State of the Profession for Firm Leaders (E2010520)

Jeff is the vice president of government relations for the NJCPA. He works with the CEO and the Board of Trustees 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 is also a liaison to other pro-business groups like the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) and Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) to coordinate legislative strategies. Prior to joining the NJCPA, 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 belongs to Compassion and Choices, the Humane Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

Alan is the managing partner of SobelCo, where he is responsible for facilitating the strategic direction and the day-to-day management of the firm. He provides expertise on financial reporting, tax planning for businesses and high net worth individuals and strategic business planning. He has considerable experience with mergers and acquisitions and delivers added value working with clients on sourcing deals, negotiating and structuring transactions, financial and business due diligence and transaction financing. Alan is the 2020/21 president of the NJCPA. He developed the concept for the Pass-Through Business Alternative Income Tax Act and played the lead role in writing the legislation and making it fit within New Jersey’s tax structure. He is also a member of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and the New York State Society of CPAs (NYSSCPA). He is the former chairman of the NJCPA Audit Committee and was a former vice president and trustee of the NJCPA and a past president of its Essex Chapter and has served on various committees. Alan was a former adjunct professor of taxation and frequently lectures.

Ralph is the CEO and executive director of the New Jersey Society of CPAs. He was appointed to AICPA’s National Commission on Diversity and Inclusion and the AICPA Foundation Board. Ralph is a former national and chapter president of the National Association of Black Accountants, was chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy’s State Society Relations Committee and is a member of the accounting advisory boards of Lehigh, Rutgers, Seton Hall, Montclair State, Felician and Thomas Edison universities and Middlesex County College. In January 2018, he was invited by Senate President Steve Sweeney to join his bipartisan Economic and Fiscal Policy Working Group. Additionally, Ralph was selected for the last eight years by Accounting Today as one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting.”