TTE_JA09_LTM - Tax Executives Institute, Inc.

TEI International PresidentNeil D. TraubenbergYes, We Can: Maintaining Preeminencein an Evolving EconomyWhen Vince Alicandri installed me as Tax Executives Institute’s2009-2010 International President in early August,the wiseacre in me prompted two quips:“Let me start by thanking the members of the Academy and the ForeignPress who voted for me . . . .”“Today, I am a man . . . .”Even then, I was not done cracking wise: “I am not going to use theline about having big shoes to fill in succeeding Vince, because I probablyhave the biggest shoes of any TEI President already.”But, of course, I did use the line because, like many people, I havea tendency to use humor to relieve the tension that often comeswith serious times and serious events. Becoming TEI’s president isone such time. Even in the best economic times, it would be daunting(and humbling) to lead a group as storied and successful as TaxExecutives Institute has been for 65 years. But given the seriousnessof our current economic environment and what it means forour country, the business community, and the Institute, the desireto keep things in perspective (by humor or otherwise) cannot beoverstated.Heartfelt Thanks to My PredecessorJoking aside, I want to express my appreciation for the opportunityto serve as TEI president. I also want to express my gratitude forthe leadership and vision of my predecessor, Vince Alicandri of theToronto Chapter. I cannot quantify how much I learned from Vincethis past year, but I will be a better president (and, indeed, a bettertax executive) because I was able to observe and learn from hisdemeanor and approach as he led TEI. If you want to find Vince’spicture in the dictionary, look up the word “class.” Vince is a truegentleman as evidenced by the way he comports himself, the wayhe speaks, the way he acts.When Vince Alicandri became president a year ago, none of usrealized the tremendous challenges that TEI would face in light ofthe global fiscal turmoil. Vince guided the Institute through thosechallenges — decreased attendance at our educational programs,a reduction in investment and sponsorship revenue, and a dip inmembership — with a steady hand and an unwavering commitmentto the organization. There were tough decisions to be made,and he made them fairly and resolutely. TEI could not have beenbetter represented than it was this past year. I thank him for his serviceto TEI, for his guidance and counsel, and for his friendship.I also owe a debt of gratitude to innumerable others who havesupported me and guided me throughout my tax career and myTEI experience. Special thanks belong to my colleagues at Sun Microsystemsand especially to my wife, Joan, and my children, Sethand Lauren, and their families.Multiple Sources of PrideTEI describes itself as the preeminent association of business taxexecutives. The description is apt because in my view TEI standshead and shoulders above other organizations, not only becauseof the quality of our members but because of the importance andquality of its work. I am proud to have been associated with TEI foralmost 30 years, and am especially proud of how it has grown froman exclusively North American organization to one that is worldwidein its membership and activities. To be sure, the bulk of ourmembership work in the United States, but our ever-increasing activitiesin Canada, in Europe, and in Asia confirm our preeminenceevery single day.TEI’s place at the table with the Treasury Department and the InternalRevenue Service is well-earned and secure, but the same canconfidently be said of our role with Canada Revenue Agency, theCanadian Department of Finance, the Organisation for EconomicCo-Operation and Development, and the European Union, as wellas the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the InternationalAccounting Standards Board. Our re-emergence as a key player instate and local, as well as provincial, tax matters is a further sourceof pride.The reasons for my pride — the reasons I gladly and willinglyaccept the honor of leading this organization for the coming year —are multifold. They include the Institute’s leaders past, present, andto come. To be sure, they include Vince Alicandri and his (now, our)predecessors as International President. But they also include chapterleaders, committee and task force chairs, Executive Committeecolleagues, moderators and panelists at TEI educational programs,and the fellow members who selflessly give of their time to build upthe TEI network, contribute to the Institute’s technical and educationalactivities, and hence make TEI a more effective organization.Please note that I used the present tense in the foregoing paragraph.That’s extremely important because a primary source of pride is thevery culture of TEI — it’s DNA, if you will — that prompts so manypeople, year after year, to step up and get involved. Hence, I want toacknowledge the current Leadership Team including Paul O’Connor,David Penney, and Carita Twinem, other members of the ExecutiveCommittee, the Board, Institute Committee Chairs, and everyonewho’s serving at the chapter level. Finally, I would be remiss if I did250The Tax ExecutiveTTE_JA09.indd 2509/8/09 11:58:03 AM