New Jersey Chapter holds Winter Seminar.

The New Jersey Chapter continued its emphasis on continuing education for tax executives with an outstanding line-up of national and regional speakers at its February 24 Winter Seminar held at the Hyatt Morristown. This was the chapter's second full-day meeting of the season. The meeting, co-presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, was well attended, drawing a crowd of nearly 150 tax executives. The guest list included Timothy McCormally, Executive Director of TEI.

The seminar featured concurrent sessions on federal, international, state, and local topics in an open-registration format. PricewaterhouseCoopers provided an impressive array of speakers, including Don Longano from its Washington National office (Federal Legislative Update); Anthony Curtis from the New York office (Transfer Pricing); Christine Turgeon from the New York office (Accounting Methods); Michael W. Ho from the New York office (Tax Considerations-China); and Jack Rothstein and Leonard DiMeglio from the Florham Park office (State Taxation).

Other speakers included Michael A. Guariglia and David J. Shipley (McCarter & English), Marc M. Levey (Baker & McKenzie), Craig Fields and Mitchell Newmark (Morrison & Foerster), Jack Miles (Kelley, Drye & Warren), P. Michael Baldasaro (Ernst & Young), Pam Beckey (Deloitte & Touche), Fred James and Hernan Stigliano (KPMG), and Molly Delafield (Thomson/Insource).

During the luncheon, the Chapter presented a total of $8,000 in scholarship awards to talented New Jersey students pursuing studies in taxation. The recipients were as follows: Dawn Ustica, Fairleigh Dickinson University Graduate School of Business; Donna Wiseman-Allen, Rutgers University Graduate School of Business; Noorus

S. Khan, William Paterson University; and Christina Gray and Alice Staszewski, Ramapo College. The chapter congratulates its award recipients for their success.

Speaking during the luncheon were Robert Linaberry, PricewaterhouseCoopers New Jersey Partner in Charge of Tax, Timothy McCormally, Executive Director of TEI, and Mitchell Solomowitz, Chapter President.

Half-Day Seminars Continue

The chapter continues to hold half-day seminars at a nominal fee to its members.

On January 16, the chapter and Grant Thornton LLP co-presented "Advanced FAS 109," a half-day, single-topic session tailored to tax professionals with more experience and a deeper understanding of FAS 109. Jack Feeney, a partner at Grant Thornton, provided the instruction.

On March 23, the chapter and Grant Thornton LLP co-presented a State and Local Tax Seminar on related party addbacks. The session was held at Grant Thornton's Edison office. Frank Schaefer, an executive director at the firm, was the instructor.

Spring Seminar, Regional Conference Planned

On Friday, May 12, 2006, the New Jersey Chapter and Ernst & Young LLP will usher in the spring season as Ernst & Young co-presents the chapter's Spring Seminar at the Hyatt Morristown. The meeting, the Chapter's last full day seminar of the season, promises to be a stimulating session. Mitch Solomowitz, Chapter President, expects a large turnout: "Our May meeting is usually well-attended; and we look forward to working with Ernst & Young on this important meeting."

On June 12-13, TEI Region II will hold its Regional Tax Forum 2006, co-sponsored by KPMG LLP and McCarter & English LLP, at the Borgata Hotel in Atlantic City. The two-day program for tax executives will provide a high level overview of current tax developments and legislative changes. Anthony Bernice, Vice President-Region II, expects attendance to be high. The Regional Tax Forum will offer a unique opportunity for tax executives to keep current and network at one of New Jersey's premier resort locations.