Message from the Immediate Past Chair

By Troy M. Van Dongen

It is a great honor to serve as Chair of the Taxation in this 45th Anniversary year. I truly appreciate the trust of the Taxation Section’s Executive Committee, and am grateful for the efforts this Committee has made during my term as Chair. As illustrated below, your Executive Committee is comprised of intelligent, industrious, and creative individuals who are continuously seeking better ways to serve the Section, as well as the broader tax community.

One of the most important initiatives this year was the Committee’s renewed commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equality in the Taxation Section. Although the Taxation Section has a long history of equality, we established a working group this year to develop strategies on how to further eliminate bias and promote an environment in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, have equal access to opportunities and resources, and can contribute fully to the Section’s success. Our Section’s diversity makes us stronger, more creative, and a magnet for the best and the brightest tax practitioners. Thus, it is important that we continue to improve in this area, and I am proud to say that your Executive Committee is committed to providing meaningful opportunities for all of the Section’s members.

The Executive Committee also is developing a mentorship program that will be rolled out later this year, which will pair experienced tax practitioners with new practitioners, and build a forum for discussions relating to taxation. Having been both a mentee and a mentor during my career as a tax lawyer, I have had the pleasure of participating in similar programs and am confident that this program will add even more value to our members. Look for more details about this program when it is introduced during the Annual Meeting of the Tax Bar and California tax Policy Conference, taking place in San Diego on November 6-8, 2019.