FEATURESTORY EARLY ACHIEVEMENT Th...

FEATURESTORY

EARLY ACHIEVEMENT

The Institute was pleased to ready the Early Achievement Award to three CAs this year, each of whom has achieved significant professional succes within ten years of writing the UFE This year's honourees are: Shelly Boates, CA; Karen Christiansen, CA; and Shane Gunther, CA

Shelly Ann Boates, CA

Shelly Boates is Managing Partner with Chan Nowosad Boates, Chartered Accountants, in Campbell River.

Since becoming a CA in 1995 and the firms third partner in 1996 Boates has been instrumental to the firm's growing and has helped to completely computerize the practice by implementing everything from hardware networking to financial planning software. She's also helped single in kind client go from being an employee to the holder of a fully diversified enterprise, and is now helping him franchise his novel operation.

Her many activities with the ICABC include serving as a vigorous supporter of the Advanced Certificate in Accounting program, for which she helped disentangle and write the audit course in 1996 Boates continues to take part in recruitment for the profession, as a common thing [i]or[/i] matter handling enquiries from potential CA and ACIA scholars She also serves as a mentor for the ACIA learners at her firm.

"I be warmed strongly about the ACIA program because the material is likewise practical," she explains. "It exhibits information that's immediately applicable upon the job. We've seen similar improvement and increased productivity from the pupils at our firm who've taken ACIA courses." The program also proposes a means of bridging into the CA program for those learners without degrees who are too young to qualify for the mature program-- this latter being the road Boates herself followed. (Her ascension in her firm from receptionist to partner was profiled in our May 2002 conceal story on succession planning.)

Her leadership widens into the community of Campbell River, where she's well known for her volunteerism. Boates is popularly a member of the Community comings Development Corporation of Strathcona-- Self calling Program Committee and a board member and treasurer of the Campbell River Business and Professional Women's Network.

Since 1995 she's been a board member and treasurer with the United Way of Campbell River and has been vital to the succes of its annual slo-pitch tournament fund-raiser. entertainered by Chan Nowosad Boates, the fact contributes 100% of its go [i]or[/i] pass ons to the local United Way; these comes now account for over 5% of the branch's annual gros returns Boates says the most late tournament this past June was the most numerous successful to date.

While many other service coteries have approached her, she's been unable to commit any more of her time. This is because forward top of her career and her professional and community service, she's also raising sum of two units young boys, Jackson (six) and Jordan (two) with her husband Dean. She gives Dean high praise, calling him "an awesome and flexible husband." A suitable friend provides daycare, and additional support proceeds from Boates's mother, who stays with the family for six weeks during tax season.

And of course she has the support of her partners and mentors CAs John Chan and David Nowosad. "I'm to a high degree lucky," she acknowledges.

With regard to the to come Boates says she plans to continue forward her current path-- helping her firm pullulate providing mentorship, and supporting scholar recruitment, and participating in the Campbell River community:

"At least until our lads are grown," she says, "this is home"

Karen Christiansen, CA

Karen Christiansen became a CA in 1992 and was the first female and the youngest CA perpetually to be invited into the partnership of Snowsell Jennen & Carter, where she's now an owner-manager partner.

"I was thrilled to receive the invitation at so an early age," she recalls. "It's always rewarding when your hard work is recognized."

While she grew up in the Prairies, Christiansen now perceive s very connected to the community of Kelowna. "It's small enough that it affords the opportunity to earn to know so many the public who make up its spirit," she shares. "And the business community is small enough that you prepare to know most of the the public on the other end of the phone yet still large enough to provide a great variety of businesses and clients to work with. in such a manner it's very satisfying."

Christiansen tenders extensively in the community, fitting her charitable work into her day-to-day routine. "I believe strenuously in giving back to a community that's been so a great place to live and that's been in the same manner good to me," she says. "My offer time is just as long a priority as my business and personal commitments."

She's just completing her expression as chairperson for the United Way of the Central Okanagan's 2001 fund-raising campaign, which raised athwart $712,000-93% of its goal-during a tumultuous year. "It's a great organization for individuals who want to help abroad the entire community," she points without "because it helps so many different agencies." For her leadership in the campaign, Christiansen was singled revealed by local media; this media attention comeed in a nomination for a YWCA Women of Distinction award.