What do you value most about your MNCPA membership?
Chair's Message
Eric O'Link | February/March 2026 Footnote
Editor's note: Updated January 29, 2026
The answer to the question in the headline probably depends on the stage of your career. For some, it’s the MNCPA’s high-quality CPE offerings. Those of you earlier in your careers may picture networking and YPG social events (puppies and pints, anyone?). And who can forget the incredibly useful MNCPA CPE Log? As an industry CPA, I’m of the opinion that the CPE log alone is worth the price of admission!
There’s another key membership benefit that is sometimes overlooked: MNCPA gives CPAs a voice at the Capitol. How you interact with rules, statutes and licensing may depend on your area of practice. Regardless, it’s indisputable that CPAs are affected by myriad levels of regulation at both the state and federal level. When rules, statutes and license issues impact your work and your clients, experienced representation matters.
The MNCPA is the largest organization in Minnesota advocating specifically on behalf of CPAs. Our government relations director, Geno Fragnito, has led these efforts for more than 20 years in both St. Paul and Washington, D.C. We’ve seen visible results of this work recently with the passing of the CPA pipeline pathways legislation. Advocacy work also covers tax policy — such as resisting efforts to tax professional services — and broader issues related to CPA licensure.
Among them is a growing anti-regulation movement, one that has pushed extreme proposals, including a bill in Florida that sought to deregulate CPA licenses and abolish the Florida Board of Accountancy. Although it was unsuccessful in 2025, such a measure would devastate public protection and threaten mobility. This is a well-organized and well-funded initiative. We expect similar proposals to eventually surface in Minnesota.
Your membership and involvement in the MNCPA are vital to defending our profession. You worked hard to earn your credential. The MNCPA helps ensure it remains strong, respected and protected. If you know CPAs who are not members, please encourage them to join. If we aren’t all in, we limit the opportunities to drive positive changes within the Minnesota business environment and elevate our profession.
On a personal note, this is my final Footnote chair message. Serving as MNCPA board chair for the past year has been one of the honors of my career. I am grateful for your support and for the extraordinary, dedicated MNCPA staff members who work every day to help CPAs elevate our impact. I also want to express my gratitude for the late Warren “Boz” Bostrom, who encouraged me to follow him as board chair. I’m excited to welcome Sara DeRoo as incoming board chair. You’ll hear from Sara in the next edition of Footnote.
Best wishes,
Eric O'Link
Chair, MNCPA board of directors
boardchair@mncpa.org
