Young CPAs Resource Group - Young CPAs Were Famished
from August 1006 E-Young CPA Newsletter

More than 60 young professionals gathered at the Networking Night at the Famished Frog earlier this month, an event that was co-sponsored by the Young Real Estate Professionals of New Jersey (YREPNJ) and the Young CPAs Resource Group.

Richard Antoniotti, President of ProFinance in Hasbrouck Heights, attended to identify accountants and internal auditors seeking career opportunities for his clients. He has already followed up and interviewed contacts he met that night. "I thought the event was run very well," Antoniotti said. "There was a positive networking spirit in the air. Everyone was anxious to meet each other."

Rich Vail, Senior Vice President of Excalibur 1031 Group in Newark, agreed. "There was a lot of great energy." Rich has been involved with YREPNJ for nearly two years and serves on its Executive Committee. "I believe our groups are a good mesh for networking events because of the nature of our clientele," he said. "We both work with clients who are real estate owners and/or investors who rely on us to guide them through the process of executing successful transactions." Vail sees these events as an opportunity to help clients by becoming a referral source for both organizations.

Young CPAs Resource Group leader Jordan Amin agrees. "As CPAs, our clients and many of our contacts have issues and opportunities in the real estate market. Having contacts who are experts in this arena will prove to be a huge resource." This was the Young CPAs second networking event with YREPNJ; another joint happy hour will be scheduled during tax season.

Sole practitioner and NJSCPA member Steve Shaiman of Livingston came looking for real estate contacts and he found some. "We have to network everyday, everywhere," he advises. "The members from YREPNJ seem like a nice bunch of people." He’s looking forward to future events.

Networking in professional, social and other settings has become an increasingly important aspect of career success. The Young CPAs Resource Group provides networking events with other organizations so members can refine their networking skills and build critical relationships. Amin commented on the increased support by employers for networking event attendance. "It was great to see so many new and 20-something attendees. My co-workers were impressed with the event. Our firm (Amper, Politziner & Mattia PC) is very supportive of our younger staff ‘getting their names out’ and ‘learning to network’ early on in their career, as these are valuable skills to both the firm and the individual."

Visit the Young CPAs Photo Album to see these and other young professionals in action at the Famished Frog.

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