Board of Directors

The Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation® (ACAT) was established in 1973 as a non-profit independent testing, accrediting and monitoring organization. The Council seeks to identify professionals in independent practice who specialize in providing financial, accounting and taxation services to individuals and small- to mid-size businesses. Professionals receive accreditation through examination and/or coursework and maintain their accreditation through commitment to a significant program of continuing professional education and adherence to the Council's Code of Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct. ACAT is affiliated with the National Society of Accountants, headquartered in Alexandria, VA. ACAT programs are governed by a Board of Directors that includes practitioners, educators and a public member.

PRESIDENT
Peggy I. Johnson, CPA, EA, ABA, ATA, ECS
Johnson, who owns an accounting and tax practice in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, earned her first ACAT credential "the ATA" in 1989. Johnson says, "Although I am now licensed by the State Board, I have spent most of my career as an unlicensed practitioner. I am an avid supporter of the rights of unlicensed accountants and have been very involved in the uphill battle to preserve those rights in Oklahoma. I think it is extremely important for the unlicensed to be able to achieve credentials which demonstrate their competency. Unlicensed accountants with credentials gain more respect from clients, from tax authorities, and from the legislature. I feel privileged to serve on the ACAT Board of Directors."

VICE PRESIDENT ACCOUNTANCY
Christine Gerig, ABA
Christine Gerig was a full-time faculty member at Chattahoochee Technical College in Dallas, Georgia for nine years, two of the nine years as Lead Instructor until her retirement in 2007. Prior to teaching at the college level, Gerig was instrumental in helping her husband build his CPA practice in Georgia and prior to that she worked in private industry. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business from Indiana University, a Master's Degree in Business Education from Georgia State University, and she has completed all but three courses toward her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Georgia. Gerig has been an Accredited Business Accountant since 2002 and a participant on the SME Panel since 2003. She helped several dozen students over the past five years prepare for sitting for ACAT's Comprehensive Examination for Accreditation in Accountancy by teaching a review course at Chattahoochee Tech.

SECRETARY/TREASURER
Jeffrey Adelstone, EA, ABA, ATA, ECS, CFP, RFP
Jeffrey Adelstone, President of The Adelstone Financial Network, has been in active practice in Tucson, AZ, since 1969. He most recently served as chairman of the IRS Information Reporting Program Advisory Committee (IRPAC), a special advisory committee to the Internal Revenue Service. In 1985, NSA honored Mr. Adelstone as its first Accountant of the Year. He served as president of NSA from 1999-2000. Previously, he had served as president of both the Arizona Society of Practicing Accountants and the Arizona Society of Enrolled Agents. The U.S. Small Business Administration named him Accountant Advocate of the year in 1988.

DIRECTOR
James H. Nolen, EA, ABA, ATA, ATP
James "Jim" Nolen is a practicing accountant in Del City, OK. Nolen's Accounting & Tax Service, Inc. has been providing tax and accounting services to small and medium business and individuals for more than 25 years. Early in Jim's career he taught accounting at the Oklahoma School of Banking and Business in Oklahoma City. Jim received the Accreditation in Accountancy in 1979, the ATP credential in 1991, and the ATA in 1996. Jim has served the Oklahoma Society of Accountants as the Executive Vice-President for 12 years, the Legislative Vice-Chair for 18 years, and was honored as OSA's Accountant of the Year in 1992. Jim continued his service to the accounting profession as a member and Chair of the Accounting Standards Committee, facilitating the development of TAGSB, District VIII Governor, 2004-2006, 2nd Vice President 2006-2007, and currently as 1st Vice President.

