Dan Kidney, Volunteer Excellence Award
Corey Butler, MNCPA communications manager | October 2021 Footnote
Editor's note: Updated September 30, 2021
Like many members, Dan Kidney was recommended by a supervisor to get involved with the MNCPA — in this case, to replace his supervisor on the SALT Conference Planning Committee.
Kidney didn’t know a lot of CPAs outside of his firm at the time and, as a young CPA, found that every new opportunity with the MNCPA enabled him to learn more about the profession and about collaborating with others.
“Early on, you don’t know what you don’t know,” he said.
Let’s say Kidney has figured it out.
After that first commitment 15 years ago, Kidney has racked up an impressive list of MNCPA contributions. Kidney quickly dissected the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and its impact on Minnesota taxpayers; has served on pop-up committees in the past few years discussing tax conformity and state and local tax; and has joined Geno Fragnito, MNCPA director of government relations, during multiple Legislative Digest Live updates to break down the ongoing conformity discussion at the Minnesota Legislature. In the process, Kidney has become a strong, trusted voice for understanding and explaining the tax-related implications of legislation to members.
Because of his efforts, Kidney is a recipient of the Volunteer Excellence Award, which recognizes members who have served as a volunteer for at least five years and provided leadership or significant contributions to the MNCPA.
Now a director at Wipfli LLP, Kidney continues to work on a facet of his volunteerism that matters most to him, and one in which he’s chipped away at for years: building trust and inroads with the Minnesota Department of Revenue.
By approaching Revenue personnel and requesting their comments on his materials before he shares them with others, he leans into that collaborative spirit that was sparked all those years ago. He approaches the relationship in an inclusive manner, keeping that dialogue going to present the most accurate information.
His method to those conversations over the years echoes how he approaches clients, peers and involvement with the MNCPA.
“Be friendly, treat people well and say yes often,” Kidney said.
His encouraging attitude has gone over well with fellow MNCPA members. It’s important to Kidney because they’re navigating messy, complicated topics together. His approach — and drive to be involved — matters to him.
“It’s important how you see yourself, how you energize yourself and finding what motivates you rather than others asking you to do things,” he said. “If you find something that energizes you, don’t think too much about it. Just do it.”
