Newsletter ALPFA Florida International University

ISSUE No. 6 / February 21st, 2011

KPMG & Mass Mutual

“We believe in developing you as a professional and
growing together as one family.”

During our General Meeting, members For our Finance members, Albert Furthermore, members learned about the
practiced their icebreakers by participating Gutierrez, from Mass Mutual Finance power of networking during our General
in a paper plane exercise. Group Presented. Meeting.

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 Table of Contents

Special Announcements Page 3

This Week in ALPFA FIU Pages 4 - 5
My ALPFA Story Pages 6 - 7
Last Week in ALPFA FIU Page 8
Upcoming Events Pages 9 - 10
Scholarships Pages 11 - 12
Professional Development Page 13
Job Opportunities Page 14

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Special Announcements

3
This Week in ALPFA FIU

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 This Week in ALPFA FIU

General Meeting (RB 120 at 6:00PM)

Guest Speaker: Nicole Jacques

Nicole Jacques is a Field Marketing Specialist for Becker Professional Education, the company that offers review
courses for various professional licenses. She will be discussing the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and
Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) exams, particularly on the differences between the previous and current
versions of each examination.

Firm Presentations (at 7:00PM)

BDO (CBC 155)

BDO is a U.S. professional service firm providing assurance, tax, financial advisory, and consulting services to a
wide range of publicly traded and privately held companies. For 100 years, BDO has provided quality services
through the active involvement of experienced and committed professionals. The firm serves clients through
40 offices and more than 400 independent alliance firm locations nationwide. As an independent member firm
of BDO International Limited, BDO serves multinational clients through a global network of 1,082 clients in
119 countries.

TD Bank (RB 120)

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the United States, and provides
customers with a full range of Financial products and services at more than 1,250 convenient locations from
Maine to Florida. Services include TD Bank, which offers a wide array of banking products and services to
retail, small businesses and commercial clients; TD Insurance, a full service insurance agency; and TD Wealth
Management, provider of wealth management services for personal investing. institutional, or non-profit
organizations.

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 My ALPFA Story

It is really hard to describe where I was before I went to my first ALPFA meeting. My story is less about
professional development and more about finding the professional, hard-working individual I was back in high
school. Somehow, I had forgotten what it was like to achieve, and let myself believe I wasn’t worth much.

When I showed up to the first ALPFA orientation meeting of the Fall 2010 semester, I didn’t know
what I was doing there. I didn’t even own a suit anymore. When the meeting started, the board began to talk
about what ALPFA was and what it meant to them. When I listened to what they had to say, I’m not sure what
happened to me, but a fire got started in me that has yet to stop.

ALPFA showed me what it is to value myself again. In less than two semesters, my resume went from a dreary
listing of low-level job titles to a cornucopia of achievement. ALPFA mentors have encouraged me to work
hard, and see the value in me while guiding me towards an even better self, and I actually get the opportunity
to do the same for others seeking guidance. I have never seen it as how I have to be at our meetings every
week, but that I get to. ALPFA is truly my family.

Warm Regards,
Eric Erdvig
ALPFA FIU Spring 2011 Secretary

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 My ALPFA Story

Standing in front of my mirror two semesters ago, two hours away from giving my speech for the
Parliamentarian position, I was doubting the decision I was about to make. Suddenly, an unexpected call from
my dear friend Daniel Zamora reestablished in me that confidence that I was lacking. Stories such as mine I
have heard many in ALPFA FIU, of members who truly care and go out of their ways to help their fellow
members achieve their personal goals. This is certainly what distinguishes our “family” from the other
organizations on campus, our genuine and serious commitment to help each
of our members in their journey for success.

Now as we embark on a new semester, I feel I owe even more to this organization that has seen me grow in
profound ways. Being part of ALPFA FIU, I had the privilege to attend our highlight event of the year, National
Convention, where I strengthened old relationships and built new ones. I was also honored to represent our
university in the Annual AICPA workshop last May in North Carolina. However, my greatest honor and
privilege was being a leader of ALPFA FIU. Taking that extra step was truly a very rewarding experience.
Indeed, I learned the art of coming together as a team and working together for a common goal. Special thank
you’s to the talented individuals who served with me on the Fall 2010 E-board.