DIRECTOR
Daniel E. Setters, EA, ABA, ATA, ATP, ECS
Dan Setters is a 1967 graduate of Purdue University, 1979-80 graduate of a non-degree program of accounting studies at Parkland College, Champaign, IL and took 1987-88 post graduate studies at the University of Illinois, a non-degree business administration studies program. Mr. Setters is a Vietnam-era veteran in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. In 1978 became a franchisee with Edwin K. Williams & Co., EKW, a small business accounting and consulting service provider. In 2006 a new entity known as Accounting plus Tax Solutions, Inc., ATSi, was created by the merger of a retiring practitioner's firm into ABS with a practice location that serves clients throughout Champaign County, IL. Setters became an Enrolled Agent in 1982, Accredited Tax Advisor in 1984, Accredited Tax Preparer in 1984 and a Accredited Business Accountant in 1990. Mr. Setter's leadership experience ranged from serving as president of both the state and national accounting associations to appointments to church and civic boards and panels since 1985: National Society of Accountants president, 2003-2004; Accreditation Council for Accountancy and Taxation Board member 2002-2003; NSA Scholarship Foundation trustee 2001-2002; Church moderator [church general board chair] 1999-2002; Independent Accountants Association of Illinois, IAAI, president 1993-1994; IAAI Legislation committee chair 1996-present; Parkland College Accounting Advisory Panel 1996-2003 and 2005-present; IL Department of Revenue Practitioner Advisory Board 1993-2002; Local television station tax program advisor 1994-1999; Champaign-Urbana Area Chamber of Commerce legislation committee 1985-1988; High School Band Boosters president 1985-1988. In 2004, Setters was listed among Accounting Today's top 100 Accountants and NPA/CPA magazine's top 100 Tax and Accounting Practitioners in 2005, 2006 and 2007; in 1994 was recognized by Software News for the advancement of public accounting. In 1977 granted the title of Kentucky Colonel for meritorious service after a tornado ravaged the city of Frankfort, KY. In 1959 became an Eagle Scout with three palms and in 1960 was accorded the Brotherhood designation in the Order of the Arrow.

PUBLIC DIRECTOR
James W. Finch
James W. Finch is the Public Director on ACAT’s Board. It is his responsibility to see that consumers’ interests are met. Finch is Senior Vice President and Senior Commercial Loan Officer for Arvest Bank Group, Oklahoma City, OK. Earlier he was President of BancFirst Mid-Del and President and Chief Executive Officer for Lincoln National Bank, Oklahoma City.

He holds an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma as well as extensive education in banking. He is a member of the Board of Regents of the Oklahoma Bankers Association Intermediate School of Banking, and past chairman of the Lending Committee of the Oklahoma Banker’s Association.
He has served on the Board of Directors of the Central Oklahoma Clearing House Association, member and past president of the Rotary Club of Del City, OK. He is a founding trustee of the Mid-West City–Del City Public Schools Foundation and member and past Chairman of he Del City High School Hall of Fame Committee.

DIRECTOR
James H. Nolen, EA, ABA, ATA, ATP
For the past 20 years, James Nolen has operated Nolen’s Accounting & Tax Service in Del City, OK, which specializes in small/medium-sized businesses. In the late 70s he was Chair of the Accounting Department and an instructor at the Oklahoma School of Banking and Business.

The Oklahoma Society of Accountants has named him “Accountant of the Year” is 1992 and 2002. The Del City Rotary Club named him Rotarian of the Year in 1979 and 1980 and awarded him the Paul Harris Fellow.

Nolen is First Vice President of the National Society of Accountants and will serve as President in 2009. He has also served as a District Governor, on the Editorial Committee, and the Nomination Committee. While on the Accounting Standards Committee he write Tax Accounting Guidelines for Small Businesses. He has also bee very active in the Oklahoma Society of Accountants.

Jim also served as Mayor of Del City, on the Board of Directors of the Del City chamber of Commerce and is a Charter Member of the Mid-Del 100 Club.

DIRECTOR
David H. Welden, CPA, ABA
David Welden is Vice President, Finance, and an Instructor at Gwinnett Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA. He holds an MBA from Georgia State University.

Welden is also a sole practitioner practicing in the field of accounting and tax preparation.