Building Community: The NJCPA Member Advantage 

In my last CEO Compass message, I emphasized what makes the NJCPA truly special: our people AND our community. I said, “Our accomplishments were not achieved by any single person, but by all of us working together. Each donation to the food drive, to our PAC, each presentation at a school, each time we speak up for the profession, sends a signal of strength and purpose.” 

This time, I’d like to lean into community. Association-driven community is a strategic advantage, one that strengthens trust, encourages engagement and accelerates collective impact. At the NJCPA, we see community not as a nice‐to-have, but as central to our mission and value to members. 

Why Community Matters 

When members feel connected, to each other and a shared purpose, they are more engaged, loyal and motivated to become advocates. That sense of belonging also fuels innovation: members freely exchange ideas, voice needs and co-create new programs. 

For the NJCPA, community isn’t theoretical. It’s manifested through hands-on, values-based initiatives that bring members and the next generation of professionals into shared purpose.  

• 2025 NJCPA Food Drive:: Hosted by the NJCPA Emerging Leaders Council, the food drive runs through Nov. 14. The Council is looking to meet or exceed 2024’s collection of approximately 2,300 pounds of food and $22,000 in online contributions. Donations will benefit the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, which works to provide support to more than 800 community partners in the fight against hunger and poverty. The project also includes a volunteer day at the FoodBank, giving members face-to-face interaction in service. 
• High school and college outreach programs: Through our career awareness presentations and campus engagement efforts, the NJCPA not only helps students envision a path in accounting, but brings practicing CPAs into mentorship roles, strengthening their ties to the profession and reinforcing NJCPA’s role as stewards of the pipeline. With your help, the NJCPA made more than 70 visits to New Jersey high schools last year.
• Emerging Leaders social programs: Activities such as happy hour with NJ Sharing Network, Oktoberfest with the Hudson Chapter and “Night on Ice” at the New Jersey Devils allow members to meet colleagues from other firms and companies, share stories and cement relationships.  

That blend of philanthropy and connection is powerful. Members don’t just write checks, they build bridges. 

In a world of shifting expectations and fleeting attention, the NJCPA’s emphasis on community sets us apart.  

Our value proposition is not merely in delivering CPE or advocacy, it is in building relationships, catalyzing collective action and creating a shared identity of service. That is how we transform members into stakeholders and an association into a movement. 

I’d like to thank all of you who volunteer in a variety of capacities for your time and expertise in helping to steer us in the right direction. We invite others to get involved at njcpa/volunteer and would like to hear from you at feedback@njcpa.org.