News Release

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 14 , 2007

 

CPAs HONOR 30-YEAR MEMBER FOR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE

Brentwood, Tenn. (August 14, 2007) — Michael D. Shmerling of Nashville was recently presented the 2007 Public Service Award by the Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (TSCPA), the state 8,000-member professional association for certified public accountants in Tennessee.  

Each year, TSCPA honors a member who has distinguished him or herself in public service activities. Its 2007 Public Service Award recognizes Shmerling’s contributions to and active involvement in humanitarian, civic, government, religious and other community service activities during his professional career. The award was presented to Shmerling at TSCPA’s annual Leadership Conference, held in August.

As TSCPA’s Public Service Award winner, Shmerling also has been nominated as Tennessee’s representative for the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ national 2007 Public Service Award. Additionally, TSCPA has made a contribution in his honor to a charity of his choice.

“Mike Shmerling exemplifies and embodies all the ideals symbolized in TSCPA’s Public Service Award,” said Brad Floyd, executive director of the TSCPA. “As a willing volunteer for the past 30 years, he brings professionalism, integrity and business competence to the nonprofit sector. Additionally, his passion to increase operational efficiency and effectiveness in nonprofits is evident, reducing the amount of charitable dollars going into overhead and increasing the support for programs serving people in need.”

A member of the Tennessee Society of CPAs for the past 30 years, Shmerling is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He began his professional career as a certified public accountant in 1977 with Ernst & Young, and continued in the practice of public accounting for 12 years.

Shmerling went on to establish a series of new and emerging businesses, all of which continue to operate today. Currently, Shmerling is the chairman and principal investor of Nashville-based XMi, a diversified management & entrepreneurial advisory company, and Choice Food Group, Inc., a privately-held enterprise involved in manufacturing and distribution of food service companies.   

A lifetime resident of Nashville, Shmerling always has been actively involved in public service activities, sharing and applying his accounting acumen to every non-profit agency or organization he comes in contact with. His public service activities involve a wide range of organizations, from the arts and education to social services and government. He has devoted himself in a variety of leadership capacities, including being appointed treasurer, president and board member of many organizations.

In his role as treasurer of the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC), Shmerling’s leadership was critical to the development of a creative finance plan that funded a major $7 million renovation of its entrance and main lobby.

Shmerling’s commitment to education shows through his work with the University School of Nashville (USN) and the Nashville Alliance for Public Education. While serving as USN president, he was instrumental in leading its annual capital campaign, raising over $15 million.

Similarly, Shmerling worked with the Nashville Alliance for Public Education to secure donations and grants from private sources that benefited Nashville area public schools and their students. He also was a founding board member of the Nashville Public Library Foundation, helping to organize its first fundraiser, which netted over $200,000. Since its inception in 1997, the foundation has raised over $15 million.

One of Shmerling’s most recent projects is one that has a personal meaning for him. He is working toward the establishment of a new 501c(3) non-profit organization and foundation that will specialize as an Alzheimer’s and dementia adult care community in Nashville. Called Abe’s Garden, the facility is being named for his father, Abe Shmerling, M.D., who recently died of Alzheimer’s disease in November 2006.

The Tennessee Society of Certified Public Accountants (www.tscpa.com) is the state professional association for CPAs residing and practicing primarily in Tennessee. Headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., TSCPA represents more than 8,000 members who work in all areas of accounting, including public accounting, education, government, business and industry.