Ultimately, I would like to thank our membership, old and new members, without your support there would
be no ALPFA FIU. I sincerely encourage every one of you to actively participate, to take a leadership role, to
fundraise, to network endlessly…. Take pride and honor in this, your extended family.

“It is supposed to be hard. If it was not hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it the great.”

Wishing you all continued success,

Anabel De la Rosa
Proud ALPFA FIU Member

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 Last Week in ALPFA FIU

This past week, members were exposed to former ALPFA FIU President Ana Garcia, former ALPFA FIU Vice
President Giselle Yannelli, Big 4 Accounting firm KPMG, and Mass Mutual Financial Group.

During our General Meeting, Ana Garcia, accompanied by Giselle Yannelli, presented to our members the
power of networking. They began their presentation by having members practice their icebreakers by
participating in a paper plane exercise, where each member would create their own plane, write their name on
it, and throw it across the room, while writing down the names on other planes that they caught.

Following our General Meeting, KPMG, a Big 4 Accounting firm, presented in CBC 155. KPMG presented to
members the ethical aspects that they will face out in the job, KPMG’s ethical standards, which far exceed
those that are mandated by regulatory agencies such as the SEC and PCAOB. Furthermore, KPMG introduced
their CASE2 concept, a unique way to look at ethical issues. Members where then challenged to 4 ethical
scenarios to see their likely response. Following the 4 scenarios, members had an opportunity to network with
professionals, which included ALPFA FIU’s own Jovan Dushner.

While our Accounting members were attending the KPMG presentation, our Finance members were attending
a presentation hosted by Albert “Tico” Gutierrez from Mass Mutual Financial Group. Albert talked about the
importance of networking, and how it can open many doors for you. He also told us many personal life stories
regarding how Mass Mutual focuses on helping others, what his daily job day is, how important is teamwork,
and how he is in the board for Autism Speaks. He also mentioned the job opportunities for students, and
scholarships opportunities.

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 Upcoming Events

QuickBooks Workshop

Get the opportunity to learn the essentials of QuickBooks, the Accounting and business management tools
used by businesses to keep their Finances organized.

Taught by Julian Cecio, CFO of Island Sky Corporation

Approximately 40 Slots

Date: March 5th, 2011

Time: 9:00AM - 12:00PM
Location: CBC 252
RSVP to cpena015@fiu.edu

ALPFA 2011 Student Regional Symposium

Date: Saturday, March 26th, 2011
Time: 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Location: Tampa, FL
To register, please visit: www.alpfa.org/symposium
RSVP to ALPFA FIU via cpena015@fiu.edu for hotel accommodations

Join the ALPFA FIU Relay Team!

Points will be awarded for members that join and receive $25 of contributions under their names
Relay for Life will take place March 4th to the 5th.
Go to the following website to join:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=team&fr_id=29563&team_id=872072
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 Upcoming Events

Walk Now for Autism Speaks

• Date: February 27th
• Location: JC Bermudez Park
– 3000 NW 87th Avenue, Doral, FL 33172
• Time: Registration 8AM, Walk 10AM

BDO Team Page:

http://walk.autismspeaks.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?
ievent=437463&lis=1&kntae437463=9DD61E7E15D546F087F9A3FD5448F9C3&team=40109
87&tlteam=0

Chocolate Sale

Going on now!

For more information, contact Yasnay Montalvo

at ALPFAfunds@gmail.com

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 Scholarships

Sam’s Club Scholarship Opportunity

Sam’s Club is sponsoring a $100,000 scholarship competition for students enrolled at an HACU-accredited
HSI. Sam’s Club, the nation’s eighth-largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club,
is a division of Walmart.

We are inviting any full-time sophomore or junior enrolled at an HACU-accredited HSI to participate
individually or on a team of no more than three (3) to write a marketing plan that focuses on building the
connection between Sam’s Club and the Latino communities it serves.

