that appointed this same Jan Lewis as the first Vice-Chair of the AICPA from Mississippi. I also had the opportunity this year to appoint my friend Wil Crawford and others to our Society’s Alternate Pathway Task Force led by the ever-serving Ed Jones where both have helped chart a path forward for our Society as licensing standards across our country are changing in ways we have not seen since before I became a CPA.

While the list of meaningful relationships I have developed over the last twenty years in this Society is too long to reproduce here, these named individuals are a perfect sample of how meaningful those relationships have been to my career and the incredible integrity and selflessness possessed by the members of our Society. I am confident that, for those in our profession with the foresight to take advantage of it, this Society will continue to provide the same fulfilment I have received through the development of professional (and personal) relationships and opportunities for service to the greater good of not only our Society but also our communities, our state, and our country.

I would be remiss, though, if I failed to mention one more friend that has meant the world to me, not only throughout this past year, but also during my years of service leading up to my time as Chairman. Our President Karen Moody is the personification of selfless dedication to our Society and our profession, and serving alongside of her has been an honor. She and her staff have made my year as Chairman infinitely easier than it would have been without them, and for that I am eternally grateful. I am more thankful for their friendship, though, which I am happy will not end with my term, and I look forward to helping them and our very capable incoming Chairman, Anita Goodrum, in any way I can in the future.

-2024-2025 MSCPA Chairman Tom Walker