July 2011
Link Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter, Link Newsletter, is full of tips, reminders, and timely advice to help you stay well informed when it comes to your business and personal finances. If you have questions about any of the articles, feel free to email Damon Yudichak at Damon@yudichakcpa.com.
July 2011
Focused Information for the Small Business Owner
Volume 3, Issue 4
Damon Yudichak
Portrait by Charles Gupton
In This Issue
A Brand New Day
It’s a New Brand Day at Yudichak CPA PC!
I’m excited to announce the recent launch of my firm’s new brand. I’ve been working very hard to enhance my website, develop helpful new client communications, and give my firm a major facelift. I’ve also continued to research and identify the latest and greatest technologies to improve the services we provide and ensure that we will continue to meet your needs.
As such, the name of my company has changed from Damon K. Yudichak, CPA, P.C. to Yudichak CPA PC. My new website is now www.yudichakcpa.com and my email has been changed to damon@yudichakcpa.com. There was a lot of thought and work that went into this change and I’m excited about the transformation.
I hope you like what you see. It’s the same great service, just with a new look and feel. I look forward to hearing your feedback.
Damon’s Big Lesson
This month we thankfully saw the successful completion of the flight of STS-135 Space Shuttle Atlantis. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the direction of NASA. For more than five decades NASA has been a huge source of inspiration and innovation for our country. In general, I would suggest that many Americans have little interest in what NASA accomplishes. There has been lots of talk regarding moving manned spaceflight to private industry. Whether or not this is a good idea is yet to be seen. Given the status of our economy, many wonder if funding for spaceflight is the best utilization of our resources.
I had the opportunity to interview a number of people involved in the Apollo Program, including Dr. Edgar Mitchell (Apollo 14) who walked on the moon. One of the lessons I learned from this was that during the years of the Apollo program, the United States was in the middle of an economic recession. Granted that recession was not as bad as the Great Recession, but at that time people also had trouble finding jobs. A number of people I spoke with took jobs with NASA or jobs with NASA contractors. As with any project there were people who were in favor of and opposed to the moon missions. At the launch of Apollo 11 there was a demonstration protesting the Apollo program because they felt government funds were better used for other programs.
There has been a lot of national pride over the success of the NASA missions. The whole world stood still on July 20, 1969 when the first humans walked on the moon. The Apollo program was a source of great inspiration that motivated a nation to do what had once been viewed as impossible. I still think we all need to be inspired. What inspires and motivates others varies by person. I for one am inspired and motivated by accomplishments.
Maximo Mukelabai
Max loves being a CPA. I had the good fortune of meeting Max a couple of years ago before starting my CPA practice. A couple of times a year I would travel out to Durham and meet him for lunch at Mount Fuji. I’d update him on my progress and he was always encouraging and supportive. He always offered me the right advice.
I remember one of our lunches; I arrived early and had already been seated. As he walked up to me I said, “Max, I passed the CPA exam.” He responded exuberantly, “CONGRATULATIONS!!” He was extremely proud of me and I’ll never forget the look of pride he gave me and how special a moment that was. Max was one of the first persons outside of my family that I shared the news with.
Max runs his own small CPA practice in Durham and whenever I have had a challenging issue to deal with as I’ve grown my business, many times I would turn to Max for advice to see what worked for him. Last year I realized that my business had grown to a point where I needed to add an employee to my firm. I really didn’t know what direction to go nor did I know what to look for in a candidate. Max told me that what I needed was to hire a CPA candidate. Ultimately that was the choice I ended up making and it has worked out very well.
Max loves being a CPA. He has received much from the profession and he has been very proactive about giving back to the profession. Throughout his career, Max has been very involved with the NC Association of CPAs (NCACPA). This May he started his term as Chair of the NCACPA. At the age of 36, he is the youngest person in NCACPA history to be elected to be Chair. I was very proud of him when I heard the news that he had been elected. It was well deserved and I knew he was going to be a great leader because I saw how much he has helped me.
Thank you Max for your friendship, encouragement, and advice.
What’s With the Moon?
I’ve had a couple people ask, What’s with you and the moon? About two years ago, I became fascinated with the Apollo Program. I began to study the program and interview people who helped make the monumental task of landing on the moon a reality.
The moon is a symbol of possibility for me. It is a source of inspiration. I like to be inspired.
About Me
My name is Damon Yudichak and I am a Certified Public Accountant. My father was an Army officer and we moved around a lot. We finally ended up in Fayetteville, NC. I’ve been a resident of Raleigh since 1999 when I moved here to go to North Carolina State University. I am fascinated with the moon and am still amazed that man has walked on the moon. I also am a big standup comedy fan.
The Orange Star Newsletter is prepared by Damon Yudichak. The Orange Star Newsletter carries no official authority, and its contents should not be acted upon without professional advice.
In accordance with IRS Circular 230, this newsletter is not to be considered a “covered opinion” or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for IRS audit, tax dispute, or any other purpose.
