The Florida Institute of CPAs has installed Kenneth J. Strauss of Hollywood, Fla., as FICPA’s 2013-2014 chairman of the board.
His term began Monday, July 1. “We enthusiastically welcome Ken to the role of FICPA Chairman,” said FICPA president and CEO Deborah Curry in a statement. “His passion and service to our organization is evident and a credit to the profession. He has played an important part in the success of our Educational Foundation by increasing awareness and raising scholarship funds for accounting students. His devotion makes him a respected leader among FICPA members.”
Strauss is director of taxation and personal financial strategies for Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants in Fort Lauderdale. He is serving his 13th term on the FICPA Board of Governors and is a 17-year member of the FICPA Educational Foundation Board of Trustees.
Nationally, Strauss is an elected member of the AICPA Council, representing Florida through 2015. He is a member of the Miami Estate Planning Group; the Institute of Certified Financial Planners; and the International Association of Financial Planners.
Strauss has been active in FICPA for more than 30 years. He has served on or chaired more than 40 statewide committees, spearheaded a financial literacy task force and is credentialed to teach the FICPA’s ethics course for accountants. In addition, he has chaired the annual FICPA’s 1040k/Money Run, which raised more than $300,000 in scholarships for African-American accounting students in 20 years.
Complementing his leadership outside the firm, Strauss has served as Berkowitz Pollack Brant’s director of training since 1999, established an in-house Toastmasters group for firm members and has been involved in on-campus recruiting. He serves on the board of directors and investment committee of the firm’s affiliate Provenance Wealth Advisors, which has more than $1.5 billion in assets under advisement.
He is the third Berkowitz Pollack Brant firm member to hold the chairman’s role at FICPA.
