A National Dialogue on Revitalizing Public Trust

The NASBA Center for the Public Trust held its inaugural event September 15, 2005 at the Grand Hyatt Washington Hotel, Washington, D.C.

A National Dialogue on Revitalizing the Public Trust provided a view of the activities being undertaken and oversight being implemented to build the public’s trust not only in audited financial statements, but also in public and private leadership. Widespread abuses which led to corporate scandals and declining public trust in companies, their leaders and America’s capital markets are only part of the story. Some of the issues addressed were:

· How can the public trust be revitalized?

· What is being done in congress, by state government, in business and the legal, accounting and other professions to revitalize public trust?

An impressive array of speakers participated in the conference:

· U.S. Congressman, K. Michael Conaway

· New Mexico Governor, Bill Richardson

· PCAOB Chair, William McDonough

· Attorney Scott Price, author of the soon to be published book Looking for Goodwill

· Motivational Speaker, Linda Galindo, founder and president of Galindo Consulting

Exceptional individuals explored issues in moderated panel discussions. Panelists included:

· Diane Rubin, CPA, Audit Partner, Novogradac & Company, San Francisco, California and Vice Chair of the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy

· Bio-ethicist, Tim Murphy of the University of Chicago Medical Department, Chicago, IL

· William Ezzell, CPA, Partner, Deloitte & Touche, LLP, Past Chair of the American Institute of CPAs

· Alfred P. Carlton, Esq., Partner, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, Raleigh, NC, Past President of the American Bar Association