IssuesWatch Live with Senate President Sweeney (E1811040)

Jeff Kaszerman is the vice president of government relations for New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA). He works with the CEO and board of directors to create and implement advocacy initiatives that protect and promote the interests of the CPA profession, the business community and the public. Jeff monitors legislative and executive branch activity that impacts CPAs by writing position papers, developing grass roots membership activities to enhance lobbying efforts and raising money for the NJ-CPA-PAC. He also liaisons with other pro-business groups like the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, NJ Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), and Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) to coordinate legislative strategies. Prior to joining the NJCPA 25 years ago, Jeff worked on several political campaigns, worked for former Governor Jim Florio and for Common Cause New York. He previously owned a lobbying and public affairs firm. Jeff graduated from Rutgers University, Newark, with a Bachelor of Arts in History and minored in Political Science and Business Administration. Jeff belongs to Compassion and Choices, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. He enjoys reading books about history and science.

Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (D) represents legislative district 3. He has served in the senate since 2002 and is currently the Senate President. Senator Sweeney is also the vice president of the International Assocaition of Iron Workers.

Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, began his service as CEO and executive director of the NJCPA in 1999. Prior to joining NJCPA, he held various accounting-related management positions at Citibank, AT&T, Potomac Electric Power Company and PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was appointed to the inaugural American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion, and subsequently the AICPA Foundation Board. Thomas is a lifetime member and former national and chapter president of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), was appointed chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s (NASBA) State Society Relations Committee, and is a member of the accounting advisory boards of Lehigh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Montclair State, Felician, Thomas Edison universities and Middlesex County College. Additionally, he was selected for the last seven years by Accounting Today as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.” He is also the treasurer of Opportunity NJ. Thomas earned a B.S. in business and economics as well as an M.B.A. from Lehigh University.