May, Zima & Company CPAs,
Atlanta, Georgia
Certified Public Accountants
January, 1982 to May, 1986
Headquartered out of Daytona,
Florida, Carlton worked in the
Buckhead, GA offices at
Piedmont Center. As a staff accountant, senior accountant, and
supervisor, Carlton assumed a wide variety of responsibilities
including accounting, auditing and tax work in the areas of
health care, construction, distribution, automobile
dealerships, insurance, manufacturing, and general business.
His tax experience includes corporate, individual,
partnership, fiduciary, and estate tax planning work.
From 1983 to 1985 Carlton was
heavily involved in the other areas of financial forecasts,
bond issues, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, conventional
financing, pension and profit sharing plans, and business
planning. Specifically, Carlton worked on the financing of
approximately two billion dollars worth of bond issues. The
majority of these bond issues were floated to finance the
construction of nursing home and retirement centers. However,
other projects included the financing of a kidney dialysis
facilities, hotels, restaurants, and a gun manufacturer, to
name a few. Carlton's role was to conduct the field work
across the United States by physically inspecting the site of
each proposed project, conducting various demographic
procedures in order to determine the need for the proposed
project, gathering competitive information, and evaluating the
political climate or any local opposition for conditions that
might adversely affect the success of the project. Back at the
office, Carlton prepared the five year forecast financial
statements based on the most likely assumptions (as determined
in the field work). These forecast financial statements were
included in the IPO for each financing. Carlton also conducted
audits, reviews and compilations of various companies
including several automobile dealerships, construction
companies, and manufacturing concerns. May Zima was purchased
by Arthur Young in 1985 (now
Ernst &
Young).
Prior to 1981
Carlton has worked many jobs beginning
with a paper route for
The Brunswick
News in 1968 (5 years), mowing lawns and washing
windows, bagging groceries at Winn Dixie, errand boy for a
Brunswick law Firm, bus boy and waiter at the
Sea Island Cloister
and Blanche's Courtyard, working shut downs at the Brunswick
Pulp Mill as a pipe fitter, and building houses for Mr.
Brooks. Altogether our crew of approximately five guys built
more than 10 expensive houses on Sea Island from the ground
up - including the week in which we started construction on
a house on the wrong piece of property. In 1980 Carlton
worked for ITT Rayonier
as an intern in the internal auditing department - most of
which was spent in the tourist destination of Jesup,
Georgia.
One of Carlton's most unique
jobs was with the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLTEC) located
in Brunswick, Georgia where for two years, Carlton was an
actor who played the role of a criminal in a training
exercise. Law enforcement agents from around the country
(police officers, border patrol guards, FBI agents, etc.)
would practice pursuing and capturing Carlton and his fellow
actors for practice. These scenarios featured real guns and
equipment (loaded with blanks of course) and were staged in
a small city - which was converted from the old Brunswick
naval base. After this experience, Carlton recommends that
if you are ever stopped by a police officer for speeding,
keep your hands in clear sight and don't make any sudden
moves, some of the law enforcement officers Carlton
encountered tended to get carried away.
Education:
University of Georgia,
Athens, Georgia Class of 1981
Carlton attended the
University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia and received a
BBA degree in accounting. As a freshman, Carlton was
inducted into the Phi
Eta Sigma Honor Society - an organization open only to
Freshman men who make Dean's List. Carlton was then elected
President of Phi Eta Sigma and served the following year as
the University of Georgia hosted the National Phi Eta Sigma
convention in Athens, Georgia. Carlton became the first
President in the History of Phi Eta Sigma to induct a female
into the Society (Mrs. Nuwantny who had served the
organization for many years). Carlton memorized the entire
lengthy ceremony for the special occasion.
As a Sophomore, Carlton was
inducted into the BIFTAD Honor Society, considered by the
Society to be the highest honor a sophomore student can
achieve at the University of Georgia. Carlton joined the
Pandora Year Book Staff as a photographer. Carlton served for
three years in the Defender/Advocate Society - the University
of Georgia judicial system for prosecuting and defending
students who have violated University rules. For three years
Carlton both defended and prosecuted students who were accused
of cheating on tests, stealing, damaging University property,
drinking under age, using drugs, or breaking the law. One case
included the death of another student.
