STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1918

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    GOV. MSG. NOS. 569, 684

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing, to which was referred Governor's Message Nos. 569 and 684, submitting for study and consideration the nominations of: 

 

State Board of Public Accountancy

 

G.M. No. 569

DOREEN LILLY GRIFFITH,

for a term to expire 6-30-2011; and

 

G.M. No. 684

WILLIAM L. WONG,

for a term to expire 6-30-2009,

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     Upon review of the background information submitted by the nominee, Doreen Lilly Griffith, your Committee finds that Ms. Griffith is a managing partner with the Honolulu Office of Grant Thornton LLP, a global accounting, tax, and business advisory organization.  She is the first female managing partner of a national certified public accountant firm in Honolulu.  Prior to joining Grant Thornton LLP, Ms. Griffith was a senior tax manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP in Virginia.  Ms. Griffith is active in numerous professional and community organization.

 

     Testimony in support of Ms. Griffith was submitted by the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the Hawaii Credit Union League, and three individuals.  Comments were submitted by the Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants and one individual. 

     Your Committee finds that Ms. Griffith's many years of experience will make her a key component of the Board of Public Accountancy.

 

     Upon review of the background information submitted by the nominee, William L. Wong, your Committee finds that Mr. Wong is the president and sole owner of William L. Wong CPA & Associates, Inc., a financial and tax consulting firm in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  Mr. Wong graduated from the University of Hawaii with a degree in finance and attended the University of Hawaii's Graduate School of Business.  Throughout the years, Mr. Wong has won numerous accolades, including being named the national winner of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Accountant Advocate of the Year for 1999.

 

     Testimony in support of Mr. Wong was submitted by two individuals.  Comments were submitted by the Maui Chapter of the Hawaii Association of Public Accountants.

 

     Your Committee finds that Mr. Wong's knowledge and experience will serve him well as a member of the Board of Public Accountancy.

 

     Your Committee would like to note that the comments submitted as to both Ms. Griffith and Mr. Wong did not reflect upon the nominees personally, but raised the issue as to the lack of a Maui representative on the Board.

 

     As affirmed by the records of votes of the members of your Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing that are attached to this report, your Committee, after full consideration of the background, experience, and qualifications of the nominees, has found the nominees to be qualified for the positions to which nominated and recommends that the Senate advise and consent to the nominations.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Commerce, Consumer Protection, and Affordable Housing,

 

 

 

____________________________

BRIAN T. TANIGUCHI, Chair