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Former town councillor named for prestigious award

A former town councillor and top executive of an Okotoks-based, national transportation company has received one of his profession’s top honours for his corporate and community work.

A former town councillor and top executive of an Okotoks-based, national transportation company has received one of his profession’s top honours for his corporate and community work.

Stephen Clark was named a Fellow of Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA), an exclusive roster of members of the profession. He is the chief financial officer for Okotoks-based Mullen Group and he served two terms on town council from 2007 to 2013.

Clark said it’s an honour because it’s bestowed by his peers in the industry as recognition for years of work in the field.

“It’s very humbling that they concluded that I deserve such an honour,” said Clark.

The association hands out awards in four areas – lifetime achievement, distinguished achievement, early achievement and fellows of the Chartered Professional Accountants. Clark is one of 33 people being honoured by CPA Alberta this year.

He said there are three criteria to earn the fellowship – winners need to excel within their career and the profession, they need to further the profession in some way and show leadership and volunteer in their community.

Clark has been in the accounting profession for close to 30 years. He graduated university with a bachelor degree in economics and entered the accounting profession in the late 1980s. He received his designation as a CPA in 1992. Clark began working for a Mullen Group subsidiary and worked his way up to his current position.

“I’ve spent most of my career at Mullen,” he said. “It’s been 20 years here.”

Clark said a background in economics provided a firm base as he started his career.

“I think that having a degree in economics, it’s all about data,” he said. “What’s interesting about accountancy is you’re collecting all the data from within a firm and then you have to interpret it and look forward. I think that’s where I excelled is looking forward and using those analytics.”

It’s a long road from his first job at an accounting firm 30 years ago, said Clark, but in that time he’s always tried to keep an eye to the future.

“My degree in economics and training as an accountant has allowed me to excel in my profession,” he said “Most accountants look backwards, count the numbers and present what has happened. I have always had the ability to use that information and look forward and anticipate what is going to happen.”

Officials with the Mullen Group say Clark deserves the award for his work and community service.

CEO Murray Mullen gave his support for Clark’s nomination as a fellow. He said the fellow designation is a rare award and Clark is a deserving recipient.

He said Clark distinguished himself when he first began working with his company and has since become an asset for the business.

“It was an easy decision on my part to challenge him with new opportunities in our expanding corporate office including his current role as CFO of Mullen,” said Mullen. “He has never led many initiatives in our organization and has been a tremendous asset to myself over the years.”

Phil Scherman, Mullen Group audit committee chairman, said Clark represents the profession well and he is passionately involved in the community.

“His tremendous contribution to the community makes him a very eligible recipient for recognition as a fellow,” he said.

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