Carlton is a member of the
Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
For three years, Carlton served as social chairman where it
was his responsibility to plan social gatherings, meeting with
the sororities to schedule the locations, times, and themes
for each event. Carlton was responsible for various details
such as securing bands, providing refreshments, and ensuring
that the social gatherings were successful. Sad note: The ATO
fraternity on the UGA campus was closed down in the Spring of
2000 due to hazing violations which resulted in the death of a
student (Ben
Grantham of Saint Simons Island). Ben was from my home
town.
Glynn
Academy High School, Brunswick, Georgia - Class of 1977
In high school, Carlton distinguished himself as Senior
Class President and class valedictorian (one of five) in a
school which had 2,200 students. Carlton served as a member
of the student council for six consecutive years (beginning
with seventh grade). Carlton presided as the masters of
ceremony in the 1977 talent show. Carlton represented his
high school at student council camps in
Rock Eagle and Berry
College in both his junior and senior year during the
annual student council workshops. Because of his artistic
ability, Carlton was almost always responsible for creating
posters for school events, designing some of the floats used
at homecoming, and preparing handouts for various events.
Carlton represented the high school club "Future Business
leaders of America" in an artistic competition in 1976 and
won second in the State of Georgia. Today, six giant murals
which Carlton helped paint can be seen in the lobby of the
Glynn Academy main building.
Carlton applied to, and was
accepted into the United States Naval Academy, in 1976 as one
of only two nominees accepted from the State of Georgia each
year. Unfortunately, Carlton was a year younger than his
classmates. He was only sixteen years old when he earned the
Navel Academy nomination and the rules state that candidates
must be seventeen. Carlton was asked to sit out a year and to
enter the Naval Academy the following year. Instead of
waiting, Carlton selected to pursue a career in accounting
through the University of Georgia. Carlton later reflected on
this turn of events as being "perhaps the most significant
decision in my life".
Professional Service:
AICPA
Microcomputer Conference
Carlton has been a speaker at the
AICPA Microcomputer Conference continuously since 1989 -
except for 1994 when the birth of his daughter conflicted
with the speaking engagement (thanks to Wayne H. & Taylor
M. for filling in). Carlton served as a member of the
AICPA Microcomputer Conference Committee for five years .
Carlton was the Chairman of the 1990 AICPA Microcomputer
Conference & Exhibition. As chairman, the conference
achieved its highest attendance in years. Carlton arranged
for Lotus Development Corporation to give $90,000 worth of
Lotus product away to CPAs attending the conference.
Georgia Society of CPAs
PC Advisory Committee
Carlton served on the PC Advisory Committee for three years
(1985 to 1987). He served as Chairman of that Committee for
two years (1896 and 1987). Under Carlton's direction as
Chairman, the PC Advisory Committee upgraded its
microcomputer training lab with twelve of the latest IBM
computer systems (386 16mhz PS/2 model 70s) making the
Georgia Society one of only four State CPA Societies to
offer hands on training to its members at that time. The PC
Advisory Committee also established a software library,
sponsored many PC based educational seminars, and formed the
PC Consultant's Group of Atlanta. Carlton also pioneered new
territory with the creation of the Georgia Society of CPAs
National Microcomputer Consulting Certificate program - one
of only two states to this day that has ever offered a
certificate of achievement program in microcomputer
education.
PC Consultant's Group
of Atlanta
Founded by Carlton in 1987, the PC Consultant's Group of
Atlanta consisted of approximately 300 members who met
monthly to discuss the installation of accounting software.
Carlton served as President of that organization for five
years, coordinating monthly speakers from software companies
such as Novell, Lotus Development, and Microsoft. The
meetings often featured live software presentations followed
by software giveaways. Each meeting concluded with a fifteen
minute open forum where members consulted with members in an
effort to solve their accounting software problems.
Effective for 2002, carlton has resurrected this
organization.
The National
Association of CPA Software Consultants, Inc.
In 1991, Carlton help found the National Association of CPA
Software Consultants, Inc. (NACSC, Inc.) an organization
which distributes software through value-added CPA
resellers. Until 1995, this organization was primarily
responsible for selling Lotus 1-2-3 product at discounted
prices directly to the CPA channel.
AICPA MCS Microcomputer
Subcommittee
As a member of this committee for two years, Carlton worked
with other committee members to draft practice aides for
modem communications, spreadsheet standards, local area
networking, and other technology issues.
