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March 29, 2008
DEJONGH NAMES THREE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS PUBLIC ACCOUNTANCY BOARD Governor John P. deJongh Jr. has nominated three Certified Public Accountants to serve on the Virgin Islands Board of Public Accountancy. DeJongh nominated Janice V. Hodge, Francisco E. Depusoir and Leslie A. Smith to fill vacancies on the board. In a transmittal letter to Senate President Usie Richards on, deJongh explained that Hodge will replace Roy D. Jackson whose term has expired; Depusoir will replace Pablo O’Neill whose term has also expired and Smith fills a vacancy on the board. Members to the Public Accountancy Board serve a three-year term and continue to serve until their successors are named and confirmed by the Legislature. "The importance of financial integrity and accountability is not an objective that we can minimize or understate in either the private or public sector. Therefore, the need for an active board of highly qualified and commitment individuals to build the local industry and ensure our adherence to federal requirements and generally accepted accounting principles is important." DeJongh said the need to build local capacity and training in this field is long overdue and he is confident these nominees will lead the effort towards achieving those objectives. A 1986 graduate of the Charlotte Amalie High School, Janice Hodge is the owner of the accounting firm, Benham and Hodge, PC. She holds membership on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; The Virgin Islands Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Government Finance Officers Association. In 2000, Hodge received the Woman of Achievement award from the Business and Professional Women’s Organization. Hodge holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting and Business Management from Point Park University. Janice, the mother of an 11-year-old son, is active in her church and presently serves as Congregational Accountant for the four Methodist churches in the St. Thomas - St. John district. She spearheads the Youth Ministry at the 6:30 a.m. Sunday Service. Francisco Depusoir is a career accountant having worked for companies including Grant Thornton and Andres Esberg and Company before opening his own accounting firm, Francisco Depusoir, CPA, on St. Croix in 1990. Depusoir holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the then College of the Virgin Islands and a Master’s Degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Depusoir, licensed in both the state of Florida and in the Virgin Islands, has also served as an Associate Professor of Accounting at the University of the Virgin Islands. An active member of the St. Croix community, Depusoir holds membership on the Mid Isle Rotary Club and is a past president of the Virgin Islands Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is also a member of the Boy Scouts of America, St. Croix Benjamin Foundation Scholarship Program, Inc. and Virgin Islands Resource Capital, LLC. St. John resident Leslie Smith brings over 25 years of national and international auditing experience to the V.I. Public Accountancy Board. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from Roger Williams College in Rhode Island. Smith presently serves as Audit Manager at the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority, a position he has held since 1995. In the late 1970’s he served as a Staff Auditor for the Virgin Islands Government. He has also held positions including: Senior Auditor for the U.S. Army Audit Agency in San Antonio, Texas; Auditor in Charge, Inspector General’s office on St. Thomas. Smith holds membership on the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants; Virgin Islands Society of Certified Public Accountants; Institute of Internal Auditors; Association of Certified Fraud Examiners; Association of Government Accountants and on the Information System Audit and Control Association. An active member of the St. John community, Smith serves on the St. John Community Foundation, St. John Community Crisis Center and works with the Eudora Kean High School Steel Orchestra. DeJongh has asked the 27th Legislature for its prompt and favorable consideration of the three nominees which he said would "enhance the Board’s ability to meet its busy agenda and serve the people of the Virgin Islands.” |
