Name: A. Rief Kanan
Title: Director, The Business Institute
Academic Rank: Lecturer
Department: School of Business
Expertise Keywords: accounting, Auditing, balanced scorecard, board development, board of advisers, board of directors, budgeting, budgets, business coach, Business planning, business strategy, capital campaign, CGMA, Chartered Global Management Accountant, cost accounting, CPA, CPA Exam, CPA Exam preparation, executive coach, executive coach, Executive development/coaching, Forensic accounting, Forensic financial analysis and litigation support, Fundraising, General financial reporting, management accounting, Meeting facilitation, not for profit organizations, professional coach, SEC reporting, standard costs, Strategic planning, Team building
Available For: interviews, essays, speaking
Expertise: Thirty-nine years of professional management, leadership, financial management and facilitation experience including ownership, consulting or employment in small (under $5 million) through very large (Fortune 500) companies. Practice areas have included private, public and not-for-profit entities as well as educational activities at the university, professional and corporate levels with over seventeen years devoted to executive coaching and facilitation.
Currrent Research: Applied efforts in executive development, coaching, team building, "the role of the CEO" and financial reporting by publicly held corporations. Forensic and valuation services, including litigation support. Personal responsibility and accountability. Ethics.
Contact Information
Office Phone: 845-257-2936
E-mail Address: kananr@newpaltz.edu
Home Phone: 845-255-5495
Personal Web Site: http://www.newpaltz.edu/~kananr/
Other Information
Positions held prior to joining SUNY New Paltz:
1997 - present: Vistage International, San Diego, CA, Group Chairman
-Assemble boards of company CEOs and Presidents to act upon business and personal issues. My mission is to "improve the effectiveness and enhance the lives of CEOs".
-Facilitate day-long monthly meetings from eight to eighteen CEOs and company Presidents to ensure effective sessions.
-Conduct monthly one-to-one meetings with the participating executives to identify and frame topics and issues to be presented at the monthly meetings.
-Facilitate and orchestrate effective communication among the participating executives.
-Facilitate planning sessions and retreats for member companies and others on a consulting basis.
1998 - present: SUNY New Paltz New Paltz, NY, Director of The Business Institute of the School of Business
-Conduct continuing professional education seminars.
-Design and begin the implementation of Executive Roundtables.
-Promote and coordinate consulting and service activities of the School of Business faculty.
-Lecturer in Accounting.
-Prepare and present coursework for upper division accounting courses.
-Past Member of the Executive Council of the School of Business. Past Member of the University Organization Committee. Member of the Faculty Development Committee of the School of Business.
1983 - 1997: Kanan's Plaza, Inc. Middletown, NY, President and CEO
-Owner of TV & Appliance Express, Inc. Retailer of electronics, home appliances and furniture.
-Town of Wallkill, NY: Owner of Kanan's Furniture. Retailer of fine designer furniture.
-Middletown, NY: Owner of North End Sales, Inc. Discount retailer of furniture, appliances, electronics, carpeting and housewares.
-Middletown and Port Jervis, NY: Owner of Designers' Choice Fine Furniture.
-Wappingers Falls, NY: Real estate development. Dunning Farms Shopping Center.
-Town of Wallkill, NY: Several commercial properties in and around Middletown, NY.
1981 - 1984: Moore-McCormack Resources, Inc. Stamford, CT, Director of Internal Auditing
-Manage the internal auditing function for this former Fortune 500 diversified company.
-Hire, train and lead the activities of a department of 10 professionals, including Information Technology auditing.
-Implement asset risk and inherent risk analysis processes for managing limited resources.
1976 - 1981: Arthur Young & Co. (now Ernst & Young) Stamford, CT, Audit Manager
-Client service manager for this "Big 8" (now "Big 4") CPA firm.
-Office Director of Education.
-Scheduled, acquired and lead office training seminars.
Education
| Colleges/ Universities Attended |
Dates Attended |
Degree Conferred |
Year Conferred |
Major Subject |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syracuse University | 1975 - 1976 | MS | 1976 | Accounting |
| Bryant College | 1971 - 1975 | BS | 1975 | Business Administration |
| Yale School of Org & Mgt | 1984 - 1984 | Certificate in Adv Mgt Studies | 1984 | Advanced Management Studies |
Awards/Grants/Honors
Dr. Emanuel Saxe Outstanding CPA in Education Award, 2014. Presented by the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants to recognize outstanding service and professional development in education. The award is designed to recognize accounting educators for distinguished service and excellence in teaching and for their contribution to and promotion of the accounting profession.
Other professional activities
I consult on executive development, personal continuous improvement, strategic planning and general business matters with over 30 organizations. In addition, The Business Institute of the School of Business engages with businesses, students and faculty in and outside the region on various consulting levels.
Organizational Memberships
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Licensed in New York. New York State Society of CPAs: Past Member of Professional Ethics Committee. Past Member of Financial Accounting Standards and Auditing Standards Committees. Member of the Executive board of the Mid-Hudson Chapter, Chairman of Cooperation with Education Committee, Host and Past Chairman of Career Opportunities in the Accounting Profession (COAP) Board. 2014-2015 Mid Hudson Chapter Treasurer.
American Institute of CPAs: Campus Champion and Mentor of college students who are CPA candidates.
Publications
"The Dreaded Question: How do you find the hidden assets?", December 1, 2012, The Family Lawyer Magazine, http://www.familylawyermagazine.com/articles/find-hidden-assets.
"The Impact of Offering Forensic and Valuation Services (including fraud examination services) on the Financial Performance of CPA Firms other than Big Four Firms Since 1999." Presentation to the 5th Annual Financial Services Symposium at St. John’s University (September 9 – 11, 2010).
"The Design, Creation, Establishment and Operation of an Entity to Deliver Services to the Business Community and Enhance the Furtherance Activities of the School of Business: The Business Institute." Presentation to the Teaching and Learning Conference at the International Business and Economics Research and Teaching Conference (January 3 – 7, 2005).
Respondent to Briefing Paper No. 2 - "Computerizing the Uniform CPA Examination"
