Keith M. Crass of Crass & Smith, P.A. has been selected to receive the 2007 ASCPA Mac Angel Discussion Leader of the Year Award.

This prestigious honor is awarded each year to a continuing education course discussion leader who received the highest average evaluations in the previous year. In order to qualify for the award the discussion leader must have taught at least eight hours during the year, and the course(s) taught must have been sponsored by the ASCPA.

Keith M. Crass, CPA, CVA is the managing partner of Crass & Smith, P.A. in Hot Springs, Arkansas. A graduate of Arkansas State University, he has served as an adjunct faculty member for Garland County Community College and the University of the Ozarks. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Arkansas Society of Certified Public Accountants and the National Association of Certified Valuation Analysts. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the both the ASU Alumni Association and the Hot Springs Country Club.

Keith has over 26 years experience in public accounting, and is a frequent speaker for business organizations. He has also written and presented ethics related continuing education courses for the ASCPA, Fortune 500 companies, national and regional CPA firms, and other professional associations. As a Certified Valuation Analyst, he also performs business valuation and litigation support services.

Keith served as the Chair of the ASCPA Professional Ethics Committee for 11 years, and in that capacity has been active in helping members understand and adhere to the Code of Professional Conduct. He has a keen interest in the promotion of professional ethics and has actively represented the ASCPA at the national level on ethics issues. Keith has also served as the National Key Person Coordinator for the Arkansas Society of CPAs and is currently serving as President.

In July, 1995, the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Society of CPAs voted to rename the Arkansas Society of CPAs Discussion Leader of the Year Award in honor of C.M. "Mac" Angel, in recognition and appreciation for his contributions to the ASCPA CPE Program.

The Arkansas Society of CPAs C.M. "Mac" Angel Discussion Leader of the Year Award is presented to continuing education course discussion leaders receiving the highest average evaluations in a given year. In order to qualify for the award, the discussion leader must have taught at least eight hours during the year; the course(s) taught must have been sponsored by the Arkansas Society of CPAs; and the discussion leader must be a member of the ASCPA or a resident of Arkansas who assists the ASCPA.

Discussion Leaders who have been recognized as the

Outstanding Discussion Leaders of the Year are: