2017 CPA Manitoba Member Recognition Spotlight MemberRecognitionSpotlight2017 | Page 4

CPA Manitoba Lifetime Achievement Award
Ron Stoesz, FCPA, FCMA
The 2017 recipient of the CPA Manitoba Lifetime Achievement Award, Ron Stoesz, FCPA,
FCMA, is now retired and smiles as he reflects on his 40-year career.
“I’ve had a lot of great jobs, but the most rewarding job I ever had was Chief Executive
Officer at CMA Manitoba. I had the privilege of helping to create careers for individuals,” he
explains. “We really made a difference during my time there.”
Stoesz smiles even brighter as he remembers one moment in particular.
“I was attending a CMA convocation ceremony and one of the graduates, who I had
recruited into the program came up to me with his wife and two children. They were all so
thankful. He had just graduated and his career had taken off in part because of his

accounting designation. I was able to make a difference in

their lives,” he recalls before adding, “there were others too.”

Stoesz’s story starts from humble beginnings. He grew up

in Winnipeg and attended Windsor Park High School. After

graduating from Red River College in 1973 he began his
career.

“I was a bill collector for a finance company,” he chuckles. “I

had experience collecting overdue accounts and

repossessing cars, furniture and all kinds of things. That

experience got me a job as a collector with the
Unemployment Insurance Commission. One day I

noticed a posting for a financial officer position.

I figured, why not? I applied and ended up

being offered the position on the condition I
take an accounting designation.”
That was his launching point. Stoesz went
on to complete his designation and
worked for the government—something

he would do for the next 34 years in
various roles.
During the ‘80s and ‘90s much
improvement was being made in the
area of financial systems. Government
departments were building in-house
programs, while spreadsheet and