The History of MACPA
MACPA continues on with its founding principle: to propel our profession forward and help Maryland CPAs succeed.
MACPA has played a major role in shaping the CPA profession since its founding in 1901. Recognizing the importance of trustworthy financial information in a market-based economy, Maryland was the third state in the nation that created the professional designation of certified public accountant.
The "Certified Public Accountancy” law established requirements and state licensing for accountants who would meet certain educational, examination, and experience standards to ensure the reliability of financial information. Since that time, innovation has been the theme of our song as we seek to protect the interests of CPAs, adapt to an always-changing business climate, and keep the public interest in front of us at all times.
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1899
Maryland Association of Public Accountants forms for the purpose of lobbying Maryland lawmakers to create and pass a CPA law in Maryland. The earliest members are often from "business and industry," from organizations like Fidelity and Deposit, Baltimore Gas and Electric, and Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.
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1900 - 1901
Maryland Gov. John Walter Smith signs Maryland’s CPA statute into law. Max Teichmann receives Maryland CPA certificate No. 1. The Maryland Association of CPAs incorporated Feb. 12, 1901.
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1909
Elsa Doetsch and Florence Hooper become the first two female members of MACPA. They are two out of 25 MACPA members at the time. Elsa and Forence also become the first women CPAs admitted to the AICPA.
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1924 - 1928
1924: MACPA votes to adopt its Code of Ethics.
1928: Active MACPA membership surpasses 100 for the first time.
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1957 - 1963
1957: Benjamin King Sr. becomes Maryland’s first black CPA. Five of the first 100 black CPAs were from Maryland.
1963: MACPA’s Capital Area, Eastern Shore and Mid-Maryland chapters are established.
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1971 - 1973
1971: MACPA membership surpasses 1,500.
1973: MACPA’s Central Maryland Chapter is established.
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1976 - 1977
1976: Maryland’s accountancy law is amended to require continuing education for CPAs
1977: MACPA’s Anne Arundel Chapter is established.
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1983 - 1985
Patricia Bissell is the first woman to serve as president of the MACPA’s Board of Directors. MACPA membership surpasses 6,000. The MACPA’s Western Maryland Chapter is established.
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1991 - 1997
MACPA’s Southern Maryland Chapter is established.
December 1991: MACPA membership surpasses 8,200.
January 1997: Tom Hood is named president and CEO of the MACPA.
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`999
MACPA membership surpasses 10,000 members. The Business Learning Institute is born to equip CPAs and financial professionals with the future-ready skills needed for an ever-changing world and marketplace.
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2002
The MACPA's first black chair was Graylin Smith in 2002.
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2003
MACPA forms the Sarbanes–Oxley Task Force and creates the Road to Reform Initiative.
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2016
MACPA's 2010-11 chair, Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, becomes the first black chair of the American Institute of CPAs. Kimberly also becomes the youngest chair of the AICPA.
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2020
The MACPA joined a coalition of Maryland business organizations to oppose House Bill 1628, "Sales and Use Tax -- Rate Reduction and Services," which would have reduced Maryland’s sales tax rate but expanded it to professional services. State lawmakers ultimately voted unanimously to kill the bill.
MACPA worked to have CPAs declared “essential workers” by the State of Maryland.
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2021
MACPA sells The Business Learning Institute.
Jackie Brown succeeds CEO of MACPA after Tom Hoold leaves to join the AICPA leadership team
The Business Learning Institute (BLI) is acquired by AICPA, a big win for MACPA members. MACPA’s learning and CPE will continue to be powered by BLI and MACPA will still be the first to benefit from BLI. The sale of BLI to AICPA is a capital benefit to MACPA which positions us to serve Maryland CPAs better for decades to come.
Jackie Brown, COO & Deputy Executive Director and MACPA leader for over 40 years, is selected by the Board of Directors to become CEO after Tom Hood joins the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants as its executive vice president of business growth and engagement.
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2022
MACPA member Anoop Mehta named chair of AICPA Board of Directors
Mehta is just the second Maryland CPA to chair the AICPA’s Board of Directors. He follows Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, a Baltimore native and former MACPA chair who served as AICPA chair from 2016-17 and chair of the global Association of Certified Professional Accountants from 2017-18.
To learn more, contact Rebekah Olson, CPA, CEO MACPA: rebekah@macpa.org, 443.632.2320