NABA Mission

The mission of the National Association of Black Accountants, Inc. is to address the professional needs of its members and to build leaders that shape the future of the accounting and finance professions with an unfaltering commitment to inspire the same in the successors.

NABA History

In December 1969, nine African-Americans met in New York City to discuss the unique challenges and limited opportunities they faced in the accounting profession. In that year, there were only 136 African-American Certified Public Accountants (CPA’s) out of a total of 100,000 in the United States.

This group wanted to establish an organization to address the concerns of minorities entering the accounting profession and to make a commitment to professional and academic excellence. The following nine individuals who met that month were determined to “make a difference” and let their voices be heard.

Ronald Benjamin Frank Ross Kenneth Drummond

Earl Biggot Richard McNamee George Wallace

Bertram Gibson Michael Winston Donald Bristow

In 1970 NABA chartered its first professional chapter, located in New York City. From these humble beginnings, NABA has become a nationwide membership organization.

The goals of the Association include, but are not limited to, the following:

• To represent the interests of current and prospective minority accounting professionals;
• To encourage and assist minority students in entering the accounting profession;
• To promote and develop the professional skills of our members;
• To provide opportunities for members to fulfill their civic responsibility; and
• To ensure long-term financial stability and provide adequate resources to implement chapter, regional, and national programs.

The national and local programs offered are designed to support the overall goals and objectives of the Association. These programs provide support to, and create opportunities for, professionals and students seeking levels of accomplishment in the fields of accounting and finance.

Today, through the efforts of NABA and other interested groups, there are now over 200,000 African-Americans participating in the field of accounting, of which over 5,000 are CPAs. As a leader in the business community, NABA continues to create opportunities for the purpose of enlarging the pipeline of African-Americans into every level of accounting and finance.

Houston Chapter

The Houston Chapter started in 1970 as the Houston Metropolitan Accountants (HMA). The initial meeting of HMA was held in the basement of Texas Southern University, under the leadership of Chad Brown, the first chapter president and one of the five black CPAs of the time. The group was drawn together by a mutual desire to enhance the professional status of blacks in accounting. The concerns of these “pioneers” were:

• The increasing number of accounting graduates, who were assuming clerical positions
• The small number of blacks in public accounting
• The small number of blacks sitting for the CPA examination

Through the efforts of Vera Jackson, HMA was introduced to the National Association of Black Accountants. Houston was proud to have Johnny Brown to be the first person to represent the chapter at the national convention in 1971. Johnny later became the first National Vice President of the Southern Region.

Dedicated to the purpose for which NABA stands, the Houston Chapter had undertaken a broad range of projects, some of which include:

• Publication of articles on accounting related subjects
• Free income tax assistance to low income taxpayers
• Establishment of a speakers’ bureau
• Accounting resources to support the UNCF telethon and walk-a-thon
• Assistance with administering the Uniform CPA Examination
• An “Income Tax Tips” program for local radio broadcasting
• Administering the annual Toys-for-Tots program for disadvantaged children
• Participation in high school career day programs
• Sponsoring an Annual Awards Dinner to recognize individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Houston community and to the accounting profession
• Establishment and administration of a scholarship fund for high school and college-level accounting and business students
• Formation of student chapters at Texas Southern University, University of Houston, Prairie View A&M University, Texas A&M University, Lamar and Sam Houston State University.

The Houston Chapter hosted the 1975, 1981, 1994, and 2010 National Conventions and 1986, 1990, 1991, 1997, 2000, 2006, 2007, 2012, and 2013 Western Region Student Conferences.