From now through October 15th, America will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. The diverse collection of Hispanic nations & cultures spans across three continents and dozens of countries; From Spain, to Central & South America, to many Caribbean islands, there are millions of people who share common roots, but have their own customs and traditions that represent their Hispanic identity. In America, the formal commemoration of Hispanic heritage was established in 1968. This month, Bowman would like to highlight some of the most notable and lasting contributions to our industry by an important Hispanic American leader.
During the civil rights era, many influential people successfully founded labor organizations to help advance the careers of minority groups. 52 years ago, the first Latino-based professional association in the United States was founded as the American Association of Spanish Speaking CPAs. Today, it is known as the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA). Its founder, Gilbert R. Vasquez, has a long history of outstanding professional success and community leadership: he has been honored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, the Northeast Chapter of the American Red Cross, California State University of Los Angeles, the ALPFA, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, and has served as a President of the California Board of Accountancy and the Managing Partner of his own firm.
As a result of the growth of Mr. Vasquez’s own firm and of his expansion of the ALPFA, large federal contracts were beginning to be secured by Mr. Vasquez and his fellow Latino CPAs by 1977. Over the years, Vasquez & Company LLP improved on their success in the public sector by expanding their services to consulting, tax, employee benefit plans, Information Technology, and more within the private sector. As he became a national figure in accounting & a symbol of advocacy, he also became a mentor & educator to thousands of students through his positions in universities and dozens of nonprofits.
Today, the ALPFA is over 100,000 members strong; a tremendous realization of the potential of Hispanic professionals and CPAs, largely due to the efforts and vision of Mr. Vasquez. Visibility of Hispanic Americans within the industry, accessibility to the combined experience of thousands of Hispanic CPAs, and unified vocal advocacy are all extremely beneficial instruments for Hipanic Americans that have a passion for accounting. The story of the ALPFA – and the leaders that have fostered its development for over 50 years – is inspiring not just to Hispanic Americans or accountants, but for anyone that doesn’t want their ethnic or cultural identity to define the limits of their professional value.
By establishing strong relationships within the industry, becoming experts in both public and private sectors, and by investing in the education, he was able to make a tremendous and ongoing positive impact. Through these exact same methods, Bowman and Company LLP shares common goals to create change.