ASCPA Member Recognized as 15,000th CPA Licensed in Arizona
by Traci Baker
When Monica Mares sat for her CPA exam in August of 2007, she never dreamed that she would soon become a CPA celebrity. As it turns out, she won the CPA License Lottery of sorts when she became the 15,000th CPA to be licensed in Arizona. This milestone was recognized at the Arizona State Board of Accountancy’s Annual Meeting in August, where immediate past Board President Mari DeVries made a special presentation to the proud recipient.
I had an opportunity to sit down with Monica, who works with R & A CPAs, A Professional Corp. in Tucson, to talk about the honor and learn more about her.
TB: Why did you decide to become a CPA?
MM: I worked as a bookkeeper while I went to college and thoroughly enjoyed my job. I decided to become a CPA because I knew this was a profession that would require continual education, which was very appealing to me. I really enjoy learning, and I never want to become stagnant. That appeal, coupled with the discovery that I could become a CPA despite having double-majored (communications and political science) in unrelated fields, solidified my decision.
(Continued)
TB: Now that you are a CPA, what wisdom can you share with others about preparing for the exam and the benefits of being a CPA?
MM: Study, study, study! Be dogmatic! There is no greater satisfaction than having put forth such effort into studying for a section of the exam, and then receiving a passing score of which to be proud of. For me, taking a preparatory course and studying for each section of the exam separately made the process very manageable.
As for the benefits of being a CPA, I’m sure the list is not exhaustive. This is a revered profession that allows for a plethora of career opportunities, garners respect from the public and trust from clients.
TB: How do you feel about the fact that you are the 15,000th CPA to be licensed in the state of Arizona?
MM: When I received a letter from the board explaining that I was the 15,000th CPA in the state, I was very excited. I was further honored when I was invited by the Accountancy Board to their annual meeting so they could personally present me with my license; that was certainly a very unique moment in my life.
TB: Can you share something about yourself that you think people might be surprised by or find interesting?
MM: I am currently enrolled in classes to obtain certification in substance abuse social work. I work three Sundays per month for a local organization that provides court-mandated education and counseling services to people with DUI or domestic violence charges. I interview clients and complete bio/psych assessments, which chronicle each client’s legal, emotional/behavioral, and drug and alcohol use histories. I intend to pursue a master’s degree in human services, which will focus on marital and family counseling. My goal is to use these credentials to enable me to volunteer with an organization, such as a women’s shelter, and provide counseling services to a disadvantaged population.
TB: What are your plans for the future?
MM: My career has really just begun, and I’m eager to see how it evolves.
Traci Baker is director of communications for the ASCPA.
AZ CPA – October 2008