AICPA MCS Public
Relations and Steering Committee
This newly formed committee solicited committee members on
an "invitation only" basis. For two years, Carlton has
served on this committee in an effort to grow the MCS
division. Carlton brainstormed and filmed an amateur AICPA
television commercial which later evolved into the AICPAs
"never underestimate the value" advertising campaign.
Consulting Experience:
Implementing Accounting
Systems & ERP Solutions
Mr. Collins has conducted over 200 accounting system & ERP
installation engagements. These engagements typically
involved analyzing the client's needs; identifying,
evaluating and selecting and appropriate solution;
negotiating purchase price and reseller contracts; selecting
the appropriate hardware; implementing the new system;
establishing beginning trial balances and transactions;
training users; creating and modifying financial reports;
and supporting these ongoing accounting systems.
Approximately 10% of the engagements involved large business
ranging from $100 million to $40 billion in revenue; 60%
involved medium sized companies with $10 to $100 million in
revenue; and the remaining 30% involved smaller companies
with revenues less than $10 million.
Some of the clients Carlton has
served include automobile dealerships, churches, non-profit
institutions, government agencies, restaurants, beauty shops,
chemical companies, utilities, home furnishings, process
manufacturers, restaurants, construction companies, discrete
manufacturers, printing, engineers, property management,
nursing homes, boat marina, liquor stores, museums, CPA firms,
law firms, insurance companies, and more. Some of the
technology platforms Carlton has work with include Windows XP,
LINUX, OS/400, Oracle, DOS, Novell, Windows NT, Unix,
operating on IBM, SUN, COMPAQ, HP, DELL equipment.
Author &
Publishing in Magazines & Newsletters:
Carlton has authored and
published many articles related to the topic of accounting
software. A few of these articles are listed below:
Breaking Symphony's Password
Encryption, Symphony User's Journal, 1984
How to Make a Success of Software Consulting,
Journal of
Accountancy, June 1991, Page 75
Leading Ledgers - Accounting Software Packages: which ones add
up? LAN Magazine, October 1990,
Page 107
Sum and then Some, LAN Magazine, November 1991, Page 97
Selecting the Right Accounting Software Package,
Journal of
Accountancy August 1999, Page 61
Selecting the Right Accounting Software Package,
Journal of
Accountancy Sept 1999, Page 61
Selecting the Right Accounting Software Package,
Journal of
Accountancy October 1999, Page 31
Microsoft's Web Site -
Save Time and Money with Customized Financial Management
Software - August 29, 2003
Author of A Book :
Guide to Installing
Microcomputer Accounting Systems
Carlton is the lead author for
Practitioners Publishing
Company's Guide to Installing Microcomputer Accounting
Systems. The Guide is a 1,000 page, two volume guide that
walks the installer through the process of installing an
accounting software system. Volume I features the following
chapters:
1. Introduction to Installing
Accounting Software
2. Getting Started (key steps to becoming an installer)
3. Marketing
4. Planning the Engagement
5. Performing the Needs Analysis
6. Selecting the Appropriate Software and Hardware
7. Installing the Accounting System
8. Concluding the Engagement
9. Windows and Macintosh Considerations
10. Local Area Network Considerations
The Guide features practical
guidance and several hundred pages of ready-to-use practice
aides to assist the installing in conducting a smooth and
successful installation engagement. Volume II features
thirteen Chapters which discuss various high-end accounting
software systems including ACCPAC Plus, CYMA, Great Plains,
One Write Plus, Peachtree, Real World, Solomon, Accountant,
Inc., Platinum, and MAS 90.
Now in it's eighth edition, the
Guide to Installing Microcomputer Accounting Systems is
published and sold by Practitioners Publishing Company of Fort
Worth, Texas and has sold over 5,000 copies. Today, thousands
of installers across the United States and several "Big Five"
CPA firms rely on the Guide for conducting their installation
engagements. The book has emerged to become the leading
reference material pertaining to the scope of installing
accounting software. You can view
more background on the guide here.
