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PROFESSIONAL ISSUES

WHY ORGANIZATIONS LIKE ALPFA STILL Being part of the AASSCPA also allowed him
MATTER to successfully bid on federal contracts with the
Becoming a member of the AASSCPA was impor- U.S. Departments of Labor and Agriculture. “We
tant to him, Gonzalez said in a 2012 interview with were young, energetic, and hungry,” Gonzalez said.
author Sydnee Manley, because it promised to be “And the government felt better about [awarding
beneficial right away. us contracts], because they were dealing with an as-
In March 1972, he had received a contract sociation and not just sole practitioners.” Previously,
to audit Region VI of the U.S. Small Business large national accounting firms known as the Big
Administration. But Gonzalez needed assistance Eight had held a tight grip on federal contracts.
because he was a sole practitioner and Region VI Once members became more experienced with
consisted of five states. In Robert Marquez, another auditing large governmental agencies, they were
founding member of the AASSCPA, and others he able to score more federal contracts, Marquez said
found people he could trust to work with. in a 2012 interview with author Sydnee Manley.
“It was a beautiful thing that the group worked Eventually, however, many members moved
out,” Gonzalez stated. “I would have been nothing away from federal government contracts toward
without them [the AASSCPA], or at least worse off.” more work with local governments and not-for-
profit organizations.
The strength the first members found in coming
together in the AASSCPA has since been bolstered
AICPA RESOURCES by the growth and increased economic impact of
the Latino population in the United States.
Articles The number of Latinos in the United States has
“Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,” AICPA Insights, Oct. 24, 2022 risen nearly sevenfold since 1970, when they made
up about 5% of the U.S. population, according to
“CPA Firms Show Progress in Diversity Amid Pipeline Issues,” JofA, April 6,
2022 U.S. Census data. In 2021, they represented 19%
of the U.S. population and were the second-largest
“Accounting Profession Continues to Zero In on DEI Issues,” JofA, May 24, ethnic or racial group after non-Hispanic whites.
2021
The market value of all the goods and services
Online resource Latinos produced increased to $2.7 trillion in 2019
Diversity and inclusion resources for firms (the most recent year for which data is available),
up from $1.7 trillion in 2010. Based on U.S. Census
Podcast episode
data, that’s 57% faster than U.S. GDP grew during
“A Pioneering CPA Reflects on a 50-Year Journey,” JofA, Oct. 7, 2022 the same period.
Also, Latinos have invested more in education

IN BRIEF ethnic groups in the United States; in accounting and finance jobs as
they invest more in education than retiring Baby Boomers are increasingly
■ Fifty years ago, 19 Latino CPAs formed any other group, and the value of replaced by Millennials and Generation
a professional organization to boost goods and services they produce every Z, two generations with large numbers
business. Since then, the organization, year has grown faster than U.S. GDP. of Latinos.
now called the Association of Latino While Latinos are represented in all ■ Professional ALPFA chapters in 37
Professionals for America (ALPFA), has occupations and industries, they are locations across the United States make
become a vehicle of social change underrepresented in management access to role models and mentors
within the accounting and finance and professional jobs in general and among Latino accountants and finance
community and a networking forum business and financial occupations in professionals easier. ALPFA also offers
for Latino students, professionals, and specific, U.S. Census data suggests. professional development and career-
businesses. ■ Recruitment and mentorship are building opportunities.
■ Latinos are one of the fastest-growing crucial to raise Latino representation
To comment on this article or to suggest an idea for another article, contact Courtney Vien at Courtney.Vien@aicpa-cima.com.

14 | Journal of Accountancy December 2022