Houston CPA Society Conference to Feature Nation's Top Accounting and Auditing Authorities

Business Wire, March 31, 2008

HOUSTON -- Two Houston accounting leaders will join top authorities from the Securities & Exchange Commission, Financial Accounting Standards Board and other oversight boards, as they share perspectives with preparers and users for the 28th Financial Reporting Symposium sponsored by the Houston CPA Society, a chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. The event will be 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, May 1, 2008, at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Joining the panel from Houston are Janet F. Clark, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Marathon Oil Corporation, and Phil D. Wedemeyer, partner in the National Professional Standards Group of Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International. Wedemeyer formerly was director of the Office of Research and Analysis of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

The Symposium is a full-day program that will look at key technical issues facing accounting professionals. Topics include accounting standards, U.S. and international financial reporting standards, corporate governance, SEC developments and possible changes in financial statement presentation, among others. Last year's event attracted more than 400 CPAs and other professionals.

Katherine Schipper, Thomas Keller Professor of Business at Duke University and former member of FASB, will moderate. In addition to Clark and Wedemeyer, this year's panelists are

* Jane B. Adams, managing director of Maverick Capital

* Paul Beswick, senior advisor in the Office of the Chief Accountant in the SEC

* Allan Cohen, assistant controller of Time Warner

* G. Michael Crooch, FASB member

* Mark Lamonte, leader of Moody's Investors Service accounting and corporate governance specialist groups

* James J. Leisenring, International Accounting Standards Board member recognized by the Accounting Hall of Fame, and

* Charles D. Niemeier, Public Company Accounting Oversight Board member.

The cost is $200 including lunch. It provides eight hours of continuing professional education credit for CPAs. Registration and a brochure are available at http://houstoncpa.org/CPECalendar/event.asp?id=239 or by calling 713-622-7733.

The Houston CPA Society with more than 8,000 CPA members is among the nation's largest CPA organizations.

(A Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants)

1700 West Loop South, Suite 750, Houston, TX 77027-3007