Lecturing:
Carlton speaks frequently to
accounting software installers on behalf of the accounting
software community. Following is a list of some of the
conferences Carlton has addressed on the subject of
accounting software:
Great Plains "Stampede" Reseller
Conference, Fargo, ND, 1989
Microsoft's "Solution Provider's" Conference, Atlanta,
Georgia, 1993
Manzanita's "Gold Rush" Reseller Conference, Sacramento, CA,
1994
Macola's "Directions" Reseller Conference, Columbus, Ohio,
1994
SBT's Annual Reseller Conference, San Francisco, California,
1994
SBT's Annual Reseller Conference, San Francisco, California,
1998
ACCPAC's "Partnership" Conference, Orlando, FL, August 2000
ACCPAC's "Partnership" Conference, Orlando, FL, August 2001
Damgaard Axapta Conference, Marietta, GA, February, 2001
Sage Software Visions Conference, Palm Springs, May 2001
Navision's Conexions Conference, Atlanta, January 2002
Exact Macola Directions Conference, Cincinnati, May 2002
Best Software Visions Conference, Palm Springs, May 2002
SE Accounting Show, Atlanta, GA, September 2003
Accountmate reseller Conference, San Francisco, CA, February
2003
SouthWare Reseller Conference, Auburn, AL, March 2003
Best Software Conference, Palm Springs, May 2003
ACCPAC Partnership Conference, Quebec City, Canada, August
2003
BusinessVision Conference, Toronto, Canada, September, 2003
SE Accounting Show, Atlanta, GA, September 2003
AICPA National Real Estate Conference, New Orleans, November
2004
Best Software AccountMate Conference, February 2004
Microsoft BBC Conference, February 2004
SouthWare Reseller Conference, Auburn, AL, March 2004
Frequent Speaker at
Other Technology Conferences
Carlton has delivered numerous presentations on the subjects
of accounting software, local area networking, the Internet,
Microsoft Windows, and PC hardware on behalf of many
companies. Following is a listing of some of those
Conferences.
ACUTE Microcomputer
Conference (Accountant's Users
Technical Exchange) Carlton has delivered fourteen
presentations at the Acute Conferences from 1988 to 1994.
Minnesota Information Technology Conference Carlton has
delivered fourteen presentations at the Minnesota Society of
CPAs Microcomputer Conference from 1989 to 2004.
Lotus Development Corporation Carlton has delivered more
than one hundred presentations of Lotus product on behalf of
Lotus Development Corporation from 1989 to 1995.
Midwest Show Carlton has delivered 8 presentations at
the MidWest show in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1998.
New York Microcomputer Conference Carlton has delivered
three presentations at the New York Society of CPAs
Microcomputer Conference from 1990 to 1995.
Ohio Microcomputer Conference Carlton has delivered
eight presentations at the Ohio Society of CPAs
Microcomputer Conference from 1990 to 1995.
Southeast Accounting Show, Industry Conference
Carlton has delivered 34 presentations at the Georgia
Society of CPAs Accounting Show from 1990 to present and six
presentations at the Georgia Industry Conference.
Restaurant Technology Conference Carlton presented to
550 persons attending the February, 2000 Restaurant
Technology Conference in Las Vegas, NV.
Microsoft Corporation Carlton has delivered more than
sixty presentations on behalf of Microsoft Corporation on
the topics of accounting software, Windows, the Internet,
and Microsoft Applications.
Novell, Inc. Carlton has delivered more than forty
presentations on behalf of Novell, Inc. on local area
networking.
Association of Accountants and Financial Professionals,
Inc. (AAFI) Carlton presented to AAFI in September,
2000.
IBM Carlton has delivered more than forty
presentations on behalf of IBM on the topics of accounting
software, and hardware technology. In 1988 and 1989, Carlton
trained IBM sales representatives in accounting and the IBM
accounting software then known as Accounting Assistant
Series (BPI).
Other Conferences include: Ziff's Computer Technology
Conference, Orlando, Florida 1993; The Louisiana
Microcomputer Conference (20 presentations in five years
from 1990 to 1995), the Alabama Microcomputer Conference
(1992, 1993, and 1994), and over 100 State CPA
Society Conferences.
