Looking back, Steve Bodine, principal with LarsonAllen, seems an obvious choice for the MNCPA's Distinguished Service Award. His involvement with the Society and his philosophy might make you wonder why he didn't receive it sooner.

But it's not lost on Bodine that the award, the highest honor MNCPA bestows upon a member, is presented to those whose service is so exemplary that it makes people start thinking, "That guy deserves an award." And that the award is given only to a select few whose contributions far exceed what most others are willing to give.

"I do understand it's a rare award presented by the MNCPA, so I'm very honored," Bodine said recently. "And because I respect the Society and its efforts significantly, I appreciate the recognition."

One long list of contributions, two simple reasons

Bodine's contributions over the last 30 years could more than fill a page, and can be summed up categorically as: committee member (the long list includes the FASB and AICPA's joint Private Company Financial Reporting Committee and, previously, the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force); leader (he chaired both the MNCPA Board of Directors and the AICPA Technical Issues Committee); author (he's a frequent Footnote contributor); and teacher (he teaches numerous CPE courses at MNCPA).

No matter the committee or the role, two common threads weave through his involvement: a strong sense of responsibility to give back, and the belief that, by giving back, you gain even more.

"I've always felt a need to give back to those who have helped me," Bodine said. "I look at what the Society has given me and how much I've relied on MNCPA to provide resources and education. So I've had the sense of both needing and wanting to give back."

Long before joining MNCPA, giving back became a self expectation for Bodine. "Growing up, we were expected to help in my family and to volunteer," Bodine remembers. "So my philosophy is, since there's this expectation to volunteer, at least do what you enjoy. Do what's fun and helps you grow."

Bodine finds that to be true in all of his endeavors involving others, whether on a committee or standing at the front of a classroom. "I have this great need to learn, and I always come away knowing more," he said. "I get to work with others to identify answers, and I get to hear different opinions and perspectives. I'm always trying to increase my knowledge in the profession, and this is a great way to do that."

Bodine also points to the skills he's gained through volunteer opportunities. "Teaching and writing, for example," he says. "Those things scared me to death early in my career, but now they're things I enjoy doing."

For Bodine, the benefits of being involved are clear. At a minimum, he sees being involved as an important part of doing his job well. "I think it would be difficult to be in this profession without being involved in MNCPA," he says. "That's true in any endeavor - kids' sports, whatever. It's hard to fully understand what's going on without being involved."

The MNCPA honored Steve Bodine, along with all other 2011 MNCPA service award winners, at the MNCPA's 2011 Fall Recognition Dinner in Minneapolis in October.

5 more things to know about Steve Bodine

Most important career advice: "It's a small world. Never burn bridges. Always help out others because, at some point, they'll help you."

Most influential mentor: "Rholan Larson. When I started with LarsonAllen in 1987, I looked to Rholan and his activity with MNCPA and the AICPA and saw how it helped him and his firm. I wanted to emulate that."

Greatest area of advocacy focus: "I'm an advocate of private company accounting and private company accounting standards. I have concerns around complexity in the accounting standards and services related to private and smaller companies."

Greatest passion in the profession: "I'm most passionate and concerned about maintaining the ethical values and integrity of the CPA. Our profession was challenged at the beginning of the millennium during the audit crises, Enron and WorldCom. It's nice to see that we survived those darker days."

Reaction to Enron and other crises: "Was I surprised? Not really, because in the 90s, there was a push to commoditize the audit process. I believe that, as a profession, we've reversed the problem."