AGA TOPICS Newsletter
CGFM
Profile: Marlene K. Dorenkamp
When Marlene K. Dorenkamp became president of AGA’s Des Moines
Chapter, she wanted to set an example for her fellow chapter
members, give herself an injection of confidence and show that
attaining the CGFM credential was “doable.”
“I thought that it would be good
incentive for others if I went ahead and took it and let them know
if it was achievable,” Dorenkamp said. That she did, by passing the
three examinations and becoming the first chapter member to become a
CGFM through the exam process.
It
took Dorenkamp one year to study and pass the exams, finishing
up in November 2005. When she achieved her goal, the chapter did
not overlook it. The current chapter president, Michelle Wendel,
and other members recognized her at last November’s Chapter
Executive Committee meeting with a certificate and cupcakes. The
next month, the chapter presented her with a scholarship, to
defray some of her costs, and a cake in her honor.
Dorenkamp, who is also a CPA, used AGA’s three study guides to
prepare. She also organized a study group with two other members.
Once a week, they would set aside an hour to study, helping them
stay focused. Some of the material was very familiar. At the time,
she was working in the school finance arena with the state
Department of Education, and needed a strong understanding of the
financial reporting requirements of the Governmental Accounting
Standards Board’s (GASB) Statement 34. Her success on the exams did,
in fact, give her a boost. “It really did help,” she said. “It gave
me confidence that I knew the answers to some of the questions. I
knew more than I thought I did.”
She
encourages anyone going into governmental accounting to consider the
CGFM. “I think it’s an excellent way to get that background. When I
went through school, they had one governmental accounting course and
that was it.”
Dorenkamp had success using the study guides, while other CGFM
candidates like to take the three preparatory courses and use the
study guides to complement what they learned. She said the study
guides have a lot of good information, reviews at the end of each
chapter, and an appendix with reference materials to learn more.
Her
advice for CGFM candidates is to make a goal and schedule the exams.
Don’t procrastinate and lose momentum. That way, the exams are on
the calendar and it’s easier to stay on track. “I made a goal when I
first started that I would have it done by a certain time, and that
kept me motivated and kept me going.”
By: Christina M. Camara