International Speaking
Carlton has lectured internationally on the topic of
Accounting Software in Sydney, Australia, Melbourne,
Australia, Auckland, New Zealand, and Wellington, New
Zealand. Carlton was sponsored by the
University of Sydney
in Australia, and the
University
of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Frequent Lecturer on
Accounting Software
At last count, Carlton had twenty-seven current accounting
software packages up and running on his traveling computer
systems ranging from QuickBooks to SAP. For the past ten
years, Carlton has traveled across the United States and
throughout the world delivering an eight hour presentation
titled; "Overview of the Top Ten Accounting Software
Packages". Carlton has lectured to "tens of thousands" of
CPAs about accounting software. In his lecture, Carlton
devotes about twenty-five minutes each to some of today's
best accounting software packages. using real-to-life cases
and examples, Carlton walks the audience through everyday
tasks such as the order entry process. Carlton points out
strong points and weak points along the way in an effort to
help the audience understand what features to look for in
selecting accounting software. Carlton uses live
demonstrations of customizing accounting software to show
users how to meet unusual needs and specific system
requirements. By days end, the objective is that audience
members are in a better position to evaluate and select an
accounting software solution for their company or client.
To stay current , Carlton travels
personally each year to visit approximately thirty software
and hardware vendors. Carlton also uses the Internet and
various on-line database services to search for all articles
written which contain the words "accounting software". Each
year Carlton receives a stack of CDs and brochures more than
three feet high of updated software and mailings from many of
the accounting software vendors.
Consistently High Ratings:
As a lecturer for the past nine
years, Carlton has delivered well over 1,500 presentations
on the subject of technology, productivity software and
accounting software. Most of these presentations were
concluded with the audience rating the instructor for
knowledge and presentation skills on a five point scale
(where 5=excellent, 4=very good, 3=average, 2=fair, and
1=poor). Over the past three years Carlton's average ratings
were 4.88 and 4.82 for both knowledge and presentation
skills, respectively. On numerous occasions, Carlton has
scored a perfect 5.0.
Carlton attributes his success in
speaking to being prepared. "I am often surprised that my
presentations rate so highly because in my opinion, my
speaking style is not very polished. However, I believe that I
make up for my lack of "polish" by being concise and to the
point. By being well-prepared, a speaker can impart as much
knowledge as possible with the minimum amount of words.
Keeping a high level of energy and injecting just the right
amount of entertainment helps too. Heaven knows that without a
little humor, the subject of accounting software can get
pretty dry after eight continuous hours."
Consulting to Software
Developers:
Carlton has provided
professional consulting services to many of the top software
and hardware companies. In 1992, Carlton spent two days with
Microsoft Excel programmers and product personnel for the
specific purpose of designing improvements to Microsoft
Excel 4.0. Carlton has also provided product design advice
to companies such as Epicor, SYSPRO, SouthWare, Intuit,
Microsoft, Best software, Exact, and Peachtree Software.
Family & Personal Notes:
Carlton grew up on
St. Simons Island,
Georgia - a small barrier island off the coast of
Georgia about halfway between Savannah and Jacksonville. The
island has white sandy beaches, stately large oak trees
covered with Spanish moss, a charming lighthouse, miles of
gentle marshes, great fishing, and good people. Carlton
often refers to St. Simons Island as the "most beautiful
and serene place on earth". The neighborhood where
Carlton grew up was
Epworth by the
Sea. A history of this community
can be
viewed here.
Carlton married in 1984. His wife,
Mary Lou is an Atlanta native. They first met in 1978 at the
University of Georgia where
they shared a class together. (Yes those were the
Herschel
Walker years and they were great!) Carlton's first child,
Austin, was born in 1990 and his second child, Stephanie, was
born in 1994.
Carlton and Mary Lou attend
Perimeter Church in
Atlanta, Georgia (Pastor
Randy Pope). Carlton stays active in the local community.
Carlton coaches little league in Gwinnett County and has
coached basketball for the YMCA and the United Methodist
Church in Dunwoody. Carlton plays organized softball and
tennis, and this year has been captain of his tennis team. He
also enjoys bike riding and enjoys
snow skiing. Carlton formed the Atlanta Canoer's
Association in the 1980's and for ten years led canoeing
expeditions to the North Georgia mountains. Carlton's hobbies
include drawing and collecting prehistoric shark's teeth.
Carlton's
shark's tooth collection contains more then 6,000 teeth,
some which are over six inches long and date back to 45
million years BC.
In 1996, Carlton lived in the
Olympic Village in Atlanta, Georgia and served as an envoy
to the New
Zealand Olympic Team. One of his responsibilities was to
make sure that the athletes get to their events on time with
all of their equipment.
Family Pictures