The program will run from Jan. 3, 2011, to May 14, 2011. The winners will be announced during
DiversityInc’s Gala Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 9, 2011, at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

For more information, please visit www.hsischolarships.com or contact Carolynn Johnson at

cjohnson@DiversityInc.com or 973-494-0539.

2011 Undergraduate Scholarship Opportunities through College of Business

Various scholarship opportunities posted on the College of Business Website

Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria and the applications are available to download
http://business.fiu.edu/landon/scholarship_list.cfm
The application period ends April 28th, 2011

2011 FICPA Educational Scholarship

Awards: $2,000 for Full-time Students and $1,000 for Part-time Students
All applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, registered for at least 6 credit hours, and have American
citizen status or hold permanent residency status

All interested students should submit applications and official transcripts to the School of Accounting
Deadline for submission of the application is February 28th

Please contact soacct@fiu.edu if you need additional information

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 Scholarships

Florida Board of Accountancy Award Scholarships

Scholarship designed for minorities to enter the accounting profession!

Scholarship applicants can be awarded up to $6,000 per semester for a maximum of 2 semesters
The deadline for applications is June 1st

Click here http://www.myfloridalicense.com/dbpr/cpa/index.html for access to the application and other

information including qualification criteria (scroll down to the “Minority Scholarships” section).

Qualified students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as it takes a few weeks for the processing and
approval of each application.

2011 - 2012 AICPA Scholarships

Need money for school? If you’re an accounting student planning to become a CPA, the American Institute of CPAs
could have a scholarship with your name on it.

From undergraduate to doctoral levels, the AICPA seeks to build strong CPA professionals through the following scholar-
ship programs:

AICPA/Accountemps Student Scholarship

Provides financial assistance to outstanding accounting students who demonstrate potential to become leaders in the CPA
profession; Awards of $2,500

AICPA John L. Carey Scholarship

Offered to liberal arts and nontraditional business degree holders who are pursuing both graduate studies in accounting and
the CPA license; Awards of $5,000

AICPA Fellowship for Minority Doctoral Students

Awarded to accounting doctoral level students to increase the ethnic diversity of educators in college and university-level
classrooms; Awards of $12,000

AICPA Scholarship for Minority Accounting Students

Extended to outstanding minority students to encourage their selection of accounting as a major and their entry into the
profession; Awards of $3,000

The application deadline for all programs is April 1, 2011.

Apply Now to find the scholarship with YOUR name on it!

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 Professional Development

BDO’s Pathway to Success

Find more information at:

www.bdo.com/careers/students/summerleadership/
Deadline to apply is April 15th, 2011

The Difference Between Mentoring, Coaching and Sponsorship

What's the difference between mentoring, coaching and sponsorship?

Can you make use of all three at the same time?
Which are formal?
How does the cross-cultural aspect work?
Click here to read this article

PwC Online Video Contest—What Impression will you make?

We want to help students like you articulate your unique personal brand by developing your "elevator pitch",
and what better way to practice this than by entering our contest with a chance to win $5,000!

PwC wants to help you develop your personal brand today. Learn more about the contest and submit your vid-
eo at www.facebook.com/PwCUSCareers by March 25, 2011. Who knows, your pitch may earn you $5,000!

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 Job Opportunities

Forensic Accounting Position Available

Ernst & Young is currently seeking an Intern and Staff for its Miami Forensic Accounting group. If you are
interested in the specialized field of fraud investigation, I highly encourage you to apply, since entry-level
opportunities in areas other than tax and audit are harder to come by.

For more information and to apply, refer to the following jobs posted on the FIU Career Services website.

Summer Internship: During Summer 2011

Fall 2011 Staff 1: Staff 1 member to join the practice in August/September/October of 2011

Matson, Driscoll & Damico, LLP

Forensic Accountant (Staff Accountant) Position Available

Forensic Accounting Work - Responsible for assisting senior staff with individual assignments related to our
Latin American Operations. Consists of analyzing business interruption losses, fraud, and litigation cases.

Requirement: Portuguese Language Capabilities.

May require occasional travel to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean.

Log in to CBA Career Link for more information and to apply!

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