Beta Alpha Psi at FIU received two of the international organization’s highest honors at their annual meeting in Fall 2016.
The first was Gold Chapter Status, an award received by only eight of 400 chapters in the world. It was the third straight year that the FIU Chapter received the Gold recognition.
“To be one of the top eight chapters in the world says a lot about how involved we are in providing great opportunities for our members,” said chapter president Daniel Perrino.
The second was a unique recognition for their advisor, School of Accounting professor Jimmy Carmenate: National Advisor of the Year.
Carmenate, a former FIU Beta Alpha Psi member, became chapter advisor in 2009. Since then, he has devoted 20 to 30 hours a week to mentoring chapter members as they move through their studies and apply for internships and jobs, often helping them choose between multiple offers. He stays in touch as they progress in their careers, achieve partnerships and start families. He also encourages service excellence. As a result, the chapter has received the prestigious Superior ranking every year since he arrived, culminating in the highly-coveted Gold Chapter status.
“He is amazing,” Perrino said. “He looks after us, and treats us as if we were his nieces and nephews. He is a great advisor and a great friend.”
Carmenate feels that listening is an essential part of his mentoring. “I always try to help them see for themselves where their best career fit might be, so they make these important decisions themselves.”
For the Gold Chapter status this year, members put together a video depicting how the organization helps its members through their college life cycle, from the moment they enter the organization through the job hunt and graduation. For the coming year, the chapter plans to do more community outreach and partner with other organizations.
“They’ve been doing a lot with student groups, to help younger students,” Carmenate said. “Just as accounting firms mentor them, they’ll go into schools to meet and mentor future financial professionals.”
