Associations Bulletin Board

Mark Gardner Peterson joined the AICPA as vice president, government affairs. He will be responsible for key lobbying efforts on behalf of the AICPA. Prior to joining the AICPA, Peterson served as vice president with the Alpine Group, where he was responsible for individualized lobbying work on tax,

BKR International admitted two new member firms: Esteves & Pinho ROC of Porto, Portugal (two partners, four staff), and SNB Associates of Chennai, India (five partners, 55 total staff).

CPAmerica International admitted Wegner LLP. The firm has six partners, 59 total staff, and offices in the Wisconsin cities of Madison, Baraboo and Elk Grove. Also, the association hired George Harnden as a director of member relations and growth. He will be responsible for strengthening relationships and improving service between the executive offices and the 70-plus member firms in the U.S. Harnden will also identify and recruit new member firms. Previously, he worked for WebMD in Tampa, Fla. CPAmerica also entered into a strategic alliance with Houston-based alliantgroup, a company that specializes in finding tax credits for companies conducting research and development activities.

IGAF Worldwide admitted Tower Consulting Worldwide of Bogota, Colombia, to its membership.

Polaris International admitted three new member firms: Gorislavtsev & Co of Moscow (seven partners, 45 directors, 300 total staff, 48 offices); Noone Casey of Dublin, Ireland (three partners, 15 total staff) and Rajendra & Co. of Murnbai, India (six partners, 62 total staff). The group also elected its international board of directors and officers. Elected were Fred Shapss of Rosen Seymour Shapss Martin & Co. of New York, president; David Frame of London's Littlejohn Frazer, vice president and chairman-Europe; Thomas Goebel of Dr. Bockmann & Partner of Berlin, Secretary/Treasurer; Larry King of KBA Group in Dallas, chairman North America; Tim Moore of T.R. Moore & Co. of Houston, vice chair North America; Delores Teh of CCIF of Hong Kong, chairwoman Asia/Pacific; Mark Tucker of McBurney & Partners in Sydney, Australia, vice chairman Asia Pacific; Franz Reissner of Treuhandgessellchaft in Duesseldorf, Germany, co-vice chair Europe; Patrick Varron of Auditec Aquitaine in Bordeaux, France, co-vice chair Europe; Jorge Echevarria Petit of Echevarria Petit & Asociados in Montevideo, Uruguay, chairman Latin America; Mario Wainstein of Mario Wainstein y Asociados in Buenos Aires, Argentina, co-vice chair Latin America; and Diego Moreira of Moreira & Asociados-Auditores in Porto Alegre, Brazil, co-vice chair Latin America.